Is The Big Texan In Amarillo Texas Really Overrated? Depends.
It's been featured on numerous television shows. YouTube's eating elite all come to pay homage to its challenge. Your friends and family from out of town all have questions and want to visit it.
It begs the question, is The Big Texan overrated?
All Myth And Legend Living Along I-40
Growing up, I remember seeing the billboards constantly. They advertised a massive free steak dinner. In small print, they clarified that was only if you could finish it.
The 72oz steak challenge is legendary, and has ensnared many in its siren call.
From all over the world, people flock to achieve gluttonous glory on stage and now streamed live on the Internet. I've made my own trip to The Big Texan. I went when I was a teenager. Even kept a souvenir penny from the trip in my keepsake box.
Fine Dining Or Road Side Attraction?
This is the interesting thing about The Big Texan. It nails, and is the very definition of, being a roadside attraction. Everything about the place is designed to transport you away from the world you were in when you stepped out of your car.
The big yellow building sticks out like a sore thumb among all the other businesses sitting on the I-40 sidelines. There's the hotel that looks like something ripped straight from classic western TV series.
There's photo ops, and historical markers aplenty. That's all before you step inside.
Inside, you feel like you've stepped into a old western saloon with a giant bear and gift shop. It's part sideshow, part dining room.
But What About The Food?
This is where it gets a touch tricky. Can you find a better steak in town? Sure. It's definitely not the worst, but also not my first choice.
But that's not really why you're there in the first place.
The Big Texan is an experience. One we've all had at some point. The whole thing is a whirlwind for the senses. There's something to see everywhere you look. Not an inch is wasted.
Is it gimmicky? Yeah. But that's what makes it the kind of place you visit. It's not a restaurant. It's an experience. That's what you're paying for. The silly pictures. The little souvenirs. The ability to say you sat on that stage.
Is The Big Texan overrated? Maybe. But that's how it's supposed to be.