Outback vs Texas Roadhouse ribeye comes down to portion and price: Texas Roadhouse hand-cuts ribeyes in-house and usually sells a 12oz and a 16oz with two sides included, while Outback’s ribeye is typically a single 12oz with one side, and it usually costs more.
What each ribeye actually is
Both chains sell the same cut: a marbled steak from the rib primal, the fattiest and most beef-forward of the mainstream steaks. The difference is the sizes offered, the trim, and what the plate includes. Here is the spec side by side.
| Spec | Texas Roadhouse ribeye | Outback ribeye |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Boneless ribeye, hand-cut fresh in the restaurant daily | Boneless ribeye, portioned and delivered to the restaurant |
| Sizes usually offered | 12oz and 16oz; a bone-in ribeye appears at some locations | Most commonly a single 12oz; bone-in versions appear on some menus |
| Typical price | Roughly $26-$34 depending on size and region | Roughly $30-$40 depending on size and region |
| Calories | Steak alone commonly listed in the 800-1,200 range by size | Similar range; check Outback’s own nutrition page |
| What’s included | Two sides, plus free unlimited rolls with cinnamon butter | One side, plus bread service at most locations |
| Menu category | Hand-Cut Steaks | Steaks / signature steaks |
That “what’s included” row is the whole argument. A Texas Roadhouse ribeye is a full plate. An Outback ribeye is a steak plus one side, with anything else added on. Compare total ticket, not steak price.
Price: Outback vs Texas Roadhouse ribeye
Texas Roadhouse ribeyes generally run about $26-$34, and Outback ribeyes generally run about $30-$40 for a comparable weight. Neither chain publishes one national price, so a $6-$8 gap in either direction between two towns is normal.
| Item | Typical range | Sides included | Effective cost per plate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Roadhouse ribeye 12oz | $26-$30 | 2 | Lowest of the four |
| Texas Roadhouse ribeye 16oz | $30-$34 | 2 | Best cost per ounce |
| Outback ribeye 12oz | $30-$36 | 1 | Add ~$4-$6 for a second side |
| Outback bone-in ribeye (where offered) | $36-$45 | 1 | Highest ticket |
To confirm your own store before you go, pull the location page on the chain’s own site or open a delivery app and set the address. Delivery app prices are inflated over dine-in at both chains, so treat those as a ceiling, not a quote.
Calories and nutrition on both
A 12oz ribeye at either chain lands roughly in the 800-1,000 calorie range for the steak alone, and a 16oz pushes past 1,100. Neither number includes sides, bread, or butter, which is where the plate total actually escalates.
Both chains publish nutrition PDFs listing the steak by itself. Add roughly 200-350 calories for a loaded potato and about 230 per Texas Roadhouse roll before butter. For a lighter total, take green beans instead of steak fries. Calorie figures are printed on in-store menus in many states, so check the board if the online PDF looks stale.
How each chain cuts and cooks it
Texas Roadhouse employs an in-house butcher at each restaurant who cuts steaks daily from whole subprimals, which is why weights vary slightly and why marbling is inconsistent steak to steak. Outback portions centrally, so consistency is higher and surprises are fewer.
Cooking is similar in principle: both sear over high heat on a seasoned grill and finish to temperature. Texas Roadhouse leans heavier on a salty seasoning blend and a hotter, more aggressive char. Outback’s seasoning is milder and the crust is usually thinner. If you like a dark, peppery bark, Texas Roadhouse is the closer match. If you want the beef flavor forward with less salt, Outback usually delivers that.
The hand-cut angle cuts both ways. On a good night a Texas Roadhouse ribeye is better marbled than a portion-controlled competitor; on a bad night it is thinner at one end and cooks unevenly.
What comes with the steak at each
Every Texas Roadhouse steak entree includes two sides from the full list plus unlimited fresh-baked rolls and honey cinnamon butter at no charge. Outback includes one side with most steaks and serves bread, with additional sides priced separately.
Texas Roadhouse sides worth taking with a ribeye: the baked sweet potato holds up against the fat, green beans cut through it, and seasoned rice is the safe neutral. Steak fries are the default but they are the least interesting choice next to a rich steak. Loading a potato costs extra, usually a little over a dollar.
How to order a ribeye well at either place
Order a ribeye one notch under your usual doneness. Ribeye carries more intramuscular fat than sirloin or filet, and that fat needs heat to render, but the steak also keeps cooking after it leaves the grill. Medium rare is the sweet spot at both chains.
