Food World Cuisines North American Cuisines 18 Prime Steak Destinations in the U.S. Where's the beef, you ask? It's right here. By Food & Wine Editors Food & Wine Editors This is collaborative content from Food & Wine's team of experts, including staff, recipe developers, chefs, and contributors. Many of our galleries curate recipes or guides from a variety of sources which we credit throughout the content and at each link. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 29, 2023 Close Photo: Courtesy of Old Homestead Americans love beef. And we mean really love beef. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. consumes more beef than any other country. While you'll surely be able to find a great burger or cut at a local butcher shop near you, we want to celebrate the best of the best. A new generation of renowned butcher shops and restaurants are redefining what makes a great American steak destination. Here's where you should travel next to find an incredible steakhouse. 01 of 18 Las Vegas Romney Caruso Vegas has never wanted for great high-roller steakhouses. In the 1950s and 1960s, Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr., were regular customers at the Golden Steer Steakhouse, the oldest steak joint in town. Today, there are more than 25 steakhouses on the 4.2-mile stretch known as the Vegas Strip, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Where to eat: Celebrity chefs' steak spots rule, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Prime and Emeril Lagasse's Delmonico. At Vongerichten's spot, you can expect hearty steaks like an 18-ounce bone-in rib eye, which comes with your choice of sauces: soy-rice wine, béarnaise, or peppercorn. 02 of 18 Houston, Texas Dave Pluimer More than 255,000 people attended the 2012 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, an event that includes tastings from many of the city's barbecue joints and steak spots as well as a bull-riding show and contests for the most beautiful steer. Where to eat: At Killen's, a restaurant housed in unassuming roadhouse-style buildings, chef Ron Killen serves awe-inspiring dry-aged beef and indulgent Kobe tastings. Just down the road at Tris, steak fans can indulge in everything from Midwestern Reserve Black Angus to Wagyu topped with lobster claws and even find a cut of red akaushi. 03 of 18 Chicago Samantha Parquette Chicago's Union Stockyards were the center of the American meatpacking industry for the first half of the 20th century and helped perpetuate the Midwestern city's legacy as a steak town (even if the shameful stockyard conditions depicted in The Jungle led to national food safety initiatives). Founded in 1893, the famous Allen Brothers built a strong reputation and still supplies legendary steakhouses like Gene & Georgetti as well as Chicago-founded Morton's. Butcher & Larder, opened by former chef Rob Levitt, became the city's first shop dedicated to butchering locally sourced whole animals. Where to eat: Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse sources Black Angus beef from sustainable farms in the Upper Midwest and ages superb filet mignon, sirloin, and porterhouse steaks for 40 days. Meanwhile, the porterhouses at Chicago Chop House are among the best in the city. 04 of 18 New York City Photo courtesy of Palm Restaurant From dry-aged porterhouse steaks at the iconic and often-imitated Peter Luger in Brooklyn to the crispy-edged côte de boeuf for two with marrow bones at Keith McNally's chic Minetta Tavern in Greenwich Village, there's no dearth of outstanding steaks in the nation's financial capital. Even non-steakhouse restaurants use famous butchers like Pat LaFreida, Lobel's, DeBragga, and Master Purveyors, and call out their names on menus throughout the city. Where to eat: There are so many steakhouses (more than 140 in the Zagat guide) that it can be hard to choose. F&W's top picks include Keens, Minetta Tavern, Palm, Peter Luger, Smith & Wollensky, Sparks, Strip House, the Old Homestead, and Wolfgang's. 05 of 18 Washington, D.C. The Caucus Room photo © Renee Comet Lunch is more than a meal in the district, where restaurants cater to politicos and are often the setting for legislation negotiations. Power lunch spots include the many steakhouses just steps from the U.S. Capitol. Where to eat: Charlie Palmer Steak offers discreet private dining areas and serves many congressmen and senators every week. Medium Rare is another standout local favorite thanks both to its Culotte steak, which comes with hand-cut fries and its own secret sauce, and its affordable prices. (It's around $30 for a three-course, prix fixe menu.) 06 of 18 Omaha, Nebraska Gorat’s photo © Matt Johnson Beef is Nebraska's single largest industry, with cattle farms and ranches utilizing 93% of the state's total land area. As the country's meatpacking center since the 1950s, it's no wonder that Omaha