This Legendary Texan Steakhouse Serves Some Of The Biggest Steaks You'll Ever See

Way up in Amarillo, in the northernmost part of Texas called the Panhandle, The Big Texan restaurant has been feeding hungry travelers since 1960. Originally located just off historic Route 66, the steakhouse attracted tourists with its 60-foot-tall neon cowboy and steaks that were larger than life. Founded by R.J. Lee, the Big Texan has become one of the most recognizable steakhouses in the state, if not the country. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the restaurant serves beef that is unapologetically massive: ribeyes, sirloin, and T-bones are all on the table, but the real star of the show is its famous 72-ounce steak. If you ever see The Big Texan in the news, its because of this dish. This is a real-deal steakhouse, and the usual red flags don't apply here because yes, there are pictures on the menu.

Lee was nothing if not a great showman. Within months of opening the restaurant, he decided to put on a show. He created the "1 hour Steak Challenge," in which a competitor must devour 72 ounces of steak, baked potato, salad, shrimp cocktail, and a bread roll within 60 minutes. Sadly, no cowboy caviar here. Lee's premise was that anyone who consumed that much food in one hour got it for free. If not, you paid $72. The challenge has turned the restaurant into an iconic show of sorts, with contestants eating on a raised stage while diners cheer and place bets on the outcome. More than sixty years later, the competitive eating component has only grown in notoriety.

In 2008, the premiere of The Travel Channel's new show "Man v. Food" featured the host, Adam Richman, tackling the 4.5 pound steak and all its sides — and succeeding. One could argue this nationwide TV show is what really put The Big Texan on the map. TLC received its highest-ever ratings for the new debut, and thus, a (steak) star was born. The restaurant is much more than just steak, though. In 1983, Lee's salesman genius struck again. He opened The Big Texan Motel right across the parking lot from the steakhouse, making it even easier to slip into your food coma after eating a few pounds of beef. The motel stuck with the same decor theme as the restaurant: "Old West" saloon-style with plenty of kitsch and color. Texans are nothing if not proud of their heritage, so Lee also installed a Texas-shaped swimming pool to encourage guests to stay awhile.

To be sure, The Big Texan isn't all roadside attractions and gimmicks. The restaurant does actually take its beef seriously, aging and cutting steaks in-house and generously coating them with their secret recipe steak seasoning (which is also, of course, available for sale). If you go, be sure to try one of their craft beers, which have been brewed onsite since 2010 by Lee's two sons, who took over in 1990 when their father passed. For road-trippers passing through Amarillo, it's the quintessential Texas experience: everything's bigger there, including the beef.