Texas Roadhouse fries are thick-cut steak fries, not shoestrings. Plain steak fries are one of the free two-side choices with any entree, roughly $2.99 ordered on their own, and loaded Cheese Fries are listed at $8.49 as a shareable starter.
What Texas Roadhouse fries actually are
Texas Roadhouse serves steak fries: wide, skin-on potato wedges cut far thicker than fast-food fries, fried until the outside sets and the inside stays soft and potato-like. There is no shoestring or curly fry option on the standard menu.
That single cut shows up in three places: a free side with entrees, a small a la carte portion, and the base of Cheese Fries, the appetizer version buried under cheddar and bacon. Anyone expecting a thin, crunchy fry usually walks away disappointed, because the thick cut is built for a soft middle rather than snap.
| What it is | Thick-cut, skin-on steak fries (potato wedges), deep fried and salted |
|---|---|
| Cut and size | Wide wedge cut, roughly finger-thick; side portion is a small bowl, appetizer portion is a shareable platter |
| Price | Free as one of two entree sides; about $2.99 a la carte; Cheese Fries listed at $8.49 (higher at some locations) |
| Calories | Side portion is a few hundred calories; Cheese Fries run into four figures at stores that print them |
| What’s included | Nothing extra with the plain side; Cheese Fries arrive with cheddar and bacon, ranch on request |
| Category | Sides (plain) and Starters (Cheese Fries) |
Fries price: side, appetizer and Cheese Fries
Steak fries cost nothing extra when chosen as one of the two sides included with an entree. Bought alone they land near $2.99, matching the standard side price. Cheese Fries are the expensive version, listed at $8.49 on the menus we checked.
| How you order | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steak fries as an entree side | Included | Counts as one of your two sides, alongside free rolls |
| Steak fries a la carte | About $2.99 | Same price band as every other standard side |
| Extra side of fries added to a meal | About $2.99 | Charged as an additional side, not swapped free |
| Cheese Fries (starter) | $8.49 listed | Some markets print noticeably higher; check the in-store board |
Cheese Fries are the one line where we see real disagreement between locations. The $8.49 figure comes from the menu listing we verified, but higher-cost markets and remodeled stores have carried this item well above that, closer to the top of the appetizer range. Treat $8.49 as the floor, not a guarantee, and confirm on your local menu before you build a budget around it.
Calories and nutrition
Texas Roadhouse prints calorie counts on menus in most states, so the number for your location is on the page in front of you. A plain steak fries side sits in the few-hundred-calorie range; Cheese Fries, with cheddar and bacon layered on, climb past a thousand.
The gap matters more than the exact digit. Going from plain fries to the loaded version roughly quadruples what you are eating, before the ranch. The honest workarounds are ordering the plain side instead of the appetizer, or splitting Cheese Fries across three or four people. For anything precise, use the figure printed on your local menu rather than a third-party number, since portioning is done by hand.
How to order fries so they arrive crispy
Ask for them well done or extra crispy. Thick steak fries hold heat and moisture, so a standard fry cycle leaves the surface soft by the time the plate reaches you. A longer cook is a free request and the single biggest quality lever on this item.
Two other things worth saying at the table. Ask for the fries to come out with the entree rather than early, since they steam faster than anything else on the plate. And if you want ranch or BBQ for dipping, ask before the food lands rather than after.
Pairing is straightforward. Fries plus a house salad is the standard two-side combination for a steak, because the salad covers the freshness the fries do not. Doubling fries as both sides is allowed at most stores but leaves the plate one-note, and the free rolls already put one starch on the table.
Cheese Fries vs plain steak fries
Cheese Fries are the same steak fries with cheddar and bacon melted over the top, served as a starter platter rather than a side bowl. The potato underneath is identical. What you pay for is the topping, the larger portion, and the fact that it lands early to share.
The practical trade-off: Cheese Fries at $8.49 versus roughly $2.99 for the plain side is about $5.50 for cheese, bacon and a bigger pile. For a table of three or four that is reasonable appetizer value. For two people it usually is not, because the platter kills your appetite for a steak you already paid $17 or more for. The thick cut also goes soggy under melted cheese fast, so eat the middle of the platter first.
Are the fries worth ordering?
As a free entree side, yes, with the crispy request attached. As an $8.49 appetizer, only if you are sharing across three or more people. Compared with sibling sides, the fries are the safest but not the best value on the list.
Two comparisons are worth making. Against the loaded baked potato, the fries lose on both size and staying power; a loaded potato is a far heavier side for a similar upcharge structure. Against the Fried Pickles, which sit near $7.99, Cheese Fries are the more filling appetizer but the less interesting one, and pickles do less damage to your main course. Splitting a hungry table, the fries platter feeds more people.
Fries for takeout and delivery
Fries travel worse than any other side on this menu. Thick cuts trap steam inside a closed container, so a 15-minute drive turns a crisp exterior soft. If you are ordering to go, expect a different item than you get at the table.
Practical fixes: ask for extra crispy on the ticket, crack the container lid in the car, and reheat in an oven or air fryer rather than a microwave. A plain side survives transit better than Cheese Fries, since melted cheese congeals and does not recover.
What we cannot confirm
This is an independent guide, not the restaurant. Texas Roadhouse locations are individually franchised or company-run with regional pricing, so a printed figure here can be off by 10-15% at your store, and the Cheese Fries price in particular varies more than most items.
We also cannot confirm exact fry weights, fryer temperatures or piece counts, because the company does not publish them and kitchens portion by hand. Anyone quoting a precise gram weight for a steak fries side is guessing. Dipping sauce availability, to-go packing and whether a store doubles a side free are all location-level calls. Phone the restaurant or read the printed menu before relying on any number here.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas Roadhouse have fries?
Yes. Texas Roadhouse serves thick-cut steak fries, available free as one of the two sides included with an entree, a la carte for about $2.99, or loaded with cheddar and bacon as Cheese Fries at $8.49. There is no thin or curly fry option.
What kind of fries does Texas Roadhouse serve?
Steak fries: wide, skin-on potato wedges cut much thicker than fast-food fries. They are fried and salted, with a soft interior by design. The same fries form the base of the Cheese Fries appetizer.
How much are Texas Roadhouse Cheese Fries?
Cheese Fries are listed at $8.49 on the menus we verified, but this item varies more than most by region and some locations print it considerably higher. Check your local menu board before ordering.
Are fries free at Texas Roadhouse?
Plain steak fries are free when chosen as one of the two sides that come with an entree. Ordered separately or added as an extra side, they cost around $2.99. Cheese Fries are always a paid appetizer.
Can you ask for Texas Roadhouse fries extra crispy?
Yes, and you should. Ask for them well done or extra crispy when you order. Thick steak fries hold moisture, so the standard cook often leaves them soft. The request costs nothing and takes only a couple of extra minutes.
How many calories are in Texas Roadhouse fries?
A plain steak fries side sits in the few-hundred-calorie range, while Cheese Fries climb past a thousand once cheddar and bacon are added. Exact counts are printed on the menu in most states, and that printed figure is the number to trust.
Can you order a side of fries by itself?
Yes. Fries can be ordered a la carte at the standard side price of roughly $2.99, or added as an extra side alongside a meal for the same charge. Substituting a second fries for another included side is usually allowed at no cost.
Do Texas Roadhouse fries come with dipping sauce?
Not automatically. Ranch, BBQ and other standard sauces are normally available on request at no charge. Ask when you order rather than after the plate arrives, since the fries cool quickly.