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                                                                    Exhibit 10.8

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                (SHEILA C. BROWN)

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is entered into as of
May 5, 2004 by and between TEXAS ROADHOUSE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and SHEILA C. BROWN, a resident of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
("EXECUTIVE").

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Company is preparing for an initial public offering (the "IPO")
of its shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value ("CLASS A COMMON
STOCK"), and has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the "REGISTRATION
STATEMENT") with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.

         B. Executive has been appointed as the General Counsel of the Company.

         C. The Company desires that the employment of Executive, and Executive
wishes such employment, as General Counsel of the Company following the IPO, to
be governed by the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the
respective agreements of the Company and Executive set forth below, the Company
and Executive, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

                  1. EFFECTIVE DATE. The terms and conditions of Executive's
         employment hereunder shall become effective upon completion and closing
         of the IPO (the "EFFECTIVE DATE"). Notwithstanding the preceding
         sentence, the terms and conditions of Executive's employment hereunder
         shall not become effective and this Agreement shall immediately
         terminate if, prior to the Effective Date, any of the following shall
         occur: (a) Executive resigns from her employment with Texas Roadhouse
         Management Corp., a Kentucky corporation ("MANAGEMENT CORP"), (b) the
         death or Disability (as defined in Section 10 hereof) of Executive, (c)
         the withdrawal of the Registration Statement prior to its
         effectiveness, (d) if the IPO does not close on or prior to December
         31, 2004, or (e) Executive's employment is terminated by Management
         Corp. Neither Executive nor the Company may revoke or cancel this
         Agreement prior to the Effective Date without written agreement of the
         other party.

                  2. EMPLOYMENT. Subject to all the terms and conditions of this
         Agreement, Executive's period of employment under this Agreement shall
         be the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the last
         day of the twelfth full fiscal quarter following the Effective Date
         (the "THIRD ANNIVERSARY DATE"), which initial twelve fiscal quarter
         term, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, shall be extended on
         the Third Anniversary Date and on each anniversary of that date
         thereafter, for a period of four fiscal quarters thereafter (which
         initial twelve fiscal quarter term together with any such

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         extensions, if any, the "TERM"), unless the Executive's employment
         terminates earlier in accordance with Section 9 hereof. Thereafter, if
         Executive continues in the employ of the Company, the employment
         relationship shall continue to be at will, terminable by either
         Executive or the Company at any time and for any reason, with or
         without cause, and subject to such terms and conditions established by
         the Company from time to time.

                  3. POSITION AND DUTIES.

                           (a) EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY. While Executive is
         employed by the Company during the Term, Executive shall be employed as
         the General Counsel of the Company, and such other titles as the
         Company may designate, and shall perform such duties and
         responsibilities as the Company shall assign to her from time to time,
         including duties and responsibilities relating to the Company's
         wholly-owned and partially owned subsidiaries and other affiliates.

                           (b) PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
         Executive shall serve the Company faithfully and to the best of her
         ability and shall devote her full working time, attention and efforts
         to the business of the Company during her employment with the Company
         hereunder. While Executive is employed by the Company during the Term,
         Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or
         to such other person as designated by the Board of Directors of the
         Company (the "BOARD"). Executive hereby represents and confirms that
         she is under no contractual or legal commitments that would prevent her
         from fulfilling her duties and responsibilities as set forth in this
         Agreement. During her employment with the Company, Executive shall not
         accept other employment or engage in other material business activity,
         except as approved in writing by the Board. Executive may participate
         in charitable activities and personal investment activities to a
         reasonable extent, and she may serve as a director of business
         organizations as approved by the Board, so long as such activities and
         directorships do not interfere with the performance of her duties and
         responsibilities hereunder.

                  4. COMPENSATION.

                           (a) BASE SALARY. While Executive is employed by the
         Company during the Term, the Company shall pay to Executive a base
         salary at the rate of One Hundred Twenty Thousand and no/100 Dollars
         ($120,000.00) per fiscal year, less deductions and withholdings, which
         base salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company's normal
         payroll policies and procedures. The Executive's base salary may be
         reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the Board on or after
         September 30, 2005, and annually thereafter, to determine whether it
         should be increased.

                           (b) INCENTIVE BONUS. Commencing with the first full
         fiscal quarter following the Effective Date and for each full fiscal
         quarter thereafter that Executive is employed by the Company during the
         Term, Executive shall be eligible for a quarterly incentive bonus in an
         amount up to Ten Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($10,000.00), based upon
         achievement of defined goals established by the Compensation Committee
         of the Board and in accordance with the terms of any incentive plan of
         the Company in

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         effect from time to time (the "INCENTIVE BONUS"). The level of
         achievement of the objectives each fiscal quarter and the amount
         payable as Incentive Bonus shall be determined in good faith by the
         Compensation Committee. Any Incentive Bonus earned for a fiscal quarter
         shall be paid to Executive on or before the 90th day following the last
         day of such fiscal quarter. The amount of the Executive's quarterly
         incentive bonus may be reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the
         Board on or after September 30, 2005, and annually thereafter, to
         determine whether it should be increased.

                           (c) STOCK OPTIONS.

                                   (i) In the event of a termination of
                           Executive's Employment other than for Cause (as
                           defined below) or termination by Executive for Good
                           Reason (as defined below) within 12 months following
                           a Change of Control (as defined below), or prior to a
                           Change of Control at the direction of a person who
                           has entered into an agreement with the Company, the
                           consummation of which will constitute a Change of
                           Control, and contingent upon Executive's compliance
                           with Section 10(g), all options granted under any
                           stock option and stock incentive plans of the Company
                           that are outstanding as of the date of termination
                           shall become immediately exercisable in full and
                           shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) two
                           years after termination of Executive's employment by
                           the Company or (B) the option expiration date as set
                           forth in the applicable option agreement.

