Texas Roadhouse might be famous for those warm rolls and honey butter, but not everything on the menu deserves a spot on your plate. While this popular steakhouse chain serves up some seriously good food, there are certain items that consistently disappoint customers and even get thumbs down from former employees. Before you place your next order, knowing which dishes to skip can save you from a mediocre meal and help you make the most of your money. Here’s what you need to avoid and what you should know about timing your visit.
The country fried sirloin is a salty mess
When you’re in the mood for something fried at a steakhouse, the country fried sirloin might catch your eye. Unfortunately, this dish is a complete letdown from start to finish. The biggest problem? Salt overload. The thick battered coating tastes like someone went crazy with the salt shaker, and then the chalky white gravy adds even more sodium to an already overwhelming plate. What’s supposed to be comfort food turns into something you can barely finish.
The actual steak hiding under all that breading doesn’t help matters either. It’s thin, chewy, and basically flavorless, which makes you wonder why it’s buried under so much coating in the first place. The breading is the same one used on the Cactus Blossom appetizer, but somehow it doesn’t work as well on this dish. According to customer feedback, the gravy also has a strange smokiness that doesn’t belong. If you want Southern comfort food done right, look elsewhere on the menu.
Mac and cheese still comes from a box at some locations
Here’s something that might shock you when eating at what seems like a from-scratch restaurant: the mac and cheese at many Texas Roadhouse locations is literally just Kraft. Yep, the same blue box stuff you can buy at the grocery store for about a dollar. Some people have reported paying four bucks for a tiny cup of these orange noodles, which is a pretty terrible deal when you think about it. Even if you love Kraft mac and cheese at home, paying steakhouse prices for it feels like a rip-off.
Some restaurants have switched to what they call “homemade” mac and cheese, but don’t get too excited. The upgraded version isn’t much better, featuring a gloppy cheese sauce that doesn’t balance well with the noodles. The cheese tastes like the mildest cheddar imaginable, and there’s barely any seasoning to speak of. No salt, no pepper, no fancy toppings like breadcrumbs. You can pay an extra dollar or so to add bacon and more cheddar, but that’s just throwing more money at a side dish that should be better from the start.
The all-American cheeseburger needs actual seasoning
At a place that specializes in beef, you’d think the burgers would be amazing. The all-American cheeseburger looks promising when it arrives at your table, stacked high with a thick patty and all the usual toppings. It even comes with a toothpick holding everything together because it’s so big. But once you pull that toothpick out and take your first bite, the disappointment sets in fast. The meat is often overcooked and chewy instead of juicy and tender.
What really makes this burger fall flat is the complete lack of flavor. There’s no seasoning on the meat itself, and the restaurant doesn’t add any condiments under the bun either. No mayo, no ketchup, no mustard, nothing. You’re expected to doctor it up yourself, which seems lazy for a restaurant. The whole thing tastes bland and forgettable, like something you could easily make at home for way less money. The other burger options with bacon or barbecue sauce might fare better since they at least have some additional ingredients to mask the underseasoned meat, but this basic version misses the mark completely.
Skip the porterhouse T-bone despite the price tag
The porterhouse T-bone is the most expensive steak on the menu at 23 ounces, combining both filet and strip in one massive cut. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, this pricey option is actually one of the worst steaks you can order. The main issue is consistency. Because it’s such a large bone-in steak, cooking it evenly is really difficult. You’ll often end up with dried-out, overdone edges while the meat near the bone stays practically raw, even if you ordered it medium or medium-well.
What makes this even worse is information shared by a former employee who revealed that the porterhouse T-bone is the only steak not hand-cut at the restaurant. Instead, it arrives frozen and pre-cut, which goes against everything Texas Roadhouse claims about fresh, hand-cut steaks. This might explain why it’s so inconsistent compared to other cuts like the ribeye or Dallas filet. For the premium price you’re paying, you deserve better quality and preparation. Save your money and stick with one of the hand-cut options that the restaurant actually does well.
Green beans are swimming in grease and water
When you want to add a vegetable to your steak dinner, the green beans seem like a safe choice. They’re not. These rank as the absolute worst side dish at Texas Roadhouse out of 16 total options, which is saying something. The green beans come with bacon bits and diced onions that are both undercooked and don’t add much to the dish. Meanwhile, the beans themselves are cooked to the point where they’re practically falling apart and turning to mush.
