Lil dillo steak bites texas roadhouse refers to the kids’ sirloin steak bites on Andy’s Armadillo Kids Menu: a small portion of seasoned sirloin cut into bite-size pieces, served with a kids’ side. Most locations price the meal in the $8 to $11 range.
What Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites actually are
Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites are cubes of the same USDA Choice sirloin the kitchen uses for adult sirloin steaks, seasoned with the house steak seasoning and grilled, then plated as a kids’ entree with one side. The “dillo” name comes from Andy the Armadillo, the chain’s kids’ menu mascot.
The important thing to understand: this is not a breaded or processed kids’ item. It is real steak, cut down so a child can eat it without a steak knife. That puts it in a different class from Chicken Critters or the mini cheeseburgers sitting next to it on the same page.
| What it is | Grilled sirloin steak cut into bite-size pieces, kids’ portion |
|---|---|
| Menu section | Andy’s Armadillo Kids Menu (Ranger Meals) |
| Cut | Sirloin, same steak program as the adult sirloin |
| Portion | Small kids’ portion, noticeably under the 6 oz adult sirloin |
| Seasoning | House steak seasoning, grilled over open flame |
| Breading | None |
| Typical price | About $8 to $11 depending on market |
| Included | One kids’ side; drink policy varies by location |
| Doneness | Cooked through by default; ask for medium if you want pink |
| Who it’s for | Kids 12 and under at most locations |
Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites price
Expect roughly $8 to $11 for the Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites meal. It is normally the most expensive plate on the kids’ menu because it uses the same sirloin as adult entrees, and it usually sits a dollar or two above the chicken and burger options.
Texas Roadhouse does not run one national price list. Each franchise and company location prices its own menu, so a suburban Ohio store and a downtown Los Angeles store can differ by two dollars on the same plate. The only reliable check is your own location’s menu page or a phone call.
| Kids’ menu item | Typical price band | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites | $8 – $11 | Usually the top-priced kids’ plate |
| Kids’ Sirloin Steak | $9 – $12 | Whole small steak instead of cubes |
| Chicken Critters | $6 – $8 | Breaded tenders |
| Mini Cheeseburgers | $6 – $8 | Two small burgers |
| Mac and cheese / hot dog | $5 – $7 | Cheapest end of the menu |
Those bands are field observations across markets, not quoted prices. Treat them as a sanity check on what you are shown, not as a promise.
Calories and nutrition
Texas Roadhouse prints calorie counts on menus in markets where labeling is required, and the steak bites land on the leaner end of the kids’ menu because the meat is grilled sirloin with no breading and no batter. The side you pick moves the total more than the steak does.
Rather than quote a number we cannot verify for your market, here is the honest framing. Grilled lean sirloin in a kids’ portion is a modest calorie load; the swing comes from what lands next to it. A kids’ side of fries or mac and cheese can rival or beat the steak’s own count. Applesauce, corn, or green beans keep the plate light. The complimentary rolls with cinnamon butter add on top of everything and are not counted in the entree line.
If you need exact figures, ask the host for the printed nutrition guide or check the calorie column on your location’s menu. Those are the numbers the kitchen is actually operating against.
What comes with the meal
The Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites plate comes with one kids’ side, not the two sides adults get with their entrees. Most locations also include a kids’ drink with Ranger Meals, though whether that is bundled or charged separately is one of the details that genuinely varies store to store.
Kids’ side options generally include fries, applesauce, mandarin oranges, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, and buttered corn or a house salad at some stores. The free rolls with cinnamon butter arrive for the whole table regardless of what anyone ordered, which matters if you are trying to keep a kid from filling up before the steak lands.
One practical note: because the kids’ plate includes one side and the adult sirloin includes two, families sometimes do better ordering a 6 oz adult sirloin and splitting it. That only makes sense if two kids are sharing, and it costs you the kids’ drink.
How to order it well
Ask for the bites cooked medium if your child eats pink steak, because the default on small cubes runs hot. Cut pieces lose heat and moisture fast on the grill, so a plate ordered well-done comes out noticeably drier than an adult steak cooked the same way.
Three things worth telling the server:
- Doneness. Some locations cook kids’ steak bites through by default for safety. If you want medium or medium-rare, say so at the point of order rather than sending it back.
- Seasoning. The house steak seasoning is assertive and salty. If your kid is sensitive to it, ask for light seasoning or none. The kitchen can grill plain.
