Wagyu - per MASHED

Botch

I've watched a few videos from this source, and mostly agree with what I've seen.  Here they give a brief history of wagyu and some recommendations.  Thought it'd be worth posting, and maybe start a fight or something.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN-vdchor2I

Ozzie_Isaac

Botch said:

I've watched a few videos from this source, and mostly agree with what I've seen.  Here they give a brief history of wagyu and some recommendations.  Thought it'd be worth posting, and maybe start a fight or something.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN-vdchor2I

Love a good fight.  Gonna see what sides the forum teams pick before I wade in though.  I haven't got my talking points txt yet.

theyolksonyou

I had the whole “it’s too rich” conversation just this last week.  I don’t think I’ve ever had true A5.  Only SRF American Waygu.  

Also, learned a lot about history and different regional brands.  Had only heard of Kobe.  

Thanks for posting!

paqman

I’ve had true Japanese A5 Wagyu a couple of times now and also SRF American Wagyu once.  It is night and day!  I would have no problem eating a full portion of SRF Wagyu but I wouldn’t be able to eat more than a few pieces of real Japanese A5.  Great as an appetizer but not so much as a full meal.  The ROI is not worth it IMHO, it is good but not 200$ good.

My butcher just won an auction for an authentic Kobe Prime Rib (with the spinalis) and is giving me the option to purchase a few center pieces steaks.  I tried most regions so far and Kobe A5 is the last one on my list.  I had decided that I was done with Japanese A5 and that I would wait until a travel to Japan to try Kobe but now… 🤷‍♂️

The Japanese grading system is different than the one used in USA/Canada.  There is simply no equivalent for A5 on the north American systems.  Costco occasionally has ungraded Argentinian beef that is very close to Japanese A5 but decoding what is being sold is cryptic at best.

lousubcap

@paqman captures the difference.  I have gone down the Japanese A5 rabbit hole a few times.  It is a true treat and can become habit forming in small quantities.  Mail order sources in the USA- Crowd Cow, Wild Fork and Holy Grail that I am aware of.
Below is a chart regarding beef grading:
 


And in the interest of additional info, a piece from CBS news from last summer about Snake River Farms:
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/the-dish-how-snake-river-farms-is-bringing-wagyu-beef-from-japan-to-the-masses-in-america/#x

westernbbq

I will be ordering Waygu for home delivery this week to cook  on Father's day.   Cant remember the name of the place but will post here when i get it figured out....

4TheGrillOfIt

I believe the only online vendor for true Kobe prefecture A5 is Holy Grail.  The Kobe is about double the price of some of the other A5s…the last one I order last year and it was over $300 for a Strip steak.