When it comes to meat delivery, Chicago Steak Company and ButcherBox are two of the most popular options. Both companies offer a variety of quality meats, but some key differences set them apart.
To help you decide which service is for you, we tried both with extensive taste testing over three months and compared the two. Read on for more information.
ButcherBox vs Chicago Steak Company: Key Differences
The main difference between Chicago Steak Company and ButcherBox is that ButcherBox is a monthly subscription service while Chicago Steak Company provides offerings a la carte.
This primary delivery difference results in a much wider variety of meat options available with Chicago Steak than for ButcherBox.
For example, both companies sell grass-fed beef, pork, and chicken.
However, Chicago Steak has more choices for each of those meats, plus options for seafood, side dishes, and even desserts.
Comparing Their Features Head to Head
1. Selection
Chicago Steak Company undoubtedly has a broader selection of steaks between these two companies. They have a large variety of steak cuts sourced from all around the United States.
In the steaks category, you can purchase filet mignon, New York strip steak, prime rib, and many other wet-aged and dry-aged choices.
But they also have seafood options like shrimp, crab, sea bass, scallops, and mahi-mahi.
Add to that their ribs, ham, roasts, brats, chicken, and more, and you get a lot of alternatives to choose from.
Finally, they have plenty of side dishes, along with decadent desserts.
ButcherBox has a narrower selection of meats, but all of their meat is grass-fed and grass-finished beef, heritage breed pork, and free-range organic chicken. You can get boxes with the above selections or opt to create your combination.
Neither of these meat delivery services sells more esoteric offerings, like Kurobuta pork, foie gras, wild boar, or true Kobe beef. However, you will be able to get staples like pork chops, natural prime beef, or sirloin steaks.
2. Quality
ButcherBox and Chicago Steak Co. both offer top-quality beef because they only source their meat from grass-fed animals that are free of growth hormones.
Chicago Steak Company uses only USDA Prime beef and top ⅓ USDA Choice cuts, representing the top 2% of beef in the country for the ultimate steak experience.
This makes their meat not only delicious, but it comes with the marbling, texture, and color that improves flavor and tenderness.
They dry and wet age their beef products like strip steaks, which adds to the taste.
ButcherBox sends its customers only grass-fed beef. This means that their cows can roam and graze on open pastures, which gives their steaks an intense flavor. The taste of Australian cattle that have only been fed on natural grass is unparalleled.
3. Sourcing
Both companies offer high-quality, ethically and humanely sourced meat.
ButcherBox meat is free from hormones, antibiotics, and other growth-promoting chemicals.
They also work with family farms that adhere to pasture-raising and other humane practices. Their grass-fed cows are pasture-raised heritage cattle, leading to tender and natural tasting cuts of meat.
The Chicago Steak Company is sourced from Corn Belt ranches that adhere to the humane treatment of animals and sustainable practices. They do not do any marbling injections in their animals, ensuring you have only a natural result.
The cows that produce their filet mignon, American wagyu beef, and Angus beef are never grain-fed.
While both companies are excellent options, ButcherBox is the better choice if you are concerned about artificial practices.
This is because of their dedication to being a mail-order steak company that only uses hormone-free and antibiotic-free beef and heritage pork.
4. Pricing
A meat subscription service, ButcherBox, offers various meal kits starting at $137 per month. For that, you get subscription boxes with 8-11 lbs. of meat.
This is either beef or a mixed box with beef, pork, and chicken.
If you want more meat sent to you than that, larger kits are available for $253 per box.
Chicago Steak Company offers a la carte steaks with prices that vary greatly based on purchasing. Ground beef patties, for example, start at $16 per lb. Their best-selling steak package is $230 for 2 lbs. of beef.
Their Angus beef is priced less than American wagyu, but most of their meat is considerably higher than the comparable ButcherBox offering.
5. Packaging
All of the meat products from ButcherBox are appropriately packaged to ensure freshness when they arrive on your doorstep. They use eco-friendly boxing that is recyclable and insulated to keep the meat cold.
The Chicago Steak Company ships their steaks flash-frozen and vacuum-sealed to lock in natural flavor.
They are wrapped in food-grade paper and placed in attractive gift boxing. They then put this box in a reusable insulated container with dry ice to ensure freshness.
Both meal delivery services ensure your meat gets to you fresh and ready to cook.
6. Shipping
Providing value to its customers, ButcherBox offers free shipping on all of its boxes [1].
The company delivers to the 48 contiguous states and provides a tracking number so you can track your order. This monthly service allows you to pick the day of the week that your order arrives.
The Chicago Steak Company ships with standard delivery within 5-7 days of your order.
Shipping costs are based on the overall order price and start at $19.99 for an order of $69.99 or less. Pricing also increases if the order requires express or overnight shipping. They ship Monday-Thursday to all 50 U.S. states.
7. Cancellation
With Chicago Steak Co, you can simply order steak online whenever you want. That's because they offer a la carte services that will send you a shipment of meat only when you ask.
It is like calling the corner butcher shop but having the meat delivered to your door - they only deliver if you put in an order.
On the other hand, ButcherBox is a meat delivery subscription service that gives you a way to have mail order steaks sent to you regularly.
However, it is extremely flexible and will allow you to change the delivery frequency or cancel at any time without penalty.
8. Customer Service
When it comes to customer service, both companies have excellent reviews. I found no complaints about the quality of support offered by either company.
My own experience was similar - both companies could answer my questions thoroughly and quickly.
ButcherBox offers phone, email, and online chat support. The Chicago Steak Co. only provides phone an online form for assistance.
However, both companies have a detailed Frequently Asked Questions page that answers the vast majority of questions customers may have.
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ButcherBox vs Chicago Steak Company: Who Wins?
When it comes to the Chicago Steak Company or ButcherBox, we find that ButcherBox comes out on top for steak lovers.
While Chicago Steak Company does have high-quality meat, their higher prices may not be justified by the incremental difference in the quality of the products.
ButcherBox, on the other hand, offers excellent value for meat lovers. You can get most meat at a fraction of the competition's price.
Plus, with their free shipping, it is easy to stay stocked on what you need throughout the month.
Check out ButcherBox for yourself here.
#1 Meat Delivery Service
ButcherBox
- Grass-fed and grass-finished beef delivered directly to your door
- Without antibiotics or added hormones
- Customizable boxes available
- Select from up to 21 different cuts
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of May
- No organ meat
