Every now and then, I get pretty strong cravings for some of my restaurant favorites. Panera, Buffalo Wild Wings, and of course, nothing beats the happy hour and date night deals at Applebees. But this time, I had a specific craving for Texas Roadhouse. Unfortunately, this classic chain steakhouse isnt anywhere within New York City lines—so I had to get creative. Which is how I came across the glorious Texas Roadhouse Butcher Shop.
Thats right—Texas Roadhouse will actually ship you their USDA Choice steaks right from their in-house meat cutters. They have five different kinds of steak that you can order in different sizes. Each package has four or six steaks. You can pick from filets, New York strips, ribeyes with and without bones, and filet medallions that are between 6 and 20 ounces. When you order a steak, it comes with a small bottle of their famous Steak Seasoning and detailed instructions on how to cook it to perfection.
Texas Roadhouse Butcher Shop also sells over on Amazon and ships within about a weeks time. So I ordered a box for myself and dreamt of juicy steak all week long.
Texas Roadhouse has earned a reputation for serving up tasty, hand-cut steaks at reasonable prices. As steak lovers, my readers and I are always curious to know where restaurants source their beef from So I decided to do some digging into where Texas Roadhouse gets their beef
An Overview of Texas Roadhouse’s Beef Sourcing
Based on my research, Texas Roadhouse sources their beef from cattle ranches across the United States. They focus on working with smaller, family-owned ranches rather than large commercial feedlots. This allows them to maintain strong relationships with their suppliers and ensure quality.
Texas Roadhouse has not publicly disclosed all of their beef suppliers. However they state on their website that they hand-select ranches that meet their standards for marbling texture, size, and freshness. The cattle are fed a diet of grass, grain, and corn to reach prime flavor and juiciness.
Why Texas Roadhouse Values U.S. Ranchers
There are several reasons why Texas Roadhouse chooses to source beef from U.S. ranches:
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Quality control – By working directly with ranchers, they can specify standards and oversee raising and feeding practices. This gives them more control over the end product.
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Supporting local economies – Sourcing beef domestically supports U.S. ranchers and related industries. Texas Roadhouse stated they spent $410 million with ranchers in 2021.
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Leaner beef – Grass-fed cattle typically produce leaner beef than grain-fed cattle. This aligns with Texas Roadhouse’s focus on less marbled steaks.
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Responsible practices – U.S. ranches must follow regulations on humane treatment, antibiotics, and hormones. Texas Roadhouse wants to source “responsibly raised” beef.
How Texas Roadhouse Ensures Consistency Across Locations
With over 610 locations across the U.S., how does Texas Roadhouse ensure their steaks taste great at every restaurant? Here are some of the keys:
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Strict supplier guidelines – They require specific breed, grade, and marbling scores from suppliers. This reduces variability.
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Proprietary aging process – Steaks are aged 21+ days using a patented process to break down tissue. This tenderizes and intensifies flavor.
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Onsite meat cutters – Steaks are hand-cut onsite at each location daily for optimal freshness and portion control.
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Standardized training – Meat cutters must complete an extensive training program on selecting, preparing, and serving steaks.
Why Texas Roadhouse’s Beef Stands Out
As a steak-focused chain, Texas Roadhouse puts a lot of emphasis on sourcing high-quality beef. Here are some standout qualities that set their steaks apart:
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Flavor – The proprietary aging method helps develop a richer, beefier flavor.
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Tenderness – Their choice of loin and rib cuts naturally have more marbling for tenderness.
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Juiciness – Quick grilling seals in moisture, while hand-cutting ensures ideal thickness.
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Value – They offer premium steak dinners at lower prices than upscale steakhouses.
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Freshness – Onsite butchering means steaks go straight from cooler to grill.
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Variety – From filet mignon to ribeye, they offer a wide range of favorite steak cuts.
How Can Texas Roadhouse Continue to Improve?
