Not LongHorn, Not Outback: Why Seafood Lovers Have It Better At Texas Roadhouse

Picture this: You get invited to a steakhouse, but you don't like steak. Fortunately, you don't have to decline the invitation. Most steakhouses offer other menu items, including juicy chicken, rich pasta, and seafood. Take, for instance, Outback Steakhouse's Shrimp on the Barbie or LongHorn's Redrock Grilled Shrimp. Both are delicious, but according to one of our Tasting Table writers, nothing compares to the Grilled Salmon from Texas Roadhouse. In fact, we think the meal is one of 13 ways Texas Roadhouse outshines Outback and LongHorn.

In our opinion, the salmon simply tastes fresher at Texas Roadhouse. Outback and LongHorn both serve salmon options, but our writer said they're often either too dry or too bland. Texas Roadhouse's salmon is fresh from Norway, grilled to perfection, and served with a savory lemon pepper sauce that helps bring out the fish's buttery, light flavor. You can order other seafood options at the Lone Star State-themed eatery, including fried catfish and shrimp, but the salmon is arguably one of the restaurant's best entrees under $20.

If you love seafood and you're not a big fan of steak, try the Grilled Salmon from Texas Roadhouse next time you visit. Order it with a lemon wedge and tartar sauce on the side, both of which pair well with tender grilled fish, and get two sides like mashed potatoes with gravy, seasoned rice, Texas red chili, or steamed vegetables. All in all, the meal comes out to about $18.99 for a 5-ounce portion, but the price might vary by location.

People who enjoy salmon tend to give Texas Roadhouse's version high praise. "Omg love the salmon its always cooked so perfectly. it's my favoriteeee! well, after the rolls and butter," said one Redditor. "This is one of my favorite, affordable places to get salmon," one Facebook reviewer commented and another person on Facebook said, "Never can go wrong with Texas Roadhouse Salmon for an on plan meal. They are so good about cooking it to my specifications no oil butter or sauces cooked well done Yum!"

Some Outback and LongHorn customers agree with our assessment of both restaurants' salmon. "I had Outback's salmon dinner and the salmon was too dry. I would have hoped it would have had a great topping on it to help with the consuming of it. I've had great salmon dinners, elsewhere, but this wasn't one of them," a TripAdvisor reviewer said. Another review on Yelp said LongHorn's salmon was excessively salty — one of several comments highlighted in our article about why people avoid this LongHorn Steakhouse menu item.