Which is cheaper, McDonald's or Texas Roadhouse?

McDonald's is cheaper, averaging $6.03 per item versus $10.24 for Texas Roadhouse — a 41% difference. Based on 250 menu items as of April 2026.

Which has more menu items, McDonald's or Texas Roadhouse?

McDonald's has more menu items (164 vs 86). The total combined menu across both chains is 250 items.

Which has lower calories, McDonald's or Texas Roadhouse?

McDonald's averages 413 calories per item, compared to 705 for Texas Roadhouse. Both chains offer items under 500 calories.

Are McDonald's and Texas Roadhouse similar?

McDonald's (13,786 US locations) and Texas Roadhouse (750 US locations) compete on 0 similar menu categories. Cuisine overlap: 0%.

McDonald's vs Texas Roadhouse (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 164 items at McDonald's vs 86 items at Texas Roadhouse.

Quick answer: As of April 2026, McDonald's averages $6.03 per item across 164 menu items, while Texas Roadhouse averages $10.24 across 86 items. McDonald's is $4.21 cheaper per item (41% difference). McDonald's has lower average calories (413 vs 705 per item).

Quick Comparison

McDonald's vs Texas Roadhouse: Quick Price & Menu Comparison
Metric	McDonald's	Texas Roadhouse	Winner
Avg Price	$6.03	$10.24	McDonald's
Menu Items	164	86	McDonald's
Avg Calories	413	705	McDonald's
US Locations	13,786	750	McDonald's
Secret Menu	15	0	McDonald's

McDonald's is 41% cheaper on average than Texas Roadhouse ($4.21 less per item).

Cheapest Items

McDonald's

Butter $0.15

Syrup $0.25

Creamy Ranch Sauce $0.30

Spicy Buffalo $0.30

Honey Mustard $0.30

Texas Roadhouse

Buttered Corn $2.49

Seasoned Rice $2.49

Green Beans $2.49

Apple Sauce $2.49

Fresh Vegetables $2.49

Lowest Calorie Options

McDonald's

Honey Mustard 60 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Wild Cherry 80 cal

Medium Frozen Coca-Cola® 80 cal

Medium Frozen Fanta® Blue Raspberry 80 cal

Mayonnaise Packet 90 cal

Texas Roadhouse

Sauteed Mushrooms 90 cal

Green Beans 100 cal

Apple Sauce 150 cal

Sauteed Onions 150 cal

Lil’ Dillo Steak Bites 170 cal

Deep Comparison: McDonald's vs Texas Roadhouse

Calorie Value (cents per calorie)

McDonald's delivers 6.07¢/cal on average, while Texas Roadhouse delivers 1.67¢/cal. Texas Roadhouse gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.

Menu Category Overlap

McDonald's and Texas Roadhouse share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.

What Fits in Your Budget

$10 budget: McDonald's fits 1 item (290 cal), Texas Roadhouse fits 1 item (1150 cal)
$15 budget: McDonald's fits 0 items, Texas Roadhouse fits 1 item (480 cal)
$20 budget: McDonald's fits 3 items (260 cal), Texas Roadhouse fits 1 item (760 cal)

Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset

McDonald's ranks #156 of 414 on price (cheaper than 63% of tracked chains). Texas Roadhouse ranks #317 of 414 (pricier than 76% of chains).

Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)

At McDonald's, 70% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Texas Roadhouse, 36% are under 500 calories. McDonald's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.

Bottom Line

Budget pick: McDonald's ($6.03 avg vs $10.24)
More variety: McDonald's (164 items)
More locations: McDonald's (13,786 US locations)
Best calorie value: Texas Roadhouse (1.67¢/cal)

Full Menus

McDonald's Menu Texas Roadhouse Menu Cheapest Fast Food Low Calorie Guide