Despite the rise of veganism in recent years, America remains a country of meat. While there’s no statistic available on the number of steakhouses in the U.S., chances are you can easily find a steakhouse a short drive away from you or at least in the city closest to you.
For those times when your inner Ron Swanson is begging for turf and turf, only a steakhouse will do. Go ahead, eat what you want. Here’s a look at some of the best steakhouses in the country from coast to coast.
Peter Luger, Brooklyn and Great Neck, NY
If you like your cut of meat served with a side of old school, then NYC’s famed Peter Luger steakhouse should be at the top of your list. How old school is it? Well, for starters leave the credit cards at home because only cash and debit cards are accepted here.
Also, they’ve been in business since 1887 and their setting is a German style beer hall. The Zagat-recognized establishment only serves USDA Prime beef that is dry-aged in a room where the temperature, humidity, and air circulation are carefully controlled.
Both the Brooklyn and Great Neck locations offer daily luncheon specials that include prime rib, pot roast, and chopped steak. Try the extra thick sliced bacon as a side that patrons rave about, the German fried potatoes, or the sliced tomatoes and onions served with the restaurant’s own steak sauce.
With its dark leather seating, exposed brick, and coffee toned wood features, Peter Luger is exactly what a traditional NYC steakhouse should be.
One more thing: reservations are not taken online (we told you they were old school!)
Roka Akor, Chicago, IL
Are sushi and wagyu beef your thing? Then Roka Akor of Chicago is the steakhouse for you. Roka Akor earned a “Best Sushi Restaurant in the U.S.” award by Travel and Leisure, but its entire menu is not to be overlooked.
Some of the beef specialties include a waygu filet with chili ginger sauce, wagyu sirloin with bone marrow and truffle aioli, and cold prime beef tataki served with shaved truffles. All are prepared on the restaurant’s own robata grill.
There’s also plenty of seafood options (try the shrimp and lobster dumplings for an appetizer) and Japanese inspired cocktails. The restaurant’s open feel and natural lighting beckons diners in while the food keeps them there for an unforgettable dining experience.
Cattleman’s Steakhouse at Indian Cliffs Ranch (Fabens, TX)
A steakhouse list wouldn’t be complete without including one in Texas–it’s cattle country, after all. Cattleman’s Steakhouse is definitely a little off the beaten path, located in the desert about 50 miles outside of El Paso. Despite its remoteness you’ll find no shortage of diners and affordable beef options here.
Each meal comes with the all-you-can-eat side dishes of your selection. These include a giant baked potato slathered with sour cream, corn on the cob, baked beans, or the restaurant’s famed sweet coleslaw. (The secret ingredient is said to be pineapple.)
Try the melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon, The Cowboy (a whopping two-pound T-bone), or the 10-ounce ribeye. While you wait for your table you can marvel at the delightfully kitschy cowboy themed decor.
Cattleman’s Steakhouse is also a great travel destination to keep in mind the next time you plan a vacation. After your meal, check out Indian Cliffs Ranch where the restaurant is situated. You’ll see rugged scenery and areas that Hollywood used as the sets for many 20th century westerns.
Halls Chophouse, Charleston and Greenville, SC
When one thinks of great steakhouses, South Carolina usually doesn’t immediately come to mind. But don’t let that dismiss Halls Chophouse from your must visit list. It routinely receives five-star TripAdvisor reviews.
This warm, family-friendly venue serves USDA prime steaks as well as chicken, pork, seafood, and even quail. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available.
Dinner options include a 24-ounce bone-in rib eye, a dry aged New York strip, and bacon-wrapped filet mignon. Chilled lobster tails and jumbo shrimp cocktail are also on the menu. For a southern favorite, get the low country fried green tomatoes for an appetizer.
If you love to start your day off with steak and some soulful singing, come back for the Sunday gospel brunch.
El Gaucho, Seattle, WA
If you’re seeking impeccable service, exceptional food, and a glamorous setting that harkens back to the 1920s, look no further than El Gaucho. This downtown Seattle steakhouse prepares all of its chops and cuts on its charcoal grill. Tuxedo-clad servers bring dishes to your table while piano players perform light jazzy dining music.
Start your dining adventure with the spicy Wicked Shrimp appetizer or New England style clam chowder. All beef is prime certified and dry-aged for 28 days. If you’re in the mood to splurge, the showstopping Steak El Gaucho delights with an eight-ounce filet mignon topped with lobster medallions and bearnaise sauce.
Non-beef options include Pacific Northwest rack of lamb, Canadian lobster tail, and oven crisped chicken.
Stripsteak Steakhouse, Las Vegas, NV
Launched by award-winning celebrity chef Michael Mina, Stripsteak Steakhouse is bringing the best cuts of organic beef to the Vegas area. Love to have some scotch with your steak? There are over 100 single malt scotches available to try along with an extensive wine and cocktail menu.
The restaurant is located (of course) right on the strip where all of Sin City’s action is. All steak is prepared on the wood burning grill. Angus and wagyu beef as well as seafood are among the menu’s specialties.
Accompaniments for your cut include grilled foie gras, wasabi-horseradish crust, and blue cheese crumbles. For side dishes, add the truffle mac and cheese, red wine sauteed mushrooms, or pureed lobster and sour cream to your order.
Visit the Best Steakhouses in the Country
Is your mouth watering yet? We hope you enjoyed learning more about the best steakhouses in the country and what makes them so special.
If you’re thinking of making a meat pilgrimage to some of these restaurants, be sure to check out our latest travel hacks posts.