How much is a half rack of ribs at Texas Roadhouse? Most locations price the half slab of Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs at roughly $18 to $24, and that price includes two sides plus fresh-baked rolls with cinnamon butter. Exact pricing is set locally.
What a half rack of ribs actually is
A half rack (menu wording is usually “half slab”) is roughly half a slab of pork loin back ribs, slow-cooked in house and finished on the grill with the house barbecue sauce. It is sold as a full entrée, not an appetizer.
Bone count is the useful mental model. A full slab of loin back ribs runs roughly 11 to 13 bones depending on supplier and trim, so a half slab lands around 5 to 7. That is why two half slabs from two visits can look different on the plate. You are buying half a rack, not a fixed count.
| What it is | Half slab of slow-cooked pork loin back ribs, sauced and grilled |
|---|---|
| Menu name | Usually listed as “Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs, Half Slab” |
| Portion | Approximately half a rack, commonly 5-7 bones; weight varies by trim |
| Typical price | About $18-$24 as a full entrée; confirm with your location |
| Calories | Printed on the in-restaurant menu and official nutrition guide; ribs sit high in the entrée range, sides add on top |
| What’s included | Two sides of your choice plus unlimited fresh-baked rolls with cinnamon butter |
| Sauce | House barbecue sauce, applied by default; can be requested on the side |
| Category | Dinner entrées / Ribs (also appears in combo platters) |
How much a half rack of ribs costs
Budget $18 to $24 for a half slab in most US markets in 2026. High-cost metros such as New York City, coastal California and Hawaii run above that band, while smaller Midwest and Southern markets sit at the low end. No single national price exists.
Prices are set market by market, which is why the same item can differ by four or five dollars between towns an hour apart. The chain publishes no national price list, so any site quoting one exact number for every location is guessing.
| Item | Typical entrée price range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Half slab ribs | ~$18-$24 | Includes two sides and rolls |
| Full slab ribs | ~$25-$32 | Same inclusions, roughly double the meat |
| Ribs combo (ribs + sirloin, chicken or shrimp) | ~$23-$30 | Half slab paired with a smaller second protein |
| Early Dine rib option | Lower, where offered | Availability and lineup differ by location |
For your real number, open your restaurant’s menu on the official site or app, or call. Third-party delivery apps typically mark prices up 15-25% over dine-in, so they are a poor reference for what you pay in the building.
Half slab vs full slab: the value math
The full slab is usually the better price per bone, but the half slab is the better meal for most people because both portions come with the same two sides and unlimited rolls. You pay roughly $7 to $9 more for the second half of the rack.
Run it out: if a half is $20 and a full is $28, you pay about 40% more for roughly 100% more meat. Good math if you eat it, otherwise $8 for a takeout box. Two rib eaters are better off with two half slabs than a shared full slab, which still comes with only two sides between them.
Calories and nutrition
Calorie counts are printed on the menus and in the official nutrition guide, so read the number at your table rather than a figure copied from a blog. Ribs are one of the higher-calorie entrées, and the sides you pick move the total substantially.
Three things drive the number. Pork loin back ribs are a fatty cut. The barbecue sauce is sugar-forward, so a sauced rack carries more sugar and calories than the same ribs served dry. And the meal is not just ribs: two sides plus rolls and cinnamon butter can rival the entrée itself.
Practical levers: sauce on the side, green beans or a house salad instead of loaded fries, and one roll rather than an open tap.
How to order ribs well
Ribs are slow-cooked ahead, so there is no doneness choice like there is with steak. What you control is sauce, sides and timing, and those three decisions change the plate more than most people expect.
- Sauce on the side. The most useful request. You control coverage, the surface stays firmer, the meat is less sweet.
- Extra grilled. If you like caramelized edges, ask for longer on the grill. Common request, usually honored.
- Your two sides. Ribs are rich and sweet, so pick at least one green or acidic side. Green beans, steamed vegetables or a house salad beat a second starch.
- Timing. Ribs can sell out late at busy locations. Arriving near close, call ahead.
- Takeout. Ask for sauce packaged separately; sauced ribs sweating in a covered box for 20 minutes lose whatever texture the grill gave them.
Rib combos and add-ons
Most locations offer combination platters pairing a half slab with a second protein, commonly sirloin, chicken or grilled shrimp. These price above a standalone half slab and below two separate entrées.
The combo is worth it if you want both proteins. It is not a way to get more ribs, since the rib portion is the same half slab. Pairings and availability vary by location, so check your restaurant’s current menu rather than assuming a combo exists.
Is a half rack worth it?
For most diners, yes. At roughly $18 to $24 with two sides and unlimited rolls, the half slab sits in the same band as the mid-tier sirloins while delivering a bigger, more filling plate. The trade-off is consistency.
Against a 6 oz or 8 oz sirloin at similar money, the ribs give more food and more sauce-driven flavor, while the sirloin gives a doneness choice and predictable results. Against chicken critters, the ribs cost more but eat like a proper entrée.
The honest caveat: rib quality varies more by kitchen and by hour than steak does. A half slab pulled at the right time is genuinely good; one that has been holding too long is dry at the ends. If your location has a rib reputation, order them. If you have been burned there, take the sirloin.
Where this page is uncertain
This is an independent guide, not an official Texas Roadhouse site, and some things we deliberately will not state as fact. Prices are set at location level, so the $18-$24 band is a realistic range, not a quote.
We do not publish an exact calorie number, because it moves with sauce application and menu revisions, and a stale figure is worse than none. We do not list a fixed bone count or ounce weight, since racks are trimmed by supplier. Combo pairings and Early Dine availability differ by restaurant.
To confirm anything here, open your location’s menu on the official Texas Roadhouse site or app, or call the restaurant. Either beats any third-party price list, including this one.
FAQ
How much is half rack of ribs?
Plan on roughly $18 to $24 at most Texas Roadhouse locations in 2026, with higher-cost metros running above that. The price includes two sides and unlimited rolls with cinnamon butter. Check your location’s menu for the exact figure.
How many ribs come in a half rack?
Usually around 5 to 7 bones, since a full slab of pork loin back ribs typically runs 11 to 13 bones. The item is portioned as half a rack rather than by a fixed count, so bone count varies between visits.
Does a half rack of ribs come with sides?
Yes. Like other dinner entrées, the half slab comes with two sides of your choice plus unlimited fresh-baked rolls with cinnamon butter. Some premium sides carry a small upcharge.
Is a full slab better value than a half slab?
Per bone, yes. A full slab is typically $7 to $9 more for roughly double the meat, but includes the same two sides. If you will finish it or want leftovers, it wins on math. If not, take the half.
What kind of ribs does Texas Roadhouse serve?
Pork loin back ribs, slow-cooked in house and finished on the grill with the chain’s house barbecue sauce. They are marketed as fall-off-the-bone rather than a firm, competition-style rib.
Can I get the ribs without sauce?
Yes. Ask for sauce on the side and you get the same rack with the glaze in a ramekin, which keeps the surface firmer and cuts the sugar. Routine request.
How many calories are in a half rack of ribs?
The current count is printed on the menu and in the official nutrition guide. Ribs sit high in the entrée range, and two sides plus rolls add significantly on top, so read the posted figure rather than an estimate.
Are ribs available at lunch or on Early Dine?
Availability varies by location. Some restaurants include a rib option on the Early Dine menu at a lower price, others do not. Call your location or check its menu before you go.
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