There are a lot of things to love about Texas Roadhouse,
including the baskets of fresh-baked rolls, which are pretty much everyone's favorite thing.
However, according to the confessions of many unhappy diners -- and some
employees -- there are a few items on the menu you should avoid at all costs.
One of the first things you'll come across when browsing the menu at Texas Roadhouse
is the Cactus Blossom appetizer. The restaurant describes it as a:
"Texas-sized onion, golden-fried and served with Cajun Horseradish sauce for dipping."
However, some customers would describe it more as a greasy mess. One diner on Yelp called it
"disappointing," saying her Cactus Blossom was "soggy" and "stuck together in huge clumps."
Another diner lamented on Facebook that their Cactus Blossom was "greasy and cold."
The Cactus Blossom also happens to be one of the most unhealthy items on the menu at
Texas Roadhouse. Including the dipping sauce, the fried appetizer contains
nearly 2,000 calories. That's most of your recommended calories for the entire day,
according to the FDA. Not to mention, it boasts 115 grams of fat and more than
5,600 milligrams of sodium. Your arteries have been warned.
Texas Roadhouse serves up steak in all kinds of ways,
but that doesn't necessarily mean they should. Some diners are not happy with
the restaurant's chicken fried steak entrée. Texas Roadhouse calls their
take on this classic southern recipe the Country Fried Sirloin, and describes it as
"Hand-battered, fresh-cut sirloin served crispy and golden,
topped with made-from-scratch cream gravy."
While that sounds like it could be delicious, many say this dish does not live up to the expectation.
A diner on Yelp described the entrée as "barely edible," calling it "nothing but
a chewy mess," adding that "the grease was old and the gravy tasted horrible."
When you think of Texan cuisine, barbecue ribs probably aren't too far down on the list of things
that come to mind. So you'd think this menu item would be a highlight at Texas Roadhouse.
But according to some very unsatisfied customers, that's simply not the case.
The restaurant calls their ribs "award-winning,"
and "slow-cooked with a unique blend of seasonings and our signature BBQ sauce."
But according to an Iowa diner on TripAdvisor, the "sauce itself was just average and the ribs
were very fatty." Another diner from Oklahoma City describes the ribs as
"burnt and overcooked and inedible." And a Michigan diner called them "terrible,"
saying quite bluntly, "if you want ribs DO NOT EAT HERE!"
If that's not enough, it's also worth noting that a full slab of ribs will cost you a whopping
1,450 calories and more than 100 grams of fat.
If you're really looking to destroy your diet,
look no further than Texas Roadhouse's bread pudding. It's only available at
select restaurants, and it is likely the single most unhealthy item that Texas Roadhouse makes.
Bread Pudding is a classic southern staple, and Texas Roadhouse's version is made from
the restaurant's famous rolls and drizzled with honey caramel sauce. Unfortunately, that small
plate of sweet, sticky goodness comes out to 1,740 calories. You're also looking at a startling 240
grams of sugar. To put that in perspective, the American Heart Association recommends
men have no more than 36 grams of sugar per day and women have no more than 25 grams.
Texas Roadhouse is known for hand-cut steaks. The restaurant boasts that its
butchers hand-cut every steak that is served and end up chopping an
average of $1 million worth of meat annually at each location. However,
not all cuts of beef are created equal, and this holds true at Texas Roadhouse.
The restaurant's 20-ounce Bone-in Ribeye is one that you might want to avoid. It's one of the
most unhealthy steaks on the menu, coming in at 1,480 calories and more than 100 grams of fat. And
even if you're not watching your waistline, you still might be in for disappointment.
Texas Roadhouse claims that its ribeye is "juicy,
flavorful" and "served on the bone for extra flavor." But not everyone agrees. One diner
from Louisiana said in a TripAdvisor review that the ribeye tasted like it "must have
come from a very old cow," saying it was tough and not very tasty either.
If you're looking for the best, freshest steak you can get at Texas Roadhouse,
then whatever you do, don't order the Porterhouse T-Bone. It may be described as a "23 oz.
Texas-sized USDA Choice steak," but even the employees will tell you stay away from this one.
In fact, a California diner said in a Yelp review that when they tried to order the
porterhouse at Texas Roadhouse, the waiter kept pushing for them to order a ribeye instead.
That can't be a good sign, but it turns out there's a reason for it.
Texas Roadhouse claims that its butchers hand cut every single steak that's served up at its
restaurants. However, according to the confessions of some employees, this may not actually be true.
Some Texas Roadhouse servers admitted on Reddit that the chain's Porterhouse T-Bone Steak
is oftentimes not hand-cut in house but is rather shipped to the restaurants frozen.
"So, now it's all starting to ooze out. It's very interesting, isn't it, Katie?"
"Yea, very!"
Texas Roadhouse may be known for their beef,
but it seems the burgers leave something to be desired.
A customer in Connecticut declared in a TripAdvisor review that they will
"never have a hamburger at Texas Roadhouse again," after being served what they described as
"two very well done hockey pucks seasoned with way too much salt."
Another diner in New York called it the worst hamburger they had ever had.
Other reviews of the burgers at Texas Roadhouse call them bland, unflavored, and overcooked.
Bottom line — if you're in the mood for a good burger,
there are plenty of other options out there other than Texas Roadhouse.
Getting the chance to have a prime rib can feel like a cause for celebration,
but the prime rib at Texas Roadhouse is anything but impressive according to many unhappy diners.
"Hey Julie, want this extra piece of prime rib?"
Several reviews from TripAdvisor paint a grim picture. One review called the
prime rib "disappointing," adding "imagine chewing on your shoe, tough and full of fat."
Not exactly appetizing. But just wait, it gets worse.
Several other customers from restaurants around the country expressed their
displeasure with the prime rib, with one reviewer on TripAdvisor saying they "took
one bite ... and gagged. The meat was rancid. Absolutely disgusting." And yet another diner
in Maryland ventured to order the prime rib, but "took one bite and spit it out."
One of the most notable snacks at Texas Roadhouse isn't even on the menu.
Part of the chain's long-standing casual vibe is the barrels and buckets of peanuts
sitting around the restaurants, free for anyone to dig into.
Unfortunately, it's for that reason that many say you should avoid those peanuts at all costs.
A Texas Roadhouse employee on Reddit warned that the peanuts are a hub for germs, pointing
out how many people rummage through the peanut containers everyday without washing their hands.
Another server commented that peanuts that are left on tables
often just get put right back in the barrels, so you never know what you're going to find.
One customer in Chicago wrote on TripAdvisor that they were munching on some peanuts while
waiting to be seated, and found "a half eaten lollipop stick with peanut shell stuck to it."
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus,
even more Mashed videos about your favorite restaurant chains are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.