California Chicken Texas Roadhouse is a grilled chicken breast entree topped with melted cheese and a fresh garnish, served with two sides and free rolls. It is not a standard nationwide item, so expect roughly $14.99 to $18.99 where it appears.
What California Chicken is (full spec table)
California Chicken is a hand-cut grilled chicken breast finished on the same open flame grill as the steaks, then topped with melted cheese and a fresh, cold garnish such as tomato and avocado. It sits in the Chicken section of the menu and includes two sides.
| What it is | Grilled boneless chicken breast entree topped with melted white cheese and a fresh cold garnish |
|---|---|
| Category | Chicken entrees (also called Chicken Specialties on some menu layouts) |
| Typical portion | One breast on standard plates; a few locations serve two thinner filets. Ask your server which build they run |
| Cooking method | Open-flame grilled to a food-safe internal temperature. Chicken has no doneness choice, unlike steak |
| Typical price | About $14.99 to $18.99 depending on market. Not a fixed national price |
| Calories | Not published nationally. Grilled chicken entrees in this section generally land in the 400 to 750 calorie range before sides |
| What’s included | The entree plus two sides, plus complimentary rolls with cinnamon butter for the table |
| Availability | Regional or legacy. Confirm with your specific location before planning around it |
Is it on the current Texas Roadhouse menu?
California Chicken is not part of the standard nationwide chicken lineup as of July 2026. The national menu runs Herb Crusted Chicken, Grilled BBQ Chicken, Portobello Mushroom Chicken, and Country Fried Chicken. If you remember California Chicken, it was likely a regional or older listing.
Locations do not all print identical boards. Some markets keep older items, some test regional builds, and some drop an item quietly between menu refreshes. To check, pull up your own store’s menu on the official site with your location selected. A one-minute call to the host stand does the same job and gets you the current price too.
California Chicken price and portion
Expect roughly $14.99 to $18.99 where California Chicken is served, which is the same band as the other grilled chicken entrees. Texas Roadhouse prices by market, so a suburban Midwest store and a coastal metro store can differ by three dollars on the identical plate.
| Plate | Typical range | Sides included |
|---|---|---|
| California Chicken (where available) | $14.99 – $18.99 | Two |
| Herb Crusted Chicken | $14.99 – $18.99 | Two |
| Portobello Mushroom Chicken | $15.99 – $19.99 | Two |
| Grilled BBQ Chicken | $14.99 – $18.99 | Two |
Two things move the number. First, avocado is an expensive topping, so a build that includes it usually sits at the top of the band or carries a small upcharge. Second, lunch portions where offered are smaller and cheaper than the dinner plate, so the same item name can show two different prices on the same day.
Calories and nutrition
Texas Roadhouse does not publish a national calorie figure for California Chicken because it is not a national item. Grilled chicken entrees in this part of the menu generally fall between 400 and 750 calories before sides, with cheese and avocado pushing toward the upper end.
If your location prints calories on the menu, trust that number over any third-party estimate including ours. Sides are the bigger variable anyway: steamed vegetables keep the plate lean, while loaded mashed potatoes can add more calories than the chicken itself. Rolls with cinnamon butter add up fast when the basket keeps coming.
Sides, rolls, and what comes with it
Chicken entrees come with two sides at no extra charge, and every table gets fresh rolls with cinnamon butter for free. You pick both sides when you order, and swaps within the standard side list are included in most markets.
Sides that work with a cheese-topped grilled breast add texture or acidity rather than more richness: steamed vegetables, green beans, a house salad with vinaigrette, or seasoned rice. The baked potato and the marshmallow-topped sweet potato are the indulgent picks, but either one alongside a cheesy chicken build makes for a heavy plate. Premium sides carry a small upcharge that varies by location.
How to order it well
Chicken has no doneness option, so the levers you control are toppings, sauce placement, and sides. Ask for cheese light or on the side if you want to taste the grill, request avocado fresh rather than pre-sliced, and order any sauce on the side so the breast stays crisp at the edges.
