8 Texas Steakhouses That Impress Visitors And 8 Locals Consider Their Favorites
Texas takes steak seriously, and some steakhouses have earned reputations that span the state.
Visitors are wowed by perfectly cooked cuts, bold flavors, and memorable dining experiences, while locals keep returning to their personal favorites that never disappoint.
From classic, no-frills spots to restaurants with inventive twists, exploring these steakhouses shows why Texas is a paradise for steak lovers.
Every plate tells a story of flavor, tradition, and dedication to meat perfection.
1. Pappas Bros. Steakhouse (Dallas/Houston)
Suited businessmen clink glasses of vintage wine while waiters present slabs of USDA Prime beef on gleaming silver platters.
Pappas Bros. elevates steak to an art form with dry-aging rooms where beef develops flavor for 28+ days. The wine list spans 3,900 selections, earning Wine Spectator’s Grand Award.
When your server performs the tableside presentation of your perfectly marbled ribeye, you’ll understand why visitors book reservations weeks in advance.
2. Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse (Houston)
Golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over the mahogany-paneled dining room where Houston’s elite gather.
Vic & Anthony’s exudes old-school luxury without feeling stuffy, making it a favorite for impressing business associates and dates alike.
Their bone-in ribeye arrives with a perfect crust, accompanied by their famous au gratin potatoes.
First-time visitors often gasp at the seafood tower appetizer – a mountain of fresh lobster, crab, and oysters that proves this place excels beyond just beef.
3. Bohanan’s Prime Steaks & Seafood (San Antonio)
Tucked above the bustling San Antonio Riverwalk, Bohanan’s feels like a secret club for steak connoisseurs.
Chef Mark Bohanan sources Japanese Akaushi beef alongside traditional prime cuts, creating flavor combinations that leave visitors speechless.
Bartenders craft pre-Prohibition cocktails that complement the old-world charm. The tableside flambéed desserts create a spectacle that tourists love to photograph.
What really distinguishes this place is how Chef Bohanan personally visits tables, making even first-timers feel like regulars.
4. Nick & Sam’s (Dallas)
Celebrity sightings are common at this Uptown Dallas hotspot where the caviar service comes with a side of people-watching.
Nick & Sam’s vibrant energy contrasts with the typical stuffy steakhouse atmosphere – here, tables of suited executives sit alongside Dallas Cowboys players.
Their Japanese A5 Wagyu melts on your tongue like beef-flavored butter. The complimentary cotton candy finale delights even the most sophisticated palates.
Visitors love telling friends back home about the $120 Kobe steak that changed their understanding of what beef could taste like.
5. Jeffrey’s (Austin)
Nestled in a converted Clarksville cottage, Jeffrey’s feels more like dining in a sophisticated friend’s home than a restaurant.
Austin’s tech elite and visiting celebrities appreciate the discrete service and intimate setting where conversations never need to compete with background noise.
Their dry-aged prime cuts come with unexpected accompaniments like kimchi butter or black truffle sauce. The martini cart that wheels to your table creates instant envy from nearby diners.
Jeffrey’s manages the remarkable feat of impressing out-of-towners while maintaining its status as an Austin institution since 1975.
6. Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (Memorial City/Houston)
Friday lunch at Perry’s means one thing: their famous pork chop, carved tableside into three distinct portions.
This massive seven-finger-high chop draws lines of business people and tourists alike who’ve heard about this Houston institution.
Dramatic presentation defines the Perry’s experience, with desserts emerging under clouds of liquid nitrogen smoke. Their piano bar creates an atmosphere where visitors linger long after dinner ends.
The Symphony Kabob, suspended dramatically above the table, exemplifies why Perry’s remains a showstopper for out-of-town guests.
7. B&B Butchers & Restaurant (Houston)
Carpetbagger steaks stuffed with fried oysters represent just one of the creative offerings that set B&B apart from traditional steakhouses.
The rooftop patio offers Instagram-worthy views of the Houston skyline that visitors can’t resist sharing.
B&B holds the rare distinction of being licensed to serve authentic Kobe beef from Japan.
Their in-house butcher shop lets diners select their exact cut before cooking.
The restaurant’s location in a historic brick building adds character that new establishments can’t replicate, making it a destination for architecture lovers as well as carnivores.
8. The Big Texan Steak Ranch (Amarillo)
Roadtrippers along Route 66 can’t miss the giant cowboy sign beckoning them to attempt the legendary 72-ounce steak challenge.
The Big Texan epitomizes Texas kitsch with its yellow and blue exterior, longhorn cadillacs, and gift shop selling cowboy hats and hot sauce.
Tourists crowd around the elevated challenge table to watch brave souls attempt to consume four pounds of beef in one hour.
Free if you finish, $72 if you fail. Beyond the gimmick lies surprisingly good steak served by waitstaff in cowboy attire. This Amarillo landmark represents roadside Americana at its carnivorous best.
