Florida Woman Goes To Texas Roadhouse. Then She Reads The Fine Print On The Baked Potato. Has It Always Been This Way?

Baked potatoes are a fan-favorite at Texas Roadhouse. The salty, crispy side pairs well with all the entrees on the menu. But a closer examination at the menu’s “fine print” ruined the iconic side for one Florida woman.

“First time back to Texas Roadhouse since finding out that their potatoes are coated in bacon fat,” TikTok creator Debbie (@deb.r17) says in her now-viral clip. “Like, if I’m supposed to be able to read that in the finest print at the bottom of the menu.”

She zooms in on the print at the bottom of the menu that reads, “Inform your server if a person in your party has a food allergy. Our baked and sweet potatoes are thinly coated with bacon fat which burns off during cooking.”

“Slightly disappointed,” she remarks. Instead of getting a baked potato like she wanted, she opts for the steak fries.

In the caption, Debbie expresses her disappointment, writing, “Texas Roadhouse, love your restaurant, me no likey your bacon fat potato idea.”

Debbie told BroBible she actually discovered the potatoes were coated in bacon grease from one of her TikTok commenters. She had made another video asking if the potatoes get washed.  “Someone said they do, but they coat them in bacon grease,” she recalled via TikTok direct message.

Although she learned she could request a baked potato without it, she’d prefer to avoid it altogether. “I heard that you can call in advance and ask for one without bacon grease. I probably would just pick another side dish,” the content creator said.

In Debbie’s opinion, she believes there is a better way to inform customers about the potatoes being coated in bacon fat. “It’s listed on the menu, I just think putting it in parentheses next to the baked potato on the list of sides might make it easier for people to be aware,” she said.

How To Get Texas Roadhouse Potato Without The Bacon Fat

Debbie’s video garnered over 25,000 views. Many in the comments section shared alternatives to enjoying the chain’s potatoes without the unwanted pork fat.

“Next time, let your server know you’d like to have a potato with no bacon fat! We make it work!” one viewer commented.

“Get the mashed potatoes instead. No bacon in those unless you ask for bacon,” another suggested.

“Double-check at the location you go to! My location does NOT coat them in bacon fat, despite the fine print,” a third recommended.

“Just tell your server your dietary restrictions or needs. They will tell you or give you a menu with dietary restrictions on it,” a fourth advised.

Have The Texas Roadhouse Baked Potatoes Always Been Cooked In Bacon Fat?

According to the WebstaurantStore, restaurants with 20 or more locations only have to disclose calorie and ingredient information. Only California has passed a bill in July requiring establishments to disclose the big 9 allergens—milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame—on its menus.

While on the menu, Texas Roadhouse coating its potatoes in bacon fat is often learned by customers through word of mouth. The fact that it’s not common knowledge has been a subject of anger in some religious, meat-allergy, and other groups. Even in an r/restaurant subreddit, one Redditor said, “We were recently at Texas Roadhouse and our waiter mentioned that the baked and sweet potatoes are rubbed in bacon fat before cooking. Had he not informed us of this, we’d never have known.”

An employee assured them this was dependent on the location as well, responding, “Some Texas Roadhouses, like the one I worked for, don’t rub the potatoes in bacon fat. It’s best to always make your server aware of any dietary restrictions so they can check for you!”

Whether you have an allergy, dietary restriction, or preference, always check the menu or politely inform your Texas Roadhouse server so that they can accommodate you.

BroBible also reached out to Texas Roadhouse via press email.