                                   (ii) A "CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean that
                           one of the following events has taken place at any
                           time during the Term:

                                            (A) The stockholders of the Company
                                      approve one of the following:

                                                     (I) Any merger or statutory
                                            plan of exchange involving the
                                            Company ("MERGER") in which the
                                            Company is not the continuing or
                                            surviving corporation or pursuant to
                                            which the Common Stock, $0.001 par
                                            value ("COMMON STOCK") would be
                                            converted into cash, securities or
                                            other property, other than a Merger
                                            involving the Company in which the
                                            holders of Common Stock immediately
                                            prior to the Merger have
                                            substantially the same proportionate
                                            ownership of common stock of the
                                            surviving corporation after the
                                            Merger; or

                                                     (II) Any sale, lease,
                                            exchange, or other transfer (in one
                                            transaction or a series of related
                                            transactions) of all or
                                            substantially all of the assets of
                                            the Company or the adoption of any
                                            plan or proposal for the liquidation
                                            or dissolution;

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                                            B) During any period of 12 months or
                                   less, individuals who at the beginning of
                                   such period constituted a majority of the
                                   Board of Directors cease for any reason to
                                   constitute a majority thereof unless the
                                   nomination or election of such new directors
                                   was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
                                   of the directors then still in office who
                                   were directors at the beginning of such
                                   period; or

                                            C) A tender or exchange offer, other
                                   than one made by:

                                                     (I)  the Company, or by

                                                     (II) W. Kent Taylor or any
                                            corporation, limited liability
                                            company, partnership, or other
                                            entity in which W. Kent Taylor (x)
                                            owns a direct or indirect ownership
                                            of 50% or more or (y) controls 50%
                                            or more of the voting power
                                            (collectively, the "TAYLOR PARTIES")

                           is made for the Common Stock (or securities
                           convertible into Common Stock) and such offer results
                           in a portion of those securities being purchased and
                           the offeror after the consummation of the offer is
                           the beneficial owner (as determined pursuant to
                           Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
                           as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT")), directly or
                           indirectly, of securities representing at least 20
                           percent of the voting power of outstanding securities
                           of the Company; or

                                    (D) the Company receives a report on
                           Schedule 13D of the Exchange Act reporting the
                           beneficial ownership by any person other than a
                           Taylor Party of securities representing 20 percent or
                           more of the voting power of outstanding securities of
                           the Company, except that if such receipt shall occur
                           during a tender offer or exchange offer described in
                           (C) above, a Change of Control shall not take place
                           until the conclusion of such offer.

                           Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the
                  contrary, no Change of Control shall be deemed to have
                  occurred for purposes of this Agreement by virtue of any
                  transaction which results in Executive, or a group of persons
                  which includes Executive, acquiring, directly or indirectly,
                  securities representing 20 percent or more of the voting power
                  of outstanding securities of the Company.

                           iii) A termination by Executive for "Good Reason"
                  shall mean a termination based on:

                                    (A) the assignment of Executive a different
                           title or job responsibilities that result in a
                           substantial decrease in the level of responsibility
                           from those in effect immediately prior to the Change
                           of Control;

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                                    (B) a reduction by the Company or the
                            surviving company in Executive's base pay as in
                            effect immediately prior to the Change of Control;

                                    (C) a significant reduction by the Company
                            or the surviving company in total benefits available
                            to Executive under cash incentive, stock incentive
                            and other employee benefit plans after the Change of
                            Control compared to the total package of such
                            benefits as in effect prior to the Change of
                            Control;

                                    (D) the requirement by the Company or the
                           surviving company that Executive be based more than
                           50 miles from where Executive's office is located
                           immediately prior to the Change of Control, except
                           for required travel on company business to an extent
                           substantially consistent with the business travel
                           obligations which Executive undertook on behalf of
                           the Company prior to the Change of Control; or

                                    (E) the failure by the Company to obtain
                           from any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
                           purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all
                           or substantially all of the business and/or assets of
                           the Company ("SUCCESSOR") the assent to this
                           Agreement contemplated by Section 13(g) hereof.

                           (d) BENEFITS. While Executive is employed by the
         Company during the Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in
         all employee benefit plans and programs of the Company that are
         available to executive officers generally to the extent that Executive
         meets the eligibility requirements for each individual plan or program.
         The Company provides no assurance as to the adoption or continuance of
         any particular employee benefit plan or program, and Executive's
         participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the
         provisions, rules and regulations applicable thereto.

                           (e) EXPENSES. While Executive is employed by the
         Company during the Term, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all
         reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, travel and
         entertainment expenses incurred by her in the performance of her duties
         and responsibilities hereunder, subject to the Company's normal
         policies and procedures for expense verification and documentation.

                           (f) VACATIONS AND HOLIDAYS. Executive shall be
         entitled to be absent from her duties for the Company by reason of
         vacation for a period of three weeks per calendar year. Executive shall
         coordinate her vacation schedule with the Company so as not to impose
         an undue burden on the Company. In addition, Executive shall be
         entitled to such national and religious holidays as the Board shall
         approve for all of its employees from time to time.

                  5. AFFILIATED ENTITIES. As used in Sections 6, 7 and 8 of this
         Agreement, "COMPANY" shall include the Company and each corporation,
         limited liability company, partnership, or other entity that is
         controlled by the Company, or is under common

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         control with the Company (in each case "control" meaning the direct or
         indirect ownership of 50% or more of all outstanding equity interests).

