Big Texan Steak Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Big Texan Steak Ranch |
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Sign advertising the Big Texan Steak Ranch
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1960 |
| Food type | Steakhouse |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Street address | 7701 Interstate 40 Access Rd |
| City | Amarillo, Texas |
| Country | United States |
The Big Texan Steak Ranch is a huge steakhouse restaurant and motel located in Amarillo, Texas. It's a famous stop along the highway, known for its exciting competitive eating challenges.
This restaurant first opened its doors in 1960. It was originally found on the historic Route 66. In 1970, it moved to its current spot right next to Interstate 40. The building is easy to spot with its bright yellow paint and blue trim. A giant bull statue outside invites everyone to try its "free" 72-ounce steak challenge!
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What Makes The Big Texan Special?
The Big Texan is located right off Interstate 40, which used to be part of the famous Route 66. The restaurant has a massive 650 seats! Most of the people who visit are tourists traveling through Texas.
Next to the restaurant is a motel with 54 rooms. It even has 28 stalls for horses, which is pretty unique! Many people see the Big Texan as a symbol of Texas. It's known for its big events, big promotions, and, of course, big steaks. It really shows off the cowboy heritage that visitors expect in Texas.
Inside, the restaurant looks like a classic Texas ranch. You'll see chandeliers made from wagon wheels and many taxidermied animals. They often have live country and western music and even Texas hold'em competitions. Besides the huge steak, they also serve smaller steaks, seafood, sandwiches, and quesadillas.
The Famous 72-Ounce Steak Challenge
The Big Texan is most famous for its giant 72 ounce steak. That's 4.5 pounds, or about 2 kilograms! If you can eat the entire meal in one hour or less, the steak is free. The meal includes the huge steak, a bread roll with butter, a baked potato, a shrimp cocktail, and a side salad. If you don't finish it all, the meal costs $72.00.
How the Challenge Works
People who successfully finish the challenge get their names added to a special list at the restaurant. The table where the challenge happens is even shown on a 24/7 live video stream on the restaurant's website! So far, over 10,000 people have completed this amazing feat out of about 90,000 who have tried.
The challenge began in 1960. The restaurant's founder, Bob Lee, held a contest to see which cowboy could eat the most steaks in an hour. The prize was $5. One cowboy ate four and a half 1-pound steaks, plus all the sides, to win. Bob Lee was so impressed that he declared, "Whoever eats that much again in my restaurant, he gets it for free."
If you want to try the 72-ounce steak challenge, you have to sign a waiver agreeing to the rules. You pay for the meal first, and if you win, your money is given back. You can choose how you want your steak cooked. The challenge takes place at a special table on a raised platform in the main dining room. Before the clock starts, you get one bite to make sure your steak is cooked just right.
Record Breakers
Many people have tried to set new records for finishing the challenge the fastest. Competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut once held the record, finishing in 8 minutes and 52 seconds in 2008. He broke a record that had stood for 21 years!
However, in 2014, a competitive eater named Molly Schuyler beat his record. She finished the meal in an incredible 4 minutes and 58 seconds! She even came back for a second meal, finishing two full challenges in under 15 minutes. In 2015, Molly returned and broke her own record, finishing her first meal in just 4 minutes and 18 seconds! She also ate two more meals in twenty minutes, beating four other teams.
There's even an unofficial record for animals! In 1999, a 500-pound Siberian tiger reportedly ate the steak in 90 seconds. In 2012, a lioness beat that, finishing in 80 seconds.
The Big Texan Motel
Right next to the restaurant is the Big Texan Motel. It has 54 rooms and is designed to look like an old West town's main street. The motel rooms have fun Texas-themed decorations. There's even a swimming pool shaped like the state of Texas! In 2004, they added a stable with 20 stalls behind the motel for guests traveling with horses.
See also
- List of motels
- List of steakhouses