While Texas Roadhouse has a strong handle on their beef supply chain, there are still areas that could potentially be improved:
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Increase transparency about beef suppliers and ranch locations. This satisfies customers’ curiosity and values around sourcing.
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Make sustainability commitments for water and land use required of beef suppliers. This reduces environmental impact.
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Introduce some grass-fed or American Wagyu options. This appeals to diners looking for pasture-raised or specialty beef.
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Implement a program to ensure ethical treatment of cattle by ranchers and transporters. Animal welfare is important to some consumers.
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Expand local or regional beef offerings through partnerships with smaller farms. More localization taps into the farm-to-table movement.
The Bottom Line
Texas Roadhouse clearly obsesses over the details to deliver a delicious steak meal at a reasonable price point. Their focus on hand-selecting cattle from U.S. ranchers, dry-aging, and in-restaurant butchery pays off in superior flavor and quality. As a steak-lover myself, I’m fully satisfied knowing the origins of the beef they sizzle up at my local Texas Roadhouse.
I’d love to hear thoughts from other steak fans and Texas Roadhouse regulars. Feel free to leave a comment!
Turn your home into a fancy steakhouse.
Even though going to Texas Roadhouse is fun, we all know that eating out can make us eat too much and, unfortunately, in the process, gain weight. It’s good to treat yourself once in a while, but sometimes all I want is a juicy steak. It’s nice to know I don’t have to leave the house to get a steakhouse-quality meal.
When you cook at home, you can cut the calories you eat by a lot. This is especially true if you pair your Texas Roadhouse steak with some crispy roasted vegetables. I ended up serving our filets with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts and extra crispy oven-baked fries. Because in my opinion, every steak should be served with a side of fries.
For even more taste tests, read these next:
Buying Texas Roadhouse steaks is a lot easier than you think.
The steaks arrived packaged with dry ice and styrofoam to keep them perfectly frozen. When I opened the box, I saw a specific set of instructions on how to thaw and cook the steak I had ordered. I chose four 6-ounce Filet Steaks in the end. I put two in the freezer to use later and put the other two in the fridge to defrost for 24 hours. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e.
I did exactly what the directions said and let the steaks come to room temperature before seasoning them with steak seasoning. Since I don’t have a grill, I ended up cooking my steak over a cast-iron skillet by following the instructions from Texas Roadhouse Butcher Shop (with one small change: I used butter instead of oil). So I fired up the stove.
The directions say to take the steaks off the stove 5 degrees before you want them done, so I made sure to do that at 135 so that it would be 140 for a perfect medium-rare. The steaks sat for five minutes, and then, I dug in.
What To Know Before Eating Texas Roadhouse Steak Again
FAQ
What grade of beef does Texas Roadhouse use?
Does Texas Roadhouse use real meat?
Does Texas Roadhouse use lab meat?
Why is Texas Roadhouse steaks so tender?
Is Texas Roadhouse a good place to eat steak?
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.
Does Texas Roadhouse take their meat seriously?
Texas Roadhouse claims that they take their meat seriously, having served USDA Choice steaks served at their restaurants since first opening in 1993. While this may sound like your average PR firm boasting, Texas Roadhouse seems to have taken a few unique initiatives to back up these usually tried-and-true claims.
Does Texas Roadhouse have a butcher?
Via their own fact sheet, each Texas Roadhouse location has its own in-house butcher who is responsible for hand-cutting every piece of meat that is served. They even have a giant freezer to keep their meats at a perfectly preserved 34 degrees F. You can also choose your cut of steak at every location, just as you would at your local butcher.
Does Texas Roadhouse have a meat cutter?
There are several versions of the painting, which honors the Native American culture. Each Texas Roadhouse restaurant employs a butcher and a baker. The butchers, or meat cutters, hand cut each and every steak that we serve. Our meat cutters work in 34-degree coolers and cut an average of $1 million of meat a year per store.