On TikTok, thousands of people have said they’re going to LongHorn Steakhouse—not for the restaurant’s ribeyes or filets, but for a steak on the kids’ menu. But according to one content creator, LongHorn might have caught on to the trend.
Atlanta content creator Nae (@grow.with.nae) said she went to LongHorn Steakhouse to order a 6-ounce steak off the kids’ menu in a video that received more than 38,000 views. But when her portion came out, she said it was noticeably smaller than 6 ounces.
The content creator claimed that LongHorn reduced the portion size of the Kid’s Sirloin because of a recent trend where adults would purchase the meal for themselves. But is that true?
What happened at LongHorn Steakhouse?
Nae went into LongHorn Steakhouse expecting to get a full 6-ounce portion of steak off of the restaurant’s kids’ menu. But according to her, TikTok ruined the fun.
“ See what the [expletive] y’all done did? Y’all done promoted that kid’s steak on TikTok two [expletive] weeks, so they went down from the six ounce to the four ounce,” the content creator said, while filming a small portion of sirloin.
Nae cited videos online, which recommended purchasing the Kid’s Sirloin, as the primary reason why the steak was so small.
In the comment section, a viewer asked, “Does it say 4 ounces on the menu too?” Nae responded, “It wasn’t on the menu. When I asked for it the waitress told me.”
Another commenter, who seemingly works for the steakhouse, said, “Yeah we’ve been telling everyone. I even tell them when it’s a kid ordering it. They changed the size of the kids burger also.”
Has the Portion Size Really Shrunk?
BroBible reported that the Kid’s Sirloin at LongHorn Steakhouse had the same nutritional information as the restaurant’s Renegade Sirloin, citing a 2024 nutritional guide. That led the publication to conclude that the Kid’s Sirloin was the same size as the Renegade Sirloin.
The 2024 nutritional guide said that both steaks had 320 calories, 15 grams of fat, 530 milligrams of sodium, and 36 grams of protein. But in 2026, this has changed. Now, the Kid’s Sirloin has 240 calories, 16 grams of fat, 390 milligrams of sodium, and 24 grams of protein. The Renegade Sirloin has remained the same.
Wait, Isn’t There a Cap on the Kids’ Menu Anyway?
BroBible also reports that the kids’ menu has an age cap, at least at some LongHorn locations. A Florida woman who tried to order a Kid’s Sirloin was told that the kids’ menu is only for individuals who are 12 or younger.
The logic behind the cap makes sense: Many restaurants take losses on kids’ meals to bring in hungry adults who order full entrees. The trend for adults to order items off of the kids’ menu, then, doesn’t necessarily align with what’s best for the restaurant.
For LongHorn, the gap is apparent. The restaurant now sells its Kid’s Sirloin for $10.99 depending on the location. By contrast, the Renegade Sirloin, which was the same size as the Kid’s Sirloin for many years, costs $17.49. If the portion size was the same, the restaurant would be losing $6.50 for every Kid’s Sirloin purchase.
Why Are So Many People Eating Off of the Kids’ Menu?
It’s estimated that around 44% of adults said they’re ordering off of the kids’ menu at restaurants, according to Lightspeed Commerce. But why?
The answer is simple: To save money. CBS MoneyWatch, which covered Lightspeed Commerce’s findings, added that traditional fast food chains such as Wendy’s and McDonald’s attributed slow sales in 2025 to “economic uncertainty and pressures facing low-income consumers.”
Restaurant expenses rose sharply after 2019 and have continued to steadily increase. Many restaurants have responded by increasing prices, which pushes inflation back onto the consumer.
@grow.with.nae It’s still was more than enough for me tho 😂 #fyp #longhorn ♬ original sound – Nae | Digital Diary 🖤
Commenters Criticize the Decision
Overall, viewers were not happy with Nae’s order. They said that she and other content creators should have saved the menu item for children rather than ordering it.
“Adults are not allowed to order on [LongHorn’s] menu,” a commenter said. Nae responded, “Ima try anyways.”
A second viewer asked what Nae tipped. The content creator responded and said they left $5 at the table. Subsequently, other commenters berated the decision to not leave a higher percentage tip.
“Okay do yk when you receive good service it’s proper to tip at least 20%, especially being that the server has to tip out the host and bartender?” another viewer replied.
“5$ and your bill was 70+ the fatigue is exhausting,” added another commenter.
Subplot News reached out to Nae via TikTok direct message and LongHorn Steakhouse via email for comment.
Update:
In a comment to Subplot News, Nae said, “This happened at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Braselton, Georgia, near Château Élan Winery. I was able to order from the kids’ menu as an adult without any pushback or questions about my age. When I ordered the kids’ sirloin, the waitress simply informed me that it was no longer six ounces and was now four ounces. She asked if that was OK with me, and I said yes.”
The content creator said the server confirmed the Kid’s Sirloin had changed from six ounces to four. She also said the server couldn’t confirm why it changed.
“I personally connected it to TikTok because the kids’ steak had gone viral and many adults were ordering it. In the comments under my TikTok, someone who identified themselves as a LongHorn employee also stated that the sirloin was downsized because it went viral,” she said.
“The four-ounce steak, along with the sides, was enough food for me because I do not have a very large appetite. I also think it can be a good portion for a child, depending on that individual child’s appetite. Portion needs are different for everyone, regardless of age or size,” she added.
Nae also clarified that she isn’t angry at LongHorn or her server.
“I was sharing my experience, showing what I received, and discussing how businesses sometimes respond when something becomes popular on social media. Overall, I still enjoyed the meal,” she said.
