Until a few years ago, the only option for meat was what was available to you locally. If your nearest grocery store or butcher shop didn’t have the cut or quality of meat you desired, you were out of luck. Today, however, there are several mail-order meat brands on the market. This is especially true and helpful when searching for the perfect steaks.
When it comes to finding the best steak, taste is, of course, subjective. The kind of cut you enjoy is also subjective. While some prefer the rich and tender juiciness of filet mignon, others prefer the marbling that comes from a bone-in ribeye.
Some steak brands listed here have been in business for several decades. For example, Omaha Steaks first opened its doors in 1917. Other brands, however, are newer to the mail-order beef market, like Porter Road who didn’t begin selling steak online until 2017. Each brand brings its own unique cut and preparation to the table as well. From Snake River Farms’ Gold Grade Filet Mignon to Vermont Wagyu’s Tomahawk Ribeye, each brand below is worth your consideration if you’re planning to order steaks online. (If you’re instead looking for the best steak in a restaurant, be sure to check out this list of the best steakhouses in every state.)
To create this list of steak brands, 24/7 Tempo compiled information from various resources. These include Consumer Reports, Real Simple, Business Insider, and USA Today. We also reviewed Reddit posts and food sites including Tasting Table and Food & Wine. While this list isn’t ranked in any particular order, here are 7 steak brands you absolutely must try.
1. Snake River Farms
- Parent Company: Agri Beef
- Year Established: 1968
- Located in: Boise, ID
- Popular Cuts: Filet Mignon, Top Sirloin, New York Strip
American Wagyu
While Agri Beef has been in business since 1968, the company’s line of American wagyu beef didn’t come along until 1980. Named Snake River Farms, the company began crossbreeding Japanese purebred Wagyu beef with American Angus to create a new bread: American Wagyu. This type of beef is known for its high marbling content and extraordinary flavor.
When purchasing steaks from Snake River Farms, almost every cut is available. You can also choose how many ounces and if you’d like choice or prime grade. Consumer Reports indicates that the Snake River Farms Gold Grade Filet Mignon is a top choice for consumers. Additionally, many of the steaks available from Snake River Farms grade above USDA Prime, which is the best you can get from your local grocer.
2. Omaha Steaks
Omaha downtown skyline during Autumn, with a lake at the Heartland of America Park in the foreground
- Year Established: 1917
- Located in: Omaha, NE
- Popular Cuts: Butcher’s Cut Top Sirloin, Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignons, Private Reserve Filet Mignon
One of the Oldest Steak Brands
Opening its doors in 1917 as the Table Supply Meat Company by father and son duo J.J. and B.A. Simon, Omaha Steaks is one of the oldest meat brands in the market today. Currently owned by the 5th-generation Simon family, Omaha Steaks has two processing plants as well as two distribution centers. This steak brand also has nearly 50 retail stores located across the nation.
Omaha Steaks is also well-known for its gift packages. Some of their best-selling items include items other than steak, like the Gourmet Protein Pack, and the Value Freezer Filler. Consumer Reports also states that this brand’s Private Reserve Filet and Ribeye Gift offers are “remarkably well-butchered steaks for a great price.”
3. The Kansas City Steak Company
Kansas City, Missouri, USA downtown skyline with Union Station at dusk.
- Year Established: 1932
- Located in: Kansas City, MO
- Popular Cuts: Kansas City Strip Steak, Ribeye, Super Trimmed Filet Mignon
A Midwestern Steak Company
Similar to Omaha Steaks, the Kansas City Steak Company is also located in the Midwest near several top-tier beef producers. This allows the company to source some of the best locally-owed meat and ship it across the country.
The company also offers other items aside from just steak. From their Maryland-style crab cakes to their North Atlantic lobster tails, the KC Steak Company has a lot to offer its customers. Consumer Reports also voted their USDA Prime Bone-In Ribeye Steaks the “best for a crowd.” This cut of beef is wet-aged for 28 days and marbled to perfection.
4. Porter Road
- Year Established: 2010
- Located in: Nashville, TN
- Popular Cuts: New York Strip, Sirloin Filet, Filet Mignon
Chefs Turned Butchers
Porter Road was co-founded by two Nashville chefs in 2010. When James Peisker and Chris Carter struggled to find locally sourced quality meat, they decided to solve the problem themselves by beginning their own meat production company.
What first began as a butcher shop in Nashville, soon turned into an online business in 2017. Today, Porter Road sells quality steaks, pork, chicken, and various other market items to consumers across the country. Their main office still resides in Nashville, but their production plant is in Kentucky where they can be close to the local ranches they source from. Locals also love their original butcher shop. Here, you can find more than just expertly cut steaks. The shop features various market items as well as several different cheeses and charcuterie items.
5. Fossil Farms
- Year Established: 1997
- Located in: Boonton, NJ
- Popular Cuts: Piedmontese Sirloin Filet,
More Than Beef
When purchasing through Fossil Farms, you’ll receive more options than the typical beef, pork, chicken, or seafood. This company is known for its production of game meat including bison, elk, lamb, pheasant, and guinea hens. Additionally, the company has exotic meats to try including alligator, yak, camel, and kangaroo.
Despite the long list of exotic meats available, this company is still known for its quality and tender steak cuts. From Japanese Wagyu to American Angus, this company has an immense amount of steak cuts to choose from. One of their more popular product lines is the Piedmontese cuts. This meat comes from Piedmontese cattle which tend to have more muscle than fat, leading to steaks that are more tender and lower in calories.
6. Vermont Wagyu
- Year Established: 2008
- Located in: Springfield, VT
- Popular Cuts: Ribeye, Baseball Sirloin, Tomahawk Ribeye
A Small but Mighty Operation
Vermont Wagyu got its start with just 20 Wagyu calves in 2008. From that time forward, the company, and its owner Dr. Sheila Patinkin, have been working hard to ensure that the meat they provide is “100% full-blood Wagyu.”
Vermont Wagyu’s focus on data, breeding, and agriculture is what makes its steaks both delicious and tender with the right amount of marbling. The company is also careful to ensure that all of its beef is grass-fed with no added steroids or hormones. Some of their most popular cuts include the baseball sirloin and the chuck eye Delmonico. Additionally, even though the company may be smaller than a few others on the list, its products can still be shipped nationwide.
7. Brandt Beef
- Year Established: 1945
- Located in: Buena Park, CA
- Popular Cuts: Baseball Cut Sirloin, Filet Mignon, Ribeye
Family Owned and Operated
While many brands on this list focus on Wagyu, Brandt Beef focuses on producing steak from the Holstein breed. Additionally, the company puts a large focus on ensuring their cattle are all raised right on the ranch with a well-cared-for vegetarian diet that doesn’t include any added hormones or antibiotics.
While Brandt Beef is largely a ranch and less of a beef producer, they do sell items online. Consumers can choose from several different cuts, as well as a few different box options. For example, The Sampler Box includes all USDA Prime cuts of Ribeye, New York Strip, and Flat Iron steaks, along with ground beef. While the company’s largest focus is beef, you can also find Brandt All Natural hot dogs and Brandt Beef bacon available for sale as well. (For similar reading, click here to see which meats you should never eat well done.)