Hey there, steak lover! If you‘re anything like me, you know that not all steaks are created equal. And when it comes to mail-order steak companies, two big names always seem to be in the conversation: Omaha Steaks and Kansas City Steaks.
As someone who‘s always on the lookout for the latest and greatest in food fashion, I‘ve tried both of these brands extensively. And let me tell you, they both bring some serious chops to the table (pun intended). But how do they really stack up against each other?
In this post, I‘m diving deep into the world of Omaha Steaks vs Kansas City Steaks. I‘ll compare their histories, explore their product offerings, and share some juicy details about the quality of their meat. Plus, I‘ll dish on the overall customer experience and give you my fashionista‘s take on which one comes out on top.
So grab a fork and let‘s dig in!
About Omaha Steaks
Omaha Steaks is the OG of mail-order steak. This company has been around since 1917, when it started as a small family butcher shop in (you guessed it) Omaha, Nebraska. Over the past century, they‘ve grown into a nationwide meat empire, shipping their signature steaks to steak lovers in all 50 states.
One thing that sets Omaha Steaks apart is their grain-fed, naturally aged beef. They source their cattle from the Midwest and have built strong relationships with local ranchers. This allows them to strictly control quality from the pasture to your plate.
Omaha Steaks offers way more than just steaks, too. You can get everything from pork chops and chicken breasts to seafood and even pre-made side dishes. Basically, it‘s a one-stop-shop for a gourmet meat-lovers meal at home.
About Kansas City Steaks
Meanwhile, Kansas City Steaks has been a contender in the steak game since 1932. Also starting as a small family-owned butcher shop, they‘re (surprise!) based in Kansas City.
Kansas City Steaks has a bit of a different vibe than Omaha. They really lean into that old-school, traditional butcher shop feel. They‘re known for their hand-cut, individually inspected steaks, particularly their famous Kansas City Strip.
Like Omaha, Kansas City Steaks sources most of their beef from the Midwest. But they make a big deal about their "heritage" beef and traditional aging techniques. It‘s all about that classic steak expertise.
Steak Showdown: Omaha vs Kansas City
Alright, let‘s get into the meat of the matter (sorry, I can‘t resist a good steak pun). How do Omaha Steaks and Kansas City Steaks actually compare when it comes to the quality of their beef?
Quality of Meat
Both companies get their beef from grain-fed cattle in the Midwest. This type of beef is known for its marbling (those tasty little flecks of fat) which makes for a juicier, more flavorful steak.
Omaha Steaks emphasizes their "naturally aged" process, where the beef is wet-aged for tenderness before being flash-frozen. Kansas City Steaks, on the other hand, talks up their traditional dry-aging techniques.
In my experience, both produce some seriously delicious steaks. I‘ve never had a bad cut from either company. But if I‘m being picky, I might give a slight edge to Omaha for the consistency of their marbling and tenderness.
Variety of Cuts
If variety is the spice of your steak life, you‘ll be happy with either of these companies. Both offer all the classics like filet mignon, ribeye, and New York strip.
But Omaha Steaks pulls ahead with their "Butcher‘s Cut" program. These are special, hard-to-find cuts that are hand-carved by their expert butchers. Think tomahawk steaks, chateaubriand, and picanha. As a certified steak snob, I love having these unique options.
Kansas City Steaks sticks to the more traditional cuts, but they do offer a few special "steak burgers" that are a blend of different cuts. It‘s a fun twist, but not quite the same as those specialty butcher‘s cuts.
Steak Stats
Just to give you a quick comparison, here‘s a table breaking down some stats for the most popular cuts from each company:
| Cut | Omaha Steaks | Kansas City Steaks |
|---|---|---|
| Filet Mignon | 4, 6, 8, 10 oz, starting at $18 | 4, 6, 8, 10 oz, starting at $22 |
| Ribeye | 6, 8, 10, 12 oz, starting at $12 | 8, 12, 16 oz, starting at $16 |
| New York Strip | 8, 10, 12, 14 oz, starting at $9 | 8, 12, 16 oz, starting at $12 |
As you can see, Omaha Steaks tends to have a slightly lower starting price per steak. But both are fairly comparable, and prices can vary a lot depending on current promotions (more on that later).
