8 Secrets Texas Roadhouse Employees Don’t Want You to Know
Texas Roadhouse is an outright success story in the restaurant business. Since its founding nearly 30 years ago in 1993, the chain has grown to hundreds of locations spread across the nation and even with an international footprint. The restaurant is also well-respected for having quality steaks, cold beer, and a raucous, welcoming environment, according to Money Inc.
It’s also usually very busy, so much so Wednesdays may be best avoided there, given the WildWest Wednesday specials that draw in so much traffic. Also best avoided at Texas Roadhouse are dishes made with leftovers and a drink with more sugar than you need in two days. Read about those and more below as Texas Roadhouse employees reveal secrets.
When you order a steak at Texas Roadhouse, your server will ask if you want to add sautéed mushrooms and onions. Ask for a baked potato, and they’ll ask if you want cheese and bacon. And on it goes. According to a Texas Roadhouse employee sharing on Reddit, the waitstaff there are pushed by management to always push upsell items on diners.
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And its headquarters is in Louisville, Kentucky. Oh, and its founder got his experience in the restaurant and hospitality scene in Colorado, reveals Louisville Business First. So there’s really nothing Texan in the DNA of Texas Roadhouse, its name comes from a marketing move: the guy who started the chain just thought it sounded good and fit the vibe he wanted.
What with their constant upselling and recommending pricier items, Texas Roadhouse employees would rather you not know that, according to Delish, the best selling steak the chain sells is also the cheapest: it’s the six-ounce sirloin steak. And it has been the way since 1993.
REALTED: The #1 Unhealthiest Steak at Every Popular Steakhouse Chain
Last spring, you may well have heard about Texas Roadhouse increasing its menu prices by about 1.75% to keep up with increased costs. Ultimately, they raised prices by more like 4% in 2021, reports Nation’s Restaurant News. Well this year, as inflation runs wild across almost all industries, things are getting even pricier at the Roadhouse. The company has hiked prices another 3%.
And not because of the alcohol—or not primarily, anyway. Their Raspberry Margarita, for example, has a staggering 520 calories (which is almost as much as a Big Mac) and a shocking 76 grams of sugar, which is about double the entire recommended daily intake, according to Healthline.
Everyone knows about the endless supply of free peanuts at a Texas Roadhouse (and again, of course, all the resulting peanut shells littering the floor) but you are also welcome to an endless supply of more substantial free food there: rolls and butter, says Mashed. Servers at the chain will only bring one basket of bread and butter per table unless they are asked for more, but if you request subsequent rounds of rolls, you’ll get them.
According to several Texas Roadhouse employees who shared some secrets about the chain on Reddit, the chili there is really best avoided. One worker said in part “the leftovers from [the steaks] are used for the kebobs and Dillo bites, and anything else is used to make the chili … Avoid the chili.”
A former Texas Roadhouse worker—someone therefore no longer obliged to upsell—shared a TikTok video in which, via Newsweek, she claimed the nine-ounce medallion meal is the best deal you can get. It delivers more meat than most steak options offered and comes with any side of your choice, as you can swap out the rice or mashed potatoes.
Steven John
Steven John is a freelancer writer for Eat This, Not That! based just outside New York City. Read more
