Texas Strip Steak Coming to a Plate Near You

March 2, 2025 – Texas lawmakers are considering renaming the New York strip steak as a way to distance the popular cut of beef from the Empire State, which many conservatives view as overly liberal. The proposal suggests calling it the “Texas Strip Steak,” arguing that New York shouldn’t receive credit for a product that Texas, the nation’s top beef producer, plays a major role in supplying.

The steak is already marketed in the United States under various names, including Ambassador Steak, Boneless Club Steak, Hotel-Style Steak, Kansas City Steak, New York Steak, and Veiny Steak.

Supporters of the idea say the name change would reflect Texas’ dominance in the cattle industry while taking a lighthearted jab at New York. Some Republican lawmakers see it as a way to promote Texas pride and push back against what they view as the liberal values of the Northeast. Representative Bryan Slaton, who floated the idea, stated, “Texas beef is the best in the country. Why should we keep calling it a ‘New York’ strip?”

Delmonico’s Restaurant, which opened in New York City in 1827, offered a cut from the short loin called a Delmonico steak. Due to its association with the city, it is most often referred to in the United States as a New York strip steak.

However, critics argue that the proposal is unnecessary and politically motivated, comparing it to past symbolic food fights like the renaming of “French fries” to “Freedom fries” in 2003. While the debate continues, restaurants and grocery stores ultimately decide how to label their cuts of meat, making it unclear whether the change would have any real impact beyond fueling political tensions.