longhorn texas roadhouse ribeye steak comparison: both chains grill a similar USDA Choice ribeye, but Texas Roadhouse includes two sides plus free rolls and usually runs a few dollars cheaper, while LongHorn leans on bigger bone-in cuts and a lighter seasoning hand.
What each ribeye actually is
A ribeye comes from the rib primal, the fattiest and most marbled of the common steakhouse cuts. Both chains use hand-cut USDA Choice beef, seasoned and cooked over an open flame.
The differences are sizing and bone. Texas Roadhouse builds its ribeye around boneless weights roughly in the 12 oz to 16 oz range, with a bone-in version at many but not all locations. LongHorn is known for the larger bone-in Outlaw Ribeye alongside a smaller boneless cut. Want a bone, LongHorn makes it easier to find. Want the cheapest path to a marbled steak, Texas Roadhouse usually wins.
| Spec | Texas Roadhouse ribeye | LongHorn ribeye |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hand-cut USDA Choice ribeye, grilled to order | Fire-grilled USDA Choice ribeye, boneless or bone-in |
| Typical sizes | Around 12 oz and 16 oz boneless; bone-in at select stores | A boneless cut in the teens in ounces, plus the large bone-in Outlaw Ribeye |
| Price band | Roughly $24 to $33 depending on size and market | Roughly $27 to $38 depending on size and market |
| Calories | Commonly 800 to 1,200 for the steak alone | Similar band; bone-in runs higher |
| What is included | Two sides plus free rolls with cinnamon butter | One side at most locations; bread service varies |
| Category | Hand-Cut Steaks | Steaks and grill entrees |
Price comparison
Expect to pay roughly $24 to $33 for a Texas Roadhouse ribeye and roughly $27 to $38 for a comparable LongHorn ribeye, with the gap widening on the largest bone-in cuts. Neither chain publishes one national price.
Both companies let stores set their own numbers, so a suburban Ohio location and a downtown Boston location can differ by five dollars on the same cut. The bands below reflect what these cuts generally run, not a fixed menu price.
| Cut | Typical price band | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Roadhouse ribeye, smaller boneless | $24 to $28 | Above the sirloin, near the Dallas Filet |
| Texas Roadhouse ribeye, larger boneless | $28 to $33 | Often the priciest boneless steak |
| Texas Roadhouse bone-in ribeye | $30 to $36 | Where offered; store by store |
| LongHorn boneless ribeye | $27 to $33 | Similar weight, higher entry price |
| LongHorn Outlaw Ribeye, bone-in | $32 to $38 | Largest cut here |
What comes with the steak
This is the single biggest value difference. A Texas Roadhouse steak entree includes two sides and unlimited fresh-baked rolls with cinnamon butter at no charge. LongHorn typically bundles one side with a steak entree.
That second side is worth roughly $4 to $6 bought separately, which closes most of the price gap or reverses it. Add the rolls and the Texas Roadhouse ribeye usually lands cheaper per plate even when menu prices look close.
Side lists overlap heavily: baked potato, mashed potatoes, fries, green beans, corn, salad. Texas Roadhouse charges extra for a few premium sides, so a plate can creep past the listed price.
Calories and nutrition
A grilled ribeye at either chain generally lands between 800 and 1,200 calories for the steak alone, driven almost entirely by cut weight and fat content rather than by preparation. Sides and butter push a full plate well past that.
Neither chain prints one figure that applies to every store, and ribeye counts are not listed as consistently as the sirloin and Dallas Filet. Ribeye is the most marbled common cut, so it outranks a sirloin or filet of the same weight by a wide margin.
Ways to trim the plate without changing cuts:
- Ask for the steak grilled with no butter on top.
- Swap one side to green beans or a salad with dressing on the side.
- Order the smaller weight and take the difference in sides.
- Check the chain’s online nutrition calculator for your exact cut.
Seasoning, grill and char
Texas Roadhouse seasons heavily with a peppery, salt-forward blend over a hot open flame, giving a dark crust and a loud seasoning profile. LongHorn also fire-grills but uses a more restrained rub, letting beef flavor sit forward.
Which you prefer is taste, not quality. If you like steak salted hard, Texas Roadhouse matches that. If chain seasoning reads too salty to you, LongHorn is gentler. Both kitchens run high volume, good for consistency and bad for precision: a medium-rare order can arrive closer to medium during a Friday rush.
