Texas Roadhouse is known for its rowdy dining rooms, made‑from‑scratch steaks and legendary rolls. But as the restaurant industry embraces drive‑through lanes and curbside pickup, many guests wonder whether they can grab a ribeye from the comfort of their car. This guide explores whether Texas Roadhouse drive thru lanes operates, examines why full‑service steakhouses rarely adopt drive‑through service, highlights the one Texas Roadhouse‑owned brand that does, and shares practical tips to get your food quickly without waiting in line.
Does Texas Roadhouse Have a Drive‑Thru?
In short, no, a traditional drive‑thru lane isn’t part of the standard Texas Roadhouse experience. The company briefly experimented with drive‑through service in the past; during the pandemic some locations shifted to takeout‑only, and management even tested a drive‑thru, but it never became standard. Texas Roadhouse remains primarily a dinner‑only, dine‑in concept. When asked about new technology on an earnings call, executives highlighted a digital kitchen initiative that frees staff to handle more to‑go business without mentioning drive‑thru lanes. This system replaces paper tickets with screens and equips servers with handheld tablets to speed order flow. Takeout orders currently account for around 13 % of sales, so the company is improving its back‑of‑house process rather than building new lanes outside.
Why Steakhouses Avoid Drive‑Throughs
Several factors make a drive‑through impractical for a steakhouse that prides itself on hand‑cut meats and baked‑from‑scratch rolls:
- Cooking time and customization: Steaks are prepared to order and often require different temperatures (rare to well‑done). Achieving proper doneness takes time, whereas drive‑thru service is designed for rapid throughput.
- Menu complexity: A drive‑thru must handle a high volume of orders with minimal friction. Texas Roadhouse’s menu includes steaks, ribs, seafood, salads and sides, which can be difficult to package and deliver quickly without compromising quality.
- Operational footprint: Drive‑thru lanes require additional real estate and dedicated staffing. Many Texas Roadhouse locations are already bustling; converting parking or building new lanes would require substantial investment and zoning approvals.
- Focus on the dine‑in experience: The company was built on a lively, interactive dining room with line dancing servers and a “three‑table station” model that gives guests more attention. Maintaining that atmosphere is key to its brand identity.
Even though other restaurant chains are experimenting with AI‑powered drive‑thru lanes and robot kitchens, the steakhouse’s leaders have stated their technology investments are behind the scenes. The goal is to improve guest experience by streamlining ordering and table‑side payment rather than replacing dine‑in service.
The Drive‑Thru Exists — At a Sister Brand
While Texas Roadhouse itself doesn’t offer drive‑thru service, its fast‑casual sibling Jaggers does. Jaggers is a separate concept owned by the same parent company and specializes in burgers, hand‑breaded chicken and shakes. The chain was designed from the ground up with a drive‑thru lane to serve customers quickly.
How Jaggers Drive‑Thru Works
Sources covering the brand explain that Jaggers stores combine an indoor dining room with a drive‑thru lane. Managers at early locations set an ambitious goal to keep cars moving through the lane in 45 seconds per vehicle. That pace may sound lofty, but it shows the brand’s commitment to fast service despite a scratch‑made menu. When a reporter visited a Louisville‑area location, they noted that the dining room, drive‑thru and kitchen were all busy, yet service remained efficient. Each restaurant retains elements of its parent company’s DNA — scratch‑made burgers, homemade dressings and hand‑spun milkshakes — but with a smaller footprint and quick‑service drive‑thru operations.
Jaggers is expanding slowly. The brand launched in 2014 in Indiana and has since grown to a handful of states and even overseas. A local report on a new location in Lexington described the restaurant as having a double drive‑thru for fast service along with seating for more than 80 guests. At a proposed site in Florence, Kentucky, architectural plans call for a 3,500‑square‑foot building with two drive‑thru lanes, and company representatives said the business is evenly split between drive‑thru and dine‑in. Lunchtime accounts for roughly 65 % of sales at Jaggers, illustrating how the drive‑thru caters to busy midday customers.
Why Jaggers Is Separate From Texas Roadhouse
Jaggers operates independently because its business model differs from the steakhouse. The Texas Roadhouse menu focuses on items that can be prepared quickly — burgers, chicken tenders and salads — making drive‑thru service practical. In contrast, Texas Roadhouse centers on steaks and ribs that require longer cooking times. By housing the drive‑thru concept under a different brand, the company can serve on‑the‑go customers without compromising the steakhouse’s dine‑in experience. If you’re craving a drive‑thru burger or chicken sandwich prepared with the same scratch‑made care, a Jaggers location might satisfy that need.
To‑Go and Curbside Pickup: Your Alternative to Drive‑Thru
Even without a drive‑through lane, Texas Roadhouse offers several ways to get your food quickly. Takeout orders make up more than one‑tenth of sales, and the chain has streamlined its process to handle those orders efficiently.
Order Online or Through the Mobile App
Using the website or mobile app is the fastest way to place a to‑go order. Here’s how it works:
- Choose your location: Visit the official website or open the mobile app and search for the nearest restaurant by entering your ZIP code or allowing location access.
- Select the “Order To‑Go” option: Navigate to the menu and add your desired entrées, sides and drinks. You can customize items by selecting steak temperature, sauces or side substitutions.
