The 15 Best Steaks and Steakhouses In Adelaide

Fancy tucking into a juicy Rib Eye at one of the best steak houses in Adelaide? Whether you’re looking for modern Australian BBQ meats, American smokehouses or Argentinian grills, the South Australian capital has a head-spinning range of dining options.

For the committed carnivore, it’s hard to beat a finely seasoned and perfectly chargrilled cut of beef. Well, if red meat is your thing, we have curated a list of the best options available in the City of Churches.

Trust us, it’s not difficult to find a great steak in and around Adelaide. The tricky part is narrowing down your choice, and deciding on whether you want to stay in the city or travel further afield to explore the beautiful local scenery.

Read on to discover our list of the best steak houses in the city and surrounds of Adelaide. 

15 Best Steak Houses In Adelaide

Cork And Cleaver

Location: 2 Bevington Road, Glenunga, SA 5064 Ph: (08) 8379 8091

Lunch: Tuesday to Friday, 12pm to 2:30pm / Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 9:30pm

This Adelaide institution has been in operation for over 40 years, and is renowned for serving some of the finest steaks in in all of Australia.

Restaurateur, Stratos Pouras has built a legendary reputation for his cooking expertise, and the magnificent steaks on offer reflect his decades of experience.

The tantalising, juicy, perfectly presented rumps, sirloins, New York and rib-eye cuts are simply superb. As winners of numerous State and National awards, it seems the knowledgable judges also agree.

The dining experience here is classic, respectful and authentic. Their Black Angus Steak is spiced to perfection and you can also chow down on their scotch fillet with hickory and pepper.

Jars of the famous Cork and Cleaver Spice are available for sale, and we suggest you take one home with you. This little bottle of wonder will spice up your homecooked meat for years to come.

For business lunches that impress, evening dinners of character and quality, or for entertaining a small party in the private dining room, then this venerable restaurant is a smart choice.

Editor’s note: Adelaide restaurateur, Stratos Pouras, has now closed the doors of his iconic steak and seafood restaurant, Cork & Cleaver, for the final time after 43 years. This news comes as the 84-year-old has decided to retire after more than 50 years in the hospitality industry.

The Victoria Hotel

Location: Main South Rd, O’Halloran Hill, SA 5158 Ph: (08) 8298 6633

The Vic, as it’s known to locals, has been serving quality prime steaks for over a decade from the aptly titled restaurant, The Grillhouse.

The Grillhouse boasts a wide range of steak-options to choose from, and some lovely views of the Adelaide Hills for your eyes to feast on.

This is a spacious venue, operating over two levels, and is particularly welcoming in winter with its open fire beckoning you in. However, it isn’t just the setting and decor that makes this one of the best steak houses in Adelaide.

The wagyu rump is tasty, tender and flavoursome, but I haven’t yet found the appetite to take on the Vic’s celebrated 1kg T-bone. This is the fare of local legend status and I’m probably not worthy…

If you are brave enough to rise to the challenge, you can expect the meat sweats. This T-bone epic comes complete with 500g of BBQ ribs and 500g of chicken wings alongside crispy wedges and a caesar salad.

Do you know if You Can Freeze Cooked Steak? Check out this guide.

D’Arry’s Verandah

Location: Osborn Rd, McLaren Vale, SA 5171 Ph: (08) 8329 4848

Ok, let’s be straight up. This is refined dining at its best; d’Arry’s is not your average local neighbourhood steakhouse.

This restaurant is award-winning for a reason and the scrumptious fillet of beef comes with paprika shallots, fine polenta chips and fried chorizo. It’s truly delectable.

Take a road trip to the beautiful, rolling hills of McLaren Vale, visit a winery or three, purchase some world-class Shiraz, and then visit this gem of a restaurant. (Note well – you will have to pre-book).

If you’re feeling flush with cash and empty of stomach, then by all means be tempted by the sublimely lavish 8 course degustation. Otherwise, go old-school and choose the beef.

Cooking the perfect steak at home is so easy with a reliable Meat Thermometer. This is one of the best.

The head chef, Peter Reschke, knows what he’s doing. He states that the key to a great steak lies in ensuring that the meat is rested in an oven after being seared in a hot pan as this is the perfect way to settle the juices.

He’s not wrong.

This is memorable dining experience. The views over the surrounding vineyards are wonderful, and the food is Modern Australian at its most delicious.

This is definitely one of the best steak houses in Adelaide.

Victory Hotel

Location: Old Sellicks Hill Rd, Sellicks Hill, SA 5174 Ph: (08) 8556 3083

Mon- Sat 10:00am till late / Sun 11:00am till late

This historic hotel serves up some of the finest steaks that an avid meat lover could wish for. The restaurant also boasts stunning coastal views for a literal ‘surf & turf’ experience.

You’ll have to get in the car and travel though.

