If You're Tired Of Steakhouse Steaks, Consider Your Local Thai Restaurant

Don't get us wrong. There is something so deliciously satisfying about a traditional steakhouse steak. The combination of the sizzling plates with the smell of browned butter, paired with a great Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, is a match made in heaven. However, the charm of the traditional steakhouse is simmering down as the heat should be turning up. Whether it's the hefty price tag associated with steakhouses or the intimidation behind them, steakhouses are seeing an unfortunate fate. In Chicago alone, steakhouses saw a 28.8% closure rate between January 2020 and January 2022 (according to Chicago Business). While Covid-19 may have started leading the downfall, the steakhouse's non-ability to pivot post-pandemic may have prevented the bounce back.

If you love steak but are looking for something outside the traditional steakhouse menu, consider a nearby Thai restaurant — and all of the unique spices, accompaniments, and hospitality that go along with it.

Not accustomed to seeing a steak on your local Thai restaurant's menu? This isn't surprising — considering that beef consumption in Thailand used to be minimal. However, in recent years Thailand has seen its beef consumption increase. According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington DC, beef consumption from imports and local beef has risen by 10% over the past three years. While this is mainly due to tourism, both visiting Thailand and locals visiting other countries worldwide, local Thai cuisine and restaurants have been adapting their menus to incorporate beef in a new way, including steak. As traditional Thai-based dishes are created and trickle over to countries around the world, the use of beef and steak in a flavorful Thai way is on the rise and delicious.

One restaurant in New York City, Top Thai, offers a grilled skirt steak marinated and served alongside "Jeaw" sauce (which translates to dipping sauce). While not popular in the United States, Thai street carts and street vendors are famously known for serving flavorful dipping sauces alongside their grilled meat (via Thai Sauce). Neighboring in Top Thai in the Big Apple, LumLum in Hell's Kitchen is also famous for its take on steak. Their Crying Tiger menu item is a Thai-styled ribeye served alongside a marinated raw egg, garlic rice, and fried shallot.