Home > The M.O. > Archives > 2009 > March > 11 > Entry
Your A-List: Best Steakhouse
I’m no historian, but you’d be pretty hard pressed to find a restaurant that has been serving up hot food in Austin longer than the Hoffbrau Steakhouse, with 38 percent of the vote, winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Steakhouse.
Fancy steak joints with their leather booths, white tablecloths and coiffed waitstaff may come and go, but Hoffbrau has become an Austin tradition, serving steaks off their griddle for 75 years. The lemon-butter sauce that comes on the steaks at Hoffbrau may not exactly resemble the flavor of either of said items, but it is certainly refreshing to be able to buy a 17-oz. T-bone dinner (salad, potato, iced tea) for under $20, or about the same price as an appetizer at some of the city’s swankier joints.
Some places survive the test of time by simply offering friendly service and authenticity, which the historic Hoffbrau does as well as any place in town.
Others receiving votes
- Austin Land and Cattle, 18 percent
- Ruth’s Chris, 12 percent
- Texas Land and Cattle, 8 percent
- III Forks, 7 percent
- Fleming’s, 7 percent
- Joe DiMaggio’s, 3 percent
- Truluck’s, 2 percent
- McCormick and Schmick’s, 2 percent
- Backstage, 1 percent
- Finn and Porter, < 1 percent
Permalink | Comments (83) | Categories: Your A-List





Comments
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By Winchester
March 12, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
Most Popular does not mean the same thing as Best. Of the places I’ve eaten at on this list, I’d place Hoffbrau last.
By WR
March 13, 2009 10:37 AM | Link to this
The Hoffbrau is the best! It may not be your average, every-day steakhouse, but the people are great, the food is always awesome and the atmostphere is exactly what Austin is all about. No snotty-ness here like you get at some of the other places with the white-table cloths places (and chain restaurants.) Family friendly and an Austin icon! I’ve been going there with my parents for 20 years and take my family now. Way to go Austin for making it #1!
By RFB
March 16, 2009 11:52 PM | Link to this
I like mine well done and smothered in A1 sauce.
By Texas Aggie
March 17, 2009 12:46 AM | Link to this
Hoffbrau wins! DD,B. Thanks for the heads-up, RFB.
By Gynocide
March 17, 2009 6:52 AM | Link to this
Cheaters won this poll. A bunch of people who have never even been to Texas voted for Hoffbrau. The link was posted on a sports message board by a texas resident and hundreds of people voted for Hoffbrau as he told them to do so, promising a free steak.
By RFB
March 17, 2009 11:58 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry for skewing the results of this poll sending out broken promises of free steaks. I should have sent my usual housemaid to vote a thousand times instead of getting 400people who have never eaten at the place before to vote.
By Gynocide
March 17, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this
ah yes, the cheaters are now adding comments…how cute. But the fact still remains, members of a sports message board teamed up to pad the results of the poll in Hoffbrau’s favor. The results of this poll should be voided and the offender banned from austin360.com
By McCain
March 17, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this
LMAO @ RFB, and you call politicians crooked?
P.S. How’s that Obama thing working out?
By McCain
March 17, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this
RFB, I forgave you for using bad judgement and electing Obama, but this? I don’t know that I can ever eat steak again and not have some type of mental trauma. Even with all his faults, Ho Chi Min was more honest than you.
By Gynocide
March 17, 2009 1:05 PM | Link to this
You admirin’ they cheaters, brahs?
By Vagynocide
March 17, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this
What’s wrong with Matlock?
By Vagynocide
March 17, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this
No really though, what’s wrong with Matlock?
By Vagynocide
March 17, 2009 1:11 PM | Link to this
LOL @ all the Steak House Elitists voting Austin L&C. “Oooooo, looky here!!!! It’s got the word Austin in the name. It must be good!” Friggin uptown hippies. Someone should crack you in the back of the head with a bottle of whatever crap sauce it is you have to put on one of their steaks to make it palatable”
By Obama
March 17, 2009 1:18 PM | Link to this
The American people should have to buy steaks for those that cannot afford it. Why should some Americans not be able to afford a basic steak in life? I propose a tax increase to help enable those of us bla….. poor people that refu… cannot find a job, get all the steaks they want.
By AARFB
March 17, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this
Look at all of you little facists. Whats next, photoshops of Stalin riding a My Little Pony through a concentration camp?
By McCain
March 17, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this
*fascists
and speaking of concentration camps, from the standpoint of being a p.o.w. I like the movie “The Bridge over the River Quai” better than “Schindlers List”.
By Dubt-T4Ever
March 17, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this
Lol @ Hoffbrau. The best steaks are served nightly at your local Golden Coral and only $5.99 brah.