A few practical asks that servers handle without fuss:
- Hold the cheese entirely for a leaner plate.
- Ask for extra seasoning or a dry rub if you find grilled chicken bland compared to the steaks.
- Request the chicken sliced if you are sharing or feeding a child from your plate.
- If the kitchen runs the two-filet build, ask for one filet boxed at the start so it does not sit under a heat lamp on your plate.
Closest items on today’s menu
If your location does not serve California Chicken, the nearest equivalents are Herb Crusted Chicken for a similar cheese-and-fresh-topping profile, and Portobello Mushroom Chicken for a richer version of the same grilled breast base. Both are national items available at essentially every store.
Herb Crusted Chicken is the closer match on lightness, keeping the grilled breast forward instead of burying it. Portobello Mushroom Chicken swaps freshness for depth with mushrooms, provolone, and brown gravy, better in cold weather and worse if you liked California Chicken for the clean flavors. If you mainly wanted grilled chicken and vegetables, a grilled chicken salad does that for less than any entree plate.
Is it worth ordering?
At $15 to $19 with two sides and free rolls, a grilled chicken entree is decent value at a steakhouse, but it is rarely the reason people come here. Order it if you want a lighter plate or you are not eating beef. Order a steak if you want the kitchen’s best work.
The honest comparison is the 6 oz sirloin, which often lands within a couple of dollars and comes with the same two sides. Chicken wins on portion sanity and leftovers that reheat well. It loses where every steakhouse chicken loses: competent rather than memorable, and a dry breast is a real risk on a busy Friday.
Honest limitations of this page
This is an independent guide, not an official Texas Roadhouse page, and we do not have access to internal recipe or pricing systems. California Chicken is a regional or legacy item, which means our description reflects the common build rather than one verified corporate spec.
We do not publish an exact price, because there is no single national price to publish and inventing one would be worse than a range. We do not publish an exact calorie count for the same reason. Portion size, cheese type, and whether avocado is included all vary by market, and menus change between our review passes. Check your store’s menu on the official site with your location selected, or call the restaurant. Your store’s information beats anything on this page.
Frequently asked questions
What is California Chicken at Texas Roadhouse?
It is a grilled boneless chicken breast entree topped with melted white cheese and a fresh cold garnish such as tomato and avocado, served with two sides and complimentary rolls with cinnamon butter.
Does Texas Roadhouse still have California Chicken?
Not on the standard nationwide menu as of July 2026. The national chicken lineup is Herb Crusted, Grilled BBQ, Portobello Mushroom, and Country Fried Chicken. Some locations may still run it regionally, so check your store’s menu or call ahead.
How much does California Chicken cost?
Where it is served, expect about $14.99 to $18.99, the same band as other grilled chicken entrees. Texas Roadhouse prices by market, so the same plate can differ by two to three dollars between stores.
How many calories are in California Chicken?
No national figure is published for this item. Comparable grilled chicken entrees generally fall between 400 and 750 calories before sides. If your location prints calories on the menu, use that number.
What sides come with California Chicken?
Two sides of your choice are included, plus free rolls with cinnamon butter for the table. Standard sides are included in the price; premium sides may carry a small upcharge that varies by location.
What is the closest thing to California Chicken on the current menu?
Herb Crusted Chicken is the closest match for a lighter cheese-topped grilled breast. Portobello Mushroom Chicken is the richer alternative with mushrooms, provolone, and brown gravy.
Can I order California Chicken for takeout?
If your location serves it, yes. Grilled chicken travels better than fried items, though cheese-topped plates lose some texture in the box. Ask for any sauce or fresh toppings packed separately.
Is California Chicken gluten free?
A plain grilled breast with cheese has no obvious gluten-containing ingredient, but seasonings, shared grill surfaces, and side dishes complicate that. Tell your server about a gluten allergy and ask for the allergen guide rather than relying on the menu description.
Related guides
- Texas Roadhouse menu with current prices across every section
- cheaper chicken plates during Early Dine hours
- smaller lunch portions and midday pricing
- how entrees travel for takeout