Practical asks that both kitchens will honor:
- Say “no seasoning” or “light seasoning” if you are sodium-sensitive. Texas Roadhouse seasoning is heavy by design.
- Ask for the steak on a hot plate if you eat slowly. It buys a few minutes of temperature.
- Order sides to arrive with the steak, not before. Otherwise the potato is cold by the time the ribeye lands.
- If the steak comes back wrong, send it back before you have eaten half. Both chains recook without argument.
- Skip the add-on toppings on a ribeye. Mushrooms and onions belong on a lean sirloin; they bury a ribeye.
Which one is worth it
For pure value, Texas Roadhouse wins on the math: usually a lower steak price, two sides instead of one, and free unlimited rolls. For consistency and a calmer room, Outback tends to win. The gap in raw steak quality is smaller than the gap in what surrounds it.
Pick Texas Roadhouse if you want the biggest plate for the money, you eat steak on the salty and charred side, and a loud dining room does not bother you. Pick Outback if you want a predictable steak, a quieter table, and you are ordering only one side anyway. If two people are splitting a large steak, the Texas Roadhouse 16oz plus four included sides is very hard to beat on cost per person.
Ribeye vs other Texas Roadhouse steaks
Inside the Texas Roadhouse menu, the ribeye is the fattiest and most forgiving steak, the sirloin is the cheapest and leanest, and the Dallas Filet is the most tender. Those three cover most of what people are actually deciding between.
| Steak | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ribeye | Heavily marbled, rich, forgiving if slightly overcooked | Beef flavor above all |
| Hand-Cut Sirloin 6oz | Lean, firm, cheapest steak on the board | Value and lower calories |
| Dallas Filet 6oz | Most tender, mild flavor, small portion | Texture over richness |
| Prime rib | Slow-roasted, served with au jus, limited availability | When it’s actually in stock |
If the ribeye price makes you hesitate, the sirloin plus a loaded potato is the cheaper route to a satisfying plate. If you want tenderness rather than fat, the filet is the honest answer, not a ribeye ordered well done.
Where this page can be wrong
This is an independent guide, not an official page for either chain. Prices, sizes, and availability are set at the franchise and regional level, and they change without notice. Every figure here is a range rather than a quote for that reason.
Verify three things yourself: whether your Texas Roadhouse carries a 16oz or bone-in ribeye, since not every store does; the exact price at your location; and whether Outback near you still lists the size you expect. Call the store or read the in-store board. Treat calorie ranges here as guidance and the printed menu as authoritative.
FAQ
Is Texas Roadhouse ribeye better than Outback ribeye?
Texas Roadhouse cuts its ribeyes in-house daily, so a good one is better marbled than a centrally portioned steak. Outback is more consistent night to night. Most people rate them close on the steak and prefer Texas Roadhouse on total value.
Which is cheaper, Outback or Texas Roadhouse ribeye?
Texas Roadhouse is usually cheaper, generally in the $26-$34 range against roughly $30-$40 at Outback for a comparable size. The gap widens once you count sides, since Texas Roadhouse includes two and Outback includes one.
How big is the ribeye at Texas Roadhouse?
Most locations offer a 12oz ribeye and a 16oz ribeye, with a bone-in version at some stores. Because steaks are hand-cut, actual weight varies slightly around the listed size.
Does the Texas Roadhouse ribeye come with sides?
Yes. Every steak entree includes two sides of your choice, plus unlimited fresh-baked rolls with honey cinnamon butter at no extra cost for dine-in.
How should I order a ribeye at Texas Roadhouse?
Medium rare is the best default, since the fat needs heat to render but the steak keeps cooking off the grill. Ask for light seasoning if the salt level bothers you, and skip mushroom or cheese toppings on this cut.
Is Texas Roadhouse ribeye prime or choice?
Texas Roadhouse does not market its ribeye as USDA Prime. Expect Choice-grade beef hand-cut in-store, which is standard for casual steakhouses at this price. Ask your location if the grade matters to you.
How many calories are in a Texas Roadhouse ribeye?
The steak alone commonly falls in the 800-1,200 calorie range depending on size, before sides, rolls, or butter. Check the printed menu or the chain’s nutrition PDF for the current figure at your store.
Does Outback have a bigger ribeye than Texas Roadhouse?
Usually not. Outback most often lists a 12oz ribeye, while Texas Roadhouse commonly offers a 16oz option. Availability differs by location, so confirm on your local menu.