Full Big Texan Steak Ranch menu guide for 2026 — everything on the menu from the legendary 72 oz steak challenge to USDA steaks, chicken fried steak, Gulf shrimp, Texas sides, and desserts. Plus: challenge rules, what to order, location details, and answers to the most common questions about Amarillo's most famous restaurant.
Signature items
The most famous steak challenge in America. Here is exactly how it works, who has won it, and what to expect if you try.
The 72 oz (4.5 lb) steak challenge has been running since 1962. The rules are simple: sit down at the raised challenge table in the center of the dining room, and eat the following entire meal in 60 minutes or less:
Finish every bite within the hour and the entire meal is free. Leave anything on the plate and you pay the full menu price. You eat on a raised platform in the center of the restaurant, in full view of other diners — part of the spectacle.
More than 100,000 people have attempted the challenge since 1962. Roughly one in eight succeeds. The current world record is under five minutes. You do not need to make a reservation for the challenge, but calling ahead is recommended for large groups.
The four things people most often Google about The Big Texan's menu — answered at a glance.
Free if you eat the whole meal in under one hour. Paid for since 1962.
Most visitors cite the ribeye as the best everyday steak on the menu.
A Texas institution — hand-battered, pan-fried, cream gravy.
Comes with the 72 oz challenge meal; also orderable as a standalone starter.
All nine menu categories with item counts.
What regular visitors and travel guides consistently cite as the must-order dishes.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch sits right off Interstate 40 East in Amarillo, Texas — the same highway that follows the path of old Route 66 through the Texas Panhandle. The giant illuminated sign and the cowboy billboard are visible from the highway. The address is 7701 I-40 East, Amarillo, TX 79118.
The property includes the main restaurant (seats 500+), a gift shop, a motel (The Big Texan Motel), a shooting range, mini golf, and outdoor entertainment areas. It is a full roadside attraction — budget at least two hours for the experience.
General dining hours are daily 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM, though hours can vary. Confirm current hours and make reservations at bigtexan.com.
R.J. "Bob" Lee opened the original Big Texan on old Route 66 in Amarillo in 1960. The free 72 oz steak challenge was introduced in 1962 as a publicity stunt — and it worked. When Interstate 40 replaced Route 66 and bypassed the original location, Lee moved the restaurant in 1970 to its current home alongside I-40, building the spectacle that travelers still pull off the highway to see today.
The restaurant seats more than 500 guests in a Western-themed dining room with cowboy decor, a full bar, live entertainment, and the raised challenge platform at the center of the room. It is owned and operated by the Lee family, now in its second and third generations.
The Big Texan has been featured on dozens of food-travel television programs — including Man vs. Food, Food Paradise, and Bizarre Foods — and regularly appears on bucket-list and "most iconic American roadside attraction" rankings.
Looking for other steakhouse options? These are the closest comparisons on Menupedia.
Quick answers to the questions people most commonly ask about the challenge, the menu, and visiting.
The 72 oz steak challenge is The Big Texan's signature contest: you must eat a 72 oz (4.5 lb) USDA Choice sirloin steak, plus a shrimp cocktail, a baked potato, a salad, and a dinner roll — all within one hour. Finish everything in time and the entire meal is free. Fail and you pay the full menu price. The challenge has been running since 1962 and more than 100,000 people have attempted it, with roughly one in eight succeeding.
The Big Texan does not publish its full price list online. If you attempt the challenge and do not finish, you pay the standard menu price for the 72 oz meal. We recommend calling ahead or visiting bigtexan.com for current pricing before you visit. Generally speaking, specialty challenge meals at comparable Texas roadhouse attractions run in the $70–$100 range.
The Big Texan Steak Ranch is located at 7701 I-40 East, Amarillo, Texas 79118. It sits right off Interstate 40 (old Route 66) on the east side of Amarillo — you can't miss the giant cowboy sign visible from the highway. Free parking is available in the expansive lot. There is also a motel and a gift shop on the property.
The Big Texan is generally open daily for lunch and dinner, with hours typically 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Hours may vary seasonally and around holidays. Confirm current hours at bigtexan.com or by calling the restaurant directly before your visit.
Beyond the famous 72 oz sirloin, The Big Texan serves a full steakhouse menu: 24 oz Porterhouse, 18 oz Ribeye, 14 oz New York Strip, 12 oz Sirloin, and 8 oz Filet Mignon. All steaks are USDA beef, aged and grilled to order. They also serve chicken fried steak, BBQ ribs, Gulf shrimp, catfish, and lobster tail.
Yes. The menu includes chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken, BBQ beef ribs, baby back ribs, fried and grilled Gulf shrimp, catfish, lobster tail, rotisserie chicken, and grilled chicken breast. Starters include Texas chili (no beans), shrimp cocktail, rattlesnake bites, and soups. Desserts include peach cobbler, chocolate cake, and cheesecake.
Both. The Big Texan is a full-service steakhouse and a major Texas roadside attraction. The property includes the restaurant (seating 500+), a motel, a gift shop, a shooting range, an outdoor area with entertainment, and a classic Route 66 aesthetic with the famous giant cowboy out front. It regularly appears on lists of Texas bucket-list destinations and iconic American roadside attractions.
The Big Texan does not have a published official age minimum for the challenge, but entrants are expected to be able to eat the full 72 oz meal. The restaurant has hosted challenge entrants of all ages — including a few teenagers over the years. Parents are responsible for supervising younger challengers. Contact the restaurant directly to confirm current rules for minors.
The Big Texan accepts reservations, especially recommended for large groups or if you plan to attempt the 72 oz challenge. Walk-ins are welcome but waits can be long during peak tourist season (summer) and on weekends. Book via the official site at bigtexan.com or call the restaurant directly.
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