9. Taste of Texas (Houston)
Families line up outside this Houston institution where Texas history adorns the walls alongside presidential signatures and frontier artifacts.
Taste of Texas combines museum-quality historical displays with a salad bar that locals drive across town to enjoy.
Their certified Angus beef program includes a unique feature: guests don paper butcher’s hats and select their own steaks from the cutting room.
Kids receive Texas history lessons while parents enjoy perfectly cooked ribeyes.
The gift shop’s Texas-shaped waffle makers and homemade steak seasoning make popular souvenirs for visitors wanting to take home a taste of Texas.
10. Perini Ranch Steakhouse (Buffalo Gap)
Cowboys in genuine working boots stomp across wooden floors in this converted barn where James Beard Award-winning chef Tom Perini serves what locals call the best mesquite-grilled steaks in Texas.
The middle-of-nowhere location (population: 463) doesn’t deter dedicated carnivores.
Weathered ranch tools hang above tables where diners cut into pepper-crusted ribeyes. Their famous ranch burger ships nationwide through Goldbelly.
When celebrities and politicians want authentic Texas, they helicopter to this remote steakhouse where Tom still works the pit and his famous bread pudding recipe remains unchanged since 1983.
11. Cattlemen’s Steakhouse (Fort Worth Stockyards)
Morning steak and eggs bring Fort Worth cowboys through these doors before sunrise. Cattlemen’s hasn’t changed much since 1947, serving beef from the adjacent stockyards to generations of Texas ranchers.
Forget fancy wine lists or elaborate sides. Locals come for perfectly seasoned steaks cooked by cooks who’ve worked the same grill for decades.
The restaurant sits in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards, where twice-daily cattle drives pass by the windows.
Tourists fill the tables at dinner, but breakfast belongs to the regulars who appreciate no-nonsense food at honest prices.
12. Cattleman’s Steakhouse at Indian Cliffs Ranch (Fabens)
Longhorns graze outside the windows of this working ranch steakhouse where John Wayne once dined.
Located 30 miles east of El Paso, locals make the desert drive for mountainous cuts of beef served with stunning views of the Franklin Mountains.
Hollywood discovered this hidden gem, filming movies like Courage Under Fire on the property. Owner Dieter Gerzymisch maintains a small zoo with buffalo and peacocks that wander the grounds.
Regulars know to arrive before sunset to explore the movie sets, petting zoo, and Indian cliff dwellings before enjoying steaks that rival any in Texas.
13. K*llen’s Steakhouse (Pearland)
Suburban Pearland seems an unlikely culinary destination until you taste Chef Ronnie K*llen’s impossibly tender crème brûlée bread pudding.
Locals happily drive from Houston to this unassuming strip mall location that defies its exterior with world-class beef inside.
Chef K*llen trained at Le Cordon Bleu but applies those techniques to Texas flavors. His wet-aged and dry-aged program offers side-by-side comparisons for beef enthusiasts.
Regular customers know the secret: come for the steak but save room for the bread pudding that food critics have called life-changing. Reservations are essential despite the out-of-the-way location.
14. Dunston’s Prime Steakhouse (Dallas)
Regulars call ahead to reserve their favorite booths at Dallas’ oldest steakhouse where servers know repeat customers by name and drink order.
Since 1955, Dunston’s has maintained its unpretentious charm while steakhouse trends come and go. The open grill lets diners watch as their steaks sizzle over mesquite coals.
Prices remain remarkably affordable compared to downtown competitors. Local families celebrate special occasions here, often spanning three generations at one table.
The salad bar and hearty sides haven’t changed in decades, exactly how the regulars like it.
15. Steiner Ranch Steakhouse (Austin)
Sunset-chasers arrive early to secure patio tables overlooking Lake Travis at this Hill Country steakhouse built on the historic Steiner Ranch.
The sprawling property offers breathtaking views that locals consider the perfect backdrop for special occasions.
Live Texas music plays weekends while diners enjoy locally sourced beef. The restaurant honors the legacy of Buck Steiner, legendary rodeo producer and rancher.
Austin residents bring out-of-town guests here when they want to show off Texas at its most picturesque. The Texas Pecan Pie topped with handmade vanilla ice cream provides the perfect Hill Country finale.
16. Saltgrass Steak House (statewide chain, Texas locations)
Families gather around tables covered in butcher paper at this casual chain named after the coastal marsh where cattle once grazed on salt grass, giving their beef a distinctive flavor.
Locals appreciate the consistent quality and reasonable prices that won’t break the bank.
Their famous beer bread arrives hot at the table with honey butter that regulars slather generously. The Angus beef program delivers reliable quality across all locations.
Texas residents consider Saltgrass their go-to for weeknight celebrations when they want good steak without the downtown prices or pretension. Their Texas-sized chocolate cake tempts even the fullest diners.