Kansas City steakhouses make for a great night out. You can enjoy a nice steak dinner for a romantic evening, celebrate a career milestone or take the whole family out. And in KC, you have plenty of options.
Kansas City’s restaurant scene, like the city itself, is a bit of hidden gem. It may not be obvious at first glance, but Kansas City steakhouses rival just about any other city, both in quality and diversity. The history of steak in KC runs deep. In its heyday, the Kansas City stockyards were the largest cattle yard outside of New York City. That’s a lot of steak, and it was put to use all over town.
While the stockyards era of Kansas City came and went, quality steakhouses stuck around. This guide will help you find steak restaurants in Kansas City for a great meal.
Different Ways to Prepare Steak
Ribeye, sirloin, filet mignon — there are so many different ways to enjoy a meal at a steakhouse in Kansas City. Steak is a dish that almost every culture has some claim to. In one way or another, it has been enjoyed around the world for centuries. We’d like to think, however, that we really perfected the culinary tradition of steak in America, especially in Kansas City steakhouses.
These are some of the most common methods of preparation you’ll find at KC steakhouses:
- Grilled: This is the most popular way of cooking steaks in America. Typically the cook will use either a gas or charcoal grill paired with simple seasoning like salt and pepper. Grilled steak doesn’t take long, and it brings out the juiciness in a quality cut.
- Wood-Fired: The grill’s cousin, wood-fired steaks are becoming more common, especially in steakhouses in Kansas City. Instead of using a gas or charcoal grill, the steak is placed directly over an open flame. The natural smokiness from the wood cooks into the steak, creating a rich, delicious slab.
- Pan-Fried Butter Steak: This culinary technique uses a cast-iron skillet to cook the steak. The skillet is heated up and filled with a generous helping of butter, garlic and chives. After the mixture is simmering, a slated steak is added to the pan. The meat immediately soaks up the rich flavors of the garlic butter, and the end result is mouthwatering.
Each of the steak places in Kansas City will use one of these methods and put their own twist of the recipe. The result is a wide variety of delicious options.
Steakhouses in Kansas City
Kansas City is not lacking when it comes to steakhouse options. It’s hard to say which is better than the other, or which steakhouse in Kansas City is the best. Each is great in its own way, and each customer has unique preferences.
To help you find what you’re looking for, we’ll break it down by area of the city, moving from north to south.
The Northland:
- Hereford House: One of the oldest steakhouses in Kansas City, Mo., Hereford House has been around for more than 50 years at one of its several locations across the metro area.
- ’37 Steak: You’ll find ’37 Steak just north of the river inside Harrah’s NKC casino.
Downtown:
- Majestic: The Majestic is a Kansas City institution. It is housed in a 100-year-old saloon in the heart of downtown. Along with delicious meals, The Majestic is also a jazz club, paying tribute to two of Kansas City’s great heritages.
- 801 Chophouse: There are several 801 Chophouse locations around the Midwest and one in downtown Kansas City. You’ll find it in the heart of the Power & Light District serving steaks alongside a long list of wines and spirits.
West Bottoms and Crossroads:
- Golden Ox: This Kansas City steakhouse is located in the old West Bottoms Livestock Exchange building — the very place that used to be the center of Kansas City’s booming cattle industry. There’s no better location for a steakhouse in KC.
- Voltaire: Right across the street from the Golden Ox in the historic West Bottoms, this KC steakhouse offers the perfect menu and vibe for a nice night out. Voltaire also has a great bar and often features live music.
- Anton’s: Moving over to the Crossroads, Anton’s specializes in dry-age steaks. It is a laid-back tavern, so don’t worry about getting too dressed up. It’s a Kansas City steak restaurant worth trying.
Westport and The Plaza:
- Rye: A slightly newer arrival on The Plaza, Rye is a farm-to-table bistro with a quality menu and bar program.
- JJ’s: Founded in 1985, JJ’s is a high-dollar steakhouse on the west side of The Plaza. The menu offers a little bit of everything.
South Kansas City:
- Jess & Jim’s: All the way south at 135th near Martin City, Jess & Jim’s is a family-run business and one of the premiere steakhouses in Kansas City. In fact, it has been named one of the best steakhouses in the world.
- Gilbert’s: On the Kansas side of the state line, J. Gilbert’s serves wood-fired steak in Overland Park. The atmosphere is nice without being snobby, and the food is delicious.
The Kansas City Strip Steak
There are plenty of ways to order your steak. You could try a filet mignon, sirloin, skirt steak or ribeye. But if you’re eating at a steakhouse in Kansas City, you just have to order the Kansas City strip steak. That’s right — our city invented a steak cut. Kansas City strip steak is a juicy cut of the short loin. It’s a thick piece, but it melts in your mouth when cooked right.
Steakhouses in Kansas City will each have their own take on the KC strip. It’s worth trying wherever you go.