Customer Reviews
Don‘t just take my word for it, though. I scoured through customer reviews to see what other steak fanatics have to say.
On Trustpilot, Omaha Steaks scores an impressive 4.7/5 stars from over 1,700 reviews. Customers rave about the flavor, tenderness, and consistent quality. A few complained about the price, but most say it‘s worth it for the convenience and taste.
Kansas City Steaks is a little harder to pin down review-wise, as they‘re not on Trustpilot. On their own site, they have an average of 4.5/5 stars from about 200 reviews. Again, customers praise the taste and quality, with a few gripes about price and portion sizes.
So customer-satisfaction-wise, both seem to be knocking it out of the park. It‘s honestly hard to find a truly negative review for either company.
Beyond the Beef
Okay, so both Omaha Steaks and Kansas City Steaks have some top-notch beef. But what about everything else? Here‘s a quick rundown of the extras each company offers:
Other Meats
Both companies offer more than just steak. Here‘s a quick comparison:
| Omaha Steaks | Kansas City Steaks |
|---|---|
| Pork (chops, roasts, ribs) | Pork (chops, ribs) |
| Chicken (breasts, roasts) | Chicken (oven-roasted) |
| Seafood (salmon, cod, shrimp) | Seafood (lobster, shrimp) |
| Bison & Lamb | Steak Burgers |
Omaha definitely has the edge in terms of variety here. I‘ve tried their pork chops and salmon, and they‘re just as good as the steaks. Kansas City‘s options are a bit more limited.
Sides & Desserts
What‘s a steak without a side dish? Both companies offer a range of accompaniments:
| Omaha Steaks | Kansas City Steaks |
|---|---|
| Potatoes (mashed, au gratin) | Potatoes (whipped, baked) |
| Vegetables (green beans, corn) | Vegetables (creamed spinach, green beans) |
| Soups & Starters | Breads & Starters |
| Desserts (cheesecake, apple tartlets) | Desserts (cakes, pies) |
| Wine |
Again, Omaha comes out ahead with more options, including the convenient addition of wine pairings. But both have solid choices to round out your meal.
Personally, I‘m obsessed with Omaha‘s chocolate molten lava cakes. Pop one in the microwave and you‘ve got a gourmet dessert in minutes. Dangerous for my waistline, but so worth it.
Gifts & Occasions
Steaks make a great gift, and both companies have options for any occasion. Omaha Steaks organizes their site by popular occasions like birthdays, holidays, and "just because." They also have a Steak of the Month Club for the gift that keeps on giving.
Kansas City Steaks has fewer pre-arranged gift options, but you can always build your own gift box. They also offer gift cards, which is a nice touch.
A neat feature that Omaha has is the ability to add a custom message to your order. So if you‘re sending steaks as a gift, you can make it extra personal.
The Fashionista‘s Experience
Now, a fashionista‘s review wouldn‘t be complete without dishing on the full experience. So here‘s the scoop on what it‘s like to order from each company.
Ordering & Shipping
Both Omaha Steaks and Kansas City Steaks have easy-to-use websites where you can browse, select, and order your meats. They have nice big pictures and detailed descriptions, so you know exactly what you‘re getting.
One thing I like about Omaha‘s site is that you can shop by cut, occasion, or even cooking method. So if you know you want to grill up some burgers, you can go straight to that section. Kansas City‘s site is a bit more basic, but still easy enough to navigate.
In terms of shipping, both companies use flash-freezing and insulated packaging to make sure your meat arrives frozen and in prime condition. Shipping costs vary, but Omaha tends to have more promotions for free or reduced shipping.
