The Best Steakhouses in California

There may not be many cowboys in these parts, but there are plenty of decorative elements and music they’d covet at this urban steakhouse with farm to table touches. The menu is meat-centric, but also focuses on seasonal vegetables grown on their own farm. Pay close attention to daily specials and you might just be rewarded with an heirloom tomato salad bursting with ripeness. Unless you have the appetite of a rancher, these dishes are best shared. Crisp popovers served with sweet homemade tomato jam are a can't miss, and the prime rib is ultra-tender with jus, horseradish sauce and a cast-iron skillet bubbling with cheese-topped scalloped potatoes. Top it all off with their PB&J milk chocolate bar, an upscale take on a familiar favorite.

Tucked inside the sleek Four Seasons Hotel, this steakhouse from Wolfgang Puck isn't pulling any punches when it comes to luxury. Offering the finest cuts of beef from Australia and America to Japan, this is a place for a deep-pocketed crowd, and the elegant dining room with banquette seating is the ideal setting for a power meal. Chilled prawns or oysters on the half shell are classic openers, and it may prove difficult to stop nibbling on the sundried tomato Parker house rolls and the house-knotted pretzels, served with roasted pepper and walnut dip. Creekstone filet mignon with Armagnac green peppercorn bearnaise sauce is a sure bet, but it's those wagyu tallow French fries that you'll be thinking about later.

Matū may have wood panels, exposed brick walls and plenty of gleaming brass, but this isn't your typical temple of masculinity. Instead, this Beverly Hills steakhouse adds a little romance to its chic digs. The inviting ambience is elevated by an open kitchen with views of the action, and the warm, courteous wait staff rounds out the experience.

Steaks hail from New Zealand (matū is a Māori word) and their wood-fired preparation delivers on the promise of tender and juicy meat. Wagyu is usually a budget buster, but here it's offered at an accessible price. Its delicate, exceptional flavor will have you remembering its for weeks to come. Steaks may be the heart of the menu, but fazzoletti with a slow-braised beef ragu are a fine choice.

An elegant ambience complements an elevated menu of exceptional steaks and an array of dishes at Chef Jeffrey Stout's newest restaurant, BE.STÉAK.Ӑ, located a minute's walk from his other very popular spot, Orchard City Kitchen. Here, the menu meanders through the Mediterranean before focusing on high-quality and well-prepared steaks and sides. Kicky clams casino substitutes pepperoni for bacon, while rigatoni all'amatriciana delivers another spicy hit, but really, you're here for the meat. Good thing too, since bacon-wrapped filet in a horseradish crema with king oyster mushrooms and finished with a "meaty" demi-glaze is first rate.

The Sunday Supper menu, featuring four courses for the whole table, is a draw for families and groups.

Everything old is new again at Chef/owner Kevin Meehan's Kali, which has been reimagined as a classic Hollywood steakhouse. The dining room, split in two with a full-service bar and a luxe dining room behind a red curtain, gets all the details right (think lipstick red carpeting and cushioned seating). The menu begins with tried-and-true favorites like beef tartare or mushroom risotto, but the centerpiece is certainly their Creekstone Farms steak. Of course, there must be potatoes (get the a'la loaded that's baked and fried to order). Desserts also lean traditional, as in crème brûlée or a seasonal fruit sorbet, but you'll never go wrong with their meringue gelato topped with grated, cured egg yolks.

Once a home, this historic setting on Pacific Coast Highway now houses a winning steakhouse. Inside, a variety of settings welcome guests, ranging from the upstairs Loft, the bistro-style Wine Library, the handsome Tavern, or outside on the Veranda or Sunset Terrace. The buzzy bar is also a favorite perch for a crowd that's both relaxed and regulars.

Steak is revered in this place and it lives up to its promise with tender, well marbled meat, but the kitchen ratchets it up with expert cooking (and dousing it in butter never hurts). Thick seared mushrooms in a Madeira reduction are a nice touch, and creamy, buttery mashed potatoes are a must, but don't monkey around when it comes to dessert—Selanne's monkey bread can't be missed.

The carnivorous heart of Nancy Silverton’s “Mozzaplex” is as strong as ever. A modern Italian take on the old-school steakhouse, the restaurant boasts a steady menu of classics that seem to have only gotten better with age. Is there a better beginning than the indulgently cheesy focaccia di recco? Is there a chicken more compelling than the 24-hour brined and marinated pollo alla diavola? The team makes the most of smoke and live fire, as big proteins pass through the wood-burning oven. Indeed, this is hearty cooking that is seasoned boldly and keenly seasonal, served in a space that is intimate and energized all at once. A superb wine list celebrates the vast talents of Italy, and an astute, welcoming staff keeps everything flowing with ease.

During the day, this enticingly arranged butcher shop sells humanely raised meats from local partner farms. By night, Gwen opens into a glowing dining room showcasing the same upscale cuts à la carte and on its multicourse tasting. Named for their beloved grandmother, this collaboration between Chef Curtis Stone and his brother, Luke, conjures Art Deco glamour with crystal chandeliers and a roaring fireplace.

he menu is concise and stars house-made charcuterie and wood-fire grilled steaks. Watch from the chef's counter as the crew deftly cooks high quality meat, perhaps a Blackmore Wagyu New York strip, to perfection. Save room for dessert, like a round of cheesecake nestled in a mound of graham cracker crumbs and topped with a quenelle of mango lime sorbet.

