Do you know why Sundays are the best day to eat there?
By Hannah Doolin
When a craving for steak hits, it can be tough to satisfy without dropping a decent amount of cash — unless you know where to go. Texas Roadhouse is beloved for its laid-back atmosphere, huge portions, and low prices. Plus, they serve high-quality steak in every cut you could imagine. They're not just about the beef though. Read on for more juicy details.
It didn't actually start in Texas.
You'd think the chain would have roots in the Lone Star State, but founder and chairman Kent Taylor opened the very first location in Clarksville, IN, back in 1993, and the company is currently based in Louisville, KY. Texans do love it though: With 56 restaurants there, the state is the company's largest market.
You can eat at Texas Roadhouse in almost every state.
There are over 460 locations in 49 of 50 states, plus the restaurant has expanded internationally, opening five locations in the Middle East.
Customers always get free food.
When you're seated at a table, you can immediately dig into all-you-can-eat peanuts — they go through over 8 million pounds a year — and staff even encourage you to throw the shells on the floor as you munch! Plus, you'll get a basket of warm, fresh-baked bread. The yeast rolls are made from scratch and baked every five minutes, then served with homemade cinnamon butter.
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Every restaurant has its own butcher.
This place doesn't mess around when it comes to steak, so they bring in a professional to hand cut each one. The meat is cut in 34-degree coolers to ensure freshness.
Every restaurant also has its own baker.
Yep, we're coming right back to the rolls! This basket of mouth-watering carby deliciousness is made on premises from scratch, like everything else Texas Roadhouse serves (aside from a few items on the kids menu.)
Each store handles about $1 million of meat each year.
Any cut you could hope for is on the menu, including New York strip, ribeye, T-bone, filet, filet medallions, prime rib, and steak kabobs, but the all-time best-seller is the 6-ounce USDA Choice Sirloin. Serving that much quality beef really adds up.
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There's a super-exclusive lunch menu.
In an effort to give restaurant managers a better work-life balance and to reduce operating costs, the chain only offers lunch two days per week. That means they're only open for dinner Monday through Thursday, but the doors open for lunch service at noon on Saturdays and Sundays.
They've got killer margaritas.
There are over 15 varieties on the menu. In addition to classic frozen and on-the-rocks, there are Hurricane and Sangria varieties. But if tequila isn't your thing, don't forget about other drinks like the Roadhouse Roadie, Armadillo Punch, and a Kenny Chesney–inspired Kenny's Cooler.
Every restaurant has location-specific flair.
There are original murals on the walls of each eatery, created specifically to reflect the local community, and every mural is approved by chain founder Kent Taylor before going up.
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Selena Gomez is a big fan.
The star named Texas Roadhouse in her list of all-time favorite places to eat. Her Snapchat confession also included chains like Whataburger and Taco Bueno.
They serve the best steak in the country.
At least that's what Nation's Restaurant News Consumer Picks survey has said two years in a row. The fan-favorite steakhouse outshines its competitors in food quality, value and menu variety.
You can order road kill ... and you should.
Yep, it's right there on the menu, but it's not what it sounds like. It's actually a 10-ounce chop steak, smothered in mushrooms, onions and jack cheese — and it sounds delicious.
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You can cook your favorite menu items at home.
The Rattlesnake Bites are cheesy, spicy, and fried — aka impossible not to love. That's why Delish editors made a copycat recipe that you're going to want to try, like, yesterday. We hacked the cinnamon butter, too. You're welcome.