                  6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. Except as required in the
         performance of Executive's duties as an employee of the Company or as
         authorized in writing by the Board, Executive shall not, either during
         Executive's employment with the Company or at any time thereafter, use,
         disclose or make accessible to any person any confidential information
         for any purpose. "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" means information
         proprietary to the Company or its suppliers or prospective suppliers
         and not generally known (including trade secret information) about the
         Company's suppliers, products, services, personnel, customers, recipes,
         pricing, sales strategies, technology, computer software code, methods,
         processes, designs, research, development systems, techniques,
         finances, accounting, purchasing, and plans. All information disclosed
         to Executive or to which Executive obtains access, whether originated
         by Executive or by others, during the period of Executive's employment
         by the Company (whether before, during, or after the Term), shall be
         presumed to be Confidential Information if it is treated by the Company
         as being Confidential Information or if Executive has a reasonable
         basis to believe it to be Confidential Information. Executive
         acknowledges that the above-described knowledge and information
         constitutes a unique and valuable asset of the Company and represents a
         substantial investment of time and expense by the Company, and that any
         disclosure or other use of such knowledge or information other than for
         the sole benefit of the Company would be wrongful and would cause
         irreparable harm to the Company. During Executive's employment with the
         Company, Executive shall refrain from committing any acts that would
         materially reduce the value of such knowledge or information to the
         Company. The foregoing obligations of confidentiality shall not apply
         to any knowledge or information that (i) is now or subsequently becomes
         generally publicly known, or (ii) is required to be disclosed by law or
         legal process, other than as a direct or indirect result of the breach
         of this Agreement by Executive. Executive acknowledges that the
         obligations imposed by this Section 6 are in addition to, and not in
         place of, any obligations imposed by applicable statutory or common
         law.

                  7. NONCOMPETITION COVENANT.

                           (a) AGREEMENT NOT TO COMPETE. During Executive's
         employment with the Company (whether before, during, or after the Term)
         and during the Restricted Period (as defined below), Executive shall
         not, directly or indirectly, on her own behalf or on behalf of any
         person or entity other than the Company, including without limitation
         as a proprietor, principal, agent, partner, officer, director,
         stockholder, employee, member of any association, consultant or
         otherwise, engage in any business that is directly competitive with the
         business of the Company, including without limitation any business that
         operates one or more full-service, casual dining steakhouse
         restaurants. The provisions of this Section 7(a) shall also apply to
         any business which is directly competitive with any other business
         which the Company acquires or develops during Executive's employment
         with the Company.

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                           (b) AGREEMENT NOT TO HIRE. Except as required in the
         performance of Executive's duties as an employee of the Company, during
         Executive's employment with the Company (whether before, during, or
         after the Term) and during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not,
         directly or indirectly, hire, engage or solicit or induce or attempt to
         induce to cease working for the Company, any person who is then an
         employee of the Company or who was an employee of the Company during
         the six (6) month period immediately preceding Executive's termination
         of employment with the Company.

                           (c) AGREEMENT NOT TO SOLICIT. Except as required in
         the performance of Executive's duties as an employee of the Company,
         during Executive's employment with the Company (whether before, during,
         or after the Term) and during the Restricted Period, Executive shall
         not, directly or indirectly, solicit, request, advise, induce or
         attempt to induce any vendor, supplier or other business contact of the
         Company to cancel, curtail, cease doing business with, or otherwise
         adversely change its relationship with the Company.

                           (d) RESTRICTED PERIOD. "RESTRICTED PERIOD" hereunder
         means the period commencing on the last day of Executive's employment
         with the Company and ending on the date that is two years following
         the last day of the Term.

                           (e) ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Executive hereby acknowledges
         that the provisions of this Section 7 are reasonable and necessary to
         protect the legitimate interests of the Company and that any violation
         of this Section 7 by Executive shall cause substantial and irreparable
         harm to the Company to such an extent that monetary damages alone would
         be an inadequate remedy therefor. Therefore, in the event that
         Executive violates any provision of this Section 7, the Company shall
         be entitled to an injunction, in addition to all the other remedies it
         may have, restraining Executive from violating or continuing to violate
         such provision.

                           (f) BLUE PENCIL DOCTRINE. If the duration of, the
         scope of or any business activity covered by any provision of this
         Section 7 is in excess of what is determined to be valid and
         enforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be construed to
         cover only that duration, scope or activity that is determined to be
         valid and enforceable. Executive hereby acknowledges that this Section
         7 shall be given the construction that renders its provisions valid and
         enforceable to the maximum extent, not exceeding its express terms,
         possible under applicable law.

                           (g) PERMITTED EQUITY OWNERSHIP. Ownership by
         Executive, as a passive investment, of less than 2.5% of the
         outstanding shares of capital stock of any corporation listed on a
         national securities exchange or publicly traded in the over-the-counter
         market shall not constitute a breach of this Section 7.

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                  8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

                           (a) DISCLOSURE AND ASSIGNMENT. As of the Effective
         Date, Executive hereby transfers and assigns to the Company (or its
         designee) all right, title, and interest of Executive in and to every
         idea, concept, invention, and improvement (whether patented, patentable
         or not) conceived or reduced to practice by Executive whether solely or
         in collaboration with others while she is employed by the Company, and
         all copyrighted or copyrightable matter created by Executive whether
         solely or in collaboration with others while she is employed by the
         Company that relates to the Company's business (collectively,
         "CREATIONS"). Executive shall communicate promptly and disclose to the
         Company, in such form as the Company may request, all information,
         details, and data pertaining to each Creation. Every copyrightable
         Creation, regardless of whether copyright protection is sought or
         preserved by the Company, shall be a "work made for hire" as defined in
         17 U.S.C. Section 101, and the Company shall own all rights in and to
         such matter throughout the world, without the payment of any royalty
         or other consideration to Executive or anyone claiming through
         Executive.

