Where to Find Wagyu Beef at Grocery Stores – The Ultimate Guide

Wagyu beef, known for its exquisite marbling, tenderness and deep, rich flavor, has become increasingly popular and sought-after by home cooks in recent years. However, this premium Japanese beef can be challenging to find and quite expensive. If you’re wondering where you can purchase quality wagyu locally, this guide will cover all the details on which grocery stores carry it and what to expect in terms of selection and price.

What is Wagyu Beef?

Wagyu refers to four specific Japanese cattle breeds—Kuroge Washu, Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, and Japanese Shorthorn. The meat from these cattle is well-known for its extensive marbling, achieved through special breeding and feeding practices. This intricate marbling pattern results in wagyu beef that is exceptionally tender and packed with taste. True Japanese wagyu is graded on a scale from A1 to A5, with A5 being the highest quality with the most marbling.

Where to Buy Wagyu Beef

Local Butcher Shops

• Many high-end butcher shops and meat markets source and sell authentic Japanese wagyu beef. This is one of the best places to find A5 graded cuts.

• Expect to pay $100 or more per pound for the highest quality Japanese wagyu from a butcher shop.

Costco

• Costco has started carrying wagyu beef in many locations, both in store and online.

• Their offerings include steak cuts like ribeye and New York, as well as ground wagyu beef.

• Costco’s wagyu is exclusive branded American and Australian wagyu, not imported A5 graded Japanese wagyu

• Prices range from $99.99 per pound for ground wagyu up to $149.99 per pound for ribeye steak cuts.

Whole Foods Market

• Whole Foods Market has wagyu beef available in the meat department at some locations

• They offer a small selection of wagyu cuts, such as ribeye, tenderloin, ground meat etc.

• The wagyu at Whole Foods is from American wagyu cattle breeds It is not A5 graded Japanese wagyu.

• Expect to pay $80 to $120+ per pound.

Wegmans

• Wegmans grocery stores have carried wagyu beef for many years. They have an especially large selection available at stores in the northeastern US.

• Wegmans wagyu offerings range from steak cuts to burgers and meatballs. You can find A5 Japanese wagyu for around $150 per pound.

• Most other wagyu cuts run from $90-$120 per pound. Wegmans sources from American wagyu cattle breeds.

Online Stores

• Various online retailers like Snake River Farms, Lone Mountain Wagyu, and Holy Grail Steak Co. offer wagyu beef for home delivery.

• Online is the easiest way to source authentic Japanese A5 wagyu. Expect to pay $200+ per pound.

• American wagyu options from online farms cost $100-160 per pound typically.

What to Look for When Buying Wagyu

If you want the real experience of Japanese wagyu beef, make sure to read labels closely. Terms like “wagyu-style,” “Kobe-style,” or “American-style wagyu” indicate that the meat is not imported A5 graded Japanese wagyu. The cattle breed, specific cut, grading, origin, and marbling score should always be clearly specified. For Japanese wagyu look for labels like “A5 Miyazakigyu ribeye.” When buying any wagyu, freshness and good marbling are key – the better the marbling, the better the flavor and texture will be.

Is Wagyu Worth the Price?

There’s no denying wagyu beef commands premium pricing. While you’ll pay a hefty price-tag, true high-quality wagyu provides a buttery, rich meat experience unlike any other. The melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and depth of flavor imparted by the marbling makes wagyu uniquely delicious. For special occasions and memorable meals, the splurge is well worth it for most meat aficionados.

Now that you know exactly where to find wagyu beef available locally, it’s time to fire up the grill or cast iron skillet. Happy wagyu cooking! Let us know if you have any other tips for finding this luxury ingredient.