Locals Say This Texas Buffet Has the Best BBQ and Sides in the State
Rolling into Amarillo, you can spot the neon and hear the buzz long before your boots hit the wooden floor. The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery is where road trip legends meet real Texas plates, poured beers, and a crowd ready to cheer. You get dinner and a show, from the 72 ounce steak stage to strolling musicians and clinking souvenir cups.
If you want big flavors, bigger portions, and a lively Texas memory, this is your stop.
1. Signature Smoked BBQ Plate
You want Texas BBQ that hits smoky, savory, and tender all at once. The Big Texan delivers a plate stacked with brisket edged in peppery bark, juicy jalapeno sausage, and ribs that tug clean with a gentle bite. Add pickles, onions, and a slab of Texas toast, and suddenly you understand the line out front.
The cowboy beans bring a sweet heat that happily shares the stage, while the in house sauces lean tangy and bold without masking the meat. Portions are generous, so sharing is smart, unless you skipped lunch. Pair it with a cold house beer and watch the 72 ounce stage while you eat.
2. 72 Ounce Steak Challenge Experience
You can feel the energy shift when the 72 ounce challenge begins. A massive sirloin lands with a thud beside a baked potato, salad, shrimp cocktail, and roll, and the timer flicks on. People gather, phones up, cheering every bite like it is a rodeo ride with steak instead of saddles.
Even if you are not competing, it is easy to root for the brave soul on stage. Some power through, others hit the wall, and everyone leaves with a story to tell. Order your own cut, sip a beer, and enjoy dinner plus a spectacle.
It is kitschy, fun, and very Amarillo.
3. House Brewery Beers and Boot Cups
Thirsty after a long stretch of I 40? The in house brewery answers with crisp lagers, malty ambers, and hop forward IPAs, poured tall in Texas sized glasses. Grab a 32 ounce pour if you are settling in, or go for a flight to find your favorite.
Souvenir boot cups keep the mood playful, especially when the server drops them at your table with a wink. The beers pair beautifully with ribs, steaks, and those cowboy beans. If cocktails call your name, the menu leans fun without getting fussy.
Either way, you are sipping something cold while the band circles and the challenge rolls.
4. The Ribeye and Steak Cuts
The ribeye is the crowd pleaser here, with a deep sear and that buttery fat melt you chase across the plate. Order medium rare to let the marbling do its thing. If you like a leaner chew, the sirloin brings classic steakhouse bite with a big Texas portion.
Baked potatoes come steaming and ready for butter, while cowboy beans add smoky comfort on the side. Some nights are busier than a Saturday rodeo, so patience pays off. When the crust crackles and the center glows warm pink, you know it is worth it.
Share the 38 ounce cut, or keep it all to yourself.
5. Cowboy Sides Worth the Hype
Sides at The Big Texan feel like a second main event. Fried okra crunches without turning soggy, cowboy beans hum with smoky sweetness, and the loaded baked potato is a choose your own adventure. Add butter, sour cream, chives, and bacon at the table until it feels just right.
Coleslaw cools down the heat, and mac and cheese wraps every bite in creamy comfort. Portions are Texas large, so sharing a spread makes sense. You can round out a plate of brisket or sit happily with sides and rolls.
Either way, it tastes like road trip salvation after hours on the highway.
6. Breakfast Bowls and Early Hours
Rolling in early? The Big Texan opens at 8 AM, and breakfast bowls make a strong case for starting your day here. Think eggs, potatoes, peppers, and melty cheese, with optional brisket or sausage folded in.
One bowl is plenty for two, especially if you have a long drive ahead.
Coffee refills arrive fast, and the staff keeps morning traffic moving with friendly efficiency. It is the calm before the dinner crowd, a good time to wander the gift shop afterward. Fuel up, grab a boot cup to go, and hit I 40 with a grin.
Breakfast in a cowboy hat mood just hits different.
7. Lively Atmosphere and Live Music
There is always something to watch here. Long communal tables fill up with families, road trippers, and challenge hopefuls, while musicians weave through with fiddle tunes and classic country. Between the shooting gallery, the bar, and the stage, it feels like a mini carnival in boots.
Service hustles in the rush, and the energy stays upbeat even on busy nights. If you prefer quieter, come earlier or grab a table off to the side. The vibe is proudly kitschy with old West charm and plenty of photo ops.
It is the kind of place you remember for more than the plate.
8. Gift Shop, Bakery, and Extras
Before or after you eat, wander the gift shop for sauces, steak seasoning, shirts, and cowboy hats. There is even a penny press for a quick keepsake. Across the way, the bakery case tempts with fudge and cookies, perfect road snacks or a sweet finish after a ribeye.
Families love the little surprises, from boot cups to the shooting gallery tucked near the back. Step outside to the patio for fresh air, or peek at the brewery gear and photos lining the walls. It is part roadside attraction, part steakhouse, and all Texas.
You will leave with more than a full belly.