- Sauce on the side. Ketchup, BBQ sauce, or ranch for dipping usually comes free and turns the bites into something a picky eater will finish.
Pair it with fries if you want the plate cleared, or with applesauce and corn if you want a lighter meal. Ask for the side to come out with the entree rather than early, or the side gets eaten first.
Can adults order it?
Most Texas Roadhouse locations restrict Andy’s Armadillo Kids Menu to guests 12 and under, and servers are generally instructed to enforce it. Some stores are relaxed about an adult ordering a kids’ plate on a slow night, but you cannot count on it.
If you want a small steak portion as an adult, the 6 oz sirloin is the intended answer. It is the smallest adult steak on the menu, comes with two sides, and costs more than the kids’ plate but is not restricted. Seniors sometimes have better luck asking about smaller portions than the kids’ menu route.
Is it worth it vs. the other kids’ plates
Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites are the best value on the kids’ menu if your child actually eats steak, because you are getting real sirloin at a kids’ price point instead of breaded chicken. If your child is a reliable tender-eater, the extra two or three dollars is wasted.
Versus the Kids’ Sirloin Steak: same meat, different presentation. The whole steak looks more impressive and lets you control doneness more precisely, since a single piece holds temperature better than cubes. The bites are easier for a young child to manage without help and usually cost slightly less. Under roughly age eight, the bites win on practicality.
Versus Chicken Critters: the tenders are cheaper, more forgiving, and almost never sent back. The steak bites are the better plate nutritionally and the better plate if your kid has already shown they like steak. Ordering steak bites for a child who has never eaten steak is a gamble at roughly double the price.
Allergens and dietary notes
The steak itself is unbreaded beef with a seasoning blend, so it carries no obvious gluten source, but Texas Roadhouse cooks on shared grills and does not operate an allergen-free kitchen. Anyone with celiac disease or a serious allergy should ask the manager directly.
The house seasoning is high in sodium, which is worth knowing if you are managing that. The cinnamon butter on the rolls contains dairy. If your child avoids gluten, the rolls are the item to decline, not the steak. Ask for the allergen guide at the host stand; locations keep a printed copy.
Limits of this page
This is an independent guide, not Texas Roadhouse. We have no verified price or calorie figure filed for Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites, so every number above is presented as a range drawn from menus across markets rather than a quoted price.
Menu availability changes. Kids’ menu items get rotated, renamed, or dropped without announcement, and some locations do not carry the steak bites at all. Portion size, drink inclusion, and the age cutoff are all set at the store level. Before you plan a meal around this item, check your location’s current menu on the official site or call the store. If something on this page is out of date for your market, the store’s own menu is the authority.
FAQ
What are Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites at Texas Roadhouse?
They are the kids’ menu version of sirloin steak, cut into bite-size pieces, seasoned with the house steak seasoning and grilled. The plate comes with one kids’ side. The name comes from Andy the Armadillo, the mascot of the chain’s kids’ menu.
How much do Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites cost?
Typically about $8 to $11, usually the highest-priced item on the kids’ menu because it uses real sirloin. Prices are set locally, so your store may sit outside that band. Check your location’s menu page for the current figure.
How many calories are in Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites?
We do not have a verified figure to publish. Grilled sirloin with no breading is on the lighter end of the kids’ menu, and the side you choose usually adds more than the steak. Ask for the printed nutrition guide or check the calorie column on your location’s menu.
Does the Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites meal come with a drink?
Most locations include a kids’ drink with Ranger Meals, but whether it is bundled into the price or added separately varies by store. Confirm with your server when you order.
Can adults order Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites?
Usually no. Most locations limit the kids’ menu to guests 12 and under. If you want a small steak portion as an adult, order the 6 oz sirloin, which is the smallest unrestricted steak on the menu and comes with two sides.
Can you choose how the Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites are cooked?
At most locations yes, though the default on cut pieces runs toward well done. If you want medium, say so when you order. Small cubes overcook quickly, so a well-done order comes out drier than a full steak at the same temperature.
Are Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites gluten free?
The steak is unbreaded beef with seasoning and has no obvious gluten source, but the kitchen uses shared grills and is not allergen-free. Anyone with celiac disease should speak to the manager and ask for the allergen guide before ordering.
What sides go with Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites?
The plate includes one kids’ side. Common choices are fries, applesauce, mandarin oranges, corn, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Fries pair best for a kid who will clear the plate; applesauce or green beans keep the meal lighter.