We Tried 20 National Steakhouse Chains. Here's The Best One

Back when beef prices were actually reasonable, going to steakhouses were a good thing. But nowadays, I could buy 3 to 4 prime choice cut steaks and cook it myself for the price of dining at one steakhouse restaurant. Not only that, I still have money leftover to buy ingredients for fantastic sides and desserts. For those of us who don't have Bill Gates income, grilling your own steak is the way to go.

The best steak I ever tasted was 50 years ago. It was on a chartered Pan AM airliner leaving Vietnam about an hour out of Saigon on my way home. In reality it could have been dog meat but under the circumstances it was one of my most memorable meals ever!

I have fond childhood memories of Bonanza and Ponderosa. It's long gone from my city. And maybe it's as bad as described now. But there was something about their rib eye grilled steak with a baked potato and Texas Toast. I have few good memories of my childhood and this is one of them.

Longhorn and Texas Roadhouse are my favorites,👍

In my experience, it really doesn't matter what steakhouse you dine at, all that matters is "who's in the kitchen?"

The sirloin my dad cooked over charcoal in my old busted wagon were the best, so were his ribs and chicken. We were poor but splurged on Sunday meals after church.

Love Longhorn Steakhouse, nice to see it was so high on the list!

I travel for work and have been to multiple Texas Roadhouse locations, and have never been unhappy with my meal. The Longhorn where I live is great too, and surprisingly our local and much closer Outback isn't bad for the price either if on a budget or just don't feel like driving. Chain restaurants can vary wildly in quality from location to location.

Since I've learned to make a high quality steak on my own, I've not been satisfied with most restaurant steaks

Texas Roadhouse (at least back in the day) treated their employees pretty well too. A former coworker of mine worked at a location where several employees were simultaneously going through a difficult time. The CEO at the time showed up at the location and handed out checks to every employee as a token for his appreciation.

Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse are both really good places no doubt about. However I do like McCormack and Schmick's in Kansas City, it's more money but dang hands down best steak I've ever had. My brother came to visit and I took him and his wife and they are still talking about two months later.

I think it takes more than one visit to truly find the best steak house. For example, I've only been to Salt Grass once and wasn't very happy with the steak. I'd be willing to go a few more times before I'd cut them out completely. I've been to Texas Roadhouse lots of times and have been happy nearly every time.

I buy prime ribeye caps and prime NY strips from Costco. Cook them on my commercial grill on the patio. Absolute perfection- no need to dine out and pay premium $$$

I had no idea either Bonanza or Ponderosa were still in business... YIKES!

Ruth Chris definitely doesn’t miss as far as chains go

As ZombifiedWatermelon wrote, "Chain restaurants can vary wildly in quality from location to location." I'd like to see Mashed make a video on each chain's consistency. Is a Longhorn in Seattle equal to a Longhorn in Miami? How are company standards enforced by each chain's management? Also, I wouldn't mind knowing how many locations the Mashed team visited. If they made their decision that Outback isn't good by visiting only 2 or 3 locations (going back to ZombifiedWatermelon's statement), that isn't enough samples.

I have eaten at 3/4 of these steakhouses and I paid the bill at each, so I can be totally honest. The toughest steak I ever had was at Fleming's. Shula's was good but totally overpriced. Ruth's Chris was one of the best. Texas Roadhouse was not quite as good, but I can eat there 5-7 times for the price of one meal at Ruth's Chris. Order the bone-in ribeye, medium rare at Texas Roadhouse...you can thank me later.

Best steaks I've had the last year and a half have been Ribeyes in my own kitchen. Let them sit for an hour or so to get to room temperature, rub with olive or avacado oil.use garlic powder, salt and pepper then sear in a piping hot cast iron skillet for a couple minutes. Secret is to leave it alone while it is searing. Then in the oven to finish. Also the best fettucini alfredo I've ever had is in my kitchen too, but that's a different story.

Of all these mentioned Longhorn is hands down my favorite love the outlaw ribeye!! That being said I can grill myself and prepare and season it to my perfection and it’s better than any of these places at a fraction of the cost and my family will verify that they love my grilling!!

Went to Ruth's Chris for a celebration once with my wife, and I'll never forget that 40oz. Porterhouse for the rest of my life. Incomparable to <$100 steak at other restaurants. The rest of the food was incredible as well.