has so many steakhouses and is home to one of the country's largest marketers of beef, Omaha Steaks. Where to eat: Gorat's is Omaha billionaire Warren Buffett's favorite steakhouse. He even reserves the restaurant exclusively for three days every year during a shareholder meeting for his company Berkshire Hathaway. According to The Wall Street Journal, Buffett's standard meal includes "a rare T-bone steak, double order of hash browns, and a Cherry Coke." 07 of 18 Minneapolis Murray’s photo © James Murray "Ever been to a meat raffle? It's exactly what it sounds like, and they're hosted at most every VFW, American Legion, and dive bar in the state," says Minneapolis-based chef and Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern. Winning a pile of meat isn't the only way for Minnesotans to get their steak fix: The meat and potatoes town is home to many traditional supper clubs and heritage steakhouses. Where to eat: The legendary Murray's was immortalized by humorist Garrison Keillor in a 1997 essay called "The Age of Elegance" in Time magazine: "The menu harks back to the Age of Steak; a place where a fiftyish couple can enjoy a Manhattan and tuck into a chunk of cow and au gratin potato." Since 1946, the Silver Butter Knife steak for two, a 28-ounce strip sirloin that's carved tableside, has been the restaurant's must-have dish. 08 of 18 Fort Worth, Texas The city earned its nickname "Cowtown" more than a century ago when cowboys drove cattle through on their way to Chicago, the country's meatpacking center. Today local chef Tim Love of the Lonesome Dove Western Bistro has become the de facto culinary ambassador for the state of Texas and a nationally recognized steak and grilling expert. Where to eat: Love serves his signature urban western cuisine and juicy hand-cut steaks with cilantro lime butter at Lonesome Dove, which is located in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. At his newer restaurant, the Woodshed Smokehouse, Love has devoted his menu to meat and serves an incredible 60-ounce bistecca alla Fiorentina with crispy potatoes for four people. Texas classic Ranchman's Café (aka the Ponder Steakhouse) has been serving down-home dishes like excellent chicken fried steak since 1948 and is still wildly popular. 09 of 18 Dallas Smoke photo © Jody Horton According to Forbes magazine, Dallas is home to 17 billionaires, who have a combined estimated worth of $45.7 billion — such wealth engenders a serious power lunch scene at Fearing's and more of the city's many steakhouses. Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House and Bob's Steak and Chop House are two popular chains that originated in Dallas and now have locations across the country. Where to eat: At Fearing's, the legendary cowboy-boot-wearing chef Dean Fearing serves mesquite-grilled bone-in rib eye with vinegary West Texas "mop" sauce, creamy cornbread pudding, and tempura asparagus, a combination that will leave you buzzing long after the meal is done. Knife Dallas is one more spot you can expect a once-in-a-lifetime bite of steak thanks to Top Chef contestant John Tesar's hard work. Go for a classic flat iron or something more thrilling from the dry-aged cuts. 10 of 18 San Francisco San Francisco has had a surge of chef-butchers and butcher shops that focus on humanely and locally raised meat. Former San Francisco chef Nate Appleman is credited with starting the chef-butcher trend at A16 and SPQR in 2009, and today Ryan Farr of 4505 Meats is one of the most sought-after butchering instructors in the city. The nationally recognized Niman Ranch network also started here and now includes independent farmers throughout the U.S. Where to eat: Although many of the city's fine dining spots emphasize locally raised and grass-fed beef, traditional steakhouses are still popular. Since 1949, House of Prime Rib servers have been dramatically carving portions of well-marbled meat tableside from stainless steel serving carts. 11 of 18 Atlanta Heidi Harris Executives at CNN and Coca-Cola's global headquarters in Atlanta frequent the city's many steakhouses tucked inside its downtown. Seriously, you can throw a stone in any direction and hit somewhere worthy of making a reservation in this town. Don't miss restaurants like Bones, which has been lauded as one of the best spots for a steak in the U.S. ever since opening its doors in 1979. Where to eat: Chef Kevin Rathbun ate his way through five Chicago steakhouses in 24 hours to research his newest restaurant Kevin Rathbun Steak. Cuts like porterhouse for two and a huge 22-ounce cowboy rib eye are topped with salted butter and served with decadent sides like jalapeño creamed corn. Other popular steak restaurants include McKendrick's and Chops. 