When you walk into Olive Garden, you’re not expecting authentic Italian cuisine made by a nonna in Tuscany. When you hit up Chili’s, you know the margaritas aren’t crafted with top-shelf tequila.
Most diners understand that chain restaurants make compromises on ingredients to keep prices reasonable and operations streamlined.
But one New York man decided he wasn’t going to accept those compromises when it came to his butter situation at Texas Roadhouse, and the internet has opinions about his dedication to dairy.
TikToker Goes Undercover With Irish Butter
In a viral video with more than 27,400 views, New York man Dan Barletta (@danbarletta) shared his solution for what he thinks is Texas Roadhouse’s subpar butter situation.
Barletta sat at his table with a juicy steak and sweet potatoes in front of him. Looking left and right as if he’s conducting a covert operation, he slowly pulled out a stick of Kerrygold Irish butter he brought from home.
“When you realize Texas Roadhouse doesn’t serve real butter,” reads the text overlay on the video.
“POV: You came prepared… because Texas Roadhouse stays playing with that seed oil margarine,” he added in the caption.
Does Texas Roadhouse Use Real Butter?
No, it doesn’t.
Texas Roadhouse uses highly refined soybean oil throughout their kitchens, Tasting Table reported.
The chain has built its reputation on hand-cut steaks and made-from-scratch menu items. But like many restaurant operations, it prioritizes practical and cost-effective ingredients over premium options.
Refined soybean oil is flavorless and has a high smoke point, making it ideal for commercial kitchens, and it’s significantly less expensive than alternatives.
The oil is also allergen-friendly since the refining process removes allergic soy proteins, allowing the restaurant to serve customers with soy allergies without additional labeling requirements.
The Seed Oil Vs. Butter Debate
Nutritional experts say seed oils are healthy when consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, noting they’re “largely unsaturated fats, which we know are really healthy,” Today reported. These unsaturated fats can lower bad cholesterol and boost good cholesterol, offering protection against heart disease.
Their controversial status amongst the health-conscious stems from seed oils’ high omega-6 content and their prevalence in ultra-processed foods.
While critics blame the oils themselves, the reason isn’t because we’re cooking with canola oil. It’s because we’re eating lots of ultra-processed foods,” Dr. Nate Wood, director of culinary medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, told Today.
Seed oils are generally considered healthier than animal fats due to their high unsaturated fat content, which is linked to research-backed benefits. Population studies show people who replace animal-based fats like butter with seed oils tend to have lower bad cholesterol and reduced heart disease rates.
Still, many people prefer the taste and cooking properties of real butter, regardless of the health debate.
Commenters React
“Ain’t nobody bringing $50 worth of kerrygold butter for a $10 steak,” a top comment read.
“They do have regular butter if you ask,” a person shared.
“Bruh, Texas roadhouse doesn’t even have prime grade meat,” another pointed out.
@danbarletta POV: You came prepared… because Texas Roadhouse stays playing with that seed oil margarine 💀🧈 #buttergang #texasroadhouse #realbutteronly #foodhack #seedoilfree
BroBible reached out to Barletta for comment via TikTok direct message and comment and to Texas Roadhouse via email.