The Wagon Wheel
Southern · 1824 Del Rio Blvd, Eagle Pass, Texas 78852
★★★★★ 1 review(830) 513-7250
Menu Items
Reviews
-
2 LB Chicken Fried Steak - Its Sirloin & Has Great Flavor
For my birthday a few weeks ago, I made the trip down to Eagle Pass, TX. I’d been wanting to try the giant chicken fried steak that so many had raved about online, and this was the perfect excuse to make the 2 hour journey.
The restaurant is locally owned and has three locations: one is a steakhouse, another is on the Mexico side of the border serving Texas BBQ and steaks, and the original spot is famous for its massive chicken fried steaks and BBQ plates.
How Big Is this Chicken Fried Steak?
When my plate arrived, the steak was practically the size of a hubcap, with two sides accompanying it. The steak hung well over the edges of the plate and since I’d mentioned I was visiting from out of town, the staff thoughtfully served the gravy in a separate container, anticipating leftovers—and they were right.
I sliced off a fifth of the steak, piled it onto the rest so nothing hung off the plate, diced it into bite-sized pieces, topped it with gravy and a sprinkle of paprika and began eating.
Taste and Texture
The steak had a tempura flake style crust that was crisp, golden brown, and perfectly crunchy. The meat itself was tender, with only two small chewy spots throughout. I felt a little self-conscious, faced with a steak that could easily feed three or four people, as others passed by me, but to the regulars this was an everyday occurance.
The sides were equally memorable. A mac and cheese, topped with crushed chicharrones was my favorite of the two. The chicharrones added a savory, meaty flavor, elevating the dish to something truly special. It was some of the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had, and I nearly asked for some extra topping.
The cream corn, my second side, was rich and satisfying, though not my favorite cream corn overall. I admitted to the owner that Rudy’s still held a top spot for me. She laughed and said that while some people agree, others claim theirs is the best as well.
The Challenge
After 15 minutes, I had finished the part of the steak that had hung over the edge of the plate and was ready to tackle the next section. I cut another 3-inch wide piece, diced it up, and continued the meal. After about 30 minutes, I had managed to eat just over a quarter of the steak and was pretty full at this point. I had eaten what would be a decently large chicken fried steak at most places, and my plate was still full.
Since it was my birthday, I was warned to save room for dessert and packed the rest of the steak to go. Even after cutting it into three normal full sized steak pieces, it barely fit into the to-go box.
Dessert and a Surprise
The Dessert was a delicious peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Even though I’m not usually a fan of cobbler, I finished every bite. The dessert had a moist, cake-like texture reminiscent of tres leches, and the spiced peaches paired beautifully with the melting ice cream which was soaked up by the cake like cobbler.
To my surprise, two other guests shared the same birthday, and the restaurant sang “Happy Birthday” to all of us. There were laughs as part of the guests sang “Happy Birthday, dear Pablo” instead of Paul on my turn.
Behind the Scenes
I spoke with the owner after my meal and learned some interesting details. The chicken fried steak starts at around 2.2 pounds before cooking to ensure that, even with shrinkage and trimming, diners still get about two pounds of meat. It’s made from top sirloin, breaded in a mix of flour, seasonings, and panko crumbs. Each side is 8 ounces, bringing the meal to a roughly three pounds in total.
The Leftovers
What happened to the rest of the steak? It became a late-night snack, breakfast, lunch, and finally another dinner. It was laughable, but I was determined to finish it, and I did—four meals in total.
Final Thoughts
Will I return for the BBQ? Probably. But I’m not sure I can leave without ordering that chicken fried steak again. Its texture, flavor, and sheer size make it unforgettable. It reminded me of a schnitzel, only much larger. It was tender, crunchy, well-seasoned, and, despite a recent price increase, still a fantastic value.
This chicken fried steak easily ranks in my top five flavor wise, and as far as size goes, theres no contest there.
The Wagon Wheel
Chicken Fried Steak, Chicharrone Mac & Cheese, Creamed Corn, Texas Toast.
Chicharrones Mac & Cheese
Creamed Corn
Peach Cobbler
Steak & Sides
Menu
The Whole Meal
Leftovers
Dining Area
Order Counter
Storefront
Receipt
— Paul