[activecampaign form=1]How much is too much to pay for a steak? If you know the cut and type of steak you’re paying for, you might change your answer. The most expensive steaks in the world aren’t necessarily costly because of their size, it’s because of how the cattle are raised.
Today, we’re going to take a stab at the most expensive steaks in the world and discuss what makes them so pricey.
Japanese A5 Wagyu
Japanese A5 Wagyu is the most expensive type of steak in the world because it is the rarest grade of all Japanese Wagyu beef steak. The most expensive steak in the world has a price tag of $1,000 and it’s a Wagyu tomahawk steak called the Papi Steak.
Wagyu steak is beef that comes from Japan and is known for its marbleized, fatty composition. Wagyu literally means Japanese Cow in Japanese. (“Wa” means Japanese and “Gyu” means cow.) Wagyu cattle are almost always black but sometimes they can be red.
The A5 grade of Japanese Wagyu is the rarest grade of all Wagyu steaks. It makes up only 1% of the production of Japanese beef steaks.
Japanese Wagyu is a favorite dish at the famous Tokyo restaurant Aragawa, one of the world's most expensive restuarants.
Wagyu steaks are named according to the region they’re found. We’ll explain the different Japanese A5 Wagyu steaks as well as where they come from in Japan.
Kobe Beef
Japanese A5 Wagyu steaks like the Kobe Strip Steak and Kobe Ribeye can easily sell for $349 per steak (approximately 13 to 15 ounces).
Kobe beef is very rare. Only the top cattle in the Hyogo prefecture region are chosen for A5 Wagyu, and this equates to approximately 1,000 heads of cattle per year for the entire world. That’s it. This is what makes Kobe beef so expensive.
The Kobe strip steak, Kobe ribeye, and Kobe filet are found in the Hyogo prefecture region of Japan. There is a small city named Kobe in this region which is where Kobe beef gets its name. The cattle within Kobe have a unique DNA that gives the beef its marbleized, fatty composition. Without it, Kobe beef steak wouldn’t be in a class of Japanese A5 Wagyu.
You can also purchase the Kobe Experience Flight for $649. It comes with one Kobe strip steak and one Kobe ribeye steak.
Kobe beef is a favorite entrée at many of the world's most extravagant restaurants.
It’s not just Kobe steak that are Japanese A5 Wagyu beef options. Many Japanese A5 Wagyu cuts of steak come from different regions throughout Japan.
Hida-Gyu
Hida-Gyu Japanese A5 Wagyu Filet Mignon sells for approximately $199 for an 8-ounce filet. It comes in other size options including medallions, a 6-ounce filet, and 8-ounce filet tips; all of which average between $119 and $149 each. The 8-ounce filet is the most expensive size.
Hida-Gyu Japanese A5 Wagyu comes from the Hida region in Japan. The cattle in this region have access to pure spring water which is said to give the beef its optimal flavor and tenderness. Farmers in the Hida region are known for raising only the best cattle for Japanese Wagyu.
Hida cattle are a breed of Japanese black cattle. These cattle were crossbred with European cattle that entered the area during the 1800s which has given us what we know as Hida Wagyu today.
Maezawa Beef
Maezawa beef comes from Ogata Farms in Japan. Maezawa beef sells for $269 for an 8-ounce filet or a 14-ounce ribeye.
Ogata Farms implements strict quality control over the cattle and their environment which is what makes their Japanese Wagyu so flavorful. They keep their cattle in a stress-free environment to give the beef an unmatched smooth and tender texture. No hormones are ever used, and they feed the cattle with a blend of beer, whiskey, and soy. The farmers provide a safe space and do not crowd cow herds into cramped settings. They create a quiet haven for the cattle to sleep uninterrupted. (A stress-free environment with a diet of beer and whiskey with uninterrupted sleep – where do we sign up?)
Hitachi-Gyu
Hitachi-Gyu steak is available in ribeye, filet, strip, flat-iron, chuck, sirloin, and roasts. Hitachi-Gyu sells for $249 and up, depending on the cut of steak and size you choose.
Hitachi-Gyu is from the Irabaki prefecture. In this region, the cattle are raised for 30 months and fed a diet of antibiotic-free, locally grown feed, and given clean well water to drink. The cattle live in a mild climate so the soil for their feed is rich with nutrients. The environment is stress-free and well-ventilated to make the cattle as calm and as happy as possible which shows in the beef that is harvested. Hitachi-Gyu beef is tender, flavorful, and rich. This is what makes Hitachi-Gyu so sought-after and so expensive!
