In early 2020, Indianapolis’ nearly century-old Steak ‘n Shake chain took an ax to trouble locations chain-wise, closing 51, including at least two in San Antonio.
Now, five years later, the burger chain is making a comeback and bolstering its Alamo City presence, which is down to a single store.
A second local Steak ‘n Shake is expected to debut late this year at the Northeast corner of the I-10 and 1604 intersection, a new Texas Department of Licensing and Registration filing shows. The document doesn’t include the exact street address.
Construction is slated to begin in August on the $1.8 million restaurant, and a tentative completion date is set for November, the TDLR filing states.
The Current reached out to Steak ‘n Shake’s corporate office for more information on the new San Antonio unit but got no response by press time.
The chain is known for its eponymous “steak” burgers — made with traditional beef — and classic milkshakes served in 20 flavors.
San Antonio-based investor Sardar Biglari has owned a controlling stake in Steak ‘n Shake since 2008. Biglari approved the shutdown of 51 Steak ‘n Shake locations in the first quarter of 2020, citing “dismal” performance, the San Antonio Business Journal and KSAT jointly reported.
San Antonio’s only existing Steak ‘n Shake location is in the Alamo Ranch neighborhood at 5619 W. Loop 1604 North.
Steak ‘n Shake recently aligned itself with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, recently switching to 100% beef tallow for frying its menu items — a move away from industrial seed oils. The company’s website outlines its goal to eliminate seed oils entirely, noting that fries, onion rings and chicken tenders are now all cooked in beef tallow.
Kennedy has publicly linked seed oils to the obesity epidemic in America, a claim that reflects a growing debate, Axios reports. While some nutrition advocates argue seed oils such as soybean and canola oil are inflammatory and harmful in large quantities, others maintain they can be part of a healthy diet when used in moderation.
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This article appears in Jul 10-23, 2025.