By BGSU
March 17, 2009 1:58 PM | Link to this
I ate at Hoffbrau once before in my life and it made my poo my pants. I voted for Austin L&C, Hoffbrau is a dump and no one should eat there.
By BeerSharts
March 17, 2009 2:22 PM | Link to this
My Daddy used to always tell me stories about a cook at Hoffbrau named Howie that used to add his own “secret sauce” to the lemon butter mixture. Guess that’s why my mom always loved that place.
By Fat Charlie
March 17, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this
I ated the whole place and it was good.
By GENO
March 17, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this
Reported
By Shammy
March 17, 2009 2:30 PM | Link to this
You admirin’ my slab of meat brah?
By BigRob
March 17, 2009 2:31 PM | Link to this
You admirin’ my porterhouse brah?
By RVR
March 17, 2009 2:37 PM | Link to this
I prefer the Taco Bell Triple Steak Burrito.
By LOL@Ace
March 17, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this
Ace, it’s moot, not mute dumbarse.
By RR8
March 17, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this
I love me some hot meat in my mouth
By LongHorninNYC
March 17, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this
I saw Tiki Barber eating there once…or was it Ronde?
By HawgWild
March 17, 2009 2:41 PM | Link to this
Red Lobster ftw!
By CFDan
March 17, 2009 2:42 PM | Link to this
The butter sauce got all over my Affliction shirt.
By LonghorninNYC
March 17, 2009 2:44 PM | Link to this
JDT’s love child loves Hoffbrau steaks, that little kid eats them all the time.
By uscrocks93
March 17, 2009 2:47 PM | Link to this
It’s no Arby’s but it’s ok.
By RoughRider8
March 17, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this
This isn’t my horse barn.
By FB6244
March 17, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this
Buy your steaks from your local butcher please.
By RoughRider8
March 17, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this
I asked my date if she liked her steak, she said neigh.
By Schmidt
March 17, 2009 2:52 PM | Link to this
EVAN LONGORIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By BGSU
March 17, 2009 2:52 PM | Link to this
The best steaks are organically raised.
By SScleVeland
March 17, 2009 2:52 PM | Link to this
LeBron drops 40 tonight MVP MVP MVP
By Bowlbasaur
March 17, 2009 2:53 PM | Link to this
I was only able to finish 95% of my steak.
By BEB
March 17, 2009 2:53 PM | Link to this
I’m having some boy trouble……
By SScleVeland
March 17, 2009 2:54 PM | Link to this
LEBRON MVP
By Shammy
March 17, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this
I love the Hoffbrau so much, I put the ALC in an armbar!
By ocbuckeyebabe
March 17, 2009 2:56 PM | Link to this
Hoffbrau reminds me of this date I went on last night. He was really cute and I wanted to give him my flower, but he just dropped me off and sped away. What’s wrong with men out here??
By IbisRules
March 17, 2009 3:00 PM | Link to this
Hoffbrau’s rocks…….. I was so hungry, I ran there in jeans once just to take a taste of that steamy meat……..
By WVUFan304
March 17, 2009 3:03 PM | Link to this
Something horrible just happened to me at Hoffbrau!!!
By GSUEAGLE
March 17, 2009 3:09 PM | Link to this
Should I wear a suit there?
By Humble_Scarlet
March 17, 2009 3:10 PM | Link to this
Is the steak cooked when it comes to your table?
By SSOU
March 17, 2009 3:11 PM | Link to this
man eating sucks
By Pillow Pants
March 17, 2009 3:13 PM | Link to this
What’s your favorite anime?
By Fat Charlie
March 17, 2009 3:16 PM | Link to this
This is the place I went to eat 5 minutes after my gastric bypass. Where else can I get 5 tbones for under $90??
By ISG
March 17, 2009 3:17 PM | Link to this
Hell, I can beat their meat
By ATLLSUGIRL
March 17, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this
That place sucks sooo bad! My husband and I go to places that are tons better, but the pricey places, not that we cant afford them. We are careful with our money, because we screwed up in the past the credit :blah :blah
There are so many better places in Austin, MA
By GENO
March 17, 2009 3:27 PM | Link to this
does Hoffbrau accept to go ordered faxed in?
By SSOU
March 17, 2009 3:27 PM | Link to this
I once did a photoshoot at the Hoffbrau when I was a famous underwear model.
By Fat Charlie
March 17, 2009 3:28 PM | Link to this
I do the truffle shuffle for the steaks at this place.
By LadyRazorBack
March 17, 2009 3:46 PM | Link to this
ATLLSUGIRL,
say what you want, but don’t bring this stuff up. That stuff doesn’t fly brah and don’t act like you aren’t on here just as much anyone. No reason for a classless remark like that.
