Florida woman goes to Texas Roadhouse for a baked potato. Then she reads the fine print at the bottom of the menu: ‘Slightly disappointed’

Steak and potatoes are a classic combination, so it’s not surprising that the baked potato at Texas Roadhouse would be a staple menu option for sides. For Debbie (@deb.r17 on TikTok), the baked potato was her go-to side at the restaurant until she learned the potatoes are coated in bacon fat prior to being cooked.

Debbie discovered this detail about the potatoes when she posted a short video with the description, “We love Texas Roadhouse, but I also love the baked potato skin! Is it clean?”

A commenter confirmed that, yes, the potatoes are cleaned. Then, they’re coated in bacon grease before they’re cooked. Debbie responded with shock at that information, although she probably wasn’t as shocked as this woman who found a clump of dirt in her Texas Roadhouse salad.

The menu’s fine print confirms the use of bacon grease

As it turns out, the menu does include a mention of bacon grease being used for the baked potatoes, but the print is so small and at the bottom of the menu that diners end up missing it. While some diners were disappointed to learn about the use of bacon grease, the practice itself isn’t that unusual in cooking.

If you’re searching for recipes that give you a crispy, salty skin on your potatoes, you’ll find multiple results that use bacon grease rather than options like olive oil. It can be used as a replacement for butter and oils for most savory dishes, and cooking in bacon grease means that the dish picks up some of the flavor.

Therefore, it’s no wonder why the baked potatoes at Texas Roadhouse get comments about the taste and texture of their skin. The bacon grease gives it a salty, savory taste and crisps up the skin.

Bacon grease is a deal-breaker for some diners

For Debbie, the use of bacon grease means that she isn’t going to be getting the baked potato from Texas Roadhouse again, as she says she doesn’t eat pork. This also means that the baked potato isn’t a suitable choice for vegetarians and those who observe some religions that don’t eat pork, either.

However, the comments featured some responses from people who seem to work at Texas Roadhouse, or have worked there previously, and they mention that it’s possible to request a baked potato without the bacon grease. Some even commented that their location doesn’t use bacon grease for the potatoes, despite the menu’s fine print claiming it does.

The conclusion ended up being to read the fine print and talk to your server for specific questions if you can’t have certain ingredients. At least the iconic Texas Roadhouse dinner rolls aren’t cooked in bacon grease.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]