Texas Roadhouse crispy steak is what most diners mean when they order the Country Fried Sirloin: a hand-battered sirloin steak, fried golden, and finished with cream gravy. It is an entree, so it includes two sides and unlimited rolls.
What “crispy steak” actually is on the menu
No Texas Roadhouse menu prints the words “crispy steak.” The item people are describing is the Country Fried Sirloin, a sirloin steak that is hand-battered in the kitchen, fried to order, and served under cream gravy. A smaller group means the fried Chicken Critters, which are chicken, not beef.
That distinction matters at the table. Ask a server for “the crispy steak” and you will almost always be handed a Country Fried Sirloin. If you wanted a grilled steak with a hard, dark sear, that is a different section of the menu, covered further down.
Item spec table
| What it is | Hand-battered sirloin steak, deep-fried, topped with cream gravy (menu name: Country Fried Sirloin) |
|---|---|
| Category | Country dinners / signature entrees, not the hand-cut steak section |
| Protein | Sirloin beef, tenderized and battered before frying |
| Typical portion | One battered sirloin covering most of the plate; weight is not printed the way steak ounces are |
| Price band | Low-to-mid teens at most stores, the same shelf as other country dinners |
| Calories | High. Check the printed menu, which lists calories beside the item |
| What’s included | Two sides of your choice plus unlimited fresh-baked rolls with cinnamon butter (dine-in) |
| Doneness options | None. Fried items are cooked through, so there is no medium-rare version |
Check availability first. Country dinners rotate at some locations and a few stores have dropped or renamed this item during menu resets, so call ahead if you are driving specifically for it.
Crispy steak price and what you get
Expect a country-fried sirloin to sit in the low-to-mid teens at most locations, below the hand-cut ribeye and above the cheapest chicken plates. We are not printing an exact figure because this item’s price is not consistent enough across stores to quote as fact.
| Line item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Entree, dine-in | Low-to-mid teens in most markets; higher in coastal and metro stores |
| Two sides | Included at no extra charge |
| Rolls and cinnamon butter | Free and unlimited, dine-in |
| Loaded potato upgrade | Small surcharge, typically around a dollar |
| Extra gravy | Usually free on request; some stores charge for a large side cup |
To confirm a real number, open the official app or site, set your specific location, and read the entree list there. Third-party delivery menus run 15-25% higher and are a poor guide to what you pay in the dining room.
Calories and nutrition
Batter plus frying oil plus cream gravy is the calorie stack here, and this plate lands well above a grilled sirloin of similar size. The exact figure is printed next to the item on your store’s menu and in the nutrition PDF on the official site, which is the number to trust.
The crust and the gravy carry most of the load, not the beef. Sodium is high too: the meat is seasoned, the batter is seasoned, and the gravy is salted again. The two levers that actually move either number are gravy on the side and side choices.
- Lowest-impact sides: green beans, fresh vegetables, applesauce, house salad with dressing on the side.
- Highest-impact sides: loaded baked potato, steak fries, mac and cheese.
- Gravy on the side lets you use a third of what the kitchen would have poured.
How the crust is made
The steak is tenderized, dredged in seasoned batter by hand in the kitchen, then fried until the coating sets golden and crisp. It is not pre-breaded and reheated, which is why it arrives hot and why a busy Friday can add several minutes to the ticket.
Fried coating goes soft fast under gravy, which is the biggest complaint about this plate and a physics problem rather than a kitchen failure. Steam trapped between hot gravy and hot batter softens the crust within minutes, so the first cuts are the crispest.
How to order it well
Ask for gravy on the side and eat it within the first ten minutes. That one change keeps the crust intact the whole way through the plate, which is the difference between a good version of this dish and a soggy one.
- Gravy on the side. Non-negotiable if crunch matters to you. Servers hear this constantly.
- Two sides, chosen for contrast. The plate is soft and rich. A house salad or green beans cuts through better than mashed potatoes, which double down on the same texture.
- Rolls arrive first. Free and unlimited for dine-in, and filling. Pace yourself if you plan to finish the entree.
