The world’s most expensive steak dinner isn’t publically available. With a standard price of about $3,390, Alexandre Polmard’s vintage cote de boeuf is only available to a select number of world-class chefs.
The most expensive steak cut available to the general public is the A5 Japanese Miyazakigyu Wagyu boneless ribeye. A single one of these steaks costs more than $1,200 when raw. That said, an A5 Japanese Hokkaido Wagyu boneless ribeye is a close runner-up, costing more than $1,100.
If you’re salivating for a taste of the world’s most expensive steak cut, we’ve got you covered. Let’s rank the priciest cuts and discover why some steaks are more expensive than others.
Why Are Some Steak Cuts So Expensive?
If you’ve ever dined at an upscale restaurant, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed how costly some steak cuts are. But, of course, this begs the question: Why are some steak cuts so darn expensive?
Typically, four factors influence a steak’s price:
- Tenderness
- Marbling
- Cut
- Supply and Demand
Let’s take a moment to discuss these influential factors to help you better understand why some steak cuts cost $20 while others cost more than $1,000.
Tenderness
One of the primary differentiators between a high-quality steak and a low-quality steak is tenderness. Most diners prefer a steak that seems to melt in their mouth and requires minimal chewing. But these cuts are often the most expensive.
Tougher, chewier steaks are more affordable, but they tend to be less enjoyable. Tougher cuts of beef may also be less flavorful, as they often contain more muscle tissue than fat.
The ratio between muscle and fat is also a significant factor determining a steak cut’s price.
Marbling
Beef marbling is a term that describes the ratio of fat to muscle tissue in a cut of meat. Highly marbled steak cuts tend to have a white-flecked appearance, as they contain fat globules that are evenly distributed throughout the muscle tissue.
Poorly marbled steak cuts might appear almost entirely red, with few flecks of flavorful fat. The more marbling, the richer the flavor. For this reason, many of the priciest steaks are beautifully marbled, with few hints of bright red muscle.
Cut
Steaks can come from several parts of a cow’s body, including the shoulder, flank, and loin. Depending on where a cut of beef comes from, a steak can be exceptionally tender or chewy and tough.
The cheapest beef cuts come from a cow’s front portion (chuck). But the priciest steak cuts come from the rib, short loin (the upper-middle part of the cow), and the round (the posterior region).
The most tender and flavorful portion of a cow is the tenderloin, the smallest muscle region. Consequently, tenderloin cuts tend to be the priciest steak cuts, as they’re in limited supply but incredibly popular.
Supply and Demand
The law of supply and demand commands the price of every commodity, from steaks to automobiles. Therefore, familiarizing yourself with this principle is key to understanding why some steak cuts are so expensive.
Supply refers to the quantity of an item. Demand refers to the number of people who want to purchase that item.
When supply is high, and demand is low, an item’s price falls. But when supply is low, and demand is high, an item’s price dramatically increases.
The priciest steak cuts tend to come from Japan, where grazing land for cattle is limited. In addition, Japanese cattle are treated to specialized diets and frequent massages.
As a result, Japanese beef is highly marbled, and therefore the flavorful, causing demand to skyrocket. Due to low supply and high demand, many of the most expensive steaks are highly marbled cuts from Japanese cattle.
Most Expensive Steak Cut: Summary List
- Miyazakigyu Boneless Ribeye
- Hokkaido Wagyu Boneless Ribeye
- Takamori Drunken Wagyu Coulotte
- American Wagyu Boneless Ribeye
- Japanese Kobe Ribeye
- Motobu Gyu Ribeye
- Olive Wagyu Ribeye
- USDA Prime Angus Tomahawk
- Australian Wagyu Striploin
- Grass-Fed Bone-In Ribeye
10. Grass-Fed Bone-In Ribeye
The meals a cow eats contribute to the flavor of its muscle tissue, aka meat. Cows that eat poor quality feed will naturally taste far worse than cows fed on organic grasses and hays.
As such, grass-fed beef tends to be pricier than other types of domestic meat. And grass-fed bone-in ribeye is one of the more expensive cuts, costing between $30 and $50 per steak.
While this might not seem too expensive, especially when compared to steakhouse prices, it’s crucial to remember that this price reflects the cost of a raw grass-fed bone-in ribeye. Depending on the venue and the added ingredients, ordering one of these at a restaurant could easily set you back $60 to $100.
Why It’s Expensive
This steak cut is expensive because it’s often in high demand due to its rich flavor. Grass-fed cattle also cost more to raise and maintain than cattle fed low-quality feed.
9. Australian Wagyu Striploin
Though Japan and the U.S. are known for producing some of the priciest cuts of beef, Australian steak can also cost a pretty penny! Australian Wagyu striploin is one of the costliest pieces of meat you can buy, typically retailing at about $100 per steak.
