1836 S Hackberry St, San Antonio, Texas 78210
(210) 532-4235 Website
Menu Items Reviewed
Reviews
-
Recent Declines In Service & Food Quality
My last review of Little Red Barn was about eight years ago, it doesn't seem that long, but thats a far cry from the place I used to eat at probably once a month back in the 1990s and early 2000's.
I recently decided to give it another try, hoping maybe the food had returned to how I remembered it or that my last visit had simply been a bad experience. On that visit, I remember the chicken fried steak being somewhat overcooked and appearing smaller than it used to be.
This time I decided to dine in. I was seated and ordered a soda, but it took quite a while for the drink to arrive. I eventually ordered my old favorite again: the chicken fried steak with yellow chicken gravy, extra paprika, and a salad with their house-made Thousand Island dressing.
The salad came out first, and it was just as I remembered it. Then I waited for the chicken fried steak. When it finally arrived, it looked better than my last visit. It wasn't as dark, although the steak still seemed smaller than what I remembered from years ago and about the same size as my previous visit.
I cut into it and gave it a try. It wasn't as bad as my last visit, but it still didn't have the flavor I remember growing up with. I can't quite put my finger on what has changed, but there's definitely something different about it.
I also noticed the price had gone up again. The chicken fried steak is now $17.99, which is another $6 increase since my last visit.
The fries were about the same as before, but this time dining-in the service was a factor as well. It started with the long wait for the soda, followed by another wait before I could even place my food order as a different person brought my drink. Once the meal arrived, no one really came back to check on me during the rest of the meal. When I was ready to pay, I was waiting yet again.
By the time the soda, tax, and tip were added, my meal came to about $27. That's a decent amount for a medium-to-small sized chicken fried steak that I would estimate is around 5–6 ounces, along with fries and a salad.
I understand that prices have gone up everywhere. Little Red Barn had already seen price increases between 2010 and 2019, and with COVID, inflation, and rising meat costs another round of increases was going to happen. As a business owner myself, I completely understand that operating costs have gone up. But at some point, the product has to match the price, and I feel like this chicken fried steak has reached the price point where it exceeds the value.
I went back through old photos and reviews online to get a rough idea of how the price has changed over the years:
2010: $8.25
2012: $9.99
2014–2017: $11.99
2019: $14.99
2022: $16.99
2026: $17.99
That's a pretty significant increase over the years, especially when I don't feel like the chicken fried steak itself has retained its size or quality.
If this is the new normal, a smaller steak, less flavor, and a $17.99 price tag, it's more than I'm willing to pay. The chicken fried steak itself isn't a huge portion. It's the generous serving of fries and the salad that really help fill you up. There are plenty of other places serving really good chicken fried steaks for the same price or less.
Little Red Barn was a longtime favorite of mine, and I really wanted to find that old experience again. Unfortunately, after giving it another try, I think I'm going to end my visits here once again.— Paul
-
Back For The Chicken Fried Steak With Yellow Chicken Gravy
I've been eating at Little Red Barn for decades, but with the price increases over the years, my family eventually stopped going. The cost of feeding the whole family had simply gotten beyond what they could afford, so it had been a few years since my last visit.
I decided to stop in and see for myself how much things had changed. I'd heard plenty of stories from people from the neighborhood, who had stopped eating there, but I wanted to experience it firsthand.
The prices had gone up a little. I noticed an additional seating area and a bar in the main dining room that I don't remember being there before. I'd heard the restaurant went through a management change after the original owners passed away and it was turned over to another family member, so I assume some of these changes came with the new management.
The menu was mostly the same, although the prices that used to be painted on the walls are gone. Instead, you have to look at the menu board brought to your table.
I ordered my old favorite, the chicken fried steak, to go. It was about $4 more than my last visit, but it's always been a favorite, so I figured I'd give it a try. When I got home, the meal looked about right, although the steak appeared darker than I remembered. I asked for extra paprika, which they added, and they even included a small container of it on the side.
Unfortunately, the chicken fried steak seemed more well done than in the past. The breading had a different texture, the flavor was a bit off, and the steak seemed a little smaller. It was close to what I remembered, but different enough to notice. The gravy tasted about the same, and the fries were also pretty close. I wonder if some of the difference came from the steak being overcooked, or if I simply got a smaller piece this time.
Afterward, I mentioned my experience to several people I know who had also stopped going because of changes in service, flavor, and price. I also heard that birthday and anniversary promotions offered by the original owners were no longer available.
I'm still not sure what to think. I may need to make another visit to see if this was just a one-off meal. Maybe I got a smaller steak, or perhaps it was simply overcooked that day.
Little Red Barn has been a longtime favorite of mine, so I really wanted this visit to be a good one. Unfortunately, the noticeable differences in the chicken fried steak left me a bit disappointed.— Paul
-
Classic Texas Steakhouse With Affordable Food
Known for their steaks and homestyle food, Little Red Barn is a real Texas style steakhouse.
If your eating in, the decor will keep you entertained for a bit, as the walls are painted with branding iron symbols from ranches all over Texas. The menu is actual painted board brought to your table and the wait staff are dressed in showy western wear.
The hamburger steak with is good, and a nice selection for kids. I've tried everything from the smallest steak to the largest steak, liver and onions, & shrimp, but the chicken fried steak is a favorite. I always get the yellow gravy on it and the french fries as a side. The French fries here are home style steak fries, not wedges or sticks. Meals also come with a salad & roll.
Expect to spend about $13-18 a person, which is actually pretty affordable for a good steakhouse.
** Ideal time to visit is Monday-Thursday. This is a popular spot on Fridays, Sundays after church, and Holidays. **— Paul