                           (b) TRADEMARKS. All right, title, and interest in and
         to any and all trademarks, trade names, service marks, and logos
         adopted, used, or considered for use by the Company during Executive's
         employment (whether or not developed by Executive) to identify the
         Company's business or other goods or services (collectively, the
         "MARKS"), together with the goodwill appurtenant thereto, and all other
         materials, ideas, or other property conceived, created, developed,
         adopted, or improved by Executive solely or jointly during Executive's
         employment by the Company and relating to its business shall be owned
         exclusively by the Company. Executive shall not have, and will not
         claim to have, any right, title, or interest of any kind in or to the
         Marks or such other property.

                           (c) DOCUMENTATION. Executive shall execute and
         deliver to the Company such formal transfers and assignments and such
         other documents as the Company may request to permit the Company (or
         its designee) to file and prosecute such registration applications and
         other documents it deems useful to protect or enforce its rights
         hereunder. Any idea, invention, copyrightable matter, or other property
         relating to the Company's business and disclosed by Executive prior to
         the first anniversary of the effective date of Executive's termination
         of employment shall be deemed to be governed by the terms of this
         Section 8 unless proven by Executive to have been first conceived and
         made after such termination date.

                           (d) NON-APPLICABILITY. Executive is hereby notified
         that this Section 8 does not apply to any invention for which no
         equipment, supplies, facility, Confidential Information, or other trade
         secret information of the Company was used and which was developed
         entirely on Executive's own time, unless (i) the invention relates (A)
         directly to the business of the Company or (B) to the Company's actual
         or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (ii) the
         invention results from any work performed by Executive for the Company.

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                  9. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

                           (a) Executive's employment with the Company shall
                  terminate immediately upon:

                                    (i)   Executive's receipt of written notice
                                          from the Company of the termination of
                                          her employment;

                                    (ii)  the Company's receipt of Executive's
                                          written resignation from the Company;

                                    (iii) Executive's Disability (as defined
                                          below); or

                                    (iv)  Executive's death.

                           (b) The date upon which Executive's termination of
         employment with the Company occurs shall be the "TERMINATION DATE."

                  10. PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

                           (a) If Executive's employment with the Company is
                  terminated by reason of:

                                    (i)   Executive's abandonment of her
                                          employment or Executive's
                                          resignation for any reason (whether
                                          or not such resignation is set
                                          forth in writing or otherwise
                                          communicated to the Company);

                                    (ii)  termination of Executive's
                                          employment by the Company for Cause
                                          (as defined below); or

                                    (iii) termination of Executive's
                                          employment by the Company without
                                          Cause following expiration of the
                                          Term; or

         the Company shall pay to Executive her then-current base salary
         through the Termination Date.

                           (b) If Executive's employment with the Company is
         terminated by the Company effective prior to the expiration of the Term
         for any reason other than for Cause (as defined below), then the
         Company shall pay to Executive, subject to Section 10(i) of this
         Agreement:

                                    (i)     her then-current base salary
                                            through the Termination Date;

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                                    (ii)    any earned and unpaid annual
                                            Incentive Bonus for the fiscal
                                            quarter immediately preceding the
                                            fiscal quarter in which the
                                            Termination Date occurs;

                                    (iii)   the amount of her then current base
                                            salary that Executive would have
                                            received from the Termination Date
                                            through the earlier of (A) 180 days
                                            following such Termination Date and
                                            (B) the Third Anniversary Date if
                                            her employment with the Company had
                                            not been terminated; and

                                    (iv)    50% of the aggregate quarterly
                                            Incentive Bonus earned by Executive
                                            for the last four full fiscal
                                            quarters immediately preceding the
                                            fiscal quarter in which the
                                            Termination Date occurs, provided,
                                            however, if the Termination Date
                                            occurs during the fiscal quarter
                                            ending on the Third Anniversary
                                            Date, the amount payable pursuant to
                                            this Section 10(b)(iv) shall be
                                            reduced by a fraction, the numerator
                                            of which is the number of days
                                            during such fiscal quarter that
                                            Executive was employed by the
                                            Company and the denominator of which
                                            is the number of days in such fiscal
                                            quarter.

         Any amount payable to Executive pursuant to Section 10(b)(iii) shall be
         subject to deductions and withholdings and shall be paid to Executive
         by the Company in the same periodic installments in accordance with the
         Company's regular payroll practices commencing on the first normal
         payroll date of the Company following the expiration of all applicable
         rescission periods provided by law. Any amount payable to Executive
         pursuant to Section 10(b)(ii) shall be paid to Executive by the Company
         in the same manner and at the same time that Incentive Bonus payments
         are made to current employees of the Company, but no earlier than the
         first normal payroll date of the Company following the expiration of
         all applicable rescission periods provided by law. Any amount payable
         to Executive pursuant to Section 10(b)(iv) shall be paid to Executive
         by the Company on the same date as any payment would be made pursuant
         to Section 10(b)(ii) if Executive were entitled to such payment.

                           (c) If Executive's employment with the Company is
         terminated effective prior to the expiration of the Term by reason of
         Executive's death or Disability, the Company shall pay to Executive or
         her beneficiary or her estate, as the case may be, her then-current
         base salary through the Termination Date, any earned and unpaid
         quarterly Incentive Bonus for the fiscal quarter preceding the fiscal
         quarter in which the Termination Date occurs and a pro-rated portion of
         any quarterly Incentive Bonus for the fiscal quarter in which the
         Termination Date occurs, based on the number of days during such fiscal
         quarter that Executive was employed by the Company, payable in the same
         manner and at the same time that Incentive Bonus payments are made to
         current employees of the Company.