- Pick a pickup time: Select a convenient pickup slot. Many locations let you choose as soon as possible (often within 30 minutes) or schedule later the same day.
- Check out: Provide payment information. The app accepts credit/debit cards and gift cards, and VIP club coupons can be applied.
- Arrival and pickup: Head to the restaurant at your scheduled time. Some locations have dedicated curbside or to‑go parking spaces; others ask that you check in at a designated desk. Employees will bring your food to your car or direct you to a pickup counter.
Phone Orders and Call‑Ahead
If you prefer to speak with someone, you can place a takeout order by phone. Call your local restaurant during business hours, specify your order, and arrange a pickup time. When you arrive, let staff know you’re there for your to‑go order, and they’ll bring it out.
Tips to Get Your Food Faster
Although Texas Roadhouse doesn’t offer drive‑thru service, there are strategies to reduce wait time:
- Order early and avoid peak hours: Weekends and holidays see heavy traffic. Placing a to‑go order mid‑afternoon or on a weekday evening often yields a shorter wait.
- Use the waitlist for dine‑in: If you decide to eat inside but want to minimize waiting, join the online waitlist via the website or app. You enter your party size and contact details, receive an approximate wait time, and then travel to the restaurant. Upon arrival, check in at the host stand and wait for a text notification when your table is ready. Note that the waitlist may not be available for large parties or special requests.
- Choose bar seating or patio tables: If your location has a bar area or outdoor tables, seating there may shorten your wait because those areas often operate under different rules than the main dining room.
- VIP club and early dine specials: Joining the chain’s free loyalty program entitles you to deals like free appetizers and birthday coupons and may include occasional priority seating offers. Early dine specials (smaller steaks at lower prices during weekday afternoons) can be less crowded, making to‑go pickup easier.
Drive‑Thru Misconceptions
Because some social media posts and third‑party pages mention “drive‑thru” at Texas Roadhouse, it’s easy to be confused. In most cases, those posts refer to curbside pickup, not an actual lane where you order and pay from your car. During the pandemic, many restaurants across the country added curbside pickup spots and contactless payment — sometimes marketed as drive‑thru service — but the process still involves ordering ahead and parking in a designated spot. Texas Roadhouse continues to offer curbside to‑go, but you’ll need to park and wait briefly while a team member brings your food.
Texas Roadhouse vs. Jaggers
| Feature | Texas Roadhouse | Jaggers (sister brand) |
|---|---|---|
| Core menu | Hand‑cut steaks, ribs, seafood, salads, made‑from‑scratch sides | Burgers, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, salads, milkshakes |
| Drive‑thru? | No standard drive‑thru; tested during pandemic but not adopted | Yes; drive‑thru lanes are integral. Some locations have double drive‑thru lanes |
| Dining format | Full‑service, dinner‑focused; some to‑go and curbside pickup | Fast‑casual with dine‑in and drive‑thru. Focused on quick service (goal of 45 seconds per car) |
| Real estate footprint | Larger, with bar area and waiting foyer | Smaller footprint (approx. 3,500–3,900 square feet) with drive‑thru canopy |
| Business mix | To‑go orders around 13 % of sales | Business roughly evenly split between drive‑thru and dine‑in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No. While some locations experimented with drive‑through service in the past, the chain decided not to adopt it widely. Instead, it emphasizes dine‑in service and offers convenient to‑go and curbside pickup.
Yes. When placing a to‑go order via the website, app or phone, select curbside pickup. Upon arrival, park in a designated to‑go spot and an employee will bring the food to your car. This process is sometimes referred to as “drive‑through” on social media but is distinct from ordering at a speaker box.
Steak dinners require precise cooking and longer preparation than burgers or fries. Drive‑thru lanes are designed for speed, so implementing one at a steakhouse would require changes to the menu and operations. Executives also note that the brand’s lively dine‑in experience is central to its identity.
Yes. The company operates a fast‑casual spinoff called Jaggers. Jaggers locations feature drive‑thru lanes (some with double lanes) and serve burgers, chicken and salads quickly.
Join the online waitlist via the website or mobile app and head to the restaurant when your spot is near. Ordering to‑go for curbside pickup, avoiding peak dining hours and taking advantage of early dine specials or bar seating can also shorten your wait.
Conclusion
Texas Roadhouse built its reputation on delivering tender steaks and warm hospitality in a lively dining room, not on drive‑thru convenience. The chain briefly flirted with drive‑through service during the pandemic but ultimately decided it wasn’t a fit for its scratch‑made cooking and dinner‑focused culture. Instead, it has invested in technology behind the scenes: digital kitchen screens and handheld tablets streamline operations, and a growing portion of sales comes from to‑go orders. Guests who want a drive‑thru experience can look to Jaggers, the sister concept that pairs quick‑serve burgers and chicken with double drive‑thru lanes. For everyone else, ordering ahead through the app, joining the waitlist and using curbside pickup provide convenient ways to enjoy Texas Roadhouse without enduring long lines. As consumer habits evolve, expect the steakhouse to continue refining its to‑go and digital capabilities while staying true to its dine‑in roots.
Check Also: Texas Roadhouse Wait Time — Tips to Skip the Line