While this price pales compared to other high-priced steak cuts, it’s far more expensive than the average striploin cut. Notably, the loin cuts are some of the priciest steak cuts, and Wagyu cattle are some of the most prized cows on the planet.
Like American Wagyu beef, Australian Wagyu steaks come from cattle initially bred in Japan. These cows are imported to ranches and pastures worldwide, allowing steak lovers around the globe to enjoy flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth beef.
Each of these steaks (perfect for a New York Strip cut) costs about $100, though you might be able to score a better deal while in Australia and buying directly from a Wagyu cattle ranch owner.
Why It’s Expensive
Australian Wagyu striploin steaks are expensive because they come from cows well-known for producing marbled, high-quality beef. The striploin cut (often used to cook New York Strip steaks) also happens to be one of the priciest steak cuts.
Those in the U.S. will also need to factor in transport costs. These steaks can begin to rot if improperly frozen or refrigerated during the shipping process, so retailers need to spend extra funds on transportation. So, naturally, higher transport fees also inflate the final cost.
Are you interested in trying an Australian Wagyu striploin? Make it a surf-and-turf evening by enjoying an Australian Wagyu striploin and some of the world’s most expensive seafood together!
8. USDA Prime Angus Tomahawk
If you’re looking for a domestic steak cut that melts in your mouth, you might want to order a USDA Prime Angus tomahawk steak. This bone-in steak offers some of the most tender and flavorful pieces of beef of any domestic cow, making it a delightful treat for any steak lover.
However, you should know that a raw USDA Prime Angus tomahawk steak costs about $130. So, if you order this at a restaurant, you can expect to spend between $150 and $200.
Why It’s Expensive
The tomahawk steak cut is comparatively pricey. That’s because a tomahawk steak is cut from the rib section, an area that doesn’t see much muscle growth or definition through a cow’s life.
As such, the meat here tends to be very tender. And the softer a steak cut is, the more expensive it’s bound to be!
7. Olive Wagyu Ribeye
Many of the world’s priciest steaks come from Japanese cows, and Olive Wagyu ribeye is no exception. The cows responsible for these well-marbled cuts of steak are fed entirely on a diet of olives, resulting in distinctly sweet and savory beef.
This type of steak dates back to the late 1800s when olive trees became a worthwhile crop throughout Japan. Since that time, Olive Wagyu has transformed from a local delicacy into an international favorite.
However, getting your hands on a delicately marbled piece of Olive Wagyu ribeye is challenging. Only about two thousand olive-fed cows exist, and natural disasters like earthquakes consistently threaten their numbers.
If you can find an Olive Wagyu ribeye for sale, you can expect to spend at least $190 per steak. Naturally, more minor cuts of beef may be slightly less pricey.
Why It’s Expensive
Japanese Olive Wagyu is expensive because of high demand and an extremely limited supply. In addition, the olives used to feed the cows that eventually become olive Wagyu cuts are also far pricier than standard cattle feed.
It’s also crucial to consider transportation costs. This type of beef is only locally available in one tiny, rural area in Japan. If you live anywhere else, you’re going to pay more to put this steak on the table.
Besides, ribeye is one of the most expensive steak cuts. As such, Olive Wagyu ribeye is bound to be pricier than other types of steak.
6. Motobu Gyu Ribeye
Japanese Wagyu is the most expensive type of beef in the world. However, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of kinds of Japanese Wagyu steak cuts.
Motobu Gyu ribeye comes from black Wagyu cows raised in the Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Though this meat isn’t as intensely marbled as other types of Wagyu beef, it is raised in ideal conditions.
The cattle that eventually become Motobu Gyu steak cuts spend their lives roaming green pastures and consuming mineral-rich, locally-harvested seaweed. Their keepers devote most of their time to ensuring that each cow is healthy and comfortable, resulting in ribeye steak that costs at least $200.
Why It’s Expensive
The Motobu Gyu ribeye cut is expensive for several reasons. Firstly, the ribeye cut is one of the pricier beef cuts.
Secondly, the Motobu Gyu cattle enjoy a high quality of life that isn’t cheap to sustain. Thirdly, all Motobu Gyu steak cuts come from a small region of the Okinawa Prefecture in Japan.
The supply of Motobu Gyu ribeye steaks is limited, and there are tons of people who would do almost anything to get their hands on one! These factors combine to make the Motobu Gyu one of the most expensive steak cuts in the world.
5. Japanese Kobe Ribeye
Kobe beef has a reputation for being the priciest type of steak on the planet. But Kobe isn’t nearly as expensive as Wagyu cuts.
