Omaha Steaks or Kansas City Steak Company?

[lilcee]

I want to send steaks for Xmas gifts. I'm not sure which company to go with, Omaha Steaks or Kansas City Steak Company. Which tastes better in your opinion. Your comments are greatly appreciated.

TY

[sgwood415]

I've been really disappointed with Omaha steaks. Thin cuts are the biggest problem with them. The burgers aren't bad. But there's a reason they run so many price promotions.

[mark]

for what it's worth, my decidely non-'houndish in-laws ordered from omaha & were very disappointed in the cuts, tenderness, taste & expense.

[Jesdamala]

Lobels in NYC...

The Palm also sends steaks..

as does Niman Ranch...

Palm, Washington, DC, 800-388-7256, www.thepalm.com

Lobel’s Prime Meats, New York, NY, 877-783-4512, www.lobels.com

Niman Ranch Inc., Oakland, Calif., 866-808-0340, www.nimanranch.com

[sgwood415]

Yes, Niman is fantastic.

[Jesdamala]

Forgot to add that Peter Luger's also does mail order...or did!

http://www.peterluger.com

[primebeefisgood]

I'd go with Allen Brothers. They have great, well-aged prime beef.

[joypirate]

Of the two, Kansas City Steaks. Also, they aren't as expensive as Lobels or Niman Ranch. They're about what Omaha Steaks was 5-7 years ago, before they really started pumping the meat full of beef broth (not that Kansas City doesn't do this, I'm not sure, but their steaks taste like steak, and not soggy, like Omaha Steaks now taste).

[Davwud]

Haven't had KC but Omaha are brutal. My FIL bought some a couple years ago and I couldn't believe how bad they were.

I'm not really sure this is the route I'd go. I like to get my steaks fresh.

Perhaps a bacon of the month or something along those lines.

DT

[semiretired]

I have ordered steaks for friends and for myself from Stock Yards Packing in Chicago since the 1970's and have yet to be disappointed by their products. They supply a number of fine steakhouses from coast to coast. Their prices are usually competitive with or slightly below Allen Brothers. Their web site (www.stockyards.com) will tell you more.

[jesternate]

You have to go with Kansas City Steak Company, hands down. I have ordered from them several times and have never been disappointed. www.kansascitysteaks.com

[sebetti]

I've rec'd Omaha steaks as gifts several times over the past few years and have never liked them. Since I have a child and work full-time with a DH who travels 5 days a week, I always faithfully freeze them and plan to consume them but once I have the first steak, the rest always end up in the garbage. Nasty stuff.

I'm an Iowa girl living in the Pacific NW and I order all of my special occasion meat from a little place in Montour, Iowa (pop. 285) called Rubes. You can only order it overnight or 2nd day because they WILL NOT freeze the meat -- you'll receive it in a cooler on ice packs, vacuum-sealed. This place started out as a Tavern in the early 70's and the meat company was built wholly word of mouth. It's now a dining destination even though it is located in the middle of nowhere-land. Even if it's too pricey to send as gifts to multiple people, you should at least treat yourself!

http://www.rubesmeat.com

(mmmmm....steak....)

[chazzerking]

Allen Bro's, Lobel's or Niman Ranch. Not Omaha. Haven't tried KC et so can't say about them.

[TBird]

lobels or lugers, hands down.

[mpalmer6c]

As you can gather from these posts, Omaha beef, at best, is about the same as stuff at your local supermarket. Haven't tried KC, but can vouch for Allen Brothers, which is genuine USDA prime, and delicious.

However, I'm now eating only grass-fed, and have gotten very tasty rib-eyes from an outfit called Tallgrass. A bonus -- they're about one-third lower in cost than Allen Bros.

[alkapal]

http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR20...
chicago tribune "cut" on Tallgrass. An interesting read, and a favorable review!

[steakman55]

On a good day, Omaha steaks are the same as your local supermarket, but the only difference is that they cost 3-4 times as much plus shipping. Not familiar with KC.
If you want good USDA PRIME beef, got to try Lobels, Niman Ranch or Allen Bros. If you have a taste for the dry aged, pay more but it is worth it in this case.

[amy_rc]

I've had Omaha and I wasn't sold on it. It was average, no better than I could get at the market.

[shiprocks]

Omaha Steaks Ok. Not worth the $$$. Kansas City Steaks almost inedible. I'm stunned at the low quality (gristle and no flavor) KC Steaks are.

[speyerer]

Omaha Steaks not worth the $$$ plus you get tons and tons of junk mail after you order.
The weight of the junk mail has now exceeded the poundage of the meat I orders.

[KELSEYKINSEYSMOM]

I always choose Kansas City Steak. I have ordered for years for personal use and gifts and have never been disappointed. I was dismayed to read shiprocks comments. did you call them? You should, they seem like they truly care that you have a good experience. I serve the ham and prime rib for christmas and it is always a success. I think they are a great value.

[kruckerj29]

I have tried both and KC steak runs away with it. Better product for a similar price!

[Bill Hunt]

I can only comment on the Omaha Steaks, as I have never experienced the Kansas City Steak Company fare. Omaha Steaks has disappointed me on every occasion. I have had many of their various "packs," usually as gifts. Nothing has impressed me yet. Sorry to rain on half of your parade.

Hunt

[rmap01]

This is no contest... KC Steaks hands down. The key wherever you buy is to get USDA Prime. If it's not labeled as such then it isn't. I've also compared KC with Stockyards (Private Stock). My wife cooked one of each filet mignon and on a separate night one of each strip steak (all USDA prime). We were both very surprised to find that the KC Steaks were more tender and tastier than Stockyards Private Stock cuts. (Know that they tout the private stock as the same cuts they say they sell to the best steakhouses in the country.) Looking to do the same comparison with Allen Bros, but boy they're expensive.

[Eat_Nopal]

That is like asking us to suggest whats better... McDonald's or Burger King... they both kind of suck.

[chicgail]

I agree with everyone else. As the recipient of a gift of Omaha Steaks, I was terribly disappointed with the flavor, the texture and the general quality of the product. I've never had Kansas City steaks so I can't comment on them. I now buy exclusively grass-fed beef, either from my local farmers market or on-line.