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7 Reasons to Never Eat at LongHorn Steakhouse

What diners should know before spending big at LongHorn.

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Oct. 26, 2026

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LongHorn Steakhouse can look like a pretty safe choice when you're in the mood for a steak. But once dinner starts pushing into the $30 and $40 range, small things that might be easy to overlook at a cheaper restaurant become harder to ignore.

Customers have reported big differences between locations, along with complaints about portions, service, wait times, and food that doesn't always come out right. While the steakhouse has improved in some important areas, especially steak preparation, the chain isn't the same as it was a few years ago. Still, some of the complaints are worth knowing before you decide where to spend your money.

If you're on a budget and want a good experience when you go out to eat, here are some reasons to reconsider that steak dinner at LongHorn Steakhouse.

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The steak isn't always cooked right

Some LongHorn customers say their steaks arrive more or less cooked than they ordered. Reddit threads include diners who ordered medium-rare and received rare steaks, while others say they order rare because they expect their steak to come out overcooked.

LongHorn's steaks range from the high teens to the $30s, with premium cuts reaching into the low $40s depending on the location. When you're paying that much for a steak, you expect at least your meat to be cooked as you ordered it.

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The experience varies from one location to another

A good LongHorn location can provide a solid dinner. A bad one can leave customers wondering what happened. Customers complain about noticeable differences between locations.

Some diners say they have a favorite location they trust, while others have stopped going to a particular restaurant after several disappointing visits. Reviews also show that a steakhouse can have very different ratings depending on the location, so the LongHorn name alone doesn't always tell you what kind of meal you're going to get.

Some menu items aren't worth the price

LongHorn has plenty of dishes beyond its signature steaks, but some customers don't think the higher-priced options deliver enough. Complaints about dry chicken, tough ribs, and sides that arrive cold or underwhelming show up in customer reviews. When a meal can easily reach $25 to $35 per person, paying steakhouse prices for an average chicken dish or disappointing sides can make the value harder to justify.

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The sides can be a letdown

LongHorn puts plenty of attention on its steaks, but the sides can make or break the meal. Customers have complained about sides arriving cold, dry, overcooked, or simply not tasting as fresh as they expected. Reviews have mentioned everything from hard baked potatoes to dry rice and other sides that didn't seem worth the price of a steakhouse dinner.

The portions can feel smaller than expected

Portion size has become another point of frustration for some LongHorn customers. Recent reviews and discussions question whether certain entrées are as substantial as they once were, particularly chicken dishes and other non-steak options. Customers have also raised concerns that portions look smaller than expected for the price or the menu description.

Portion sizes vary by dish and location, and many customers are still satisfied with what they receive. But when a restaurant's portions become inconsistent, diners may not know what they'll get when they order the same meal again.

Long waits can take the value out of dinner

Customers have reported waiting more than an hour for their food, with some saying the wait was made worse when the food arrived cold or had to be sent back. Weekend dinner can be especially difficult if you don't join the waitlist ahead of time because a long wait for a table changes the whole experience when you're already paying steakhouse prices.

Joining the waitlist can take some of the risk out of it. Checking recent reviews for the specific location can also tell you whether long waits are a regular complaint.

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You can make a ribeye at home for less

A grocery-store ribeye costs much less than sitting down at a steakhouse. If you already know how to cook steak in a cast-iron pan or on a grill, you can buy the cut you want and make the sides yourself.

That doesn't replace going out for dinner, of course. But it does change how LongHorn looks when the bill reaches $30 or more per person.

Bottom line

LongHorn isn't a restaurant everyone should avoid. Some locations deliver good steaks, reliable service, and meals that customers are happy to order again. The issue is that the experience can vary enough from one restaurant to another that choosing a location matters.

Checking recent reviews, joining the waitlist ahead of time during busy periods, and sticking with menu items that have a strong track record can reduce the chances of a disappointing visit. Lunch and promotional deals can also make LongHorn a better value than full-price dinner. If you want to avoid wasting money, it's worth comparing what nearby restaurants offer before you decide where to eat.

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