Illinois diner says Texas Roadhouse served him sirloin instead of filet three times; chain confirms one mix-up

A regular customer at a Texas Roadhouse in central Illinois says he ordered filet mignon and was served a cheaper sirloin on three separate visits. The restaurant chain says it has confirmed one mix-up, which it says staff corrected on the spot, but it has not been able to verify the other two.

The dispute has drawn wide attention after the diner, Kenneth Card, posted about it on TikTok and then spoke with Fox News Digital. Here’s what each side says.

What Kenneth Card says happened

Card shared his story on TikTok in early October, according to reports from Fox News Digital and The U.S. Sun. He said the problem happened at the Texas Roadhouse in Forsyth, Illinois, which The U.S. Sun described as about 45 minutes outside Springfield.

Card said he had been eating at that location about once a week for more than a year and had built a rapport with the staff. He also said his background working in hotel and restaurant kitchens, cooking and cutting steaks, made him confident he could tell the cuts apart.

“I know what types of meat I get whenever I receive it,” Card told Fox News Digital.

According to his account:

1. First visit: He told staff he thought he had the wrong steak, and they gave him a filet.
2. Second visit: He said he got sirloin again but ate it without raising the issue.
3. Third visit: He ordered filet again and spoke with a manager. He said the steak was taken back for a second opinion and staff told him it was not what he had ordered. He said he waited for a new one, asked for it to go and posted his video after getting home.

“I just wanted to get the word out that, ‘Hey, you’re getting ripped off if you’re ordering this, and they’re selling you this,’” Card said, according to Fox News Digital.

The Mary Sue, which reviewed his TikTok, reported that Card said a manager acted as if the repeated mix-up was impossible and had no response when he asked how it had happened again. That detail comes from Card’s own account and has not been independently confirmed.

What Texas Roadhouse says

The chain told Fox News Digital that it was aware of Card’s post and had looked into it. A spokesperson confirmed one mix-up and said management “quickly made it right” by giving Card a filet.

But the company said it has “not been able to track that this occurred on three occasions.” The spokesperson added that team members double-check food for quality and accuracy as it leaves the kitchen, and that customers who think they received the wrong steak or were charged incorrectly should tell their server at the time so the restaurant can fix it.

So the two sides agree that at least one wrong steak was served and replaced. They disagree on whether it happened three times. The U.S. Sun said Texas Roadhouse did not immediately respond to its own request for comment.

Why the price difference matters

At the Forsyth location, an 8-ounce sirloin costs about $20 and a filet mignon about $30, according to the restaurant’s website as cited by Fox News Digital. The Mary Sue gave different general estimates, around $30 to $35 for a filet and about $10 for a sirloin, so the exact gap depends on the source and the menu.

Card described the difference in texture this way: a filet “melts in your mouth” and is “very tender,” while a sirloin is “a little grittier, a little chewier.”

Some commenters on his video suggested the problem was likely limited to one location, while others admitted they wouldn’t be able to tell the two cuts apart, Fox News Digital reported.

What’s next

Card said he does not plan to go back to the Forsyth restaurant. “I think I’m done going in there,” he said. “I’ll try somewhere else.”

There is no indication of any formal complaint or legal action, and no reporting suggests similar issues at other Texas Roadhouse locations.

How to make sure you get the steak you ordered

Based on the chain’s own guidance and Card’s advice:

• Check your steak when it arrives, before you start eating.
• If something looks off, tell your server right away so the kitchen can check it.
• Review your bill to make sure the item charged matches what you were served.

FAQ