Here‘s a quick breakdown of the shipping options:
| Omaha Steaks | Kansas City Steaks |
|---|---|
| Standard: 3-5 days, $19.99 | Standard: 4-7 days, $19.95 |
| Express: 2-3 days, $39.99 | Express: 2-3 days, $29.95 |
| Rush: 1-2 days, $49.99 | Overnight: 1 day, $39.95 |
| Saturday Rush: 1 day, $69.99 | |
| Over $169: FREE | Over $199: FREE |
So overall, pretty similar options. I will say that I‘ve found Omaha‘s shipping to be slightly more reliable in terms of arrival dates. But I‘ve never had an issue with Kansas City‘s shipping either.
Cooking & Taste
Of course, the real test is how the steaks actually cook up and taste. I‘ve cooked steaks from both companies multiple ways—on the grill, in a cast iron, under the broiler. And I can honestly say, they‘ve all been fantastic.
Both companies provide cooking instructions and tips right on the packaging, which is super helpful. Omaha Steaks also has a great app with video tutorials for different cooking methods.
In terms of flavor, both have that rich, beefy taste you want from a good steak. If I had to nitpick, I might say that Kansas City Steaks have a slightly more robust, almost gamey flavor. While Omaha Steaks are a bit more buttery and melt-in-your-mouth. But that‘s really splitting hairs.
One thing I will say is that Omaha‘s "Butcher‘s Cut" steaks are really something special. The wagyu ribeye I got from them was hands-down one of the best steaks I‘ve ever had. It had this incredible marbling and just dissolved on my tongue. If you‘re looking for a real "wow" factor, those specialty cuts are worth checking out.
Promos & Deals
Now, let‘s talk money. There‘s no getting around it—steak, especially mail-order steak, can be pricey. But both Omaha Steaks and Kansas City Steaks run frequent promotions that can help you save.
Omaha Steaks is known for their "stock up" sales, where you can get a bunch of meat at a discount when you buy in bulk. They also have a rewards program where you can earn points on purchases to redeem for future discounts.
Kansas City Steaks has fewer sales, but they do offer a refer-a-friend program where you can get $20 off your order when someone you refer makes a purchase.
One thing to keep in mind with both companies is that the listed price per steak can be a bit misleading. Often, the prices you see are for a bulk order. So make sure you look at the individual steak price before you get too excited about a seeming deal.
To give you an idea, here are some promotions that were running at the time of writing:
| Omaha Steaks | Kansas City Steaks |
|---|---|
| 50% off select combos | 15% off select combos |
| Buy 1 get 1 free burgers | $25 off $200+ orders |
| Free shipping on $159+ orders | $50 off $500+ orders |
So as you can see, Omaha tends to have more frequent and varied promotions. But both offer ways to save if you keep an eye out.
The Final Sizzle
We‘ve come to the end of our meaty journey, and it‘s time for this fashionista to dish out a final verdict. So, which is better: Omaha Steaks or Kansas City Steaks?
Drumroll, please…
In my expert opinion, Omaha Steaks takes the crown. While both companies offer delicious, high-quality steaks, Omaha just edges out Kansas City in a few key areas:
- Wider variety of cuts, especially those unique "Butcher‘s Cuts"
- More options for sides, desserts, and wine pairings
- Slightly better prices and more frequent promotions
- More user-friendly website and gift options
That being said, Kansas City Steaks is no slouch. Their steaks are absolutely delicious, and they have that traditional butcher shop vibe that‘s really charming. If you‘re looking for a more straightforward steak experience, they‘re a solid choice.
At the end of the day, you really can‘t go wrong with either of these steak specialists. It all comes down to your personal taste preferences and what you value in your mail-order meat experience.
But if you want my fashionista‘s advice? Try ‘em both and see for yourself! Getting a delivery of gourmet steaks is always a fun and tasty treat, no matter where they come from.
Just remember, as with any fashion choice, it‘s all about what makes you feel good. So go ahead and indulge in that perfect cut, cook it up just the way you like it, and savor every last bite.
Because life‘s too short for anything less than steaks that are haute, hot, and oh-so-delicious.
