Where’s the Beef – Steakhouses in San Francisco
See Also: Steak Restaurants Update (6/1/04)
Americans probably consume more beef per capita, after the Argentinians. But it is mostly in the form of hamburgers, since good roasts and steaks are too expensive for most.
San Francisco is not known for its steaks, as are, for example, Chicago, Denver, Dallas. The few well-known steak houses – e.g., Morton’s of Chicago, Ruth’s Chris, Harris’ – are high-priced. They begin with a small sirloin at around $30, and one goes up to $56 for a large Porterhouse steak! With retail prices up to $15 a pound, and higher, this is not surprising.
If one can find a good steak in The City for $20, or less, that would be considered “affordable,” maybe not for everyday eating, but for the occasional binge. Fortunately, this is possible. Read on.
First, a word about quality. The most expensive steaks are those that carry the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) label of Prime. These are the steaks one finds in the above-mentioned expensive restaurants. This quality is well-marbelled, hence tender when grilled.
The next best quality is USDA Choice. The steaks are not as well-marbelled, or fat, but, if properly dry-aged for 20-30 days, or longer, can be just as tender as the Prime.
The third quality is found in supermarkets, and labelled USDA Select. If marinated in a wine-oil-herb mixture, and pounded (to soften the muscle), these can be quite edible, but it takes a little know-how.
Personally, I prefer a dry-aged Choice steak to Prime, since it does not have as much fat, but can be tender and quite tasty. Of course, it is also cheaper than Prime. Some San Francisco steak restaurants offer Choice-quality steaks because they consider Prime too fatty.
Here are several good San Francisco steakhouses, with prices below $20 for some cuts, and not much above $20 for large cuts. Some prices are less than half those of the expensive steakhouses mentioned above, and the quality is at least as good.
Bullshead
840 Ulloa St.
Neighborhood place. Aged steaks served with salad bar,
e.g., 10-oz NY strip $16.90, 16-oz $20.55.
click for full review
Izzy's
3345 Steiner St.
Upscale, 151 seats. 20-day dry-aged steaks served with
two vegetables, e.g., marinated skirt steak $14.95,
13-oz filet mignon $21.95.
click for full review with pictures
JAX
171 O’Farrell St.
Large, 131 seats, upscale. USDA Prime steaks,
e.g., 12-14-oz rib-eye $19.95, 24-oz T-bone 24.95.
(Closed)
Original Joe's
144 Taylor St.
Established 1937. 30-day dry-aged steaks served with fries,
pasta, or vegetables, e.g., 14-oz top sirloin $14.95,
15-oz filet mignon $24.95.
click for full review with pictures
Tad's Steaks
120 Powell St.
Low-rated USDA Select steaks, served with baked potato,
salad, & roll, 10-12-oz $10.99
click for full review with pictures
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