First off and before anything else, I want to make sure you know that I LOVE Outback Steakhouse.
I have some really beautiful childhood memories of going there after a great report card…
Getting to share the coconut shrimp appetizer with my parents…
(While snarfing down some extra bread, of course…)
And getting a bite off my dad’s steak, if I was lucky.
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Outback’s steaks are legendary, and generally they’re a pretty good value too!
Obviously there are better steakhouses – of course – but in many cases you’ll be paying up for the privilege of a better steak.
One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Outback is that they also have a ton of other menu items.
Seafood, burgers, sandwiches, some really tasty appetizers…
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Many of which are pretty unique!
And also – plenty of them are…well…pretty normal.
A burger’s a burger if it doesn’t have any special toppings, you know?
And a handful of these “more common” dishes are…in my view…badly mispriced vs the competition.
You can just get something that’s substantially similar elsewhere – usually for quite a bit less money!
Here are seven dishes that I wanted to specifically call out at Outback for being a poor value:
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Price: $14.99
Why it’s overpriced: $14.99 for a burger and fries is…steep.
Where to get it instead: I mean, legitimately, pick your burger place. You can get the Oldtimer with cheese at Chili’s for just $12.99. If you’re spending $15 for a burger, it had better be good – and Outback’s is just “fine” in my view.
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Price: $17.49
Why it’s overpriced: Listen, I’m all for paying $17.49 for an appetizer if it’s unique. But…chicken wings? With just three flavor options (mild, medium, or hot)? With blue cheese and celery? You can get plenty more for plenty less at just about any wing spot.
Where to get it instead: Honestly, just go to wingstop. You can get 10 bone-in wings for $14.99 (or 20 boneless for $14), and they’ll taste better too. Not to ding Outback, but you get way more choices at Wingstop (I love to mix and match the spicy korean Q and the Hawaiian), and way more meat, all for way less money.
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Price: $12.49
Why it’s overpriced: I feel bad about this one, both because the Bloomin’ Onion is…like…iconic Outback Steakhouse, and because it’s actually one of their cheapest appetizers! But I had a ripoff at a local competitor, and it was way cheaper…
Where to get it instead: Texas Roadhouse’s cactus blossom is basically a Bloomin’ Onion by another name, and it costs just $8.99. Why wouldn’t you pick that, every time?
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Price: $10.99
Why it’s overpriced: Listen, I love a slice of cheesecake as much as the next guy. But for $10.99 a slice, you might as well just go buy your own cheesecake a tthe grocery store. (Costco has a six-pound cheesecake for, get this, $22.99.)
Where to get it instead: Costco, obviously. But if you’d rather go to a restaurant, honestly – The Cheesecake Factory gives you a lot more choices for just $1.50 extra. Might as well go somewhere that’s known for good cheesecake, you know? It’s in the name!
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Price: $19.99
Why it’s overpriced: It’s $20…for chicken tenders, fries, another side, and some honey mustard sauce. Twenty dollars!
Where to get it instead: I mean, basically anywhere. If you still want to dine somewhere fancy and overpay by less…at LongHorn you can get six chicken tenders plus two sides for $15.79 – and even their nine-count is only $17.79!
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Price: $15.99
Why it’s overpriced: Listen, I love me a good fried chicken sandwich as much as the next person. (And more than most!)
But…this is just seriously overpriced for what you’re getting.
Where to get it instead: Chick-fil-A? Popeyes? Hangry Joe’s? Just about anywhere you can get a fried chicken sandwich, it’ll be cheaper than this.
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Price: $14.49
Why it’s overpriced: Ok so before anything else, I just want to acknowledge – these are pretty good cheese fries! You won’t be sorry to order them. And also – they’re cheese fries! They shouldn’t cost almost fifteen bucks.
Where to get it instead: Honestly, you should just get your favorite fries from wherever you love them, buy some cheese and bacon, and top them yourself. It’ll be better than what you’ll get from any restaurant anyway, and it’ll be loads cheaper too.
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• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
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So there you have it – seven overpriced Outback dishes that are just not a good value for the cost.
And again, I want to be clear – none of these taste bad. Something can be overpriced and not a good value…and still taste pretty good!
But when there are cheaper options available that are basically equivalent…
Well, why wouldn’t you save a few bucks? You know?
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But I’m really curious – what do you think?
Are all seven of these overpriced? Did I miss one?
Let us know in the comments!
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