That said, the average A5 Japanese Kobe ribeye steak costs $350 when uncooked. If you order one of these beloved cuts of beef at a restaurant, you can expect to spend far more.
Why It’s Expensive
Kobe beef is well-marbled, just like Wagyu. But its high price point might stem from its worldwide reputation as the most tender and flavorful steak cut. Transportation costs are another aspect to consider, as all Kobe steak comes from Japan.
4. American Wagyu Boneless Ribeye
While the bulk of the world’s most expensive steak cuts originates from Japan, a handful are entirely American. The American Wagyu boneless ribeye is an excellent example.
This pricey steak cut comes from cattle raised in the U.S. but with Japanese ancestry. Like the Wagyu cattle in Japan, American Wagyu cows are treated to open pastures, regular body massages, and plenty of high-quality feed.
The American Wagyu boneless ribeye might be the most expensive cut of American Wagyu, with an average price tag of about $600 per raw steak.
Why It’s Expensive
The amount of labor and care required to raise Wagyu cattle often contributes to the high cost of Wagyu steak cuts. However, Wagyu beef is in high demand due to its reputation as the most flavorful and tender type of beef.
While this steak cut is tasty on its own, you could make the experience even better by adding some of the world’s most expensive spices. That said, you might want to avoid flavoring your steak with peppermint and cinnamon.
3. Takamori Drunken Wagyu Coulotte
Did you know that one of the world’s priciest steak cuts comes from drunk cows? Takamori Drunken Wagyu coulotte steaks cost $1,000 each, and they’re the final product of cattle that have spent their lives consuming alcohol-rich sake mash.
This particular diet keeps the cattle relaxed and sedated while imbuing their muscle tissue with a distinct flavor. The type of marbling seen in Takamori Drunken Wagyu steak cuts is astounding.
Why It’s Expensive
Few cattle ranchers are raising Wagyu cattle on sake mash. As such, Takamori Drunken Wagyu steak cuts are genuinely unique. They’re also highly marbled, soft and tender, and some of the world’s most in-demand types of beef.
2. Hokkaido Wagyu Boneless Ribeye
The Hokkaido Prefecture in Japan is stunning. It’s home to volcanoes, hot springs, ski resorts, and wide-open pastures.
As such, it should come as no surprise that one of the world’s priciest steak cuts comes from this region.
Hokkaido Wagyu boneless ribeye steaks cost $1,100 or more when uncooked and up to $1,500 when prepared at a fine Japanese restaurant. This high price has everything to do with flavor and marbling.
Why It’s Expensive
When you look at a cut of Hokkaido Wagyu, it’s challenging to tell where the fat ends, and the meat begins. Each cut is covered in a spiderweb of fat and soft muscle tissue, resulting in some of the most exquisite marbling you’ll ever find.
This ratio of meat and fat results in a melt-in-your-mouth texture and unforgettable flavor. Because Hokkaido Wagyu steaks are unlike any other steak cut, they demand one of the highest prices.
1. Miyazakigyu Boneless Ribeye
The A5 Miyazakigyu Wagyu boneless ribeye is the most expensive steak cut in the world (excluding restaurant cuts).
These steak cuts hail from the Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan. This area lies in the southernmost region of the country, an area known for breathtaking waterfalls, rolling green hills, and coastal cliffs.
It’s also home to some of the most pampered cows in the world.
Miyazaki cattle receive near-daily massages, openly graze across grass-filled pastures, and are extensively tracked. So when you order a Miyazakigyu steak, you’re ordering a cut of beef that can trace its lineage back more than a century.
The boneless ribeye is one of the priciest cuts and appears almost white due to the extensive marbling. At 11lbs per steak, these cuts of steak are some of the heftiest available options.
If you’re eager to experience the taste of this Wagyu beef, you can order it online. And while you’re at it, why not enjoy a glass of one of the world’s most expensive milk with this mouthwatering steak?
Why It’s Expensive
This steak cut is one of the costliest in the world due to its fine marbling, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, and hefty size. It’s also pricey due to the high demand for this particular type of beef and cut.
Are you interested in enjoying one of these high-priced steaks for yourself? The good news is that you can order a frozen or refrigerated Miyazakigyu boneless ribeye online. But the potentially bad news is that it’ll cost you about $1,200.
Enjoy the Most Expensive Steaks
The most expensive steak cut is the A5 Japanese Miyazakigyu boneless ribeye. This single steak costs more than $1,000, making it a flavorful fish fit for a king or a business mogul.
If your stomach is rumbling for a taste of one of the most expensive steaks in the world, you could order one of these boneless ribeyes online. But, of course, you could also opt for a more affordable domestic cut like a grass-fed bone-in ribeye.
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