At Texas Roadhouse, complimentary peanuts are an integral part of the dining experience. These simple, unassuming snacks are a great way to pass the time while diners wait for their food, and the practice of throwing the shells on the floor has become something of a tradition at the steakhouse chain.

That’s why rumors that Texas Roadhouse may be discontinuing its signature peanuts have caused quite a stir among its fans. However, the truth behind these rumors remains unclear.

Although some locations have reportedly done away with free peanuts in-house and opted for to-go bags instead, it appears that others will continue to offer them. A self-proclaimed Texas Roadhouse resource page addressed the frequently asked question directly in a February 2024 post, assuring peanut lovers that the restaurant does, in fact, still serve peanuts to its in-house guests. The page reports that Texas Roadhouse issued a press release on the matter back in 2020, though a search of the company website turns up no such statement.

Because Texas Roadhouse restaurants are franchises, it’s possible that practices for handling peanuts vary from location to location. The general consensus online is that this practice has been phased out during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that bags of peanuts are still available to take home upon request.

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The humble origins of Texas Roadhouse’s popular peanuts

The tradition of serving peanuts at Texas Roadhouse dates back to the restaurant’s founding in 1993. The concept originated with founder Kent Taylor, who wanted to create a casual and inviting atmosphere reminiscent of a Texas ranch. Peanuts were chosen as a complimentary snack to enhance the experience and give guests a sense of hospitality. Inspired by the relaxed atmosphere of Southern rest stops, where guests could enjoy simple pleasures like cracking peanuts while waiting for their food, Texas Roadhouse adopted this practice as part of its unique charm. “(Taylor) originally thought of popcorn, believe it or not,” Travis Doster, senior director of public and government relations for Texas Roadhouse, told the National Peanut Board, but ultimately decided against it because the smell was too strong. “That’s how the peanut idea was born. And the peanut and bread idea was to give people, especially families with their children, something to eat immediately.”

Over the years, peanuts became synonymous with the restaurant’s brand and symbolized its commitment to providing a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. The company spent $20 million on peanuts in 2022, Doster said, a fact that supports the “peanuts are still a thing at Texas Roadhouse” argument.

Peanuts are not without problems

Although peanuts are a popular snack at Texas Roadhouse, they have caused a few problems over the years. In 2016, an Iowa man sued the restaurant chain after slipping on peanut shells during a visit to the Cedar Falls location. In the lawsuit, he accused Texas Roadhouse of negligence that contributed to his shattered knee. It’s not clear how that lawsuit turned out, but it wasn’t the first time the steakhouse was sued over its peanuts. A 2013 lawsuit filed on behalf of a Texan woman seeking $1 million for her injuries from a slip and fall involving peanuts was settled out of court, with Texas Roadhouse neither admitting nor denying responsibility for her injury. The restaurant paid up to $43,000 in 2008 to another Texan woman who suffered a knee injury from eating peanuts.

The restaurant has also been heavily criticized by the food allergy community for not being nut allergy friendly. However, the counter argument is that people with peanut allergies should know to avoid a restaurant whose specialty is peanuts.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.