How to order either one well
Order a ribeye one stage rarer than you actually want, because the fat needs heat to render but the steak keeps cooking on a hot plate. Medium-rare to medium is the range where ribeye marbling turns silky instead of chewy.
- Avoid well-done. The cut’s advantage is intramuscular fat. Cook it out and you have paid a premium for a tougher steak than the sirloin.
- Ask for it seasoned light if you watch sodium. Both chains will do it, and at Texas Roadhouse it noticeably changes the steak.
- Say no butter if you want the crust crisp rather than glossy.
- Pair one starchy side with one green one. Ribeye is rich enough on its own.
- Send it back early if it is overcooked. Both chains recook without argument if you flag it in the first few bites.
Which is worth it, and sibling cuts
For most diners the Texas Roadhouse ribeye is the better buy because the second side and free rolls close the price gap, while the beef quality grade is the same. LongHorn earns its premium mainly if you specifically want a large bone-in steak.
Worth weighing against the ribeye on the Texas Roadhouse menu itself:
- Dallas Filet, 6 oz, $26.99, 270 calories. Similar money for far less beef, but it is the tenderest cut at a quarter of the calories. Pick it if texture beats fat flavor for you.
- Hand-Cut Sirloin, 6 oz, $16.99, 250 calories. Roughly ten dollars cheaper, leaner and firmer, and the best value steak on the board if you are not chasing marbling.
- Porterhouse T-Bone, 23 oz, $28.99, 1,040 calories. More total beef than any ribeye here at a similar price, combining a strip and a filet.
Plainly: fat and flavor, ribeye. Most steak per dollar, the Porterhouse. Tenderness, the filet.
Honest limitations
This is an independent guide, not affiliated with Texas Roadhouse or LongHorn Steakhouse. We do not have a verified national menu listing for either chain’s ribeye, so prices above are bands rather than exact figures and no number here is a quote.
Ribeye sizes, bone-in availability, calorie counts and side upcharges all move by location and season. Some Texas Roadhouse stores carry a bone-in ribeye and others never have. Confirm the cut, weight and price on your store’s own menu page, in the chain app, or by phone before planning around a number here.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Texas Roadhouse ribeye better than the LongHorn ribeye?
Neither is objectively better. Both use hand-cut USDA Choice beef over an open flame. Texas Roadhouse seasons more aggressively and includes two sides plus free rolls; LongHorn uses a lighter rub and offers a larger bone-in cut. Pick on seasoning preference and whether you want a bone.
Which is cheaper, Texas Roadhouse or LongHorn?
Texas Roadhouse is usually cheaper on the ribeye, often by three to five dollars at a comparable weight, and the gap widens once you count the second included side and the free rolls. Prices vary by location.
How much is a ribeye at Texas Roadhouse?
Expect roughly $24 to $33 depending on the weight and your region, with a bone-in version running higher where it is offered. Texas Roadhouse does not publish a single national price, so confirm on your local store’s menu.
What size ribeye does Texas Roadhouse serve?
Boneless ribeye is commonly offered around 12 oz and 16 oz. Some locations also carry a bone-in ribeye at a larger weight. Available sizes differ store to store, so check the local menu rather than assuming.
How many calories are in a Texas Roadhouse ribeye?
The steak alone generally falls between 800 and 1,200 calories depending on weight, before sides, butter or rolls. Ribeye is the most marbled common cut, so it runs far higher than the 6 oz sirloin at 250 calories or the Dallas Filet at 270.
Does the ribeye come with sides at Texas Roadhouse?
Yes. Every Texas Roadhouse steak entree includes two sides, and the table gets fresh-baked rolls with cinnamon butter at no charge. A few premium sides carry a small upcharge, so ask if you are watching the total.
Does LongHorn have a bone-in ribeye?
Yes, LongHorn is known for a large bone-in ribeye, the Outlaw Ribeye, alongside a smaller boneless cut. Texas Roadhouse carries a bone-in ribeye at some locations but not all, so confirm by phone.
What should I order instead if the ribeye is too rich?
The 6 oz Hand-Cut Sirloin at $16.99 and 250 calories is the leaner, cheaper option, and the 6 oz Dallas Filet at $26.99 and 270 calories gives tenderness without heavy marbling. Both include two sides.