- Takeout is the weak version. Steam in a closed container ruins fried batter. Ask for the gravy in a separate cup and vent the lid in the car.
Crispy steak vs Road Kill, Chicken Critters and a plain sirloin
Against its closest neighbors, the country-fried sirloin wins on comfort and portion feel and loses on beef quality and value per ounce. Road Kill is cheaper and beefier; the 6oz Hand-Cut Sirloin is leaner and better meat; Chicken Critters is the same crust on cheaper protein.
| Item | What you actually get | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| Country Fried Sirloin (“crispy steak”) | Battered fried sirloin, cream gravy, 2 sides | You want fried comfort food and a full plate |
| Road Kill (Chopped Steak) | Chopped steak with onions, mushrooms, jack cheese, 2 sides | You want beef flavor at a lower price |
| Hand-Cut Sirloin 6oz | Grilled whole-muscle sirloin, 2 sides | You want an actual steak and fewer calories |
| Chicken Critters | Hand-breaded chicken tenders with dipping sauce | You are here for the crust, not the beef |
Is it worth ordering?
Worth it if you came for fried comfort food and want to leave full; skip it if you came to Texas Roadhouse for beef. A grilled sirloin at a similar price gives you better meat, and the chopped steak gives you a similar plate for less money.
The case for it: genuinely hand-battered, a generous-looking portion, and with two sides and free rolls it is a big meal on a mid-teens ticket. The case against: in a plate of batter, gravy and sirloin, the sirloin contributes the least, and the chicken version costs less.
Where this page can be wrong
This is an independent guide, not the restaurant. Three things here are genuinely uncertain.
- The name. “Crispy steak” is a customer phrase. If your local store lists something under a different name, the store is right and this page is a translation layer.
- Availability. Country dinners have been trimmed at some locations. It may not exist at yours.
- Price and calories. Both vary by market and change without notice. The menu in your hand and the official nutrition guide are the authorities; anything here that conflicts with them is out of date.
FAQ
Does Texas Roadhouse have a crispy steak?
Not under that name. The item people call crispy steak is the Country Fried Sirloin, a hand-battered fried sirloin served with cream gravy. Ask for it by that name and most servers will know exactly what you want.
What is the Country Fried Sirloin at Texas Roadhouse?
A sirloin steak that is tenderized, hand-battered in the kitchen, fried until golden, and topped with cream gravy. It is served as a full entree with two sides of your choice plus the free rolls and cinnamon butter for dine-in guests.
How much is the crispy steak at Texas Roadhouse?
Most locations price it in the low-to-mid teens, in the same band as other country dinners and below the hand-cut steaks. Prices vary 10-15% by region, so check your store’s menu in the official app rather than a delivery app, which is marked up.
Is the crispy steak the same as Chicken Critters?
No. Chicken Critters are hand-breaded chicken tenders served with a dipping sauce. The crispy steak is beef, arrives as one battered sirloin, and comes with cream gravy and two sides instead of dipping sauces.
Can you order the crispy steak medium rare?
No. Battered and fried items are cooked through by necessity, so there is no doneness choice. If you want a temperature, order a hand-cut steak such as the 6oz sirloin or the Dallas Filet instead.
Does the crispy steak come with sides?
Yes. Like other entrees it includes two sides of your choice, and dine-in guests also get unlimited fresh-baked rolls with honey cinnamon butter at no charge.
How many calories are in the Texas Roadhouse crispy steak?
The calorie count is printed beside the item on your store’s menu and listed in the nutrition guide on the official site. It is high for the menu because batter, frying oil and cream gravy stack on top of the beef. Gravy on the side reduces it meaningfully.
Can you get the gravy on the side?
Yes, and it is the single best modification to this dish. Gravy on the side keeps the crust crisp for the whole plate and lets you control how much you use. Extra gravy is usually free on request, though some stores charge for a large cup.
Related guides
- Full Texas Roadhouse menu with current items and prices.
- Cheaper ways to eat here: the Early Dine window and weekly specials by day.
- Ordering it to go? See takeout prices and pictures.