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                           (d)      Cause. "CAUSE" hereunder shall mean:

                                    (i)   an act or acts of dishonesty
                                          undertaken by Executive and
                                          intended to result in substantial
                                          gain or personal enrichment of
                                          Executive at the expense of the
                                          Company;

                                    (ii)  unlawful conduct or gross
                                          misconduct that is willful and
                                          deliberate on Executive's part and
                                          that, in either event, is
                                          materially injurious to the
                                          Company;

                                    (iii) the conviction of Executive of a
                                          felony;

                                    (iv)  material and deliberate failure of
                                          Executive to perform her duties and
                                          responsibilities hereunder or to
                                          satisfy her obligations as an
                                          officer or employee of the Company,
                                          which failure has not been cured by
                                          Executive within ten days after
                                          written notice thereof to Executive
                                          from the Company; or

                                    (v)   material breach of any terms and
                                          conditions of this Agreement by
                                          Executive not caused by the
                                          Company, which breach has not been
                                          cured by Executive within ten days
                                          after written notice thereof to
                                          Executive from the Company.

                           (e) "DISABILITY" hereunder shall mean the inability
         of Executive to perform on a full-time basis the duties and
         responsibilities of her employment with the Company by reason of her
         illness or other physical or mental impairment or condition, if such
         inability continues for an uninterrupted period of 45 days or more
         during any 360-day period. A period of inability shall be
         "uninterrupted" unless and until Executive returns to full-time work
         for a continuous period of at least 30 days.

                           (f) In the event of termination of Executive's
         employment, the sole obligation of the Company hereunder shall be its
         obligation to make the payments called for by Sections 10(a), 10(b), or
         10(c) hereof, as the case may be, and the Company shall have no other
         obligation to Executive or to her beneficiary or her estate, except as
         otherwise provided by law.

                           (g) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the
         Company shall not be obligated to make any payments under Section
         10(b)(ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Agreement unless Executive has signed
         a full release of claims against the Company, in a form and scope to be
         prescribed by the Board, all applicable consideration periods and
         rescission periods provided by law shall have expired, and Executive is
         in strict compliance with the terms of this Agreement as of the dates
         of the payments.

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                  11. RETURN OF PROPERTY. Upon termination of Executive's
         employment with the Company, Executive shall deliver promptly to the
         Company all records, files, manuals, books, forms, documents, letters,
         memoranda, data, customer lists, tables, photographs, video tapes,
         audio tapes, computer disks and other computer storage media, and
         copies thereof, that are the property of the Company, or that relate in
         any way to the business, products, services, personnel, customers,
         prospective customers, suppliers, practices, or techniques of the
         Company, and all other property of the Company (such as, for example,
         computers, cellular telephones, pagers, credit cards, and keys),
         whether or not containing Confidential Information, that are in
         Executive's possession or under Executive's control.

                  12. REMEDIES. Executive acknowledges that it would be
         difficult to fully compensate the Company for monetary damages
         resulting from any breach by her of the provisions of Sections 6, 7,
         and 8 hereof. Accordingly, in the event of any actual or threatened
         breach of any such provisions, the Company shall, in addition to any
         other remedies it may have, be entitled to injunctive and other
         equitable relief to enforce such provisions, and such relief may be
         granted without the necessity of proving actual monetary damages.

                  13. MISCELLANEOUS.

                           (a) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed
         by, subject to, and construed in accordance with the laws of the
         Commonwealth of Kentucky without regard to conflict of law principles.
         Any action relating to this Agreement shall only be brought in a court
         of competent jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the
         parties consent to the jurisdiction, venue and convenience of such
         courts.

                           (b) JURISDICTION AND LAW. Executive and the Company
         consent to jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
         and/or the federal district courts, Western District of Kentucky, for
         the purpose of resolving all issues of law, equity, or fact, arising
         out of or in connection with this Agreement. Any action involving
         claims of a breach of this Agreement shall be brought in such courts.
         Each party consents to personal jurisdiction over such party in the
         state and/or federal courts of Kentucky and hereby waives any defense
         of lack of personal jurisdiction or FORUM NON CONVENIENS. Venue, for
         the purpose of all such suits, shall be in Jefferson County,
         Commonwealth of Kentucky.

                           (c) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Except for any written stock
         option agreement and related agreements between Executive and the
         Company, this Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties
         relating to Executive's employment with the Company and supersedes all
         prior agreements and understandings with respect to such subject
         matter, and the parties hereto have made no agreements, representations
         or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement that are
         not set forth herein.

                           (d) NO VIOLATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS. Executive
         hereby represents and agrees that neither (i) Executive's entering into
         this Agreement, (ii) Executive's employment with the Company, nor (iii)
         Executive's carrying out the provisions of this

                                       12
<PAGE>

         Agreement, will violate any other agreement (oral, written or other) to
         which Executive is a party or by which Executive is bound.

                           (e) AMENDMENTS. No amendment or modification of this
         Agreement shall be deemed effective unless made in writing and signed
         by the parties hereto.

                           (f) NO WAIVER. No term or condition of this Agreement
         shall be deemed to have been waived, except by a statement in writing
         signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver is sought.
         Any written waiver shall not be deemed a continuing waiver unless
         specifically stated, shall operate only as to the specific term or
         condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or
         condition for the future or as to any act other than that specifically
         waived.

                           (g) ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be
         assignable, in whole or in part, by either party without the prior
         written consent of the other party, except that the Company may,
         without the consent of Executive, assign its rights and obligations
         under this Agreement (i) to any entity with which the Company may merge
         or consolidate, or (ii) to any corporation or other person or business
         entity to which the Company may sell or transfer all or substantially
         all of its assets. Upon Executive's written request, the Company will
         seek to have any Successor by agreement assent to the fulfillment by
         the Company of its obligations under this Agreement. After any
         assignment by the Company pursuant to this Section 13(g), the Company
         shall be discharged from all further liability hereunder and such
         assignee shall thereafter be deemed to be the "Company" for purposes of
         all terms and conditions of this Agreement, including this Section 13.

