There are tons of things that should convince you that the Texas Roadhouse and the Outback Steakhouse are more than just competitors. For one, they’re constantly pitted against each other by diners. There are lots of places where people ask which one is better. It’s safe to say that most of them conclude with a tie.
Then there’s also the recent Twitter “feud” that tended to cement their image as rivals. The not-so-friendly ribbing involved a lot of memes and brought enjoyment to a lot of followers. Everyone won here because people on the internet love it when brands interact.
The comparisons shouldn’t be surprising since both are casual-dining steakhouses with virtually identical menus. It all boils down to how individual locations perform which can vary greatly from one area to another. This is a common issue among chains, so people’s opinions will always be divided.
But if you really want to know which one might tickle your fancy better, let us lay down some facts that can help you make a choice.
Texas Roadhouse: Everything You Want in a Bar/Chain Steakhouse with a Honky-Tonk Vibe
Just like the state it’s named after, people either love or hate Texas Roadhouse. Lots of folks fall in love with its laid-back environment. Combined with good food and it’s practically a go-to eatery for a lot of Americans.
In the eyes of the experts, Texas Roadhouse is doing much better than most of its competitors. By knowing who their clientele is and focusing on them, they get to steadily grow in an environment where chain restaurants struggle to survive.
In the eyes of diners, this restaurant is offering a good deal of a great time and excellent value for their money. They get to offer better than basic steaks at friendly prices as well as a wide range of other menu items.
What might surprise you about Texas Roadhouse is that they almost always make nearly everything from scratch in each location. This can probably explain why some folks think that they have inconsistent service but no one can deny this rarity. This makes dining at Texas Roadhouse feel like you’re eating at a local restaurant but with some upgrades.
If you want to sample the best of the best from this chain, make sure not to miss their cinnamon butter and dinner rolls, prime rib, margaritas, Jamaican Cowboy, and chili. Their steaks are considered by many as the best that you can get from a chain restaurant. Make sure to try those as well.
Outback Steakhouse: Offering a Different Mix of Southern Flavors
While the Outback Steakhouse isn’t from the land down under, it has done a lot to spread the word about the Australian outback through its themed restaurants. The food is decidedly American with a few Mexican and Continental delicacies, though. This means that you don’t need to be too adventurous with your food choices when dining here.
Best known for their Bloomin’ Onion appetizer, you can be guaranteed that you’ll get pretty standard casual-dining and steakhouse fare from this chain restaurant. Their steaks are also well-loved for their consistency. So if their 17-spice steaks suited to your taste buds, you can always expect to enjoy the same flavor every time you visit one of their locations.
Aside from its 17-spice rub recipe, Outback also prides itself for offering full-flavored dishes. They achieve such by using real butter and heavy cream in their dishes. This doesn’t mean that you can’t count your calories here. They include the nutritional data on their food and offer lighter versions of their dishes. These concessions make them a good pick for different kinds of diners.
Their menus are also regionalized to ensure that their food will suit the locals’ taste buds. Their steaks tend to stick with their signature recipe but you can be sure to find local favorites and ingredients here and there.
The convenience they can offer is also very notable. With more than 1000 restaurants around the globe, you can get your fill in a lot of different places in and out of the US. So if their 17-spice rub is your kind of fix, there’s a good chance that you’ll find a location near you.
The Verdict
Choosing between the Texas Roadhouse and the Outback Steakhouse will greatly vary from one diner to the other. There are really just some folks who will prefer one over the other depending on lots of different factors.
If you’re the kind who likes a laid-back dining environment, the Texas Roadhouse will be a great place for you. If you’re a big fan of the whole concept of casual-dining chain restaurants, you might be satisfied by what the Outback Steakhouse has to offer.