One Major Upgrade Would Make Texas Roadhouse's Iconic Rolls Even Better

Fan-favorite Texas Roadhouse has plenty of reasons to draw a crowd, from its hand-cut steaks to its generous portions to its boisterous atmosphere. But for many carb-loving diners, the real star of the show makes its entrance even before the entrees: A basket of warm, house-baked yeast rolls served with honey cinnamon butter. There's just one edit we'd like to add: The rolls could stand to be a little bigger, and diners should be able to customize their butter. 

That's the argument writer Emily Iris Degn recently made in 14 changes Texas Roadhouse should make, and we'll gladly explain why. Degn begins by praising the rolls' sweet-and-salty flavor and soft, chewy texture, as well as the homespun appeal of being baked in-house. She also appreciates the restaurant's generous unlimited roll policy. But the argument here is that the rolls are too darn small to deliver that big, fluffy, made-from-scratch dinner roll experience.

The best Texas Roadhouse menu item has certainly developed a following that goes way beyond the restaurant's dining room. In fact, they're so popular that the chain began selling frozen mini rolls in 2024 for customers to bake at home. But with such popularity comes more scrutiny, and the restaurant's complimentary bread has attracted complaints about its size, with some social media users questioning whether Texas Roadhouse rolls were actually getting smaller. 

If you take a dip into Reddit discussions, diners have been comparing notes about receiving noticeably smaller rolls, with one commenting: "They're half the size of the ones I've had at other locations." Another added: "Half the size and completely different taste and texture." Perhaps bigger, more consistently sized rolls could help address this frustration whilst also giving customers more of that pillowy interior and yeasty flavor they know and love. Of course, part of the chain's appeal is that customers can always request more rolls without paying extra, so even if they're smaller, no one is going hungry.

That's why the second suggestion of flavored butters might be even more appealing. While the classic honey cinnamon butter is a major part of the rolls' appeal, its sweetness isn't for everyone. A customizable butter selection could include a savory bacon butter, an herb compound butter, or, as Degn suggested, a seasonal version featuring orange zest and nutmeg. Texas Roadhouse already has plain whipped butter and garlic lemon pepper butter options, so a customizable-butter menu isn't even that radical of a suggestion. 

Also consider that they've recently released new Mini Garlic Parmesan Rolls for sale, so differently flavored rolls might just be an idea the brand is tinkering with, too. Ultimately, we don't want Texas Roadhouse to reinvent its signature rolls — we just want them a little bigger and with a few more buttery choices.