Prime Indulgence: The Art of Fine Steakhouse Dining in Anaheim & OC

Caviar and champagne are great, but when it comes to a decadent dining experience, most of us would probably opt for the simple joy of a well-cooked steak. Not all purveyors of the bovine arts are created equal, however. While you can reliably get a filet mignon, ribeye or New York strip at most steakhouses, it’s the side dishes, wine lists, desserts and ambiance that set a great steakhouse apart from the pack.

We’ve rustled up a cattle drive around the Anaheim and OC area to rein in some prime examples of true steakhouse luxury around the area. Saddle up:

Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina

Celebrity and James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina may have made his name in seafood, but his love of a good steakhouse is evidenced by his luxurious Bourbon Steak location at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club. A meal here begins with a selection of caviar, king crab or Maine lobster, followed by sides of blue crab pasta and bacon-wrapped scallops. If you aren’t already overwhelmed by richness, the grill list full of Black Angus and Wagyu beef selections (including A5 striploin from Hokkaido at $46 per ounce) will no doubt satiate any cravings for a decadent steak experience.

THE RANCH Restaurant & Saloon

A ranch and saloon may not immediately sound like a luxurious destination, but this RANCH is one that has been recommended by the Michelin Guide, named Restaurant of the Year and Best Steakhouse and earned a decades worth of Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence. Menu standouts include the ceviche trio, country-fried Texas quail and Tasmanian Wagyu beef carpaccio for starts and massive steaks like the 40oz 28-day dry-aged Delmonico served with black garlic sauce or the 58oz Prime Angus Cowboy ribeye topped with rich bordelaise. After dinner? You’ll be grateful for the saloon side when you’re line dancing off some calories.

Old Brea Chophouse

Despite the name, tourists to the Anaheim area might not immediately realize that Old Brea Chophouse actually only opened in 2019. Despite its age, it still feels like a polished gem, thanks in part to owner Tony Fasulo’s decades of experience across the nation as an executive with Morton’s Steakhouse. He brought what he learned to the OBC kitchen with dishes like roasted bone marrow and scallop crudo, and steaks like the 18oz. Delmonico cut, or the whopping 36oz prime Tomahawk Chop. Guests can even splurge on an addition of lobster meat or jumbo lump crab Oscar to make it a surf and turf.

Anaheim White House Italian Steak House

While many steakhouses rely on a fairly standardized American menu, an Italian steakhouse is another thing entirely. Focusing on the Tuscan cuisine of northern Italy, The Anaheim White House serves up dishes like calamari picatta and prosciutto di parma, pappardelle bolognese and bucatini gamberi before digging into unique steak preparations like hanger steak in chimichurri, filet mignon with mushrooms and porcini sauce, and even braised beef in a wine reduction over polenta. Naturally the wine list is expansive with a great by-the-glass selection, but if you’ve got a table of four or more, save room for their famous “Jackie O” dessert platter topped with a spun-sugar tower.

Selanne Steak Tavern

This steakhouse feels just like dining at a friend’s house … if that friend is hockey Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne and the house is a historic home from the 1930’s just steps from the ocean. Selanne Steak Tavern has been named Orange County’s best steakhouse for their steaks and chops like a 16oz Kansas City striploin or a 45-day dry-aged bone-in prime ribeye. Guests can start with Wagyu beef tartare, oysters or a classic Wedge salad and pair sides like truffle fries or Selanne’s signature mac n’ cheese with mornay sauce. The expansive wine list stretches out over nearly 40 pages - but you can also bring your own selection for a reasonable corkage fee.

Summit House

Fancy your steaks with a side of proper English hospitality? At Summit House, you can settle in by the fire, order a hearty ale and indulge in their slow-roasted prime rib with all the classic trimmings like creamed spinach and a Yorkshire pudding. The Castle Cut tops the scales at a whopping 24oz of beef, but their bone-in prime ribeye nearly equals it at 22oz - even before the side of Gruyere au gratin potatoes. One thing you’ll find here that you can’t get in London? The sweeping views overlooking nearby mountains, parks, nature preserves and the twinkling lights of the greater Anaheim landscape.

Looking for some other options?

Check out independent restaurants like The Cellar, Butcher’s House Brasserie, Orange County Mining Co., The Tartan Room and Stubrik’s. The Anaheim/OC area also has chain steakhouses represented in the form of Morton’s, Fleming’s, Ruth’s Chris and Mastro’s. No matter what kind of steakhouse experience you’re in the mood for, you won’t be too far from it. Explore more steakhouses near Anaheim.