By Ihova
March 17, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this
Post for later
By BCEAGLES24
March 17, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
I like to drizzle my steak with the blood and crushed bone marrow of my fallen ancestors that found with valor in the alamo.
By Ralph Harrison
March 17, 2009 6:51 PM | Link to this
You should all be ashamed of yourselves to go and ruin this special piece of the web site with your fraudulent activities and incessant spamming of comments. I plan to report all of you and can only hope that IP bans are imminent so that you may never trash this wonderful web site ever again. Please take note, this is not a playground..people are genuinely interested in this web site’s content and it’s not to be fooled with by the likes of you. I will do my best to find you folks and pay my respects.
By ATLLSUGIRL
March 18, 2009 8:14 AM | Link to this
OMG, Golden Corral is SO much better than Hoffbrah steak house. Me and my husband go there in my Toyota SUV. its not that we cant afford Hoffbrah because we can, but we just like the buffet line better at the Golden Corral. We can totally afford better places though….
By RSmitten
March 18, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this
Please remove these juvenile comments. Also, you people are being watched. This is the 1st warning.
By donno
March 18, 2009 1:57 PM | Link to this
Being watched? Really?
So you have a problem with people exercising their first amendment rights.
Why do you hate America, Mr. Smitten?
By GENO
March 18, 2009 2:04 PM | Link to this
Hey Ralph, you wanna pay your respects boss. I got your respects right here in the PIT.
By Ralph Harrison
March 18, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this
I see you people are still at it. These silly games will not go unpunished. I have my superiors informed, forces aligned, and am contacting the IT folks at austin360 for an immediate investigation. Action will soon be taken. I would advise leaving now, as you don’t want what is coming your way.
By Spoon
March 18, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this
Ralph Harrison’s wife watches Matlock.
By yeyo
March 18, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this
did you say steak?
By LobstersAndArmBars
March 18, 2009 2:17 PM | Link to this
I plan on coming and enjoying a delicious steak at Hoffbraus during my next visit to San Antonio. Ralph, how can I contact you and assure I will be the first to receive your visit? CheddarBay Chokehold FTW.
By Fear The Storm
March 18, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this
Ralphie and Rsmitten, You think you scare us? Wooo. Be careful what you wish for pal. You may one day regret looking for and or finding us.
Fear The Storm
By michiman
March 18, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this
Of course we are being watched. Yet one more freedom being taken away from us.
By Mcneezzy
March 18, 2009 2:40 PM | Link to this
Bryce Brown :)
By BEB
March 18, 2009 3:11 PM | Link to this
You people are so juvenile. As if something like this is super important and needs this much attention. You should be devoting your time to teaching me how to function in a normal social atmosphere. Maybe one day when some of you work for your parents and allow them to pay for your apt, car and college tuition, you’ll grow up and be mature like me. One can only hope.
By LOLCAT
March 18, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this
I can haz shaym?
By pat morita
March 18, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this
BONZAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By pat morita
March 18, 2009 3:47 PM | Link to this
ror
By Johntez
March 19, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this
Do you serve RC Cola?
By BEB
March 19, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this
WTF, CHILL OUT.
By Mcneezy
March 19, 2009 1:01 PM | Link to this
D@NG!
By Fear The Storm
March 19, 2009 1:01 PM | Link to this
Can I interest you in a generator?
By BEB
March 19, 2009 1:01 PM | Link to this
Quick question:
If a guy takes you out for a steak dinner, does this mean that he sees you as a friend or as someone that he could continue dating? I mean, what if you have been taken to eat steak by say… 3 or 4 of his friends. Would this cause problems? What if you ordered a T-bone with one guy and a Filet with the other? :panic
By TheChosenOne
March 19, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this
Hoffbrau, Wow. Just, wow. I finally know what it feels like to start reading something and actually know you’re getting dumber by the word. It was a train wreck that I couldn’t turn away from. You don’t have the menu complete, you don’t have the silverware in the right position, and the actual ranking of wines as well as your breakdown was absolutely atrocious. H#ll, you didn’t even get the price/wait time/driving directions right. It pains me to actually realize how uninformed someone can be. I appreciate the effort, but F#$K me running. That s#cked.
By Schmidt
March 19, 2009 1:05 PM | Link to this
this isn’t that funny.
By JDT
March 19, 2009 1:31 PM | Link to this
Please give me the ratio of women to men at this establishment. I’m going to need know.
By smokinhotie
March 19, 2009 1:38 PM | Link to this
I buy better steaks at Costco than any of these places.
I suggest any of you steak eaters feeling a little overwieght hire me as a personal trainer.
By bamafan4ever
March 19, 2009 1:41 PM | Link to this
Hoffbrau plays really good 80’s music.