The 9 Best Places to Buy Kobe or Wagyu Beef Online in 2021

Best Overall: Holy Grail Steak Co.

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Wagyu is wonderful, but if only the best-known beef in the world will do, order some Kobe beef from Holy Grail Steak Co. The company offers some excellent Wagyu options, but also is the only online source for certified Kobe beef, which must be top-grade meat from the Tajima breed, raised in the Hyogo Prefecture.

To sell Kobe beef, you must be licensed by Kobe-Niku; there are six licensed butchers, thirty licensed restaurants, and one licensed online retailer. Only 1,000 heads of Kobe cattle are exported outside of Japan, and you’ll pay $199 for a seven-ounce steak from Holy Grail Steak Co. It will likely be the most special steak you’ve ever consumed. 

Best Variety: DeBragga

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Though Wagyu beef must come from certain breeds of cows, it can technically hail from anywhere and still be called Wagyu beef. Japan will always be the best source of Wagyu, but there are excellent options available from the United States and Australia as well. DeBragga's motto is “Eat Less But Eat Better!” Choose from top options from each origin, including the award-winning Miyazaki Wagyu from Japan (which DeBragga exclusively distributes) and several sampler boxes if you’re interested in tasting the range. The site also sells perfectly paired condiments, including fresh frozen wasabi (the real stuff), artisan soy sauce, and yuzu pepper paste.

Best Shipping Deals: Chicago Steak Company

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Since the founding of the Union Stockyards meat processing complex in 1865, Chicago has been known for its meat prowess. Chicago Steak Company carries on that tradition, specializing in Midwest-sourced, USDA prime beef. The Wagyu beef options cover the bases—there’s boneless strip, filet mignon, ribeye, flat iron, burgers, and a few combination boxes.

Chicago Steak Company also shares a wealth of steak resources on its site, from tips on cooking steak to common mistakes to navigating what all the terms mean. The company calls it “Steak University,” which sounds like the best possible university one could enroll in. Chicago Steak Company also has a rewards program, offers free shipping over $129 ($99 if you’re a new subscriber to the mailing list), and sometimes has deals where you'll get extra meat.

Best Restaurant-Quality: Snake River Farms

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Founded in 1968, the Idaho-based Snake River Farms is a favorite of chefs for Wagyu, including big names like Wolfgang Puck. In fact, Puck claims that he’d take Snake River's Wagyu over any Wagyu from Japan.

Known for its “American Wagyu,” Snake River’s beef is a cross between Japanese and American breeds, which the brand says brings together the beautiful marbling of Wagyu with the quintessentially beefy flavor Americans love. There are various cuts of steak, short ribs, prime rib, and ground beef to choose from, as well as snackier options like beef jerky and hot dogs. Snake River is owned by Agri Beef, also based in Idaho. Time to start grilling!

Best Subscription: Crowd Cow

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Crowd Cow was created to bring the freshness and quality of shopping directly from a local farmer to the good people of the internet. You can browse by the ranch or farm or by the cut—the purveyor offers both American-raised Wagyu (including full blood and crossbreed options) and Japanese Wagyu. The sourcing is completely transparent and traceable, and Crowd Cow offers a range of options, including Wagyu offal. If you anticipate needing a steadier supply of Wagyu, subscribers get free shipping and 5 percent off every order. If you wish you could shop for Wagyu at your local farmer’s market, Crowd Cow is the perfect alternative.

Best Homestyle Butcher: D'Artagnan

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D’Artagnan has long been a favorite of chefs and committed carnivores, thanks to its range of high-quality meat and wild game sourced from small, responsible farms and ranches. Its Wagyu comes with the same ethos—you can buy both USA-raised Wagyu and top-grade Japanese Wagyu from the prized Black Kuroge breed of cattle (which some say is higher quality than the Tajima cattle used for Kobe beef), raised using traditional methods. Both options are hormone-free and antibiotic-free. You can find a range of steaks, ground beef, and even an Italian-style Wagyu beef bresaola. D’Artagnan is, frankly, hard to beat.

Best Prices: Wasatch Wagyu

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Much of the “Wagyu” sold in the United States is actually Wagyu crossed with American breeds of cattle, usually Angus. Wasatch Wagyu out of Coalville, Utah prides itself on offering DNA-certified Japanese-bloodline Wagyu beef cattle that are registered with the American Wagyu Association. They’re pampered on a diet of fresh pasture and mountain stream water for 30 months under the supervision of professional ranchers.

Wasatch Wagyu offers brats, ground beef, marrow bones, roasts, jerkies, and a range of steak. And, for as little as $25, you can experience an actual Wagyu steak raised in the ethos of the original stuff from Japan. It’s a steal.

Best for Bulk Orders: Costco

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We all know and love Costco—there’s nowhere better to stock up on the essentials, from deodorant to snack mix to t-shirts. If Wagyu beef is essential for you, Costco sells it in bulk, including a 41-pound sampler of steaks, ground beef, and beyond for $1,999.99.

This “locker pack” features full-blood Wagyu beef raised in Washington and comes with eight rib-eyes, eight New York strips, two filet mignons, and more. If you’re not on the market for 41 pounds of top-grade beef, there are plenty of other top-grade Wagyu options in bulk. Perfect for your next cookout or for stocking your extra freezer with the good stuff.