Texas Roadhouse Steak: What To Know Before Ordering

Steak is perhaps one of the riskiest things to order at a restaurant. You worry that it could be too fatty, it won't be cooked the way you like, or it will be too dry — the list goes on. But your fears are allayed when you dig into your hunk of Angus and its perfect dark brown crust, juicy exterior, and coat of butter, garlic, and herbs. Many restaurants — such as Outback and Longhorn — have stepped up their game to try and be America's number one steakhouse, but the one we'll be discussing today is that place with that old Western charm: Texas Roadhouse.

Decorated with imagery that conjures up the boot-n-scootin' days of the Texan Wild West, Texas Roadhouse is known for its buttery golden brown rolls paired with a cup of cinnamon honey butter and a big tin pail of peanuts at every table (via National Peanut Board). Indeed, Texas Roadhouse aims to bring a little bit of Texan country all across the United States. Past the free birthday appetizers, saddle ride, and blaring country music, however, it all comes down to is how well they can cook a steak. Can those cowboys in the kitchen cook a mean head of steer, or are their steaks as dry and as tough as a sun-beaten saddle? 

Texas Roadhouse claims that they take their meat seriously, having served USDA Choice steaks served at their restaurants since first opening in 1993. While this may sound like your average PR firm boasting, Texas Roadhouse seems to have taken a few unique initiatives to back up these usually tried-and-true claims. Via their own fact sheet, each Texas Roadhouse location has its own in-house butcher who is responsible for hand-cutting every piece of meat that is served. They even have a giant freezer to keep their meats at a perfectly preserved 34 degrees F. You can also choose your cut of steak at every location, just as you would at your local butcher.

What sort of steaks can you get at Texas Roadhouse? The smallest is the humble 6-ounce steak, while the heftiest is the truly filling 23-ounce steak. Selections include the Dallas Filet (advertised to be the most tender steak on the menu), the marbled Fort Worth Ribeye, or the Road Kill steak that is smothered in mushrooms, onions, and Jack Cheese. 

The price for your Texas Roadhouse dinner will vary from place to place, although the difference in cost is relatively minimal. For example, Menu and Prices places the Fort Worth Ribeye in the price range of $19.99 to $22.99 based on the size of the steak ordered, while Top Restaurant Prices places the same order in the price range of $15.99 for a 10-ounce cut to $20.99 for a 16-ounce piece. While not an enormous difference, it's safe to say you probably won't be paying an arm and a leg for your steak dinner.

If you're looking to really get some bang for your buck, the Porterhouse T-Bone — a 23-ounce Texas-sized steak that clocks in at a price range around $26.99, not including sides — can jack that price up a little higher. If you want to enjoy a steak on a budget, it's suggested you try the Road Kill steak, which costs around $8.99 to $10.99. While it may not be dirt cheap, you'll still have plenty of free bread and peanuts to help you break even on your steak dinner.

Ordering a big hunk of steak, some mashed potatoes smothered in gravy, and a whole lot of bread isn't exactly the recipe for a healthy, light dinner. There's nothing wrong with that in moderation, but you probably shouldn't kid yourself into thinking that eating out at a steakhouse is the most calorie-friendly thing to do for your diet. In all fairness, however, Texas Roadhouse actually does have its own nutritional spreadsheet, so you can at least stay informed while you eat.

According to both Texas Roadhouse and Fast Food Nutrition, the lightest item on the menu in terms of steak is the USDA Choice 6-ounce sirloin, which comes in at a surprisingly modest 250 calories with 6 grams of fat and 560 milligrams of sodium. The most offending item is the Bone-In Ribeye, clocking it at a whopping 1,480 calories, 101 grams of fat (155% of your daily value), and 1,720 milligrams of sodium. To reiterate, there is no shame in kicking back and enjoying a good hearty meal of steak, rolls, and cocktails — just be sure to put an extra hour or two on your next workout.

Since Texas Roadhouse is all over the country, surely it must mean they're doing something good, right? After all, they wouldn't be able to truly call themselves a Texas-style roadhouse without a darn good steak to back it up. Irene Jiang of Business Insider wrote, "I just ate at Texas Roadhouse for the first time, and it lived up to the hype." Jiang praised her waitress's warm and friendly hospitality, her Rattlesnake Bites appetizers, and most importantly, her steak — a bone-in ribeye cooked medium-rare and served alongside a fully loaded baked potato and vegetables. "The ribeye looked gorgeous," Jiang said. "It oozed fat, and it was encrusted in a criss-cross layer of crisp black char." Jiang noted the steak was slightly crispy on the outside and was free of any sinew or fat, allowing her to enjoy only the tender, fatty, and flavorful meat. 

Commentators on Reddit were a little less positive of the roadhouse, however. "Texas Roadhouse is to steak houses what Olive Garden is to Italian food," said one user. "Not the best, not the worst, but it's ok in all respects," they continued. Another user, who worked at a Texas Roadhouse, gave an in-depth review of each steak you could purchase, noting that the prime rib is "tender enough to eat with your fingers and VERY flavorful."

Obviously, you could get a Texas Roadhouse steak at ... a Texas Roadhouse, of course. It's as easy as sitting down, looking over the menu, and saying how you would like your steak cooked. But what if you could eat those legendary cuts of beef anywhere, like in your home? Fortunately for you, Texas Roadhouse has the answer: the Texas Roadhouse Butcher Shop.

Proudly offering USDA choice quality steaks "hand-trimmed and aged to perfection," the Texas Roadhouse Butcher Shop offers everything from 8- to 12-count packages of filet mignon medallions to a 4-pack of 20-ounce bone-in ribeye for shipping right to your door, just in case you need some Texas flavor to change your dinner schedule up. The butcher shop even offers cooking tips for how to best prepare your freshly-arrived steak on everything from your grill to your stovetop. Why start a butcher shop? The answer, per the shop's FAQ, is simple: The company wants to provide their customers the same value and delicious steaks they always enjoyed, and why not deliver those two things right to their doorstep?

This isn't the first time Texas Roadhouse has shown its charitable side. From March 18 2020 to January 2021, CEO W. Kent Taylor gave up his salary and bonus to help pay front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic (via ABC News).