Photos of The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas
Know Before You Go
To make the most of your visit to The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, here are some things to know before you go.
What is The Big Texan Steak Ranch?
The Big Texan Steak Ranch a famous steakhouse, motel, brewery, and roadside attraction in Amarillo, Texas, originally opened in 1960 on old Route 66. It’s best known for its 72-ounce steak challenge and its flashy Western décor, cowboy vibes, large portions, and being a stop many travelers make on I-40 and Route 66.
What is the The Big Texan 72-ounce steak challenge and what are its rules?
The Free 72oz Steak Challenge is The Big Texan’s signature food challenge. You must finish a full 72-ounce steak plus the accompanying sides (salad, baked potato, shrimp cocktail, and a roll with butter) in one hour. If you succeed, the meal is free. Can’t finish? That will cost you $72.
Additional rules include: you can take a test bite before starting; you must stay seated and cannot have help; you must eat all sides; and you must use the table assigned.
Reservations aren’t required for the challenge, just tell the host you want to partake.
Watch hungry travelers take on the free steak challenge on the restaurant’s live stream. (Be sure to send the link to your friends and family back home to watch if you take it on yourself!) The current record holder is Molly Schuyler, who ate the whole thing in 4 minutes and 22 seconds.
The Free 72oz Steak Challenge was featured in the first episode of Man vs. Food, which premiered on the Travel Channel on December 3, 2008. Watch it here.
What does the Big Texan menu include aside from the steak challenge?
The Big Texan Steak Ranch is best known for its legendary Free 72-Ounce Steak Dinner Challenge (one of our picks for 66 Must-Eat Dishes on Route 66 and 12 Best Route 66 Foods to Eat in Texas). But if you don’t have an appetite quite that big, don’t worry. The menu also features a wide variety of steaks in smaller portions, plus hearty breakfasts, sandwiches, local favorites, and indulgent sides.
Lunch Specials
From 10:00am to 4:00pm daily, The Big Texan offers lunch specials that include a side dish, roll, and butter. Options range from hearty ½-lb chopped steaks and chicken fried steak to prime rib, ribeye, sandwiches, quesadillas, and barbecue platters. These midday meals are a great way to experience the restaurant’s famous flavors at a more modest portion (and price) than the dinner plates.
The Big Texan Menu Highlights
Breakfast (8 AM–10 AM)
- Steak & Eggs: Juicy sirloin or ribeye paired with two eggs, Texas toast, and skillet potatoes.
- Lone Star French Toast: Thick slices of Texas toast with powdered sugar, syrup, eggs, and bacon or sausage.
- Chicken & Waffles: Crispy fried chicken served on fluffy waffles with syrup and two eggs.
- BTSR Breakfast Burrito: Eggs, skillet potatoes, cheese, and your choice of bacon or sausage in a tortilla.
- Panhandle Pancakes: Fluffy pancakes with syrup, served with eggs and your choice of bacon or sausage.
- Chicken Fried Steak Platter: Crispy chicken fried steak with eggs and skillet potatoes.
Appetizers
- Smoked Baby Back Ribs Sampler: Three tender ribs served as a starter.
- Mountain Oysters: A true Texan delicacy, served with cocktail sauce.
- Fried Dill Pickle Spears: Crispy fried pickles with ranch.
- Prime Skins: Potato skins topped with prime rib and cheese.
- Smothered Barbecue Texas Fries: Fries loaded with cheese, smoked beef, barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles.
- Fried Mushrooms: Hand-breaded mushrooms with ranch dressing.
Big Sandwiches
- Half-Pound Cheeseburger: Juicy beef patty with classic fixin’s.
- 16-Ounce Cheeseburger: A massive burger served open face.
- Char-Broiled Chicken Sandwich: Flame-grilled chicken breast on a toasted bun.
- Smoked Brisket Sandwich: BBQ brisket served Texas-style.
- Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich: Classic comfort food on a bun.
Local Favorites
- Slab of Baby Back Ribs: Slow-cooked and smothered in house BBQ sauce.
- Barbecue Combo: Smoked beef, ribs, and sausage with BBQ sauce.
