Red Robin Iced Tea: Menu, Prices, Calories, Taste Test & Copycat Recipe (2026)
Bottomless fries get all the attention at Red Robin, but the iced tea sitting next to your burger deserves its own review. It is one of the few drinks on the menu that is actually free to refill as many times as you want, and most people never think twice about it. This guide breaks down exactly what is in the glass, what it costs, how it tastes, and how to make a version at home that gets close to the real thing.
What Is Red Robin Iced Tea, Exactly?
Red Robin brews its iced tea in-house using Gold Peak tea, the same brand you have probably seen bottled at grocery stores. Unlike a lot of chain restaurants that pour tea from a pre-mixed syrup gun, Red Robin steeps it fresh throughout the day, which is a big part of why it tastes less bitter and less watered-down than fountain tea at other burger spots.
It comes in two base styles at most locations: unsweetened black tea and sweet tea, both served ice-cold in a tall glass. Some restaurants also rotate flavored versions, including peach and raspberry iced tea, which are pre-sweetened and taste closer to a bottled fruit tea than a classic Southern sweet tea.
Red Robin Iced Tea Menu & Prices (2026)
Iced tea sits under the drinks menu alongside sodas, lemonade, and coffee. Here is what you can expect to pay as of September 2026, though prices shift slightly by state and location.
| Item | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Iced Tea (unsweetened) | Fresh-brewed Gold Peak black tea, no sugar added | $3.49 – $3.99 |
| Sweet Tea | Same base tea, lightly sweetened | $3.49 – $3.99 |
| Peach or Raspberry Iced Tea | Flavored, pre-sweetened fruit tea | $3.99 – $4.49 |
| Shareable Fresh-Brewed Tea | Large pitcher-style pour meant for two or more | $7.99 |
| Long Island Iced Tea (21+) | Cocktail version with vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and cola — no actual tea | $8.99 – $11.00 |
Good to know: Every gourmet burger already comes with free refills on iced tea. If you are stopping by during happy hour, it is also worth checking the happy hour menu, since the Long Island Iced Tea cocktail sometimes drops in price during those windows.
Calories and Nutrition
This is where the regular iced tea genuinely earns a spot on a lighter menu. Unsweetened, it has essentially no calories, which makes it one of the few truly guilt-free bottomless drinks in the building.
| Version | Calories | Sugar | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsweetened Iced Tea | 0 cal | 0g | ~25–30mg |
| Sweet Tea | 90–110 cal | 24–26g | ~25–30mg |
| Peach / Raspberry Iced Tea | 170–180 cal | 44–47g | ~15mg |
| Long Island Iced Tea (cocktail) | 280–370 cal | 18–22g | None (contains alcohol) |
If you are counting calories for the day, the unsweetened version is the clear winner. The flavored fruit teas taste great but carry roughly the same sugar load as a can of soda, so treat them more like a dessert drink than an everyday refill.
Taste Review: Is Red Robin Iced Tea Actually Good?
The unsweetened tea has a clean, slightly toasty flavor without the bitterness you get from tea that has been sitting on a warmer for hours. Because it is brewed fresh rather than pumped from concentrate, it does not have that syrupy aftertaste common at fast-casual chains. The sweet tea strikes a fair middle ground — sweetened, but not cloying — closer to a diner-style sweet tea than a Southern-style one.
What stands out
Brewed fresh, tastes like real tea, pairs well with salty food, and refills are genuinely unlimited.
What to watch for
Flavor and freshness vary by location depending on how often the tea is rebrewed during the day.
The flavored versions are a bit more polarizing. The peach tea leans sweet and fruity rather than tea-forward, while the raspberry version tastes closer to a lightly carbonated raspberry lemonade than a traditional iced tea. Both are worth trying once, but regulars tend to stick with the classic unsweetened or sweet version.
Burger Extras: What Pairs Well With Red Robin Iced Tea
Iced tea is built to cut through rich, salty food, which is exactly what Red Robin specializes in. It works particularly well alongside a gourmet burger topped with bacon, cheese, or a heavier sauce, since the tannins in the tea reset your palate between bites the same way a soda cannot. It also holds up well against a stack of bottomless steak fries, especially the unsweetened version, which will not compete with the saltiness the way a sugary soda does.
For dessert-focused visits, the sweet or peach tea makes a nice lighter alternative if you are saving room for something from the desserts menu instead of ordering a milkshake alongside your meal. And if you are dining with a group, remember that every drink order — including family meal orders — includes bottomless refills, so one round of teas can realistically last the whole table through the entire meal.
Is Red Robin Iced Tea Worth Ordering?
If you want a drink that is fresh, low-calorie, and free to refill, the unsweetened or lightly sweet version is one of the smartest orders on the whole drinks menu. It is not flashy, but it does exactly what a burger-and-fries drink should do. The flavored fruit teas are fun for a change of pace, though they trade the "guilt-free" advantage for extra sugar. The one version to order with intention is the Long Island Iced Tea from the adult beverages menu — it shares a name with the classic tea but is a full cocktail with no tea in it at all.
Copycat Red Robin Iced Tea Recipe
You do not need a special blend to get close to this at home — the trick is fresh-brewing real tea bags instead of using instant powder, then chilling it properly so it never tastes watered-down.
Copycat Red Robin-Style Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 4 cups filtered water
- 4 black tea bags (orange pekoe or a Gold Peak-style blend)
- 3–4 tbsp sugar (omit for unsweetened)
- 1 cup cold water, for diluting
- Ice, for serving
- 1 lemon, sliced, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring the 4 cups of filtered water to a rolling boil in a saucepan or kettle.
- Remove from heat and drop in the tea bags. Cover and steep for 8–10 minutes — no longer, or the tea turns bitter.
- Remove the tea bags without squeezing them, then stir in the sugar while the tea is still hot so it dissolves fully.
- Stir in the extra cup of cold water to bring the tea down to a drinkable strength.
- Let the tea cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until fully chilled.
- Fill tall glasses with ice, pour the chilled tea over the top, and garnish with a lemon slice before serving.
Tip: for the peach or raspberry version, stir in 2 tablespoons of peach or raspberry syrup after brewing, before chilling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Red Robin iced tea free to refill?
Yes. Iced tea is one of the bottomless drink options included with every gourmet burger, so refills are free during your visit.
What brand of tea does Red Robin use?
Red Robin brews its iced tea using Gold Peak tea, prepared fresh in-house rather than served from a pre-mixed concentrate.
How many calories are in Red Robin's unsweetened iced tea?
Unsweetened iced tea has 0 calories per serving. Sweet tea runs roughly 90–110 calories, and the flavored peach or raspberry versions run closer to 170–180 calories.
Is the Long Island Iced Tea the same as the regular iced tea?
No. The Long Island Iced Tea is an alcoholic cocktail made with vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and cola. It does not contain any brewed tea, despite the name.
Does Red Robin iced tea have caffeine?
Yes, both the sweet and unsweetened versions are made from black tea and contain a moderate amount of caffeine, roughly 25–30mg per glass.
Can I get flavored iced tea at every Red Robin location?
Flavored options like peach and raspberry iced tea are available at most locations, but availability can vary by restaurant, so it is worth asking your server first.
Explore More Red Robin Menus
Iced tea is just one small part of the lineup. Here is where to look next.