Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day: The Ranch in Las Colinas and Haywire Keep the Tradition Alive

<p>When the Texas Legislature officially named October 26 as Chicken Fried Steak Day back in 2011, it wasn’t just another excuse to celebrate with gravy. Lawmakers were recognizing something fundamental to the state’s culinary identity: a deep affection for crispy, peppered steak smothered in cream sauce, best enjoyed with good company and a cold beer.

That affection finds a permanent home at The Ranch at Las Colinas, a roadhouse with polish that’s been serving what many consider the state’s finest version of the dish since opening more than a decade ago. The Ranch’s chicken fried steak is a study in restraint and indulgence at once—hand-battered, golden, tender enough to cut with a fork, and delivered with a whisper of nostalgia that tastes like home. They call their approach “True Texas dining,” sourcing local beef and produce from all over the Lone Star State, from Panhandle ranches to Hill Country gardens. The result is a menu that honors Texas in both flavor and spirit.

A short drive north in Plano and now Uptown Dallas, Haywire carries that same ethos forward, but with a more urbane gloss. Born from the same team that created The Ranch, Haywire reimagines the Texas table as something sleek yet unmistakably familiar. There’s still chicken fried steak, of course—no self-respecting Texan concept would skip it—but you’ll also find elk tacos, cast-iron cornbread, and whiskey flights that nod to local distillers. Its three-story Plano flagship, with a rooftop patio that glows at sunset, feels like an ode to the new Texas: stylish, confident, still grounded in the land.

Both restaurants share a belief that local matters. The beef comes from right here, the greens from nearby farms, and the recipes from the collective memory of Texas cooks who knew a good pan of cream gravy was reason enough to gather. Together, The Ranch and Haywire tell a story about how tradition evolves without losing its roots. One stays truer to its cowboy past, the other dresses it up for the city—but each keeps that Sunday comfort intact.

So when October 26 rolls around again, remember that Chicken Fried Steak Day isn’t a novelty. It’s a salute to the flavors that define this state—and a reminder that whether you’re in Las Colinas, Plano, or Uptown, you’ve got a seat at the table for one of Texas’s most iconic meals.

Reservations:
Book at The Ranch at Las Colinas
Book at Haywire