- Giant Chicken Fried Chicken: Hand-breaded chicken breast with cream gravy.
- Fried Shrimp: Large fried shrimp with cocktail sauce and fries.
- 8-Ounce Char-Broiled Salmon: Grilled salmon filet with tartar sauce and lemon.
- Steak Quesadillas: Grilled steak with cheese, peppers, and onions.
- Spicy BBQ Quesadillas: Smoked beef with cheese, jalapeños, onions, and BBQ sauce.
Steaks & Prime Rib
- Top Sirloin: Texas cattleman’s favorite cut, available in multiple sizes.
- Big Texan Strip: A hearty sirloin strip cut.
- Prime Rib: Slowly roasted and served with au jus and horseradish.
- Ribeye: Well-marbled and flavorful, available from 12 to 36 ounces.
- T-Bone: A true Texas classic in 20- to 30-ounce cuts.
- Porterhouse: Large, tender 24-ounce cut with signature flavor.
Kids Menu (10 & under)
- Tee Pee: Cheese quesadilla.
- Little Texan: 5-ounce sirloin steak.
- Howdy Doody: Chicken strips with cream gravy.
- Tomahawk: Two pork ribs with BBQ sauce.
- Wrangler: Plain hamburger to build your own.
- Roy Rogers: Four steak fingers with cream gravy.
Sides
- Baked Potato (loaded optional)
- Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
- Green Chili Cream Corn
- Fried Okra
- Cowboy Beans
- Texas Fries
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Garden or Caesar Salad
Is there parking? Is there truck or large vehicle parking?
Yes, a large parking lot surrounds the restaurant. Big rig parking is located behind the restaurant.
What kind of wait times should you expect? Do they take reservations?
Wait times vary by season, day of the week, and time of day. Sometimes you can walk right in, other times the wait can be an hour or more. If you’re there at peak times (like Saturday night dinnertime), expect longer waits. You can make same-day reservations at The Big Texan via phone or make a reservation via their website.
Is The Big Texan pet friendly?
Service dogs are welcome inside the dining room. Non-service dogs are asked to stay outside in the Beer Garden.
Is this a popular Route 66 attraction?
Yes! With its quirky decor, giant roadside attractions out front, and over-the-top eating challenge, The Big Texan is a popular Route 66 attraction. It is one of our picks for the Top 10 Texas Route 66 Roadside Attractions, 66 Route 66 Attractions Worth Pulling Over For, and 66 Most Instagrammable Spots on Route 66.
Where to Stay Near The Big Texan Steak Ranch
Need to nap off that 72-ounce steak? Complete your travel itinerary and get a good night’s rest with a stay at one of these Route 66 hotels in Amarillo, Texas.
Big Texan Motel
The Big Texan Steakhouse is best known for its 72-ounce steak challenge. Whether you try to beat the clock for a free meal or not, you can mosey on over across the parking lot to extend your visit at the Big Texan Motel. Attached to the world famous steakhouse, the Big Texan Motel in Amarillo, Texas features 54 units and a Western theme.
The Barfield
The only full-service boutique hotel in Amarillo, The Barfield is housed in the historic Barfield building in the heart of downtown Amarillo. The hotel’s 112 accommodations, feature custom-designed furnishings and luxurious finishes. Enjoy high-speed WiFi, Smart TVs, ergonomic workspaces, and an in-room refreshment center.
Atrea Inn
Atrea Inn is a charming farmhouse boutique hotel. Conveniently located near I-40 and a short drive to the Route 66 historic district in Amarillo, this property boasts a family-friendly courtyard with BBQ pits and a morning breakfast to prepare you for the day on the road.
Related Tours
Enhance your visit to Amarillo with a tour! Whether you love the outdoors, walking tours, or family-friendly adventures, there are plenty of options for everyone.
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Some day I will do that 72-ounce steak challenge! But for now, a regular rib eye will do. The lunch specials are great (as are the dinners). I know some people think this stop is overrated, but, for me, it combines tasty food (the green chile creamed corn is actually my favorite thing on the menu) with a really fun atmosphere. If you’re lucky you’ll get to watch someone else attempt the steak challenge!