6 Best Steak Cuts Under $20 Worth Ordering At Chain Restaurants

Restaurant steaks tend to get pricy no matter where you dine. It's easy to spend lots of money on a big cut of steak, from a juicy ribeye to a tasty T-bone. That's because of the varied preparation methods used to make cuts more tender, tasty, and memorable for diners. It's not uncommon for a group of people to wind up spending upwards of $100 on steak at certain restaurants, especially if it's from a high-end establishment. But there are some chain restaurants that deliver dishes with more reasonable price tags.

There are a multitude of places offering steak meals for $20 or less as of this writing. These typically come with a cut of meat and sides, making for a hardy meal that's more than worth the price paid for it. This list examines six of the most noteworthy steak cuts that can be purchased for under $20 at chain restaurants. According to reviews, these are the best of the best among affordable chain restaurant steak cuts.

Prices are as of the date of publication and may vary based on region.

While Applebee's steak is often compared to Chili's, the national chain restaurant has a number of delicious meat options that leave a unique, lasting impression on customers. This includes the top sirloin, an 8-ounce cut that can be purchased for $19.99. The sirloin is cooked to order, flavored with a signature Bar & Grill Seasoning. The cut also comes with two sides of choice, with options like garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and coleslaw.

While it's a basic, affordable dish, it's one that customers say is tender and delicious. The 8-ounce top sirloin is tasty no matter the prep style, leaving regulars happy about the way it's served. That deliciousness emphasizes how well the steak's presentation aids it in being a favorite. Customers tend to acknowledge that it's not a high-end steak restaurant, yet Applebee's still managed to impress with the top sirloin — which is made all the better by its price tag.

As regular attendees of Applebee's, the top sirloin is a go-to for our own purchases. We're partial to a medium rare preparation as it aids in the tender, beefy flavor. We're also open to optional steak toppers, such as the crispy onion strings. The delectable meat and simplicity of the top sirloin dish makes it a worthwhile meal that lets customers rest easy in the money department.

Texas Roadhouse has a notable number of hand-cut steaks on its menu. One such option is the hand-cut sirloin, available at 6 ounces for $16.99. Described as "lean," this thick, juicy cut comes equipped with steak seasoning and two sides of choice, including Texas Red Chili. This tender cut of meat impresses customers, all thanks to how much the restaurant prioritizes flavor first.

The hand-cut sirloin is as succulent as it is tender. It gives the steak a texture that blends expertly with the flavor. Although its price tag is relatively small, customers attest to a deliciousness on par with pricier steak restaurants. Some even say the sirloin reflects how Texas Roadhouse's steaks are better than those at more expensive steakhouses. It helps that friendly service adds to the experience. Coupled with a low price, the sirloin is a clear go-to option for customers across the board.

Other customers testify to that its tenderness is a defining feature of the cut. It helps that the steak is succulent thanks to a delicious flavoring that adds to its beef taste. It's the kind of sirloin that stays with you, all thanks to an expertise in presentation and a savorful dedication to deliciousness.

Outback Steakhouse's center-cut sirloin is a simple but effective dish that hits all the right marks for flavor and affordability. One of Outback's best-selling steak cuts, the center-cut sirloin includes a 6-ounce option for $18.99. Cut with a tender texture in mind, this slab of meat is "seasoned and seared" before being served alongside two sides of the customer's choice.

The chain's center-cut sirloin is a favorite dinner dish thanks to how filling the meat is, though customers are also quick to point out this sirloin slab is quite flavorful. Its center-cut approach succeeds in being tender, with a memorable texture that's elevated by its steakhouse seasoning. Regulars are happy with the price, which is made all the better by the two sides offered along with the meat.

Even if you're not an Outback regular, the center-cut sirloin is apt to make it on your plate. It's a thick, meaty slab that's afforded a salt-and-pepper style taste thanks to the seasoning used. It's also beefy and tender, while being easy to cut and chew. This flavorful mix is what makes the chain's center-cut sirloin a delicious lunch or dinner choice, especially the more affordable variety.

Longhorn Steakhouse's generous steak offerings include a number of dishes cooked to order. From the 20-ounce Outlaw Ribeye to the signature, sublime Flo's Fillet, Longhorn's menu is full of choices for steak-starved customers. One of its most affordable menu items is the Renegade sirloin, a center-cut top sirloin. The 6-ounce option only costs $17.29, giving customers a tasty meal that's easy on the wallet.

Now, this grilled slab of meat comes equipped with Longhorn's all-around flavor enhancing Prairie Dust seasoning, a side dish, and a side salad. But the Renegade Sirloin is quite delicious by itself, too. The steak is prepared perfectly, comparable to other steaks on the menu in terms of sheer quality. And the sides, like mashed potatoes, send this steak meal to even greater heights. The combo makes for a great dinner no matter the occasion thanks to how dedicated Longhorn is to customer satisfaction.

The addition of bread on the side, and optional toppings like blue cheese crumbles can make the steak meal even hardier, while keeping it within a reasonable price range. In other words, the Renegade Sirloin a full-course meal that keeps customers enticed thanks to its low cost and high quality.

Dry aging steak cuts (with the right cut) can give meaty dishes a more tender texture, alongside a beefier taste. Black Angus ages its steaks for 21 days before flame-grilling each one to customer order. Such is the case with one of the chain's most affordable cuts: The top sirloin, which is a hand-cut, 6-ounce, seasoned slice of meat costing $19.99. This includes the option of two "sidekick" dishes, and Black Angus has a rather robust number of options, including garlic-buttered broccoli, mac and cheese, and onion rings.

No matter the side choice, customers hold a high opinion of this cut, with many viewing it as one of Black Angus' best. Diners are extremely satisfied with the taste of the top sirloin. Regulars call it a go-to menu item thanks to the consistent quality. Even customers who don't eat at Black Angus for the steak itself find the top sirloin to be a standout among its meat offerings, furthering just how worthwhile the sirloin is.

It also helps that the top sirloin is always cooked to customer order in a satisfactory way. After all, the restaurant prioritizes the wants of its patrons above all else. It's what makes the top sirloin from Black Angus a tasty, affordable meal that's worth every penny.

One of the biggest cuts on this list, Logan's Roadhouse serves up a center-cut sirloin that's well-suited for a filling meal at any time of day. The smoky slab of steak from the chain is 8 ounces, with a fitting price tag of $17.99 for the whole meal. On the whole, it's an experience customers are happy about, largely because of the high quality of the steak.

Customers are, of course, satisfied with the taste of the chain's center-cut sirloin. This includes newcomers who, thanks to the level of detail in preparation, decided to become regulars to the Roadhouse. The steak can be topped with A1 or Heinz 57 sauce to give it a zesty kick, and is also aided by the sides. Each entree order comes with two sides of one's choice, ranging from grilled zucchini wedges to cinnamon apples — all of which are prepared with expertise by the restaurant.

This blend of top-tire eats makes the center-cut sirloin a top choice for customers. The consistent flavor, thick cut, and reasonable price makes it one of the best affordable steaks at a chain restaurant, and a favorite for customers old and new.

While the steaks found on this list were primarily chosen based on price, it was important to find cuts that had earned genuine favor with customers. TripAdvisor and Yelp were the most prevalent online locations for customer reviews, while Reddit and Facebook were used to help bolster opinions where applicable. I have personally eaten three of the six steaks on this list, as well, which helped to further inform the list.

Taste was the most important factor aside from price. Texture was also important, as the tenderness of the meat was of vital importance to customers. Additional flavors, side dishes, and general service held secondary significance, but were still important facets of deciding which steaks to include on the list.