Chain restaurants aren’t usually known for their steaks.
If you go to a chain restaurant, you’re probably not going to get a bad meal—but you’re also probably not going to get something mind-blowing, either.
Given that steak relies heavily on the quality of the meat involved, some may think that a chain restaurant, like Texas Roadhouse, with high turnover would be unable to produce a high-quality cut. But is that really true?
What’s The Deal With This Steak?
In a video with over 368,000 views, British TikTok user Honor (@britinthebluegrass) shows herself at a Texas Roadhouse.
For her meal, she decided to order a “Cactus Blossom.” This is a deep-fried onion, cut in a similar style to the famed Blooming Onion from Outback Steakhouse. After trying the bread and butter—which she describes as “so sweet”—she tucks into the Cactus Blossom, declaring it “good,” comparable to a “great giant onion ring.”
Finally, it comes time for the steak. For her steak, she selected an 11-ounce sirloin and requested it be cooked medium-rare. Slicing into it, she discovers it’s a little overcooked. Still, she decides to give it a try—and is pleasantly surprised.
“That’s actually really nice,” she says.
“I don’t know if I should be saying that,” she continues. “Like, is it OK to say steak from here is nice? I don’t know. Seasoning? Delicious. It’s tender. I like that…Should I feel bad for liking that? I don’t know! It’s good! It’s real good!”
Is Texas Roadhouse Steak High Quality?
Given that Texas Roadhouse is a chain restaurant with locations across the country, some have quality questions about the restaurant’s steaks.
However, steak lovers consistently say that Texas Roadhouse steaks are surprisingly good in terms of quality and flavor. In a thread on Reddit’s r/Steak about which chain restaurant has the best steak, the restaurant’s name comes up over and over.
According to Food Republic, the chain has high standards when it comes to steak. Their beef is never frozen, and each steak is prepared in-house by professional meat cutters working by hand. The beef itself is USDA Choice—which, while a lower grade than Prime, is still high, meaning that the steak still has some marbling and can hold onto fat and flavor.
Should You Get A Sirloin Or A Ribeye?
In the comments section, some users criticized the TikToker for getting a sirloin steak instead of a ribeye.
“Getting a sirloin steak instead of a ribeye is crazy,” a user wrote.
“That’s a cheap cut of steak. Ribeye is better,” added another.
But should she have ordered the ribeye instead of a sirloin steak?
It’s true that ribeye steaks are generally more expensive than sirloin steaks. It’s also true that ribeye is often seen as the gold standard for steaks. However, that doesn’t mean that sirloin should be dismissed entirely.
While sirloin has less fat and marbling, it also has a robust, beefy flavor that many steak-lovers enjoy. Plus, its lower cost means that a steak-lover can get more steak for their dollar. Even if it’s not as good as a ribeye, some are willing to make the trade-off to enjoy more steak.
At the end of the day, it’s just personal preference. Some may only go for ribeye, while others may prefer a sirloin steak.
Viewers Love Texas Roadhouse
In the comments section, users sang the praises of the chain, especially with regard to the steak.
“I tell people all the time. texas Roadhouse is not a high end steak house. it is a casual dining steak house. and for that, they have the best price to quality ratio,” explained a user. “You can send more at other places and get food the might be better. but no one beats them at their price point.”
“I could care less what people say, I always have a good meal when I’m there,” echoed another. “I’ve had $120 steaks and I’ve had Texas Roadhouse steaks, for the money, Texas Roadhouse is a solid choice.”
“I’ve had +$100 steaks and Texas Roadhouse steaks and I still love Texas Roadhouse,” reiterated a third. “It’s consistent and always good and well priced compared to others.”
We’ve reached out to Honor via TikTok comment, and Texas Roadhouse via email.