The Victory Hotel (a restored pub/ eatery with a history dating back to the 1850s) is an hour’s drive from the Adelaide CBD in the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula. (However, Helistar does offer a helicopter charter to the hotel, giving some lucky punters a magical view of some of the most specatcular scenery you will ever see)

The Victory Hotel boasts an impressive menu of locally sourced fresh produce from the nearby coastal and country areas. It has a notable wine cellar, featuring many of the region’s finest produce.

This is not a steakhouse per se. Here, the menu is Modern Australian, varied, eclectic and with plenty of light options. Vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten-free diners are well catered for.

However, the 1000 Guineas Shorthorn (TAS), Angus pure grain-fed (SA), and Riverine scotch fillet (NSW) are chargrilled steaks of great quality. And that’s why we’ve included it amongst our best steak houses in Adelaide. The steaks are accompanied by delicious duck fat kipflers, smokey bacon jam, jus and broccolini.

The hotel prides itself on only sourcing only the finest quality meat available, and, from our experience, the chargrilling is flawless.

The Victory Hotel is also home to the widely respected Rudderless Vineyard winery.

Leonards Mill

Location: 7869 Main South Road, Second Valley / Ph: (08) 8598 4184

Leonards Mill delivers a quality dining experience in the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Located in the charming coastal hamlet of Second Valley, it’s well worth the 90-minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD, and is probably the closest fine-dining restaurant to the Kangaroo Island ferry (Cape Jervis).

The restaurant is situated in the wonderful, heritage-listed flour mill, an iconic building of more than 160 years old.

Husband and wife proprietors, Iain and Hayley Calvertt, are proud to only source and support local Fleurieu Peninsula growers and farmers.

Proudly sporting a focus on ethical sustainability – paddock to plate, nose to tail and root to leaf – Leonards Mill buys whole animals direct from local farmers, and utilises all of the animal to ensure the absolute minimum of wastage.

Please note, that Leonards Mill is a fine-dining restaurant with an ever-evolving seasonal menu featuring quality local produce; it is not a steakhouse per se. As such, the type and cuts of meat on offer will vary.

There is always red-meat on the menu, but not always steak. Go with a sense of adventure and flexible mindset – you’ll be delighted by the quality of food on offer.

The restaurant has its own permaculture kitchen garden, to grow its own garnishes and vegetables. The rest is proudly sourced from local farms and small family-owned producers.

Editor’s note: We’ve heard rumours that Leonards Mill may be another unfortunate victim of the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit the SA hospitality industry so hard.

The Lion Hotel

Location: 161 Melbourne St, North Adelaide, SA 5006 Ph: (08) 8367 0222

This hotel offers the choice of fine or casual dining.

On the casual menu, you can sample the delights of their Australian Angus Sirloin that comes complete with black cabbage, polenta chips and a luscious bacon jam.

On the fine dining menu, you can try the most costly Black Angus fillet (which is the most coveted option as it is cooked on their infamous rotisserie!)

Importantly, this restaurant has been named the best by the Australian Hotels Association. Friendly service, excellent food and quality produce come virtually guaranteed.

Visiting Melbourne and hungry for steak? You must pay a visit to the dark and striking Meatmaiden Steakhouse.

Black Bull Hotel

Location: 58 Hindley St, Adelaide, SA 5000 Ph: (08) 8231 3236

If you are not have no fear of protein overload, then this is definitely the spot for you!

Their huge 1KG Black Bull Clare Valley Hereford Rump Steak challenge is utterly phenomenal and this $50 challenge has rarely been completed.

However, size isn’t everything at the Black Bull Hotel. This has all the credentials to make our list of the best steak houses in Adelaide.

The team here cook all of their steaks to perfection and all come served with their crunchy seasonal vegetables, chips and sauce of your choice.

The Black Angus porterhouse is definitely recommended as is the (slightly smaller) version of their Clare Valley Hereford rump.

Sous vide steak is such a treat! You can read more on Sous Vide cooking here.

A Hereford Beefstouw

Location: 143 Hutt St, Adelaide, SA 5000 Ph: (08) 8232 6868

This restaurant boasts a whopping ten cuts of beef to choose from, ranging from the wagyu to rib eye steaks.

Setting it apart from other steak houses, A Hereford Beefstouw takes influence from Danish cuisine. Moreover, it specialises in the finest cuts of dry aged beef that the team dry in-house.

For a full review of A Hereford Beefstouw in Melbourne, see here.

Conveniently, you place your order simply by ticking the item on the mini order supplied.

Cook fabulous steaks at home with this tough, pre-seasoned Square Cast Iron Grill Pan

Their Hereford grass-fed beef is the standout choice. However, it’s not all meat, meat and more meat. We can confirm that their Beer Battered Chips are crispy perfection and their Seared Broccoli, Cauliflower, Sweet Potato & Cauliflower puree is divine.

A Hereford Beefstouw - Steak - Best Steaks and Steakhouses in Adelaide

Lastly, the restaurant has a sister establishment in Melbourne that is definitely worth visiting. And for more of the Best Steak Restaurants in Melbourne, click here.

Kafana Kitchen & Bar

Location: 23 Peel St, Adelaide, SA 5000 Ph: 0415 877 752

We travel from Denmark to Serbia for the next entry in our best steak houses in Adelaide.

