The steak challenge at The Big Texan Steak Ranch on Route 66 in Amarillo features a 72-ounce steak.
The restaurant’s challenge requires a contestant to eat a 72-ounce steak along with accompanying items within a set time limit. The enormous portion became a famous example of roadside food spectacle and helped turn the restaurant into one of Amarillo’s most recognizable Route 66 attractions.
The Big Texan began in Amarillo before moving to its current location near Interstate 40, which follows much of the modern corridor associated with Route 66. Its branding combines Texas imagery, large-scale food, and the theatrical spirit of classic highway tourism.
The challenge is sometimes mistakenly described as a 64-ounce or four-pound steak. A 72-ounce steak weighs 4.5 pounds before accounting for the other food served with the meal. The exact number matters because the restaurant’s reputation is built around this unusually specific contest rather than a generic oversized steak.