12 of 18 New Orleans La Boca photo © Sara Essex Generally regarded as a top seafood town, New Orleans also has a history of great steak — the first location of the international chain Ruth's Chris Steak House opened on Broad Street in 1965. Where to eat: Chef Adolfo Garcia puts an Argentinean spin on meat at La Boca, where charred cuts of beef — rosy hanger steaks, citrus-marinated flank steaks —are complemented by an assortment of chimichurri sauces and a wine list heavy with South American Malbecs. 13 of 18 Kansas City, Missouri Photo courtesy of Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue When a steak is named after a city, like the Kansas City strip steak, you can bet that there's a good reason behind it: Missouri has more than 2 million beef cows, second only to Texas, according to the Missouri Beef Council. In the 1940s, the Kansas City Stockyards were a major hub for farmers and ranchers selling cattle. Where to eat: The Golden Ox was founded in 1949 by Jay Dillingham, president and chairman of the Board of the Kansas City Stockyards, and is still one of the city's most popular steakhouses, serving three-week-aged Angus steaks, including a hickory-charcoal broiled Kansas City strip steak. Barbecue joint Fiorella's Jack Stack specializes in classic smoked meats but also serves nontraditional barbecue items like hickory-grilled Kansas City strip steak. 14 of 18 Milwaukee Courtesy of The Bartolotta Restaurants Wisconsin restaurants celebrate Fish Fry Fridays year-round, but on Saturday nights at eateries and supper clubs throughout the state, it's all about prime rib. Milwaukee hosts the annual World Beef Expo, a cattle show where hundreds of heads of cattle are shown, bought, and sold. Where to eat: Local celeb chef Paul Bartolotta and his brother Joe's steak restaurant, Mr. B's, serves juicy steaks like an Angus rib eye with salt-crusted potatoes and bone-in filet mignon. Steak also headlines the menus at many old-fashioned and beloved supper clubs like the Jackson Grill, which has 10 variations, including prime rib. 15 of 18 Boston Brayan Mesa Politicians and the business elite often power lunch near the State House in Beacon Hill at restaurants like Mooo, which have a vast selection of beef: dry-aged bone-in cuts, grass-fed, and grain-fed. At Barbara Lynch's Butcher Shop, a wine bar and full-service butcher shop, diners can taste over 100 wines and purchase grass-fed beef to take home. Where to eat: Beyond Mooo, check out O Ya, located in the city's Leather District. Helmed by chef/co-owner Tim Cushman, the restaurant is best characterized as Japanese-New England fusion, with an enormous menu that changes nightly and includes seven Wagyu beef preparations. 16 of 18 Indianapolis Dave Pluimer In the center of a state known for its farms and host to the annual Indianapolis 500 auto race, Indianapolis attracts tourists from all over the country and has no shortage of amazing steakhouses. Where to eat: The legendary St. Elmo Steak House has been open since 1902 and is still the most popular steakhouse in the city, serving juicy boneless and bone-in rib eye and filet cuts. It's also a favorite of race-car drivers and NFL players from the Indianapolis Colts. 17 of 18 Philadelphia Pat’s King of Steaks photo © CM Dillon "In Philadelphia, when you say 'steak house,' you are talking about a cheesesteak place," wrote New York Times writer William K. Stevens in 1985. In fact, the two most popular joints use thinly sliced rib eye steak in their sandwiches. The most popular traditional steakhouses are transplants like Morton's from Chicago, Del Frisco's from Dallas, and The Palm out of New York. Where to eat: The top two rivals in the neverending South Philly cheesesteak sandwich debate are Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks, which are located across the street from each other. Both use rib-eye steak topped with (wit') or without (wit'-out) onions and a choice of melted cheese (there are message boards devoted to the merits of Cheez Whiz vs. Provolone vs. American cheese). 18 of 18 Los Angeles Courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group From old-school prime rib spots like Lawry's to celebrity hangouts like STK and BOA, there's a steakhouse for every taste in L.A. Among the top purveyors, local rancher Greg Nauta of Rocky Canyon Farms sells naturally raised beef at the Hollywood Farmers Market, and Amelia "Lindy" Posada and Erika "Grundy" Nakamura (co-owners of Lindy & Grundy) moved from Brooklyn to help bring the meat-artisan trend to L.A. Along with conventional cuts of organic, sustainable beef, they offer custom specials like kalbi (Asian beef chuck short ribs). Where to eat: At CUT in the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons, L.A. chef Wolfgang Puck and architect Richard Meier have created an airy dining room that looks more like a modern art gallery than a hotel restaurant. Puck serves fantastic (and pricey) Japanese beef as well as dry-aged American steak. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit