Popular Texas Roadhouse Menu Items, Ranked From Worst To Best

Chances are, no matter where you're from or where you live (at least in the U.S.), you've heard of Texas Roadhouse. The popular chain restaurant doesn't just have devoted fans throughout the Lone Star State, but really, all over the United States. Seriously, there are even Texas Roadhouses in New Jersey, so everyone can get a taste of what the beloved chain steakhouse has to offer. 

But, as is the case with just about every chain restaurant, Texas Roadhouse has some menu items that really aren't worth ordering. Sure, the restaurant isn't over-priced, but still, if you want to get your money's worth and eat the best that Texas Roadhouse has to offer, then you should probably steer clear of certain menu items. On the other hand, the casual eatery also has some tried and true dishes that you should definitely give a chance. So, whatever you're craving when you order or eat at Texas Roadhouse, here are the best and worst menu items. You're welcome. 

When you dine out at Texas Roadhouse, there are a few menu items that probably stick out. For any barbeque lover, the temptation of pulled pork might be enough to cause you to forgo your initial thought of ordering steak or chicken and appease the BBQ fiend you know you are. That would be a mistake. The pulled pork at Texas Roadhouse might just be one of the worst things you could order there.

Whether you get the pulled pork dinner, or the pulled pork sandwich, you'll likely be disappointed. Sure, they might look good on paper, and they might even smell good, smothered in all that sweet and smoky barbeque sauce. But underneath that shiny, greasy exterior is a bland menu choice that really isn't great at all. In fact, in one Trip Advisor review of a Texas Roadhouse, the user described the utter disappointment that they were served alongside their pulled pork. "The three of us eating would agree that the pulled pork barbecue was not fit for human consumption. We requested a carryout, and our three dogs were even reluctant to eat it." Ouch. That's definitely not what you want from a pulled pork dinner: something dogs won't even eat.

Perhaps one of the fanciest items you can order at any steak house, aside from a filet mignon of course, is the prime rib. Normally prime rib is rich, tender, and totally delectable. But at Texas Roadhouse, it's a mess on a plate. Yes, the menu item might be cheaper at Texas Roadhouse than at fancier steak houses, but there might just be a reason for that.

According to one Trip Advisor user, the prime rib they ordered during their visit to the restaurant was less than satisfactory. "Ordered the 12 oz prime rib, and received 8 oz of fat and 4 oz of meat! Worst prime rib I've ever eaten," the user wrote. Now, the secret to a great steak lies in the marbling of fat all along the meat. But for a prime rib to be entirely fat is just gross. So, when you head to Texas Roadhouse, stick to another cut of meat if you're feeling especially carnivorous that day. Because the prime rib ain't it, y'all.

Obviously, if you go to Texas Roadhouse, there's a good chance you might want a good steak while you're there. It's one of the main things that Texas Roadhouse is known for, but as any steak connoisseur knows, nailing a steak can be a tricky balance. You don't want to overcook it, but at a restaurant, you also can't undercook it. You want enough fat, but not too much fat. You want it seasoned well and full of flavor, but not overly seasoned. In short, steaks are hard to do well, but still, at Texas Roadhouse, they're pretty bad.

One look at the Yelp reviews for a Texas Roadhouse location, and it becomes clear that the famous chain restaurant has yet to nail the perfect steak, at least not consistently. As one reviewer for the site noted, "I ordered a rare steak and it came back medium well." Oof. Another reviewer described the steaks as "salty," and another claimed that "the steaks are so tough they're hard to cut." Yeah, that's just about the opposite of what you expect when you head to a restaurant known for its delicious steak.

As with most steakhouses, Texas Roadhouse offers a large variety of side dishes to accompany your main course. There's rice, corn, salads, and a ton of different vegetables. But there's also a few different kinds of potatoes to go along with your meal, including fries, a baked sweet potato, mashed potatoes, and a loaded baked potato. And that loaded baked potato might just be one of the best things on the menu, believe it or not.

According to Business Insider, the baked potato really has no place on the side dish menu, as it was so filling on its own. "It really was fully loaded," the publication reported of their own meal featuring a baked potato. "Warm, soft, and incredibly cheesy, this baked potato was a satisfying dish all on its own. I would probably choose mashed potatoes for my side next time, but I'd eat the baked potato by itself." Okay, yum. A baked potato might not sound like a full meal, but everything is bigger at Texas Roadhouse.

You truly haven't lived until you've had a jalapeno popper. The beloved appetizer is well-known across all of Texas, and beyond. There are a few varieties of the jalapeno popper, some are just jalapenos and cheese deep fried, and others are wrapped in bacon. But whatever kind you get, a jalapeno popper will always satisfy. And at Texas Roadhouse, the restaurant's take on jalapeno poppers are called Rattlesnake Bites, and they're addicting. Per the restaurant's menu, they are "Diced jalapeños and jack cheese, hand-battered, lightly-fried and served with Cajun Horseradish sauce for dipping."

Obviously, the description alone should be enough to convince you that the Rattlesnake Bites are worth ordering. But if you need more proof, then just check out this review on Trip Advisor: "This is an appetizer similar to jalapeño poppers served with a horseradish dip!!! Killer good food!" The reviewer even went on to say that they thought the Rattlesnake Bites were better than the steak! If that isn't all the reason you need to try the appetizer, then nothing is. They may just be an appetizer, but the Rattlesnake Bites at Texas Roadhouse are truly out of this world.

There are a lot of ways a restaurant can mess up salmon. From overcooking it, undercooking it, turning it into a rubbery mess, or even not properly removing the skin or bones, salmon can seem like a gamble when eating out. But, it's not a huge gamble when you eat at Texas Roadhouse. Because despite the fact that Texas Roadhouse is a steakhouse, the salmon is delectable.

The dish is incredibly popular with fans of the steakhouse chain on social media. One Texas Roadhouse fan on Twitter called it their "all time favorite" while another patron said that they could eat the dish every day. While fish might not exactly be what you initially think of when you head to Texas Roadhouse, you shouldn't discount the salmon if you ever find yourself at the beloved steakhouse. After all, trying new things is part of the fun in eating out, right?

If there is one thing that Texas Roadhouse is known for, it's the free rolls and butter that come to your table while you're waiting to order and receive your food and drinks. Seriously, just Google "Texas Roadhouse rolls" and pages and pages of results will show you a ton of copycat recipes to make your own rolls at home, because people just love them that much. But don't just take our word for it.

A review on Business Insider claimed that while the rolls were fine, it was the combination of the rolls and the special cinnamon butter that made the combination so perfect. "The buns were slightly oily and crispy on the outside," according to Business Insider. "By themselves, they weren't all that special ... However, they were clearly created to be married to the lightly sweet and slightly spiced cinnamon butter." If there's one thing you simply must try at Texas Roadhouse, it's the rolls and butter. And go ahead and ask for a second order, you'll need it.