Outback Vs Texas Roadhouse: Which Steakhouse Has The Better Deal On Kid's Meals?

It's an underrated, yet essential part of every restaurant menu — the kid's meal. That little box on the bill of fare that lists child-friendly food in smaller portions for a correspondingly smaller price is a godsend to not just parents trying to dine out, but those adults who either need or enjoy a modest-sized plate. At two of our favorite casual steakhouses, Outback and Texas Roadhouse, we are forever comparing prices to try and determine who comes out on top vis à vis the bargain wars. We compared Outback vs. Texas Roadhouse regarding deals on ribs, and also put the two head-to-head when it came to cheaper sirloin. As a little spoiler, Texas Roadhouse won both those battles ... but does it hold the same advantage when it comes to kiddy entrées?

The answer is: not really, because neither restaurant can be fairly considered "cheaper" across the board. Texas Roadhouse and Outback have several comparable kid's meals where we can draw parallels, but it's a pretty even split on cost. Outback offers a Mac 'A' Roo 'N Cheese skillet for $7.99 (prices are as of this writing and pulled from Florida locations), while Texas Roadhouse's macaroni and cheese plate with one side option comes in at $6.99. On the other hand, Outback's chicken fingers go for $8.99, while Texas Roadhouse's Chicken Critter basket is $10.99. Texas Roadhouse offers an "Andy's Steak" Ranger Meal of a sirloin steak, which is reported on the web to be six ounces, for $12.99. On the other hand, Outback offers Joey's Sirloin, a five-ounce cut, for $10.99. When it comes to grilled chicken kid's meals, Texas Roadhouse wins by a dollar with its strips, as opposed to Outback's breast portion.

If there's no clear winner in the kid's meal derby when it comes to pricing alone, perhaps we should look at other variables to draw a winner between Texas Roadhouse and Outback. For one thing, Texas Roadhouse offers nine different kid's meal options compared to just six at Outback. In addition to the common meals listed, Texas Roadhouse also offers a few meals that kids love, like a hot dog, steak bites, and slider cheeseburgers. To be fair, Outback has grilled cheese — a major hit with the under-12 crowd. But Outback also loses out when it comes to sides. Most of its kid's meals offer only french fries, fruit, or broccoli as standard sides. You can grab other sides off the adult menu, but the list isn't as expansive as it is at Texas Roadhouse, where kids have many more options.

Speaking of options, let's talk about another big one. That sirloin steak we mentioned at both steakhouses? Outback automatically offers it well-done for kiddos. Meanwhile, at Texas Roadhouse, where the kids' sirloin is a petite version of the best-selling steak at the restaurant, kids can choose the temperature of their steak, all the way down to rare. We can respect Outback's emphasis on taking no risks with child safety, but also appreciate that Texas Roadhouse ultimately lets parents decide what's okay for their children to eat. In short, Outback just allots fewer choices for kids, which we feel puts it at a disadvantage. Many kids are picky eaters, true, but Texas Roadhouse does a slightly better job opening up its menu to little ones ... perhaps a nod to the fact that some adults with smaller appetites appreciate the kid's menu as well?