The Big Texan Steak Ranch — Texas Steakhouse, Amarillo
The Big Texan Steak Ranch is one of America's most famous restaurants — a Route 66 institution that has been offering the 72-ounce steak challenge (eat the whole thing in an hour, it's free) since 1960. The spectacle is real; so is the beef.
The High Plains beef served here comes from the Amarillo cattle yards — one of America's largest cattle feeding operations. The Panhandle's grain and grass combination produces beef of exceptional marbling and flavor that the Big Texan's kitchen treats with the respect it deserves.
The regular menu — the 16-oz, 32-oz, and the full range of Texas cuts — demonstrates that the restaurant is not a gimmick with good marketing. The ribeye, properly prepared, is among the better steaks available in Texas.
The theatrical setting — the gunfighter at the bar, the live country music, the enormous wooden structure visible from I-40 — is part of the experience and unapologetically so. Amarillo tourism runs through this building.
Best Occasion: Great for Group Birthdays
The 72-oz challenge as birthday entertainment is Amarillo's most specific gift to special occasions. Whether or not the birthday guest attempts it, the theater of watching someone try is the experience.
Best Occasion: Works for Impressing Clients
The most famous restaurant in Amarillo is famous for good reason — the beef is excellent and the experience is genuinely remarkable. The client who comes expecting a gimmick leaves impressed by the steak.