When non-Texans try to imagine a true Texas steakhouse, they might picture a big barnyard dining room with wooden floors and tables covered in peanut shells. And while you can probably still get that experience at your local Texas Roadhouse, the Austin reality is a little different. It’s upscale French-American restaurants with 1200°F broilers, and it’s 50-day dry-aged steaks priced by the ounce and served in a dining room that looks like a scene out of Goodfellas. We’ve got casual chophouses as well as butcher shops that moonlight as restaurants. The next time you find yourself with a craving that only a textbook-sized slab of meat can satisfy, head to one of these spots. 

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a cheap steak, check out our guide to Austin’s many steak night specials. And if you’re hitting the road soon (or looking for a reason to), we’ve also got a guide to the best steakhouses across Texas. Time to stock up on snacks.