LongHorn Steakhouse Vs Texas Roadhouse: Who Has The Better Deal On Burgers?

In a head-to-head battle of entry-level steakhouses, sometimes we discover surprising coincidences. When you pit Texas Roadhouse vs. Outback Steakhouse in terms of who has the cheaper filet mignon, Texas Roadhouse, currently America's top casual restaurant, comes out on top. But does that mean that Texas Roadhouse will always win the value wars?

Let's take a step back and talk cheeseburgers for a hot sec. Done right, a steakhouse cheeseburger elevates a normal handheld into something sublime. In theory, if a restaurant can execute a juicy, perfectly-cooked ribeye, it should be able to grill up a burger that is succulent and meaty with the perfect combination of char and tenderness. You'll notice that both LongHorn Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse dish up a sizable cheeseburger. This begs the question: whose burger is the better bargain?

At locations in Tampa Bay, Florida, which are located within five miles of one another, Texas Roadhouse wins yet again. As of this writing, LongHorn Steakhouse offers a Half-Pound Steakhouse Cheeseburger that comes laden with LTO, pickles, cheese, and "signature burger sauce." Acknowledging that pricing may vary by location, at our sample site, the LongHorn Burger retails for $14.79. Texas Roadhouse, on the other hand, has an All-American Cheeseburger that is similar in all ways but the special sauce (social media mentions that it is also half a pound, but the Texas Roadhouse menu isn't explicit on the matter of weight) and sells for $13.49.

Experts say there are several canned ingredients that can upgrade a plain burger, but LongHorn Steakhouse isn't exactly generous when it comes to toppings for your burgers. Basically, adding bacon is your only option for customization other than subtracting ingredients (though perhaps you could get a sympathetic server to work with you). Texas Roadhouse, on the other hand, not only offers a bacon cheeseburger, but also a delicious-sounding Smokehouse Burger with BBQ sauce and sautéed mushrooms and onions. Notably, the upgraded Smokehouse Burger is only 20 cents more expensive than LongHorn's standard handheld.

According to reviews we found, Texas Roadhouse might just serve a tastier burger, as well. Its burger routinely wins points for both juiciness and heft, with diners stating that it is an impressive specimen of a burger. On the other hand, the LongHorn Steakhouse burger is no slouch but lost some clout due to an unimpressive sauce. LongHorn's burger is also mentioned to be quite formidable in its own right, so both restaurants should be commended for not skimping on the main attraction — the patty. A previous iteration of Outback's bare-bones cheeseburger was a lot thinner, but Texas Roadhouse was said to beat it out back then as well. From the sounds of things, you won't be disappointed by burgers at either Texas Roadhouse or LongHorn Steakhouse, but the former has the edge not just in terms of pricing but value as well.