Why this Texas-sized chain is the top casual dining restaurant in the US
Despite currently high beef costs, Texas Roadhouse still serves an 11-ounce sirloin steak with two sides and endless fresh rolls for $20.
That price point is part of why Texas Roadhouse has been named the No. 1 casual dining chain. Though competitors like Applebee’s and Buffalo Wild Wings each operate over 1,000 locations, the 800-restaurant Texas Roadhouse is the largest casual dining chain in the U.S. by sales.
CEO Jerry Morgan told the Wall Street Journal, recently he thinks the chain’s success is due to its value pieces, like complimentary rolls with honey butter and endless peanuts, but also consistent quality on steak dinners. Texas Roadhouse has some of the highest customer satisfaction scores among sit-down chains, according to market research firm Technomic.
According to the Consumer Price Index released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, beef prices have been rising due to U.S. cattle herds being the smallest they’ve been in 70 years. Steak prices in 2025 reached $11.49 per pound, an 8 percent increase from 2024.
How Texas Roadhouse handles high beef prices
Because beef is about 50 percent of Texas Roadhouse’s commodity basket, the chain raised their prices one percent last April, and they plan to raise prices again this April by about two percent.
But Texas Roadhouse is still below the national average of consumer price increases. Full-service menu prices across the nation have risen nearly five percent from February 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Texas Roadhouse menu has options from ribeye to prime rib. Customers can choose their price point based on the size of the steak. And no matter what, guests get their choice of two sides.
Morgan says the company tries to save money in other areas, like utilities, so they don’t skimp on the quality of beef they serve. He thinks their customers tolerate the price increases because they continue to serve the same portion sizes with the same ingredients.
Where to find a $20 steak dinner in Fort Worth
To put the chain’s prices into perspective, a six-ounce sirloin steak is $14.49. And an eight-ounce New York strip is $19.99. For top of the line meat, a 12-ounce prime rib comes to $25.99. And a porterhouse T-bone is $34.99.
All steaks come with the choice of two sides– baked potatoes, steak cut fries, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, rice, salad or mac and cheese, among others.
Texas Roadhouse operates a few Fort Worth restaurants:
- Hulen: 4720 Southwest Loop 820
- North Beach Street: 5250 Endicott Ave.
- Lake Worth: 6672 Northwest Loop 820
- Burleson: 12301 South Freeway
- Avondale: 13101 NW Highway 287
This story was originally published March 23, 2026 at 2:11 PM.