How Texas Roadhouse grew from humble beginnings in the Midwest to one of the largest casual dining chains in the US (2024)

FAQs

How did Texas Roadhouse get started? ›

It all began on February 17, 1993, when Kent Taylor opened the first Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville, Indiana. Kent's goal was to own not just a family restaurant and not just a steak restaurant, but a place where everyone, of all ages, could come and have a great meal and great fun for a great price.

It all comes down to our people, our products, our culture, and our love for what we do! We import whole loins and hand-cut them daily in a cold room to ensure safety and the best quality. We hand cut every single steak, every single time. We do not jump from trend to trend, we stay true to the Texas Roadhouse Way!

Texas Roadhouse is famous for its hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, made-from-scratch sides, and fresh-baked bread.

From the 1890s in Alaska and the Yukon, beginning with the gold rush, roadhouses were checkpoints where dog drivers (mushers, or dog sledders), horse-driven sleighs, and people on snowshoes, skis, or walking would stop overnight for shelter and a hot meal.

The chain expanded rapidly in the late 1990s, and by the end of 1999, 67 restaurants had been opened. In 2004, Roadhouse became a public company.

Texas Roadhouse wasn't founded in Texas

While many might associate the restaurant with the Lone Star state, Kent Taylor actually opened the first Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville, Indiana, in 1993. Even though Taylor didn't ever call Texas home, he has a great appreciation for the kind of food that is popular there.

Texas Roadhouse main competitors are The Cheesecake Factory, Morton's The Steakhouse, and Ruth's Chris Steak House. Competitor Summary. See how Texas Roadhouse compares to its main competitors: Pizza Hut has the most employees (350,000).

Legendary Food, Legendary Service

At Texas Roadhouse, diversity, equity, & inclusion, along with opportunity are a big part of our culture. We invite you to join us and share in our commitment to being one of the best employers in town. We believe in putting our people first.

For an inclusive and people-first culture, our core values are everything - Passion, Partnership, Integrity, and Fun... All with Purpose.

One of the great options Texas Roadhouse offers is the chance to look at the raw steak and choose the one you want. I have seen this at high-end steakhouses but not at a chain like this. It's a nice visual as you walk in, and it probably gets people to buy more expensive steaks.

What is the slogan for Texas Roadhouse? ›

Legendary Food, Legendary Service® starts with taking no shortcuts.

How does Texas Roadhouse tenderise their steaks? Season each side of the steak well with the seasoning and set aside to rest for about 40 minutes. This causes the salt to infiltrate the surface (through osmosis) and actually aids in the breakdown of muscle fibres, resulting in more tender meat.

Kent Taylor, started the business in 1993 with the opening of the first Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville, Indiana. Since then, the Company has grown to three concepts.

History of Texas Roadhouse

Despite its Texan-themed branding, it did not originate in Texas. Its inception was inspired by Taylor's fondness for good food and his desire to create a family-friendly dining environment that offered hand-cut steaks, top-quality ribs, and made-from-scratch sides.

Since Texas Roadhouse restaurants are franchised operations, it's possible that the peanut practices vary from location to location. The overall consensus online is that the practice was phased out during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that bags of peanuts are still available to go if you ask.