                           (h) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
         any number of counterparts, and such counterparts executed and
         delivered, each as an original, shall constitute but one and the same
         instrument.

                           (i) SEVERABILITY. Subject to Section 7(f) hereof, to
         the extent that any portion of any provision of this Agreement shall be
         invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and
         the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be
         unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect.

                           (j) SURVIVAL. The terms and conditions set forth in
         Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13 of this Agreement, and any other
         provision that continues by its terms, shall survive expiration of the
         Term or termination of Executive's employment for any reason.

                           (k) CAPTIONS AND HEADINGS. The captions and paragraph
         headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
         and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this
         Agreement or any of the provisions hereof.

                           (l) NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted to be
          given under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and
          either delivered in person or sent by first class certified or
          registered mail, postage prepaid, if to the Company, at the Company's
          principal place of business, and if to Executive, at her home address
          most recently filed with the Company, or to such other address or
          addresses as either party shall have designated in writing to the
          other party hereto.

                                       13
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive and the Company have executed this
Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

                                   TEXAS ROADHOUSE, INC.

                                   By: /s/ GERARD J. HART
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                       Gerard J. Hart, Chief Executive Officer

                                   SHEILA C. BROWN

                                   /s/ SHEILA C. BROWN
                                   -------------------------------------------

                                       14<Page>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                              TEXAS ROADHOUSE, INC.

                        FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

     This Indemnification Agreement ("AGREEMENT") is made as of ______________,
2004 by and between TEXAS ROADHOUSE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and ________________________________________________________
("INDEMNITEE").

     WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increasing difficulty in
obtaining directors' and officers' liability insurance, the significant
increases in the cost of such insurance and the general reductions in the
coverage of such insurance;

     WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial
increase in corporate litigation in general, subjecting officers and directors
to expensive litigation risks at the same time as the coverage of liability
insurance has been limited;

     WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the current protection available as
adequate under the present circumstances, and Indemnitee and other officers and
directors of the Company may not be willing to continue to serve as officers and
directors without additional protection; and

     WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly
qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve as officers and directors of
the Company and to indemnify its officers and directors so as to provide them
with the maximum protection permitted by law.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as follows:

          1. INDEMNIFICATION.

             (a) THIRD PARTY PROCEEDINGS. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee
if Indemnitee is or was or becomes a party to or witness or other participant
in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in,
any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or any alternative
dispute resolution mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in
the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a
director, director nominee, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the
Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, by reason of any action or inaction
on the part of Indemnitee while an officer, director or director nominee or by
reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any
and all expenses (including attorneys' fees and all other costs, expenses and
obligations incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in, any such action, suit, proceeding, alternative
dispute resolution mechanism, hearing,

<Page>

inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (if
such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding if Indemnitee acted in good
faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee's conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent,
shall not, of itself, create a presumption that (i) Indemnitee did not act in
good faith, (ii) Indemnitee did not act in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or (iii)
with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, Indemnitee had no reasonable
cause to believe that Indemnitee's conduct was unlawful.

             (b) PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY. The Company
shall indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is a party or is threatened to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in
the right of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to procure a judgment
in its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director,
director nominee, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or any subsidiary
of the Company, by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee
while an officer, director or director nominee or by reason of the fact that
Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) and, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement, in each case to
the extent actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the
defense or settlement of such action or proceeding if Indemnitee acted in good
faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company in the
performance of Indemnitee's duty to the Company and its stockholders unless and
only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit is or was pending
shall determine upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the
case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses and then only to the extent that the court shall determine.

             (c) CHANGE IN CONTROL. The Company agrees that if there is a Change
in Control (as defined in Section 11(c) hereof) of the Company (other than a
Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company's Board
of Directors who were directors immediately before such Change in Control) then,
with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of
Indemnitees to payments of expenses and advancement of expenses under this
Agreement or any other agreement or under the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws as now or hereafter in effect, Independent Legal

<Page>

Counsel (as defined in Section 11(d) hereof) shall be selected by Indemnitee and
approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld).
Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the
Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be
permitted to be indemnified under applicable law and the Company agrees to abide
by such opinion. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the
Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel
against any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities
and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement
pursuant hereto.

             (d) MANDATORY PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. To the extent that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in Subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 1, or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by
Indemnitee in connection therewith.

          2. AGREEMENT TO SERVE. In consideration of the protection afforded by
this Agreement, if Indemnitee is a director of the Company, Indemnitee agrees to
serve at least for 30 days after the effective date of this Agreement as a
director and not to resign voluntarily during such period without the written
consent of a majority of the Board of Directors. If Indemnitee is an officer of
the Company not serving under an employment contract, Indemnitee agrees to serve
in such capacity at least for 30 days and not to resign voluntarily during such
period without the written consent of a majority of the Board of Directors.
Following the applicable period set forth above, Indemnitee (who serves in a
capacity other than as a director) agrees to continue to serve in such capacity
at the will of the Company (or under separate agreement, if such agreement
exists) so long as Indemnitee (who serves in a capacity other than as a
director) is duly appointed or elected and qualified in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Bylaws of the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company or until such time as the Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation in
writing. Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall create in
Indemnitee any right to continued employment.

          3. EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE.

             (a) ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company shall advance all expenses
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the investigation, defense, settlement
or appeal of any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit,
proceeding or any alternative dispute resolution, or any hearing, inquiry or
investigation referenced in Section 1(a) or (b) hereof (but not amounts actually
paid in settlement of any such action, suit or proceeding). Indemnitee hereby
undertakes to repay such expenses advanced only if, and to the extent that, it
shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified
by the Company as authorized hereby. The advances to be made hereunder shall be

<Page>

paid by the Company to Indemnitee within twenty-five (25) days following
delivery of a written request therefore by Indemnitee to the Company.