If Frank Sinatra broke bread with Tupac, they’d probably meet at Born & Raised. No expense was spared making this wildly polished, upscale steakhouse that resembles a mid-century, art deco dream lined with black-and-white photos of old-school rap legends, like Eazy-E. There is a glassed-in meat cutting room in the back; and a lovely, open-air rooftop bar overlooking Little Italy.

Waiters dressed in tuxedos and Converse shoes drift between tables, pushing nostalgic tableside carts where they whip up starters on the spot or pour a drink to order. Certainly, you’re here for the impeccably cooked steaks, but don’t miss the tartare, prepared tableside with quail egg, capers and cornichons (to name just a few embellishments) and served with herbed aïoli.

Named for the majestic oaks of nearby Presidio Park, this Mission Hills eatery helmed by Chef Brad Wise is perfect for a casual brunch, happy hour, or an intimate "chef's experience" tasting. Just don't let the fire fool you—Fort Oak is no log cabin. This historic, former car dealership is bright and airy, complete with a glamorous horseshoe-shaped bar and sleek, mid-century vibe. Chef Wise's menu is one intended for sharing. Try a bit of everything, from raw seafood appetizers or towers to hot appetizers like their cinnamon heavy lamb merguez kefta with a pistachio muhammara. Heritage pork chop with roasted Brussels sprouts and potatoes shows off the kitchen's flair for the flame, while desserts like apple crisp served hot in an iron skillet are the epitome of comfort.

Fine dining may seem an unlikely find in the shadow of the hulking Chase Center arena, but this stunning harborage from Chef Tyler Florence is worth a splurge.

The elegant vintage-meets-modern design is an ideal setting to dress up and dine in comfort on a menu of steakhouse classics. Begin with a spot-on martini and superlatively fresh oysters (pulled from a saltwater "estuary" located in the kitchen). The Caesar salad and Dover sole meunière get an extra dose of charm, thanks to tableside service. Excellent dry-aged steaks (finished with barley, a healthier alternative for the animals and the planet), are seared to a deep mahogany and are the main event for good reason. Sides like creamed kale with crispy shallots also don't disappoint.

A shiny gold door welcomes you to Niku, a buzzy, ultra-luxe steakhouse in the Design District.

The swank, wood-lined interior features an array of cozy tables, but a seat at the handsome 18-seat chef’s counter allows you to watch Chef Dustin Falcon and company work their magic under the warm glow of the coals.

Dinner might begin with their signature beef tartare or perhaps tender bone marrow. Then move on to the excellent steaks, like the Tomahawk built for two; or melt-in-your-mouth Imperial Wagyu filet mignon, served with 200-day-old kimchi, bordelaise sauce and sea salt.

Chef Ryan Fancher's modern steakhouse is on the grounds of Hotel San Luis Obispo, in a separate building connected by a walkway. The hotel's contemporary Southwest vibe lives on in the restaurant. Design details, like butterscotch leather banquettes, a stacked brick wall divider, and teal-blue tiles, enhance the X factor. Staff are well-informed, so let them steer you through the menu. Start with such comfort fare as savory goat cheese croquettes with sweet lavender honey before embarking on the main event—charred steaks and sides of creamed spinach topped with onion rings.

On the same property and from the same chef, Piadina is worth a visit—for its Cal-Ital menu and that hotel classic club sandwich turned on its head with fried chicken and B&B pickles.

Some places are just right for stopping in on a regular weeknight, and then there's Fia Steak. This no expense-spared spot is just right for getting dressed up and feeling festive, even if all you're celebrating is the end of the week.

It has the classic masculine steakhouse look down pat, complete with dry-aged steaks on full display. The menu is a classic paean to meat with opulent touches (spy the separate sections for caviar and Champagne). Seafood-focused starters kick things off—keep an eye out for specials like the Dungeness crab salad topped with a seafood panna cotta. Of course, steak is the reason you're here, but the decadence continues through dessert, with either a soufflé or a seasonal strawberry trifle with basil ice cream.

Solvang's charms are not lost on Coast Range, which ups the ante with vintage details inside its multi-concept space. Brunch spot by day, it's a steakhouse tavern by night with a winsome cocktail bar through a separate entrance. The menu leans heavily on the seasons and dishes will change often, but there is plenty to choose from when it comes to mains like wood-grilled seafood and steaks. Potato pierogi with sour cream and peach butter or a fantastic Dungeness crab cake are must-order appetizers. Grilled items are always a sure bet, but don't overlook the entrées like Wagyu stroganoff with homemade tagliatelle noodles or tapioca-encrusted snapper served on a crispy sushi rice cake with a bright ponzu sauce.

Chef/owner Josiah Citrin works his magic at this casually upscale grill, where nearly everything is cooked over the fire. Wafts of aromatic charred meat greet guests before they’ve even made it through the door. The menu may be inspired by a backyard barbecue, but the décor is a contemporary mix of concrete walls, beige booths and modern artwork.

Steaks come with ramekins of sauce like creamy and smoky choron, in addition to the trio of signature condiments on the table. However, this meat is too flavorful to really need anything. Diners may be here for the steaks, but those in the know also order the cabbage baked in embers, served with lemon-sumac yogurt.

The bar area is bustling and loud, thanks to the list of happy hour specials.