The Best Dishes At Texas Roadhouse, Ranked

For meat-eaters, there's nothing like a good steak dinner, complete with sides and delectable drink of choice, but not everyone has the means or ability to get to a fancy steakhouse where prices can break the bank. However, there are a few chain options that offer a stellar steak dinner within the realm of budget-friendly pricing and convenient locales. Enter: Texas Roadhouse.

Texas Roadhouse is an iconic restaurant chain in the states, known for its cowboy theme, array of steaks, and more notably for most, their delicious rolls with honey cinnamon butter. While this lively spot features a top selection of meats, they also feature a variety of other foods you may not know about, and most of them are pretty good!

For this taste test, I sought out the most popular menu items at the Texas Roadhouse and gave them a try. From a plethora of apps and sides to full steak dinners, this ultimate ranking will help you decide what to eat and what to avoid. You may not be able to throw peanut shells on the floor anymore, but this restaurant brand sure knows how to cook up some great dishes. Let's check them out!

When I go out for a nice steak, mashed potatoes are a must. Call me old fashioned, but this is one aspect of my Irish heritage where I won't falter. It's meat and potatoes all day long in this household.

Knowing I had to try the top items on the Roadhouse menu, I knew I was adding loaded mash into my order. After one bite, I was pretty disappointed. They weren't as good as I remembered. There was no real flavor in the potatoes, and the toppings I was hoping would save the day were lackluster. I did love the combo of shredded cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits, but there was nothing special about this side at all.

While the loaded mashed potatoes failed me, I did find a new favorite. On this epic adventure at the restaurant, I learned the Texas Roadhouse mac and cheese is to die for. Next time I'm there, that's my go-to side, for sure!

Before I began this epic taste test, I called around to a variety of Roadhouses and checked the interwebs to see which steaks were the fan favorites. One of those steaks was the sirloin, but I was not impressed.

I ordered my steak medium rare, and I have to say, it was cooked to perfection. Overall, the sirloin was a great steak, truly solid in most aspects, but it didn't touch the other fan favorite that made it into my top two dishes. The sirloin was juicy, but it was lacking flavor and depth, even with the addition of the peppers and mushrooms. 

Was this steak bad? No, not by any means, but keep reading to see which steak is a must. I'm not saying don't get the sirloin if it's your favorite cut. You'll get a solid meal. But I am saying there's a way better option on the Roadhouse menu.

Next on my list of dishes to try at the Texas Roadhouse was the Tater Skins. I had mixed feelings about these, so stay with me.

What I really enjoyed about this appetizer was the fact that the tater skins were real slices of potato with real melted cheese and big chunks of real bacon. Honestly, these looked homemade to me. With that said, something was missing here. I'm not sure if there were limited (or no) spices thrown into the mix on the potato, or if the cheese was just blah, but there was minimal flavor to be found. 

Do you see my confusion? I felt like these could be made at home which, to me, screams natural and far more healthy than some of the frozen appetizers restaurants tend to use. But the flavor was missing — within the potato and the cheese. I wanted more from this delicious-looking option, but I didn't hate it.

From the data I collected, people rave about the grilled shrimp at Texas Roadhouse. I was a little concerned about a seafood dish at a steak chain, but like everything else when it comes to this job, I had to try it if I want to deny it.

I have to say, this dish had the boldest flavors of the bunch. It was super salty with some kind of herb and spice rub. While it was delicious, holy sodium in the shrimp! After a few bites, my palate was overloaded. But there's more to this flavorful story, and it continues its saga with the bread foundation. Under the shrimp was a halved sweet roll turned into garlic bread. This addition was also really good, but I'm still not quite sure the sweet and savory combo was a good one. I didn't hate it by any means, but I'm not convinced that they worked together. But also, maybe they did? The jury is still out.

My final verdict from what I can reconcile is that while this appetizer did taste great, there were too many flavors fighting for the spotlight to place it any higher on my list. However, you should try this dish on your next visit. There may be an overload of flavor, but there was a lot to write home about.

Everyone said I had to try the ribs at Texas Roadhouse. Full disclosure: I've had ribs in all the tops spots from Tennessee to actual Texas, so I felt like there was no way a chain restaurant was going to top those options. I have to say, these weren't bad!

I'd label these ribs as standard. They were everything you'd want when it comes to a BBQ staple. The meat fell off the bone and was cooked just right with a juicy bite. However, the sauce drove the flavor profile. If you're a fan of BBQ sauce over rub, and all the nuance that goes with it, these ribs are for you. It was sweet, thick, and offered a smokey aftertaste. 

Overall, the ribs at Texas Roadhouse were a solid menu item with a lot of flavor, but at the end of the day, they were nothing special. I'd eat them again, but there are other items I'd rather order here, for sure.

Not to be confused with another fried onion appetizer from a chain steakhouse (most notably shown on the TV show "The Office"), the Cactus Blossom from Texas Roadhouse was a surefire hit. Fried goodness, a yummy dipping sauce, and a killer presentation — what's not to like?

What I liked most was the batter flavor, which clearly has seasoning embedded within. You get salt and other spices that don't overpower each bite, which are also brought out by that delicious Cajun dipping sauce. It's a cool complement that brings a little heat into the mix.

