Take Any Texas Roadhouse Steak To Another Level With This Request

If there's one thing that enhances any steak, it's a silky, savory sauce. While asking for some A.1. might be something you shouldn't say when ordering steak, other sauces — such as mushroom, red wine, or peppercorn — pair perfectly with the meat. Texas Roadhouse is famed for its USDA Choice hand-cut steaks, but if you want to elevate your steak dinner further, the solution is simple: Order the chain's tasty portobello mushroom sauce as an extra.

There are several reasons why mushroom sauce suits steak so well. The meat contains glutamate umami, while the fungi offer nucleotide umami. If that sounds a little technical, then all you really need to know is that the two types combine to produce umami synergy — in other words, a double-whammy of mouthwateringly savory flavor that takes each bite to new heights. The creaminess of the sauce offers an additional layer of luxury, and the mushrooms themselves amp up the earthiness. Factor in the velvety texture of the sauce, which also includes pieces of portobello mushroom, and it's a magnificent match.

If you opt for the filet medallions at Texas Roadhouse, you'll automatically get portobello mushroom sauce with your meat. But you can get the same satisfying steak-and-sauce combo with whatever your chosen cut might be, whether that's a 6-ounce sirloin (Texas Roadhouse's best-selling steak) or a whopping 23-ounce porterhouse T-bone. All you have to do is ask your server.

While combining meat with just about any type of mushrooms creates a perfect example of what we mean by umami flavor, there's something very special about serving steak with the portobello variety. It's all to do with how the portobello's unique taste and texture complements and enhances the beef. While portobello mushrooms come from the same family as the button and cremini varieties, they're more mature, which gives them that delicious depth of flavor. Even if you choose one of the cheaper cuts at Texas Roadhouse, you can be sure that the earthy mushroom sauce will add even more rich, savory, and smoky flavor to your dish.

These particular mushrooms are large and meaty, so much so that they are often used as a meat substitute in dishes such as grilled portobello meat-free burgers. When combined with steak, this meatiness helps to "beef up" the protein on your plate — literally. Portobellos get their signature hearty texture thanks to the fact that they contain less water than some other varieties. It makes them ideal for adding extra body to a steak sauce without turning mushy or watery.

When cooked, such as in a sauce, the savory taste of portobello mushrooms becomes even more pronounced. But if you're craving a more fiercely full-on fungi flavor to your meal, you could also order a side of sautéed mushrooms to accompany your Texas Roadhouse steak. Umami fans will be in steakhouse heaven.