Valley's best steakhouses are battling for bragging rights
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A delicious piece of steak. Photo: Courtesy of Roka Akor
The Valley's top steakhouses are sharpening their knives for a beefy battle Thursday, serving everything from Japanese-influenced wagyu to slow-smoked brisket.
Why it matters: The sold-out competition offers diners a one-stop taste of the Valley's 25 steak restaurants and gives restaurants a chance to win new fans.
How it works: Chefs will serve their best traditional or creative steak bites at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, while judges and ticket holders decide who takes home bragging rights — giving us a guide to some of the Valley's best steaks.
Zoom in: Roka Akor, a Japanese steakhouse on Scottsdale Road, plans to serve a wagyu ribeye prepared on a charcoal grill, executive chef David Mora tells Axios.
- Mora did not reveal much about his dish's flavor profile, promising a few "surprises."
- His team is keeping an eye on Jing, another Asian-inspired restaurant in Scottsdale.
Meanwhile: Caldwell County BBQ is taking an unconventional approach by entering its signature brisket, seasoned with salt and pepper and smoked for more than 12 hours.
- "It may seem kind of funny for us to approach a steak competition with brisket," spokesperson Delaney Haruska tells Axios. "We wanted to keep it simple."
The intrigue: Caldwell County is preparing a sweet mocktail to accompany the brisket but is keeping the recipe secret until the competition.
- "We have a little trick up our sleeve, and we're excited to show it," Haruska says.
The Gilbert-born barbecue business is also preparing to open a location at Scottsdale 101, near Scottsdale Road and Mayo Boulevard.
The big picture: Diners who missed out on tickets can still try Scottsdale's steak offerings — including at STK, La Zozzona, Paul Martin's and Talavera — and pick their own winners.