Utah Texas Roadhouse server says she needs customers to stop asking her this

A Utah server working at Texas Roadhouse is fed up with substitution requests. Now, she's reiterating that customers cannot replace a side with a 14-ounce ribeye steak or main menu items.

Cam Kylie (@camkylie) posted a video that received more than 276,000 views as of this writing. In it, she calls out a demographic of Texas Roadhouse customers who make substitutions she cannot reasonably accommodate.

It led to one question in the comments section: “Why do people think they can sub a side for an entree?”

What are Customers Usually Allowed to Sub?

Making substitutions when ordering a meal is fairly regular in the restaurant business. A customer may not like a side dish that comes with a pre-set steak, for instance, and make a request for something else. But when do customers truly take it too far?

Commenters spelled out the implicit rules succinctly. According to them, customers have to pick out two things that are alike or pay the difference. If a dish comes with rice, for instance, a restaurant may allow a substitution of vegetables or something that's similarly priced. Items that are on a side menu at a restaurant, which don't have an additional cost, are generally considered reasonable to request as a substitution.

When customers begin to request main dishes on the menu as substitutions, expecting accommodation, servers don't necessarily appreciate it.

“When people ask if they can swap their COMPLEMENTARY soup and salad for extra food. Like no babe,” one commenter said.

Another commenter added, “I work at a brunch place.. they try to replace bacon [with] steak… and [I] have to explain to them why [that's] not possible.”

Cutting items off of a dish doesn't make the dish cheaper, either. This is usually because ingredients aren't the only cost associated with a dish. Adding a side doesn't make a dish $1 or $2 cheaper if it's already prepped. If anything, it might cost more to make the dish differently.

Modifications Can Ruin the Experience

In 2026, some restaurants are pushing back against modifications and special requests. A Bib Gourmand-rated Thai restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona, called Lom Wong made a public Instagram post reminding customers to “sincerely celebrate the diversity of culture and cuisine.”

“The dishes we serve are prepared just as they are in the villages the recipes come from,” a representative said.

Chowhound notes that “Restaurants have legitimate reasons for not wanting to make changes to their menus,” which include the effect changes have on the preparation time, employees, and the actual flavor of the dishes served there.

In short, even simple requests such as a different side can be inconvenient.

Luckily, Texas Roadhouse normally lets customers choose what sides come with almost all of its main entrées. Some Texas Roadhouses even allow customers to switch sides for half-order appetizers, although this seems to vary by location.

Subplot News reached out to Cam Kylie via TikTok direct message and Texas Roadhouse via email for comment. We will update this story if they respond.