Steakhouses in Palo Alto

Palo Alto is a business dinner town. The steakhouse is the classic setting for one. The city has a small but varied set of options. There is a national steakhouse chain at Stanford Shopping Center. There is a family-run steakhouse on El Camino Real that has served prime beef and prime rib since 1974. There is a Persian steakhouse downtown that dry-ages its own steaks and runs a fully halal menu. A seafood restaurant on El Camino adds Japanese wagyu.

Every place named here was confirmed as operating in October 2026 through its own website or a verified page in our business directory. Steak also shows up on many menus that are not steakhouses, from an Indonesian ribeye to charcoal steakburgers. We cover those at the end. Prices at steakhouses change often and many cuts are listed at market price, so check the current menu.

What to know about steak

Cuts

• Ribeye. Well marbled and rich, from the rib section. Bone-in versions are sometimes called cowboy or tomahawk steaks.
• New York strip. Firmer and beefier than ribeye, with a strip of fat along one edge.
• Filet mignon. The tenderloin. The most tender cut and the mildest in flavor.
• Porterhouse and T-bone. A strip and a piece of tenderloin on either side of the bone, often sized for two.
• Prime rib. A whole rib roast cooked slowly and sliced to order, usually served with jus and horseradish.

Grades and aging

USDA Prime is the top grade for American beef, with the most marbling. Choice is the next grade down. Dry aging hangs beef in a cold, controlled room for weeks, which concentrates flavor and tenderizes the meat. Wet aging seals beef in plastic for a milder result. Japanese A5 wagyu is the top grade in Japan's system. It is so heavily marbled that it is usually served in small portions.

Doneness

Rare is cool and red in the center. Medium rare is warm and pink. Medium has a pink stripe. Medium well and well done are mostly or fully cooked through. Thick, well-marbled steaks are usually ordered medium rare.

Where the steakhouses are

Fleming's sits at Stanford Shopping Center facing El Camino Real, with the center's parking. Arya Steakhouse is at the Caltrain end of University Avenue downtown; the downtown guide covers the free High Street garage and lots nearby. Sundance is on El Camino Real near the California Avenue district. THE SEA and Dinah's Poolside Restaurant are farther south on El Camino Real.

The steakhouses

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Stanford Shopping Center

Fleming's is part of a national chain owned by Bloomin' Brands. The dinner menu centers on prime steaks, with seafood and vegetarian options. Lunch runs Tuesday through Saturday. Its listed hours are 4 to 10 p.m. on Monday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Social Hour at the bar runs 4 to 6:30 p.m. every day with bar bites. It has private dining rooms for business dinners. For 2026 it lists Thanksgiving hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is closed on Christmas Day.

Sundance the Steakhouse, 1921 El Camino Real

Sundance is a family-run American steakhouse that opened in 1974. It features specially aged prime beef and a slow-roasted prime rib that it bills as famous, along with fresh seafood and a long wine list. Semi-private rooms suit groups. Lunch runs 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday. Dinner starts at 4:30 p.m. daily and runs to 9 p.m., or 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It suits a celebration or a traditional steak dinner with visiting family.

Arya Steakhouse, 140 University Avenue

Arya calls itself a Persian steakhouse, pairing modern Iranian dishes with hand-cut steaks. It was founded by chef Mike Hashemi and Fera Hashemi, who opened their first Arya in Cupertino in 2007 and a second in Redwood City in 2012. The Palo Alto restaurant combines both. Arya says it butchers its meat in house, serves prime cuts and dry-ages its steaks for 28 days, with an aged ribeye as a specialty. It also says its entire menu is halal. It is open 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day, with the last reservation at 9 p.m. Bookings go through OpenTable. Two private rooms seat up to 18 and up to 30. The restaurant asks guests not to bring strollers because of space limits.

THE SEA, 4269 El Camino Real

THE SEA by Alexander's Steakhouse is a seafood restaurant first, but its website features Japanese A5 wagyu and a prime rib special on Monday and Tuesday, listed at $75 with a Caesar salad and one side. It serves dinner only and books through SevenRooms. Our seafood guide has its full hours.

Dinah's Poolside Restaurant, 4261 El Camino Real

At Dinah's, the hotel restaurant beside the pool at Dinah's Garden Hotel, the evening menu turns to classic steak and seafood. Dinner runs 4 to 9 p.m. daily. It is a relaxed option for hotel guests.

Steak on other menus

• INDO Restaurant & Lounge, 3295 El Camino Real, lists a 16-ounce black pepper ribeye among its signatures and a balado short rib.
• The Patio, 412 Emerson St., lists a New York strip steak on its pub menu.
• Kirk's Steakburgers, 2680 Middlefield Rd., has cooked burgers from ground steak over an open charcoal flame since 1948. See our burgers guide.
• So Gong Dong Tofu House, 4127 El Camino Real, serves beef short rib and bulgogi alongside its tofu stews. See our Korean food guide.

Dietary notes

• Halal. Arya Steakhouse says its whole menu is halal. Our halal guide lists more options. Confirm certification with the restaurant if it matters to you.
• Vegetarian. Fleming's lists vegetarian options on its dinner menu. Ask Arya about meatless Persian dishes. Ask everywhere about butter and stock.
• Gluten. A plain grilled steak is naturally gluten-free. Sauces, crusts and fried sides often are not.

Booking, dress and wine

1. Book ahead for client dinners. Reserve early for weeknight business meals and for any table of six or more.
2. Ask for a private room early. Fleming's, Sundance and Arya all have private or semi-private rooms. They book up around the holidays.
3. Dress is neat casual. Business casual fits every room on this page. OpenTable lists business casual for THE SEA.
4. Use happy hour. Fleming's Social Hour is a lower-cost way to try the bar menu.
5. Ask about corkage. Policies vary by restaurant. Call ahead before you bring a bottle. Our bars and wine guide covers wine in town.

If you are planning a day of eating in San Francisco, you can browse Bay Area food tours and check each tour's stops before you book.

Frequently asked questions