Big Texan Steak Challenge California Tour Starts In Santa Monica

Big Texan steak challenge California events are coming in June 2026 as The Big Texan Steak Ranch brings its 72-ounce steak meal to the state for the first time.

Also, the tour gives California visitors a chance to see the challenge without going to Texas. The Big Texan Steak Ranch, based in Amarillo, Texas, is bringing its long-running steak challenge on the road in June 2026. The trip is part of a Route 66 tour tied to the highway’s 100th anniversary.

The tour starts at Santa Monica Pier on June 4, 2026. After that, The Big Texan plans to stop in Pasadena on June 6, Barstow on June 7, and Needles on June 8.

The challenge is easy to explain. A person sits down with a huge steak meal and gets one hour to finish everything. If they finish in time, the meal is free. If they do not, they pay $72.

Exterior of The Big Texan Steak Ranch with a large sign on a bright yellow building, wooden porch seating, and a windmill display out front. — *Photo via The Big Texan*

What Comes With The 72-Ounce Meal

The Big Texan’s challenge is not just a steak. The full meal includes several items, and challengers must finish all of them before time runs out. For example, the full plate includes more than steak.

The meal includes:

72-ounce steak
Baked potato
Salad
Roll
Butter
Shrimp cocktail

That is 4.5 pounds of steak before adding the sides. For most people, that is much more food than a normal steakhouse order.

The restaurant’s official rules say Big Texan staff must supervise the challenge. The person cannot leave the table during the challenge. Also, no one else can touch the food or help them. Each challenger must finish the whole meal within one hour.

California Stops Start At Santa Monica Pier

Visit Santa Monica lists the event as “Santa Monica Welcomes Texas to Route 66.”

Visit Santa Monica gives these event details:

Date: June 4, 2026
Time: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Place: Santa Monica Pier
Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Santa Monica works well as the first stop because many people link it to the western end of Route 66. The Big Texan is also tied to Route 66, since its home base in Amarillo has long been a stop for road trip travelers.

The Big Texan steak challenge California stop at Santa Monica Pier is expected to bring out both people who want to compete and others who just want to watch.

A Challenge That Started With Texas Cowboys

Next, the story behind the challenge goes back to the early 1960s.

The 72-ounce challenge started in 1962. According to The Big Texan’s own history, the idea began after founder R.J. “Bob” Lee held a steak-eating contest with Texas cowboys. One person ate 4.5 pounds of steak, plus sides.

The restaurant still uses that same amount for the challenge today. The rules have changed over time, but the main idea has stayed the same: finish the full meal in one hour.

Second-generation owner Bobby Lee summed up the challenge in a simple way when speaking to SFGATE.

“Here’s a 72-ounce steak. You’ve got an hour. Get to eatin’, quit talkin’,” Lee said.

Most People Do Not Finish

However, the numbers show how hard the challenge is.

The Big Texan’s official page says the restaurant last updated its stats on December 5, 2025. At that time, the restaurant listed:

99,208 total attempts
10,631 winners
12% finish rate

As a result, most people who try the challenge do not complete it.

Some people may enter to win. Others may join for the photo, the story, or the chance to sit in front of the giant meal. For many visitors, watching the timer may be the main draw.

Social Media Helped Spread The Challenge

Over time, the challenge moved beyond the dining room.

For decades, people have known The Big Texan for this challenge. However, social media helped it reach a much larger audience.

Videos of people trying the meal have spread on TikTok and Instagram. The restaurant also streams attempts from its dining room, which lets people watch from outside Texas.

One of the best-known people linked to the challenge is competitive eater Molly Schuyler. TIME reported that she ate three 72-ounce steak meals in 20 minutes in 2015. Her first meal took 4 minutes and 18 seconds.

That record is far beyond what most people can do. Still, it helped bring more attention to the challenge.

What Visitors Should Know Before Trying

Anyone thinking about entering should check The Big Texan’s social media before the event. Bobby Lee told SFGATE that entry rules may vary by city.

That matters because The Big Texan normally holds the regular challenge at its Amarillo restaurant under official supervision. Since the California stops are part of a road tour, details may depend on the event setup in each city.

People should also know that this is not a small food stunt. The steak alone weighs 4.5 pounds. Also, challengers must finish the sides too. The time limit is one hour.

For people following the Big Texan steak challenge California tour, the main thing to watch is how each city handles sign-ups and event rules.

The Bottom Line

As a result, the California stops may bring out both challengers and people who only want to watch.

The Big Texan Steak Ranch is bringing its 72-ounce steak challenge to California for the first time during a Route 66 road trip in June 2026.

The tour starts at Santa Monica Pier on June 4. Then, it continues to Pasadena, Barstow, and Needles. The Big Texan started the challenge in 1962, and only a small share of people finish it.

Some visitors may try to beat the clock. Many others may come just to watch the plate, the timer, and the crowd reaction.

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Allen Lardizabal