To be clear, I placed the Cactus Blossom in 7th place only because there were other items I enjoyed more, and honestly, ranking got really difficult for the top 10. If you haven't tried this one, it's an absolute must, but I'd bring a group. This was a whole lot of onion to manage.

The steak fries were definitely on my list of things to try at Texas Roadhouse, but I ended up making a swap during my outing. Originally, I ordered the regular fries but decided, since my group had extra sides, that we should grab these, too.

Regarding the regular steak fries, they were good, but they were pretty heavy on the spices and salt. When they were covered in cheese and bacon, it was the Goldilocks flavor profile we were anticipating. The warm, melted cheese was the perfect addition to cut the salty exterior of the fries, and who is saying no to the addition of bacon? Not me.

While it seems wild to me there was too much flavor in plain steak fries and the perfect amount when they were loaded, I didn't question it and enjoyed the experience. I will say I couldn't eat more than a few, as they were pretty heavy, so order these if you have a big group to help finish off the basket.

Up next were the Chicken Critters, a name I didn't really love, but the taste made me change my tune. I do love a good chicken finger and or tender, but I wasn't expecting Roadhouse to give me an option that bordered on perfection.

The critters were really delicious. The seasoned breading was crispy with a balanced spice flavor within each bite. The chicken itself was juicy white meat that was a perfect complement to the seasoned exterior. I also loved that there were an array of dipping sauces to choose from. My table went with BBQ and ranch (and there's also that killer mac and cheese I was talking about).

For kids and adults alike, you can't go wrong with the Chicken Critters from Texas Roadhouse. You can also get them on a salad to add some vegetables into the mix. While they were great, I just couldn't put chicken fingers higher on the list. I need more complexity in my top dishes, and that's what you're about to find. Keep reading!

Honestly, I wasn't excited to try the Roadhouse's Texas Red Chili, as I'm not a huge chili person — or at least, I wasn't. I'm not sure what the chain did to this side, but man, I loved it!

This little cup of heaven featured the chain's scratch-made chili with a generous helping of beans, onions, and Cheddar cheese on top. The flavor profile was rich with a good amount of spice, but not so much I had to stop eating. The heat dies down after each bite, so you can actually enjoy the flavors. Paprika, salt, chili powder, cayenne — all these flavors were present.

If I had to pick the most surprising like on this list, it's the Texas Red Chili. Even if you're not a chili person, I highly recommend you give this one a try. You can get a bowl or a cup — eat up!

Another surprising find and a top 3 contender was the Texas Roadhouse's Rattlesnake Bites appetizer. These lightly fried balls featured diced jalapeño and Monterey Jack cheese with a side of that epic Cajun sauce. I didn't know how much I'd come to love this dish. It's another one I wasn't expecting to enjoy, and this is exactly why these taste tests are so cool!

I think what really did it for me was my love of the light and crispy outside — a little bit of fried heaven — juxtaposed with the gooey, cheesy inside. The jalapeño flavor was great, too, brought out by an array of spices in a balanced and harmonious way. Honestly, I couldn't stop eating these. It got a little embarrassing at the table. Be that as it may, I can't recommend them enough! Eat them plain or dip them in that delicious Cajun sauce. If you like a little heat, you won't be disappointed.

Fighting for the top spot and missing it by an inch was the New York Strip. I could not believe how good this steak was, especially coming from a chain restaurant. 

For my taste test, I opted for the go-to medium rare (there is no other way to eat a steak — politely and respectfully), and it was cooked to perfection. Thank you, chef! The steak was so juicy with just enough char on top and a pinch of that Texas Roadhouse seasoning rub that really brought out all the natural flavors in the meat. I didn't want to mix my bites with anything else — sauce or side. This really was a delicious dish.

I don't have much more to stay about the New York Strip. If you're getting a steak at Texas Roadhouse, this is the one to get. No notes — well done, brand, chef, and cow!

I tried to pick a different winner as I ate my way through the menu, knowing I already adored these rolls, but alas, the Texas Roadhouse fresh rolls and signature honey cinnamon butter couldn't be beat. They were so fresh and fluffy, and while they were a little doughy, the texture sat right on the line of cooked. Perfection.

If you're new to the Roadhouse, these aren't your typical rolls and butter combo. The butter is a little bit of heaven. While the roll itself features sweet dough, the butter acts as another sweet component with the honey and cinnamon swirled in. But it's not overpowering at all — it complements the buttered roll perfectly. I also adore how the top of the rolls are brushed with butter before they're cooked, offering a nice and light shell that covers that soft, pillowy inside.

Adults and kids alike seek out these rolls as a meat-free favorite at the restaurant. "Truly scrumptious" was the quote of the day from a 13-year-old in my party. I second the thought.

For this ranking, I sought out the chain's top menu items, checking out blogs and calling a variety of restaurants to determine what I absolutely needed to try. Once I had my list finalized, I made my way to the Texas Roadhouse in Concord, New Hampshire, and sampled all 11 dishes on my list with the help of my friends and their kids. I needed an army to help me finish this food. 

For me, taste was the ultimate factor. If the flavors worked well, it was a hit in my book. Thank you to the staff who helped me get this article done right. If you're in NH, head to Concord for a delicious Roadhouse meal!