This Serbian-influenced eatery has been dry ageing steak over a year but they keep it humble by not crowing about this fact.

Actually, they prefer not to refer to themselves as a steak restaurant and allow their food to do the talking for them.

These carefully prepared steaks, along with other cuts, are cooked on charcoal adding a boost of flavour and authenticity.

Finally, they are seasoned with a healthy dose of pepper and salt and glazed in garlic. These steaks are undoubtedly some of the tastiest on offer in Adelaide.

Why not cook up an amazing meal for you friends with our Ultimate Scotch Fillet Roast

The Little Hunter

Location: 25 Victoria St, Adelaide, SA 5000 Ph: (08) 8211 8464

This is the perfect spot for chargrilled steaks that will more than satisfy your meat cravings.

The lean Black Angus rump, Angus ribeye, Sherwagyu rump and Angus eye fillet are all thoroughly recommended and come with a wide variety of sauces ranging from peppercorn and red wine to the more experimental wild mushrooms.

Wash down with a fine glass of red wine to hit the spot nicely.

Torrens Arms Hotel

Location: 95 Belair Rd, Kingswood, SA 5062 Ph: (08) 8272 9255

We’re back in the pub for our following entry in the best steak houses in Adelaide.

Firstly, the steaks at the Torrens Arms Hotel are inexpensive but undoubtedly delicious. The juicy cuts served here are usually under $40 and come with broccoli and addictive sweet potato fries.

They also dedicate Thursday evenings specifically to rump steaks where you can try their finest black Angus steak and a drink for only $15!

This restaurant’s reputation speaks for itself and it is known for delivering consistently excellent food. You’d be a fool to miss out.

Maxwell’s Ellen St Restaurant

Location: 19 Oliver’s Rd, Maxwell Winery & Vineyards, McLaren Vale, SA 5171 Ph: (08) 8323 8200

This restaurant believes that the secret to a perfect steak lies in the way that the meat has been dry-aged.

What’s more, this restaurant cooks the meat in a hot oven for 30 minutes before chargrilling it and caramelising the flesh until it is perfectly tender.

If you are looking for a superb culinary excellence, this is the steak-spot for you.

Editor’s Note: It seems that the Ellen St Restaurant has closed in this form. We will let you know when we learn more.

Britannia Hotel

Location: 1 Kensington Rd, Norwood, SA 5067 Ph: (08) 8331 0411

This restaurant serves wholesome steak for those who are on a budget. And although these steaks may be cheaper than most, they’re certainly no less juicy.

You can wrap your eager jaws around a delicious T-bone steak or try their delightful Porterhouse option. Both of these steaks come with chips and a salad for a bargain $12.

You should book in advance as this is an incredibly popular venue amongst locals for a good reason – the food is delicious!

See our guide to the Best Pubs in Adelaide for you next gathering with friends

Rezz

Location: 20 Hamilton Terrace, Newton, SA 5074 Ph: (08) 8337 2888

This family favourite restaurant is the perfect place to finish a stroll through the beautiful park located on its doorstep.

Try the 600g T-bone steak if you are particularly hungry. Or even the 300g fillet that comes topped with delicious prawns and a veggie stack.

The waiters here are also more than willing to talk you through their extensive wine menu to ensure that you find the perfect drop to accompany your meat.

Grand Central 

Location: 12 Goodman Rd, Elizabeth, SA 5112 Ph: (08) 8255 2555

If game meat is more your thing then this is definitely the right spot for you. The Grand Central’s finest chargrilled kangaroo steak is an irresistible option for those more experimental eaters.

Of course, the meat is grilled to perfection and arrives with plump cherry tomatoes.

For any sports fans, this venue is also home to Central Districts Football Club. So you can grab a delightfully delicious steak whilst cheering on the team on match day. All of these factors make this the perfect spot for gatherings of friends and family alike.

Whilst we’re talking all things meat, these are our favourite Burger Restaurants in Adelaide

Mobara

Location: 1/73 John St, Salisbury, SA 5108 Ph: (08) 8250 9955

This Japanese steak is guaranteed to have you salivating for days until you get to sample it’s excellence again. It is carefully and intricately prepared and cooked teriyaki-style.

This steak is served rested on a banana leaf for that added oriental experience and comes accompanied by a delightuflly fresh side salad drizzled in teriyaki sauce.

This is definitely the best restaurant to choose if you are seeking an experimental fillet of steak and you will certainly not leave disappointed once you have experienced the tender meat on offer at Mobara. 

Click here for the Best Cafes in Adelaide

Overall

To conclude, Adelaide boasts some of the finest steak restaurants in the whole of Australia.

Adelaide has the advantages of having many world-class farmers and food producers living right on its doorstop. You can enjoy fresh, local seasonal food cooked to perfection at numerous venues in the city.

It is a city not to be overlooked (or underestimated) in any culinary exploration of the finest eating establishments in Australia. Why not start your exploration with some of these best steak houses in Adelaide?

Dylan Cole
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