             (b) NOTICE/COOPERATION BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee shall, as a
condition precedent to Indemnitee's right to be indemnified under this
Agreement, give the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any
claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought
under this Agreement. Notice to the Company shall be directed to the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company at the address shown on the signature page of
this Agreement (or such other address as the Company shall designate in writing
to Indemnitee). Notice shall be deemed received three (3) business days after
the date postmarked if sent by domestic certified or registered mail, properly
addressed; otherwise notice shall be deemed received when such notice shall
actually be received by the Company. In addition, Indemnitee shall give the
Company such information and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as
shall be within Indemnitee's power.

             (c) PROCEDURE. Any indemnification and advances provided for in
Section 1 and in this Section 3 shall be made no later than twenty-five (25)
days after receipt of the written request of Indemnitee. If a claim under this
Agreement, under any statute, or under any provision of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws providing for indemnification, is not
paid in full by the Company within twenty-five (25) days after a written request
for payment thereof has first been received by the Company, Indemnitee may, but
need not, at any time thereafter submit Indemnitee's claim to arbitration as
described in Section 14 to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, subject
to Section 15 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid
for the expenses (including attorneys' fees) of bringing such claim. It shall be
a defense to any such action (other than a claim brought for expenses incurred
in connection with any action or proceeding in advance of its final disposition)
that Indemnitee has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible
under applicable law for the Company to indemnify Indemnitee for the amount
claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Company, and
Indemnitee shall be entitled to receive interim payments of expenses pursuant to
Section 3(a) unless and until such defense may be finally adjudicated by court
order or judgment from which no further right of appeal exists or an arbitration
panel as described in Section 14. It is the parties' intention that if the
Company contests Indemnitee's right to indemnification, the question of
Indemnitee's right to indemnification shall be for the court or arbitration
panel to decide, and neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of
Directors, any committee or subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent
legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination that
indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee
has met the applicable standard of conduct required by applicable law, nor an
actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, any
committee or subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or
its stockholders) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable

<Page>

standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not
met the applicable standard of conduct.

             (d) NOTICE TO INSURERS. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice
of a claim pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, the Company has director and officer
liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the
commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter
take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf
of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in
accordance with the terms of such policies.

             (e) SELECTION OF COUNSEL. If the Company shall be obligated under
Section 3(a) hereof to pay the expenses of any proceeding against Indemnitee,
the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such
proceeding, with counsel approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its
election so to do. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by
Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will
not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel
subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same proceeding,
provided that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee's own
counsel in any such proceeding at Indemnitee's expense; and (ii) if (A) the
employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the
Company, (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a
conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any
such defense or (C) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to
assume the defense of such proceeding, then the fees and expenses of
Indemnitee's counsel shall be at the expense of the Company.

          4. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS; NONEXCLUSIVITY.

             (a) SCOPE. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
the Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest extent
permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification is not specifically
authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws or by statute. In the event of any
change, after the date of this Agreement, in any applicable law, statute or rule
which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its
Board of Directors or an officer, such changes shall be, ipso facto, within the
purview of Indemnitee's rights and Company's obligations under this Agreement.
In the event of any change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows
the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its Board of
Directors or an officer, such changes, to the extent not otherwise required by
such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement shall have no effect
on this Agreement or the parties' rights and obligations hereunder.

<Page>

             (b) NONEXCLUSIVITY. The indemnification provided by this Agreement
shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled
under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws, any agreement, any
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee's official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. The
indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee
for any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even
though Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity at the time of any
action or other covered proceeding.

          5. PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION. If Indemnitee is entitled under any
provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a
portion of the expenses, judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in
settlement actually or reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in the investigation,
defense, appeal or settlement of civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative action, suit, proceeding or any alternative dispute resolution, or
any hearing, inquiry or investigation referenced in Section 1(a) or (b) hereof,
but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless
indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses, judgments, fines or
penalties to which Indemnitee is entitled.

          6. MUTUAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge
that in certain instances, Federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit
the Company from indemnifying its directors and officers under this Agreement or
otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has
undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and
Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in
certain circumstances for a determination of the Company's right under public
policy to indemnify Indemnitee.

          7. DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' LIABILITY INSURANCE. The Company shall,
from time to time, make a good faith determination whether or not it is
practicable for the Company to obtain and maintain a policy or policies of
insurance with reputable insurance companies providing the officers and
directors of the Company with coverage for losses from wrongful acts, or to
ensure the Company's performance of its indemnification obligations under this
Agreement. Among other considerations, the Company will weigh the costs of
obtaining such insurance coverage against the protection afforded by such
coverage. In all policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance,
Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably
insured of the Company's directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the
Company's officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an
officer; or of the Company's key employees, if Indemnitee is not an officer or
director but is a key employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
have no obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Company
determines in good faith that such insurance is not

<Page>

reasonably available, if the premium costs for such insurance are
disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, if the coverage provided by
such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient
benefit, or if Indemnitee is covered by similar insurance maintained by a
subsidiary or parent of the Company.

          8. SEVERABILITY. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or
shall be construed as requiring the Company to do or fail to do any act in
violation of applicable law. The Company's inability, pursuant to court order,
to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of
this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable as provided
in this Section 8. If this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be invalidated
on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by any applicable
portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated, and the balance
of this Agreement not so invalidated shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.

