Back in the day, Dallas was the steakhouse epicenter. And, to this day, when it comes to USDA Prime succulent mouth-watering steak, Dallas does not disappoint.
Whether you are looking for a historical institution like Y.O. Ranch Steakhouses or a modern steakhouse reboot like Knife Steakhouse, there is something for everyone. When it comes to steakhouses, Dallas are trailblazers, and the competition is fierce.
Let’s take a look at the best steakhouses in Dallas and weigh them up to see who tops our scorecard – we think you will find this very interesting.
- Knife Steakhouse
- Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse
- Town Hearth
- Pappa Bros. Steakhouse
- Al Biernat’s – Oak Lawn
- Nick and Sam’s Steakhouse
- The Verdict
Knife Steakhouse – Dallas
In 2014, award-winning chef John Tesar opened the doors to his meat mecca. This highly acclaimed restaurant seeks to reinvent the steakhouse experience. Tesar is committed to using only the finest quality, locally sourced ingredients. Let’s see how Tesar is stamping his brand on the Texan steakhouse experience.
| The Steak | |
|---|---|
| Ethically Sourced | Knife sources a majority of their beef locally from Texan ranchers and farmers, including Heartbrand Beef and 44 Farms. |
| Beef Grades | Featuring USDA Prime steak cuts. |
| Aging Process | In-house dry-aging cabinet. Knife is renowned for its dry-aging process. Here are some examples of their offering: 240-day aged Niman Ranch ribeye, 60-day aged 44 Farms bone-in ribeye, 45-day aged 44 Farms bone-in ribeye. Other menu steak cuts have not been labeled, but are likely to be Choice cuts. |
| Butcher | Not specified. |
| The Steakhouse | |
|---|---|
| Menu | Knife’s overall menu aligns nicely with a standard steakhouse with a Texan twist – notable mentions are the Salsa Verde French Fries and Avocado Fries. There is a healthy variety of meals available for patrons who want a steak alternative (e.g., Pepper Crusted Tuna, Oxtail Ravioli, Crispy Pork Belly, etc.) |
| Service | A la carte and private dining. |
| Beverages | Hand-crafted cocktail menu. Local and international beers. 300+ label wine list with a Sommelier on staff to assist with food pairing. |
| Price Range | Mid-range to Expensive ($$$-$$$$). |
| Atmosphere | Modern, contemporary dining experience. Indoor and outdoor dining available. |
| Online Reputation | After assessing 2800+ online ratings across four platforms, Knife Dallas ranked as A-. |
Knife Steakhouse – Dallas website, 5300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, TX 75206-5108, 214-443-9339
Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse
Y.O Ranch Steakhouse has a deep historical presence and is a renowned Texas brand that has been around since 1880. Keeping to its tradition, Y.O prepares their steak in a way that traps in all the juices – creating a succulent, tender steak – drool.
A key point of difference with this steakhouse is that Y.O. has an extensive wild game selection on the menu. Venison, game birds, and their signature buffalo filet mignon all from freely on Y.O.’s 48,000-acre ranch. Let’s check out how the Y.O Ranch steaks stack up in our scorecard.
| The Steak | |
|---|---|
| Ethically Sourced | Y.O source a variety of ingredients locally from Texan Ranchers and Farmers such as 44 Farms Black Angus and the Broken Arrow Ranch. |
| Beef Grades | Featuring USDA Prime steak cuts on the menu, such as: Prime Ribeye 14-oz. Prime New York Strip 14-oz. Other menu steak cuts have not been labeled, but are likely to be Choice cuts. |
| Aging Process | Not specified. |
| Butcher | Beef is hand-cut in-house. |
| The Steakhouse | |
|---|---|
| Menu | The Y.O menu is well rounded with a great variety of salad, soup, and side classics. You can’t go wrong with an Iceberg, Caesar, or Cobb salad. For those looking for a unique dining experience, try some of the house specialties: Buffalo filet mignon. Wild game mixed grill. Espresso crusted elk tenderloin. |
| Service | A la carte and private dining available. |
| Beverages | Speciality cocktails with a Texan twist on the classics. Featuring a Toro De Lidia tequila menu. Local, domestic and importehttps://prime360steak.com/files/d beers. extensive list, stocking wines from international, north american, and texan vineyards. |
| price range | Expensive ($$$$). |
| Atmosphere | The Y.O. delivers old western charm in a laid-back yet elegant dining experience. |
| Online Reputation | After assessing 6290+ online ratings across four platforms, Y.O Ranch Steakhouse ranked as A-. |
Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse website, 702 Ross Ave, Dallas, TX 75202, 214-744-3287
Town Hearth
The Town Hearth is an eclectic steakhouse with a classic Chicago-style feel featuring an antique motorbike and minesweeper topped with 64 crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. This all sounds like a hot mess express, but for some reason, it all blends nicely and feels right.
