I visited Longhorn Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and Texas Roadhouse with a $50 budget. The prices didn't vary much, but the value did.

A nice steak dinner is one of my favorite ways to treat myself. And as a New Jersey resident, I have plenty of steakhouse chains to choose from.But recently, I started wondering which of the many chain restaurants offers the best bang for my buck. So, I visited Longhorn Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and Texas Roadhouse within the same week, and tried to keep within a $50 budget.To keep things fair, I ordered the same meal at all three places: the largest boneless ribeye steak I could get within budget, with a side of mac and cheese and a Caesar salad. I also ordered a chocolate-based dessert from each place to complete my meal. Here's how it went.Prices may vary by location.

I started my journey at Longhorn Steakhouse.

Longhorn Steakhouse is owned by Darden Brands.

Anny Caba

I visited my local Longhorn Steakhouse in Woodbridge, New Jersey.Longhorn first opened its doors in Atlanta in 1981, and now has over 500 locations, mostly within the US.Today, the chain is owned by Darden Brands, which is the parent company of other chains like Olive Garden, Yardhouse, and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, among others.