Hitachi-Gyu has an extremely high fat content which makes it rich in oleic acid. The fat melts during the cooking process to help keep the steak marinated with a buttery baste. This steak would pair perfectly with one of the world's most expensive mushrooms.
Sendai Wagyu
Sendai Japanese A5 Wagyu beef sells for $249 for a 14-ounce ribeye. Sendai Japanese A5 Wagyu is found in the Miyagi prefecture and comes from the black cow lineage of Wagyu. In the Miyagi prefecture, Sendai Wagyu feed on rice stalks and barley grain to give the meat a robust flavor with perfect marbling.
The fat from the meat is all you need to prepare this steak. While cooking, the fat will melt into a buttery baste that will continue to marinate the steak.
Hokkaido – Tokachi Farm
Hokkaido Wagyu comes from Tokachi Farm in the Hokkaido region of Japan. Hokkaido Wagyu ribeye and strip sell for $189 for a 13 to 15-ounce steak.
Hokkaido cattle at Tokachi Farm feed on rich grass that grows on the plain beside the active volcano Mount Tokachi. The rich grass and cool climate help give the Hokkaido Wagyu a rich and robust flavor. The cool climate of this region makes growing crops difficult; however, for raising Wagyu cattle, the conditions are almost perfect.
Omi Beef
Omi Wagyu sells for $199 for an 8-ounce filet and a 13-ounce ribeye.
Omi Beef is the oldest beef brand in Japan and has been called the “Emperor’s Beef” because of how tender, rich, and flavorful it is. Omi Beef is located in the Shiga region of Japan. The cattle used for Omi Beef are raised in a pristine environment. The rice used for the cattle to feed on is organic and the cattle are allowed to roam the shores of Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan. This setting with food and water gives the cattle the perfect environment to live.
The Most Expensive Steaks in the World
Right now, you can buy The Ultimate Wagyu Experience for $949. It comes with both Japan Wagyu steaks and American Wagyu beef steaks and includes the following:
| Japan | USA |
|
|
Wagyu Pinnacle Flight
If that’s too many steaks for you, you can choose the A5 Wagyu Pinnacle Flight for $799. It comes with one Kobe A5 Wagyu Strip Steak (~ 12 oz), one Sendai A5 Wagyu Strip Steak (~ 12 oz), and one Takamori Drunken Wagyu Strip Steak (~12 oz). This gives you a taste of the different regions of Japan.
American Wagyu Ribeye
If you prefer American Wagyu (we’ll get to that in a minute), you can purchase a 6-pack of American Wagyu Ribeye for $369. It features six 16-ounce American Wagyu ribeye steaks, which comes out to approximately $61.00 per steak!
What is the Difference Between Japanese Wagyu and American Wagyu?
As we mentioned earlier, Japanese Wagyu is black or red cattle that are raised in Japan strictly for their fatty, marbleized steaks. Japanese Wagyu are raised in controlled environments to make them as stress-free and healthy as possible, feeding them only the best food and cleanest water.
American Wagyu is a combination of full-blooded Japanese Wagyu and Angus. The crossbreeding of these two types of beef creates American Wagyu which is less fatty and less marbleized than Japanese Wagyu.
For American Wagyu to be classified as Wagyu, it must be bred with full-blooded Japanese Wagyu cattle and fed a strict vegetarian diet for over 400 days. This creates the perfect flavor of American Wagyu.
Because American Wagyu is crossbred with Japanese Wagyu and Angus, the price is relatively cheaper. You can find American Wagyu for as low as $10 per pound at some retailers. That’s why it’s important to know the difference between American Wagyu and Japanese Wagyu. The most expensive steaks in the world are Japanese Wagyu!
Conclusion
The next time you visit a prime restaurant in Las Vegas, New York, or Beverly Hills that offer luxury beef entrees, try the wagyu rib eye, wagyu sirloin, or select special Kobe filet and you’re sure to be impressed. On the other hand, if you’re going to your local steakhouse, a $50 steak at doesn’t sound so bad after learning about the worlds most expensive beef!
Japanese Wagyu is the most expensive steak in the world, especially when they are in A4 or A5 grade. It doesn’t get any rarer or more expensive than Japanese Wagyu A5 steaks.