| The Steak | |
|---|---|
| Ethically Sourced | The menu mentions that steak is sourced from the Mid-west, Grand Island, and Nebraska. Ranch and farms are not specified. |
| Beef Grades | All steaks on the menu are USDA Prime cuts. |
| Aging Process | Both wet and dry-aged steaks on the menu. Wet-aged steak is aged for a minimum of 21 days. Dry-aged steak is aged for a minimum of 45 days. |
| Butcher | Not specified. |
| The Steakhouse | |
|---|---|
| Menu | Town Hearth has several steak and seafood options on the menu. They also offer a variety of traditional and primo sides. Primo sides include: Roasted slap bacon (marinated in bourbon-maple syrup). Mexican shrimp scampi. Elote-style corn. |
| Service | A la carte. |
| Beverages | Town Hearth has the one, and only Japanese created “Highball Machine.” This machine makes the whisky highball cocktails with precision. If you make your way to Town Hearth, give one a go. Other beverages available include: Specialty hand-crafted cocktails. Domestic and importehttps://prime360steak.com/files/d beers. extensive list of domestic and foreign wines. |
| price range | Expensive ($$$$). |
| Atmosphere | The ambiance is warm, with deep red leather booths, surrounded by unique antiquities, and finished with a ceiling full of sparkling chandeliers. |
| Online Reputation | After assessing 1330+ online ratings across four platforms, Town Hearth ranked as A. |
Town Hearth website, 1617 Market Center Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207-3915, 214-761-1617
Pappa Bros. Steakhouse
When it comes to steakhouses, Pappa Bros. has deep roots in Dallas. When it comes to classic steakhouses, this place ticks all the boxes. When it comes to scoring steakhouses, we are all about the numbers. With over 12,700 online reviews, 3900+ wines on the menu, 350+ spirits available, and 28 dry-aged prime cuts – the numbers stack up.
Let’s dig down into more detail and see what all the fuss is.
| The Steak | |
|---|---|
| Ethically Sourced | All meat is sourced from a single packer in the Midwest. Pappa Bros. Cattle is preservative-free and is corn-fed. The ranchers and farmers where steak is sourced are not specified. |
| Beef Grades | All steaks on the menu are USDA Prime cuts. |
| Aging Process | Beef is dry-aged in-house for at least 28 days. |
| Butcher | Two butchers are on-site to hand-cut all meat. |
| The Steakhouse | |
|---|---|
| Menu | Pappa Bros has a classic steakhouse menu offering several seafood and steak options. Some of the menu classics include fried oysters, shrimp cocktail, lettuce wedge, lump crab mac & cheese (side) and New York-style cheesecake. An interesting signature dish offered is the Turtle Gumbo with aged Sherry – not sure that is our cup of tea. A notable mention is the dessert trolley too! The desserts look outstanding. |
| Service | A la carte and private dining. |
| Beverages | 3900+ distinct wines available in their cellar – there is a 182-page wine menu available. Thankfully their sommeliers will help you navigate through their American and Importehttps://prime360steak.com/files/d wine collection to ensure you get a suitable wine to quench your thirst. local craft beer on tap. pappa bros houses one of the largest collections of rare single malts in the southwest. they have 350+ open bottles of spirits – ensuring there is something for every taste. |
| price range | Expensive ($$$$) |
| Atmosphere | The ambiance is warm and intimate with dark wood paneling, leather booths, brass fixtures, and dim lighting – classic Chicago-style steakhouse. |
| Online Reputation | After assessing a whopping 12700+ online ratings across four platforms, Pappa Bros. Steakhouse ranked as A. That is epic! |
Pappa Bros. website, 10477 Lombardy Lane, Dallas, TX, 75220, 214-366-2000
Al Biernat’s – Oak Lawn
Al Biernat opened his namesake restaurant in 1988. Now there are two of these upscale steakhouses in Dallas (Oak Lawn and Spring Valley). When dining here, you are guaranteed to rub shoulders with the Dallas elite. Additionally, celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and funnyman Will Ferrell have been known to breeze through here.
