Explore the world of luxury dining with this guide to the most expensive steaks. The article highlights top-tier steaks from around the globe, detailing the exquisite cuts, unique preparation methods, and exclusive dining experiences that justify their high prices. Perfect for food enthusiasts and curious gourmets, this guide provides an inside look at the pinnacle of steak indulgence.
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A Note On Wagyu Beef
You’ll notice that all of the steaks on this list are sourced from Japan. We won’t get bogged down in details here, but suffice it to say that there is a reason for this.
It is widely agreed that the highest quality of steak is produced by Wagyu cattle – a rare breed of Japanese cattle. Since these cattle are so small in number, Wagyu beef is very rare, which is largely why it costs so much. Wagyu subtypes are generally named for the region where they are bred and this is usually reflected in the name of the beef they produce. The Top Three Wagyu-growing regions of Japan are Ōmi, Matsusaka and Kobe.
Note that steak quality and its corresponding price are much more dependent on beef type than cut. This is why we haven’t said much on the topic of steak cuts in this article. Broadly speaking, the very best type of steak is a ribeye cut of Wagyu beef. It is also often the most expensive.
Wagyu steak is graded according to the Japanese grading system, with only the best of the best steaks qualifying for the coveted A5 status.
Matsusaka Sirloin
Price: £405.00/kg
The Matsusaka region of Japan’s Mie prefecture is home to cattle that produce the exceptional Matsusaka beef. A unique element of Matsusaka-breeding practices is that cattle are slaughtered before they get a chance to breed. The resultant virgin beef makes for a highly flavourful steak that is both tender and richly marbled.
Hokkaido Strip Or Ribeye
Price: £363.00/kg (strip) – £419.00/kg (ribeye)
Sourced exclusively from black Wagyu cattle reared on Japan’s Hokkaido Island, this type of steak is famed for its intense marbling, visually reminiscent of its snowy origins. The volcanic island’s fertile soil yields lush grass, on which the cattle feed to produce highly flavoursome meat.
Sendai Ribeye
Price: £513.00/kg
The black Wagyu that produce Sendai beef hail from Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture, where they feed on barley, grain and rice stalks. The product of this diet is a richly marbled steak that generates its own marinade during cooking, resulting in a powerful flavour.
Maezawa Fillet Or Ribeye
Price: £554.00/kg
Maezawa beef comes from Wagyu reared on the Ogata Farms in Iwata, Japan’s northeast prefecture. Maezawa cattle really live the good life. They are raised naturally on a diet of soy, Japanese beer and whiskey. This stress-free environment, combined with the fact Ogata steers clear of hormone treatment, is the reason for the tender, subtly sweet beef produced by these cattle.
Kobe Strip
Price: £670.00/kg
Cut from the rear of the rib cage, the strip steak cut is the preference of those who enjoy a leaner type of meat. By blending this cut with the rich marbling of Kobe beef, butchers strike the perfect balance between flavour and texture for steak lovers who don’t like their meat too rich.
Kobe beef comes from a very rare breed of black Wagyu, bred in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, near the city of Kobe. All Kobe beef on the planet is sourced from just 1 000 A5-grade Wagyu cattle. It is considered to be the ultimate type of Wagyu beef.
Kobe Ribeye
Price: £670.00/kg
Those who can afford it enjoy Kobe ribeye for its intense umami flavour and firm yet buttery texture. It is characterised by a deep crimson colour and intense marbling.
Ōmi Ribeye Or Fillet
Price: £447.00/kg (ribeye) – £717.00/kg (fillet)
The plentiful marbling of this delicious type of steak is what lends it it’s signature buttery texture. It is produced from Wagyu cattle raised in the Ōmi province of Japan’s Shinga Prefecture. Although it emerged just 400 years ago, Ōmi beef is said to be the oldest Japanese beef variant.
Hida-Gyu Filet Mignon
Price: £717.00/kg
Hida-Gyu, also known as Hida Wagyu, is a crossbreed of Black Japanese and European cows, first interbred in the 1800s. The pure spring water that these cattle drink in their home in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture is the source of the tender texture and tasty flavour of Hida-Gyu beef, this is one of the best most expensive steaks in the world.
Hitachi Ribeye, Fillet Or Strip
Price: £513.00/kg (strip/ ribeye) – £897.00/kg (fillet)
The cattle that produce Hitachi-Gyu beef are reared in the Ibaraki Prefecture of Japan. Hitachi-Gyu steak is intensely marbled and so yields a correspondingly rich flavour. Most people find that they can only consume small quantities of this highly fatty meat at a time.
Papi Wagyu Tomahawk Steak Dinner
Price: £950.00
The final and priciest entrant on our catalogue of the world’s most expensive steaks technically doesn’t qualify for this list. This is because the Papi Tomahawk is actually a whole steak dinner, rather than just a hunk or raw meat. Nevertheless, a 30-to-45-ounce steak with a price tag of US$1000 (roughly £950.00/kg) simply cannot be ignored.
Cleverly dubbed the “Beef Case”, this steak dinner is the signature dish of elite eatery and A-List hangout, Papi Steak in Miami, USA. It is a Wagyu steak served, with great fanfare, in a diamond-encrusted briefcase.
Tender and succulent, the Beef Case is a two-inch-thick Tomahawk-cut Wagyu steak. The Tomahawk or “cowboy” cut is a variant of the ribeye, featuring a large length of rib bone that causes it to resemble the single-handed Native American axe of the same name.
Steak Shouldn’t Be A Status Symbol
All said and done, the best steak is the steak that tastes best. And, of course, the taste is subjective.
So remember to order what you enjoy off of the menu, rather than what you think will impress everyone else at the table.
Chermaine’s journey into the world of gemstones and crystals began as a child, collecting shimmering stones on family vacations. Today, she’s a certified gemologist and spiritual healer, intertwining the physical beauty of jewels with their metaphysical properties.
Chermaine has traveled to mines in Africa, marketplaces in India, and spiritual retreats in Bali, always seeking to deepen her understanding.