          9. EXCEPTIONS. Any other provision herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement:

             (a) EXCLUDED ACTS. To indemnify Indemnitee for any acts or
omissions or transactions from which a director may not be indemnified under the
Delaware General Corporation Law; or

             (b) CLAIMS INITIATED BY INDEMNITEE. To indemnify or advance
expenses to Indemnitee with respect to proceedings or claims initiated or
brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, except with respect
to proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under
this Agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, but such indemnification or
advancement of expenses may be provided by the Company in specific cases if the
Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such claim; or

             (c) LACK OF GOOD FAITH. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses
incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to any proceeding instituted by
Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent
jurisdiction or the arbitration panel determines that each of the material
assertions made by the Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith
or was frivolous; or

             (d) INSURED CLAIMS. To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses or
liabilities of any type whatsoever (including, but not limited to, judgments,
fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) which
have been paid directly to Indemnitee by an insurance carrier under a policy of
directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by the Company; or

<Page>

             (e) CLAIMS UNDER SECTION 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for
expenses and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by
Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute.

          10. EFFECTIVENESS OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be effective as
of the date set forth on the first page and may apply to acts or omissions of
Indemnitee which occurred prior to such date if Indemnitee was an officer,
director, director nominee, employee or other agent of the Company, or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent
of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
at the time such act or omission occurred.

          11. CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PHRASES.

             (a) For purposes of this Agreement, references to the "COMPANY"
shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent
corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a
consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would
have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or
agents, so that if Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such
constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, Indemnitee
shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with
respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have with
respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

             (b) For purposes of this Agreement, references to "OTHER
ENTERPRISES" shall include employee benefit plans; references to "FINES" shall
include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee
benefit plan; and references to "SERVING AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMPANY" shall
include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company
which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer,
employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or
beneficiaries.

             (c) For purposes of this Agreement a "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall be
deemed to have occurred if (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections
13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than
(x) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of the Company acting in such capacity, or (y) a corporation owned directly
or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, or (z) W. Kent Taylor
and his affiliates and associates becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing more than 50% of the total voting power represented by

<Page>

the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities (as defined below), (ii) during
any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any new director
whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the
Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the
period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved,
cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the stockholders
of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least two-thirds of the total
voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or
the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the
Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the
Company's assets.

             (d) For purposes of this Agreement, "INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL"
shall mean an attorney or firm of attorneys, selected in accordance with the
provisions of Section 1(c) hereof, who shall not have otherwise performed
services for the Company or Indemnitee within the last three years (other than
with respect to matters concerning the rights of Indemnitee under this
Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnity agreements).

             (e) For purposes of this Agreement, "VOTING SECURITIES" shall mean
any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.

          12. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.

          13. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of
Indemnitee and Indemnitee's estate, heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

          14. ARBITRATION. It is understood and agreed that the Company and
Indemnitee shall carry out this Agreement in the spirit of mutual cooperation
and good faith and that any differences, disputes or controversies shall be
resolved and settled amicably among the parties hereto. If the dispute,
controversy or difference is not so settled in the above manner within
twenty-five (25) days, then the matter shall be exclusively submitted to
arbitration in Jefferson County, Kentucky before three independent technically
qualified arbitrators in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the
American Arbitration Association and under the laws of Delaware, without
reference to conflict of laws principles. Subject to Sections 1(b) and 6,
arbitration shall be the exclusive forum and the

<Page>

decision and award by the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding upon the
parties concerned and may be entered in any state court of Kentucky having
jurisdiction.

          15. ATTORNEYS' FEES. If any action is instituted or claim is submitted
to arbitration by Indemnitee under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of
the terms hereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by Indemnitee with
respect to such action or arbitration, unless as a part of such action, a court
of competent jurisdiction or the arbitrator(s) determines that each of the
material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such claim were not made
in good faith or were frivolous. In the event of an action instituted or a claim
submitted to arbitration by or in the name of the Company under this Agreement
or to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall
be entitled to be paid all court costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees,
incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action or claim (including with
respect to Indemnitee's counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action or
arbitration), unless as a part of such action the court or the arbitrator(s)
determines that each of Indemnitee's material defenses to such action or claim
were made in bad faith or were frivolous.

          16. NOTICE. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if
delivered by hand and receipted for by the party addressee, on the date of such
receipt, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with postage
prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked. Addresses for
notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement, or
as subsequently modified by written notice.

          17. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of
Kentucky for all purposes in connection with any proceeding which arises out of
or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this
Agreement shall be brought only in the state courts of the Commonwealth of
Kentucky in Jefferson County and that any arbitration proceeding which arises
out of or relates to this Agreement shall be held in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

          18. CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and its
provisions construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware as
applied to contracts between Delaware residents entered into and performed
entirely within Delaware.

          19. SUBROGATION. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the
Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights
of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do
all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the
corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

<Page>

          20. CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION. All agreements and obligations of
the Company contained herein shall continue during the period that Indemnitee is
a director, director nominee, officer or agent of the Company and shall continue
thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible claim or
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, arbitrational, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact
that Indemnitee was serving in the capacity referred to herein.

          21. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. Subject to Section 20, no amendment,
modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective
unless in writing signed by both parties hereto.

          22. INTEGRATION AND ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (a) sets forth
the entire understanding between the parties, (b) supersedes all previous
written or oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements
relating to the subject matter hereof and (c) merges all prior and
contemporaneous discussions between the parties.

<Page>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
         Agreement as of the date first above written.

                                        TEXAS ROADHOUSE, INC.

                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: G. J. Hart
                                        Title: Chief Executive Officer

                                        Address:

                                        6040 Dutchmans Lane, Suite 400
                                        Louisville, KY 40205

                                        AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:

                                        INDEMNITEE:

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                                        SIGNATURE

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                                        PRINT NAME

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                                        ADDRESS

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