Once you glance at the menu, it is easy to understand why Al’s is so popular. It offers a modern twist on a superb variety of high-quality steak, seafood, and game meat.
| The Steak | |
|---|---|
| Ethically Sourced | Al Biernat’s menu features Wagyu beef from Gearhart Ranch, Texas, and Japan. It’s not clear where all other steak cuts have been sourced. |
| Beef Grades | Featuring USDA Prime steak cuts. |
| Aging Process | Not specified. |
| Butcher | Not specified. |
| The Steakhouse | |
|---|---|
| Menu | If you aren’t much into steak, the Lobster Risotto is a highly rated dish. Another feature of the menu is the “Steaks for Two” selection. |
| Service | A la carte and private dining. Indoor and outdoor dining options. |
| Beverages | Al Biernat’s wine menu is comprehensive, with most wines coming from the California, Napa, and Russian River regions. International wines featured on the menu are importehttps://prime360steak.com/files/d from italy, france, and australia. |
| price range | Mid-range to Expensive ($$$-$$$$) |
| Atmosphere | Modern, contemporary, elegant dining experience. |
| Online Reputation | After assessing 9250+ online ratings across four platforms, Al Biernat’s – Oak Lawn ranked as A. |
Al Biernat’s – Oak Lawn website, 4217 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX, 75219,
214-219-2201
Nick and Sam’s Steakhouse
Nick and Sam’s Steakhouse was founded in 1999 and is now considered one of the most popular steakhouses in Dallas. This steakhouse’s contemporary design has some similarities to Al Biernat’s, but a key point of difference is the menu. Nick and Sam’s offer an array of top-notch Japanese Beef and some incredible desserts.
| The Steak | |
|---|---|
| Ethically Sourced | It is unclear where their beef is sourced in the United States. Some meat is sourced from Japan and Australia. |
| Beef Grades | Featuring USDA Prime steak cuts. |
| Aging Process | Dry-aged meat is available on the menu. Note: there is ‘aged’ meat on the menu – we assume this is wet-aged meat. |
| Butcher | Not specified. |
| The Steakhouse | |
|---|---|
| Menu | Nick and Sam’s Steakhouse is renowned for its steaks, chops, seafood (lobster, red snapper, etc.), and sushi. Once you have had your steak, make room for the rainbow cake and fairy floss. Desserts at Nick and Sam’s are NEXT level. |
| Service | A la carte and private dining. |
| Beverages | 500+ distinct wines available in their cellar Contemporary, specialty hand-crafted cocktails |
| Price Range | Expensive ($$$$) |
| Atmosphere | Modern, stylish, elegant dining experience. |
| Online Reputation | After assessing 9240+ online ratings across four platforms, Nick and Sam’s Steakhouse ranked as A-. |
Nick and Sam’s Steakhouse website, 3008 Maple Ave An Uptown, Dallas, TX, 75201-1200, 214-871-7444
The Verdict
When it came to comparing steakhouses in Dallas, it was tough – unlike any of their steaks! Especially since each steakhouse delivers such a unique point of difference. Knife Steakhouse is all about local, extended dry-aging. Y.O. has historical roots in Texas, and Town Hearth has 64+ chandeliers! And on top of this, the online reputation of each is outstanding – go Dallas!
Dallas Steakhouse Scorecard Ranking
| Ranking | Steakhouse | Ethically Sourced | Beef Grades | Aging Process | Butcher | Online Reputation | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pappa Bros. Steakhouse | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | A / 12700 critics | 4.5/5 |
| 2 | Knife Steakhouse – Dallas | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | A – / 2800 critics | 4/5 | |
| 3 | Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | A – / 6290 critics | 4/5 | |
| 4 | Town Hearth | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | A / 1330 critics | 4/5 | |
| 5 | Al Biernat’s Oak Lawn | ✔ | A / 9250 critics | 3.5/5 | |||
| 6 | Nick and Sam’s Steakhouse | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | A – / 9240 critics | 3.5/5 |
At the end of the day, we could not ignore the 12700 online critics. When steakhouses receive such a high volume of feedback and still average an A grading, that is pretty telling. Plus, Pappa Bros. hit the mark when it came to assessing the “steak” experience. Clearly, this place has a pretty special spot in people’s hearts or taste buds!