The whole mess sits in a pool of liquid that’s both watery and greasy at the same time. You might need a spoon instead of a fork to eat them because there’s so much liquid on the plate. They look more like watery pea soup than a proper vegetable side. The taste is just as disappointing, with a weird combination of smokiness and unexpected sweetness that doesn’t work. For the most part, they’re just bland and mushy. If you still want vegetables with your meal, go for the steamed broccoli or one of the side salads instead of subjecting yourself to this soggy disaster.
Pulled pork dinner looks and tastes disappointing
Despite having Texas in its name, the restaurant chain actually started in Indiana and is based in Kentucky. Maybe that explains why the pulled pork dinner is such a letdown for anyone expecting authentic Texas barbecue. The presentation alone should be a warning sign. The pork arrives on your plate in an unappetizing pile of shredded bits and pieces that look carelessly thrown together. If the barbecue sauce hasn’t been slathered on yet, it looks even worse.
The texture problems make eating this dish even more unpleasant. About half the pork is gristly and fatty, which is gross to bite into. The other half tends to be dried out and tough, the opposite problem. The only good thing about this meal is the barbecue sauce, but that’s just covering up all the issues underneath. To make matters worse, the pulled pork dinner comes with crusty, often burnt bread that’s nothing like those famous soft dinner rolls. At least you get two sides with it, so you can fill up on something else. The pulled pork itself is definitely worth skipping.
Steak fries arrive frozen and lack crispiness
Every steakhouse needs good fries to go with their steaks, but Texas Roadhouse drops the ball with their thick-cut steak fries. These Texas-sized rectangular potato slabs have two major problems: they’re not hot and they’re not crispy. That’s because they arrive at the restaurant frozen, not fresh. For a place that prides itself on hand-cutting steaks and making rolls from scratch, serving frozen fries seems pretty lazy and cheap.
When your fries show up at the table, they’re lukewarm at best and have a soft, almost soggy texture instead of the crispy outside you expect. The thick cut might look impressive, but it just means more bland potato interior without enough crispy surface area. These fries taste like something you could make from a bag of frozen fries at home, and honestly, yours would probably turn out better since you’d at least serve them hot. For a restaurant that charges steakhouse prices, the quality of these steak fries is unacceptable. Pick a different side that actually tastes fresh and properly prepared.
Timing your visit can save you serious money
Here’s something most people don’t know about Texas Roadhouse: showing up at the right time can cut your bill almost in half. The chain offers an Early Dine-In special where select menu items cost just $12.99, which is a pretty sweet deal for a steak dinner with two sides. The catch is you need to arrive during specific hours, and most locations don’t even open until 3 or 4 PM on weekdays. They only serve lunch on weekends, so don’t show up expecting a midday meal on Tuesday.
The Early Dine-In menu includes various options like salads, chicken, pork, and steak dishes. You can get a six-ounce sirloin with two sides for under thirteen bucks, which beats regular dinner prices by a lot. During the week, this special runs from opening until 6 PM. On weekends when they open at 11 AM or noon, the deal lasts until 3 PM. Some menu items like prime rib might not be ready right when they open since they take a long time to cook, so keep that in mind. This money-saving option makes eating earlier totally worth it if your schedule allows.
Check your location before assuming the menu
Not every Texas Roadhouse is exactly the same, which can be frustrating when you’re expecting certain items or deals. The Early Dine-In special pricing might vary by location, and the specific hours definitely change depending on which restaurant you visit. Some places still serve Kraft mac and cheese while others have switched to the homemade version. The availability of certain menu items can also differ, especially those special dishes that take longer to prepare.
Before you make plans to visit, it’s smart to check your local restaurant’s specific hours and offerings. You can usually find this information on their website or by calling ahead. This is especially important if you’re planning to take advantage of the Early Dine-In special or want to try something specific like prime rib. The last thing you want is to show up expecting a certain deal or menu item only to find out your location doesn’t offer it. A quick phone call or website check saves you from disappointment and helps you plan better for your meal.
Knowing what to avoid at Texas Roadhouse helps you get the most out of your visit without wasting money on disappointing dishes. Stick to their best offerings like the hand-cut steaks and those famous rolls, skip the items that consistently let customers down, and consider timing your visit to take advantage of early dining specials. A little planning goes a long way toward ensuring you leave satisfied instead of wondering why you didn’t just eat somewhere else.
