Why You Might Want To Avoid The Chili At Texas Roadhouse
While plenty of foodies craving quality beef run to LongHorn and Outback when the dinner bell rings, according to Statista only Texas Roadhouse has the honor of being America's best-selling steakhouse. However, despite earning $3.72 billion with its Texan-inspired eats in 2021, not everything on Texas Roadhouse's menu will delight your appetite. So here's a helpful guide for what to eat and what to avoid when you sit down for a bonafide Roadhouse feast.
Those unlimited rolls served up with a side of cinnamon-infused butter? Yes. The steakhouse's USDA-certified sirloin? Absolutely. The marshmallow and brown sugar-filled loaded sweet potato? Oh yeah. The chili? Well, about that. So we all know Texas Roadhouse takes no shortcuts when it comes to its steaks, right? In fact, the chain reported to 6 WBCR that it has in-house meat cutters at every location who chop their way through millions of dollars worth of meat annually. However, it seems the chain isn't as particular about its chili. Because a Texas Roadhouse employee revealed on Reddit that this dish is made of ingredients that may leave you wishing you'd gone for the cactus bloom.
The truth behind Texas Roadhouse chili
Under the r/IamA subreddit, a Texas Roadhouse employee posted an ask me anything forum. However, this was not just any employee, but one of the meat cutters who handle all of the sirloin and ribs that end up on customers' plates, per 6 WBCR. So when a Reddit user asked OP if Roadhouse's meat was cheap, the associate was pretty qualified to give an answer.
According to the employee, when you order a Texas Roadhouse steak, you'll be biting into a high grade of beef. However, while sirloin leftovers end up in the chain's famous kebobs and Dillo bites, the remaining low-quality parts aren't tossed out. Instead, they are used in the chili. In other words, the employee reported Texas Roadhouse's chili is mostly fat and grizzle. So, ironically, copycat recipes like Dwell by Michelle's that call for lean beef are likely made of higher quality stuff than the chain's actual in-house chili.
While no news outlets have confirmed the Reddit employee's claim, a Tripadvisor review for a Pennsylvania Texas Roadhouse location has. According to the reviewer, although the Roadhouse's steak was top-notch, its chili had gristle in it. However, the dish's potentially low-quality meat isn't the only reason people are suspicious of Texas Roadhouse's chili.
Texas Roadhouse's chili is hardly Texan
From fajitas to tamales, when it comes to food, Texans do things differently. And that includes how they cook their chili. According to Houston Press, Texans do not, under any circumstances, put beans in this dish. Instead, alongside meat, their chilis are filled with spices and veggies like cumin, chili peppers, and onions. And can you guess what Texas Roadhouse does have in its chili? One Texan Tripadvisor reviewer was quick to point it out, writing "Called Texas Roadhouse, but when you put your beans in your chili, you've got the recipe from someone other than a Texas."
And, to the reviewer's point, despite its name, Texas Roadhouse's website reveals it was actually founded in Indiana. So it seems although its' Dallas-style filet has Texas' blessing, the Northern-born restaurant still has quite a bit to work to do when it comes to its chili — which means when you pay a visit to Texas Roadhouse, you probably want to stick with steak. However, if you do want to try a delectably authentic version of this Texas staple, you should for sure try the truck stop chili recipe recommended by Houston Press. This dish comes from an authentic Tex-Mex-inspired cookbook, skips the beans, and (most importantly) lacks gristle. Instead, it features enough crispy bacon and decadent brisket to satisfy any born and raised Texan.