After visiting the Grand Canyon, we were really hungry. As usual, I searched Google reviews for a good restaurant—ideally a steakhouse, because it just fits the American West. And I came across a place called Yippee‑Ei‑O! Steakhouse.
Where to find the restaurant
Yippee‑Ei‑O! Steakhouse is located at 541 AZ‑64 in Tusayan, a town situated literally less than two kilometers from the southern entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. If you are staying anywhere in the Grand Canyon Village or South Rim area, it is only a few minutes’ drive away. The restaurant stands right next to Grand Canyon Camper Village and is one of the first places you will come across when leaving the park heading south.
Interestingly, this steakhouse has been operating since 1972—more than fifty years. That makes it one of the oldest restaurants in the entire Grand Canyon area. Over the years, tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world have passed through its doors, and the restaurant has built a reputation as a place where steaks are grilled over an open juniper fire, just as they have always been prepared in Arizona.
What it looks like inside
The restaurant looks nice from the outside—typical cowboy style, a wooden facade, American flags, and bunting in the national colors. But the interior really surprised me. The entire place is decorated in an Old West style, and I have to say that every detail has been carefully thought out.
There are genuine Western saddles everywhere, deer antlers on the walls, cowboy hats, framed period photographs, and string lights that provide pleasant, subdued lighting. The tables are covered with black-and-white cow-print tablecloths, and you eat from sturdy metal plates. Beer is served in classic mason jars—a typical rustic American detail that completes the atmosphere.
You feel as though you have stepped into a saloon from a Western movie. But it is not some over-the-top tourist attraction—it is more of a pleasant, authentic tavern where you simply feel as though you are in the Wild West. And I like that; it is exactly my style.
What you will find on the menu
The menu is easy to navigate and sticks to what you would expect from a cowboy steakhouse—hearty, large portions of meat, simple sides, and no unnecessary frills.
In the “Sunset Starters" section, they have Hot Poppers—jalapeños stuffed with cheese, breaded, and fried. There are also Deep Fried Tater Skins—potato skins with cheese and bacon. Other options include Crunchy O'Onion Rings, Frontier Fries, fried mushrooms, and Nachos Grandes.
The main dishes are called “The Big Fixins," and all the meat and chicken are cooked over an open juniper fire, which gives the food its distinctive smoky flavor. The choices include Cowgirl Steak (filet mignon), The Rancher (T‑bone steak), Trail Boss (a massive 24-ounce beef steak “fit for a boss"), Shish‑Ka‑Bob (steak or chicken skewers with vegetables), Campfire Chicken (a whole grilled chicken), Colorado River Jumbo Shrimp (fried shrimp), Cowboy Combo (sirloin steak + shrimp), and Desperado Delight Baby Back BBQ Ribs—ribs in BBQ sauce. The steaks come with a baked potato, corn on the cob, and cowboy beans.
For those who do not eat meat, there is a Veggie Burger, Veggie Platter, or Spaghetti Western—spaghetti with marinara sauce, to which you can add grilled chicken or sirloin.
As side dishes (“Side Saddles"), they offer baked potatoes, cornbread, corn on the cob, beans, or salad.
What we ate
We ordered steaks and ribs. The steaks were truly excellent—I like mine medium-well or medium, so that they are not too rare inside, and they prepared them exactly as I wanted. The ribs in BBQ sauce came with a foil-wrapped baked potato and corn—a classic combination, but perfectly executed. Before that, they brought us a salad in a wooden bowl, and we had some beer, so it was a nice, relaxing evening.
Rattlesnake meat—a specialty we unfortunately missed
And now for the main reason why I am mentioning this restaurant at all. I do not write reviews of every restaurant where we ate in America—only those that caught my attention in some way or are worth recommending.
The very first item in the appetizer section of the menu is “Rattlesnake Meat." Authentic rattlesnake meat, battered, fried, and served with onion rings and salsa for 30 dollars.
My daughter and I wanted to try it. Unfortunately, they did not have any that particular day—the waiter explained that they normally serve it, but they had just “run out" and would have more the next day. But we were moving on the following day, so we missed our chance. And I was really disappointed.
Rattlesnake meat is a fairly traditional delicacy in Arizona. Rattlesnakes are almost ubiquitous in the desert regions of the southwestern United States, and eating their meat has roots deep in the region’s history—from Native American tribes and cowboys to today’s restaurants, which serve it as a symbol of Arizona’s culinary adventurousness.
According to those who have tried it, rattlesnake meat tastes a little like chicken but has a texture similar to calamari. It is lean, tender, and slightly sweet. Rattlesnakes are caught during organized “roundups" twice a year in Texas and Oklahoma. The meat is then processed and distributed to restaurants throughout the Southwest. So it is not just some exotic oddity—it is a legitimate part of the local cuisine.
Even the waiter who served us said that rattlesnake meat is their true specialty and that it is definitely worth trying. He invited us to come back the next day, but unfortunately, as I already mentioned, we were leaving then.
So if you are in Grand Canyon Village and want to try something truly unusual, this is your opportunity. You cannot get rattlesnake meat just anywhere.
A sheriff’s star from Monument Valley
A brief aside that is not directly related to the restaurant but is part of the story of that evening. Our daughter bought a sheriff’s badge in Monument Valley and wore it everywhere from then on. That evening at Yippee‑Ei‑O!, she sat at the table with the star pinned to her shirt, and with the Western interior around her, she looked like a little sheriff of the Wild West. She then had to take the badge to school as well—she was absolutely thrilled about it.
Practical information
The restaurant is located at 541 AZ‑64, Tusayan, Arizona, directly on the main road leading to the southern entrance to the Grand Canyon. It is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Reservations are not required, but during the summer months (June–August), I recommend arriving before seven in the evening, as the longest lines tend to form between 7:00 and 8:30 p.m. The phone number for larger groups is +1 928‑638‑2780. The restaurant has its own parking lot with room for RVs, a full bar, wheelchair access, and accepts payment cards.
Final thoughts
I definitely recommend Yippee‑Ei‑O! Steakhouse. Not only because of the excellent steaks grilled over juniper wood and the Western atmosphere, but above all because of the opportunity to try rattlesnake meat—that is an experience you cannot have just anywhere. If you are at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, be sure to stop by. And if you are lucky enough that they have rattlesnake meat available, do not hesitate to order it. I certainly will next time.
