There, I said it. Had some Wagyu A5, genuine certified import from Japan prepared by an actual chef on a handful of occasions. The last one was on Saturday as part of a business conference in the exec suite of some fancy hotel, talking to potential investors.

The set menu cost the equivalent of $700 per person, wines not included.

And. I. still. don’t. like. it.

The meat is simply too rich, too soft, too greasy. There’s no bite to it. Every time I try it, it reminds me of sucking on a piece of beef flavored butter. A slightly solidified cube of beef lard.

Just give me a Black Angus rump or sirloin steak if you must, that’s pretentious enough at a fraction of the cost and provides such a nicer eating experience.

And please, PLEASE, for the love of everything holy, don’t give me Wagyu cubes topped of with steamed foie gras. That’s akin to buttering your lard. Maybe in 50 years when all my teeth are gone, I’ll appreciate being able to grind down a piece of beef between my gums. But as it stands, the Wagyu hype couldn’t die fast enough.

/rant

  • @[email protected]
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    22 years ago

    I had a Wagyu ribeye last year that cost like $120 and it was very good. That being said I would never pay that much for a steak.

    • @[email protected]
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      32 years ago

      Sounds like you had some type of American “wagyu”. And I’m not knocking it, I love steaks like these.

      There are a number of American farms such as Snake River that have Wagyu/Angus hybrid cattle and the beef is very good. It strikes a good balance of having more fat marbling than prime Angus, but not the ridiculous high fat context like the genuine Japanese beef OP is talking about.

  • Dr. Wesker
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    82 years ago

    Hard disagree. Best beef experience I ever had was a kobe steak in Japan, prepared by a top chef.

  • @[email protected]
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    322 years ago

    If I eat a meal that costs $700 and don’t literally cum from how good it is, I’m demanding a refund.

    • @[email protected]
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      11 year ago

      Back at a previous worksite I saw an expense claim for a business lunch that was $4k for 3 people.

      Out of curiosity I asked one of the execs that I was on good terms with how the lunch was.

      He said “Not bad, but their wine selection was limited”.

      More than a grand a plate…

      Eat the rich.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      I don’t even WANT a $700 meal. Either you don’t get your money’s worth, or you do, and all other food is ruined for you.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      12 years ago

      I didn’t pay for it either. If I’d have been the one to order, I would have settled for something way more budget friendly. Not that I mind splurging once in a while, but then only on stuff I actually enjoy.

  • @[email protected]
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    32 years ago

    You’re not obliged to like anything. Nobody can tell you how you feel. We may be a little sniffy if you tell us our cooking sucks.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      22 years ago

      I agree, but Wagyu is hyped all around, so some people must actually like it.

      From all the “rich people foods” I’d say lobster is the one I truly love. Beluga caviar is nice but way overpriced, and oysters are just the devil’s snot. Baked and with a pile of minced garlic they are barely palatable.

    • @[email protected]
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      102 years ago

      Which explains the popularity of adding Gold to food and drink. It is literally just to make it expensive and therefore exclusive

        • @[email protected]
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          12 years ago

          I can’t exactly judge. My classic game collection has some stupid titles just sitting there barely ever being played. My record collection has a few of those too. I got a record on my shelf by one of my favorite artists that I’ll never listen to because I hate it. It’s sealed, just sitting there so I can say, “Yes chuck, and if you’ll look over here I have the complete collection. Some very rare records there! Only 300 of this one in existence. It’s a terrible record!”

          I can’t tell you why I’m like that either. Just part of human nature I guess and it scales with wealth.

          If I can’t get a damn good deal though, I just don’t get it, whatever it is. I got my Mega Man NES collection (all 5) for 40 bucks.

  • @[email protected]
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    92 years ago

    I sort of agree. I enjoy it but it’s a specific thing and there’s better steak experiences out there at better prices. The hype is silly but I don’t think it’s ever going away unfortunately.

  • @[email protected]
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    32 years ago

    I’ve had it. I’m thankful I did not have to pay for it. Juniper paid for it. For the price, it was terrible. NY strip, ribeye, t-bone, tomahawk… A man steak is all I want. Wagyu is for pansies with money that are offended by real meat.

  • @[email protected]
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    122 years ago

    All that value isn’t necessarily because it’s good (which is wildly subjective) but because of the intensive preparations that go into raising it.

    I think beluga caviar is okay. I didn’t hate it but I wouldn’t seek it out, never mind pay what it costs

    • @[email protected]
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      32 years ago

      I could spend 40 years sculpting a 1/4 scale Godzilla out of my boogers, that doesn’t mean anyone should pay a lot for it.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      22 years ago

      Right, so in that case I’d say it’s time wasted on raising something of a sub-par standard.

      Beluga is nice, very rich and intense, but unless someone else is paying, I’m having none of that either.

  • Pons_Aelius
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    262 years ago

    Right there with you.

    I eat beef to eat meat, not fat.

    Yes, some intramuscular fat improves taste and mouth feel but when there is more fat than muscle…pass.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      132 years ago

      Exactly that. Nothing against a bit of marbling, or else the steak will just dry out when you put some heat to it, but if there’s more fat than actual meat, I’m not impressed.

  • Flying Squid
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    142 years ago

    I’m getting the sense that Arby’s claim of have a Wagyu beef burger is not quite true.

  • @[email protected]
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    162 years ago

    Use of wagyu and it’s consumption should be and usually is executed differently compared to most steaks and it’s philosophy. Like you said that wagyu is so extremely rich and fatty that it cannot be eaten in large quantities.

    When wagyu is tastefully used (no pun intended) it should be a few small slices on the side of a larger dish. It can also be added to smaller bite size pieces, like wagyu nigiri for example (I have had it and it is wonderful).

    If it’s properties are understood and it is used correctly it is certainly outstanding.

    • @[email protected]
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      142 years ago

      This is a common error: people import food from other cultures and don’t import with it the way it is prepared in that other culture. Then they say “this sucks”.

      Similar thing happens with even something as basic and trivial as tofu: it’s not a meat substitute, and if you try to use it as that it’s going to suck. Make it the way it’s made in the culture that invented it.

      • Bizarroland
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        22 years ago

        I do Wonder though because they said it was bought and paid for at a company function and prepared by a professional chef so you would think that their experience with A5 wagyu has been as Good as it gets.

        As far as I am aware, I’ve never had it so I don’t know which side to believe and I’m not about to shell out big money to give it a try.

      • @[email protected]
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        32 years ago

        Funnily enough I also love tofu. My favorite recipe with it is very simple and only includes onion, scallion, mushroom, bok choy, pork, chicken stock, black pepper and of course tofu (soft).

        It’s also excellent when adding rice to thicken it, making it a sort of porridge

    • VanillaGorilla
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      42 years ago

      That’s how I had it and I really liked it. Of course it’s not a typical western steak.

  • Altima NEO
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    42 years ago

    That’s fair. I’ve never had it. But I’m also not a fan of chewing on the fat even on a regular old steak.

    I can’t imagine id enjoy wagyu either.

  • @[email protected]
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    72 years ago

    Ground beef with lots of fat = low quality

    Steak that’s seemingly >50% fat = PREMIUM OMG

    I don’t get it. Give me a nice prime or choice steak please. I want fat flavor enhanced meat, not meat flavored fat…