It's been a long time since Kansas City was a Cowtown, but the city's rich history as a meat-industry hub has bestowed us with an equally rich present as a meat-lover's heaven.
At the end of a year that saw new owners re-open the Golden Ox (the once-iconic steakhouse closed in 2014, after 65 years in the Livestock Exchange Building) and relocation of the venerable Plaza III steakhouse from the Country Club Plaza to Overland Park, Central Standard's food critics took stock of our steak situation.
Their recommendations:
Mary Bloch, Around the Block:
- Rye – Prime USDA cuts of beef, pork and lamb are wood-fired, and dinners on Sunday steak night include soup or salad, one side and a slice of pie.
- Golden Ox – They're serving quality steaks and sides at reasonable prices.
- Fox and Pearl – The ribeye here is not to be missed (same goes for the pork chop, though that's a different conversation).
- The Rieger – Make a reservation the next time the Rieger has a beefsteak event. It’s a communal feast where the beef and Schlitz flow throughout the evening.
- Corvino Supper Club and Tasting Room – The wagyu beef has higher levels of fat, but melts in your mouth.
- Room 39 – Steak frites here are done right: a grilled and cooked-to-order hanger steak with crispy fries.
Jenny Vergara, Feast Magazine:
- Stock Hill – The 42 oz. porterhouse, medium rare, is perfect for splitting with a companion.
- Plaza III – Go for the Kansas City strip, with Lyonnais potatoes as an added side dish.
- Lazia at The Crossroads Hotel — Their 14-ounce bone-in ribeye is served simply with Lazia seasoned salt, butter and steak jus.
- Capital Grille – A tip: Go at lunch and indulge yourself with an 8-ounce filet mignon served with your choice of mashed potatoes, parmesan truffle fries or French green beans.
- Golden Ox & Ox Cafe – The French dip sandwich is served on a crunchy baguette with onion, Swiss cheese, horseradish and au jus.
- The Campground – This KC strip is sliced into large chunks then grilled, topped with chimichurri and placed on a bed of puréed celeriac, accompanied by a delicate but perfectly dressed side salad of greens.
- The Russell – Sumac-rubbed beef tenderloin and grilled vegetables are both tossed in a bright-green, herbaceous chimichurri sauce.
- Westport Cafe & Bar — The hanger steak is cooked the way you like it, served with béarnaise sauce, house butter and pommes frites.
- Frontier Steakhouse – These are just classic steaks at affordable prices.
- The Golden Ox – Quality, good cuts of meat are served in a fancy setting.
- Capital Grille – A high-end and quality option with a variety of cuts.
Listener recommendations:
- The Grand Central Hotel in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas – Rustic charm meets wonderful steaks.
- Plaza III – New location, same great steaks.
- Anton's – Wonderful aged meats in house with an old-fashioned butcher counter.
- Bluestem – Get the hanger steak. It's an affordable, large portion with quality ingredients.
Chris Young is an associate producer for KCUR's Central Standard. Reach out to him at chrisy@kcur.org.
