Japan Has the 'World's Best Steak' According to 2022 Contest (2024)

Though Japan hadn't participated in the event previously, they still won on their first try.

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Japan Has the 'World's Best Steak' According to 2022 Contest (2)

Yesterday, the 8th annual World Steak Challenge was held in Dublin, Ireland. If you're not simply shocked to discover that such a carnivore paradise exists, steak fans will probably be genuinely surprised by the evening's biggest news: For the first time in the event's history, the award for World's Best Steak went to Japan.

The 2022 World Steak Challenge — which is organized by William Reed, the same publisher behind the coveted World's 50 Best Restaurants list, and hosted by the Irish state-run food board Bord Bia — handed out three tiers of medals (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) across three categories (Fillet, Ribeye, and Sirloin). Like a wine festival, any steak judged to be up to the proper standards earned the corresponding medal, and then six "World's Best" awards were given: a World's Best for all three categories, a World's Best Grain-Fed and Grass-Fed, and an overall World's Best Steak.

Since 2018 (minus a Covid-canceled 2020 event), top honors have gone to Finland's JN Meat. But this year, a Japanese producer entered for the first time, and — yup — they won the whole thing. The World's Best Steak, along with the World's Best Sirloin and World's Best Grain-Fed awards, all went to Japan's Starzen Co. for their "Akune Gold" Japanese Wagyu which came from an A4 grade, 30-month-old female raised in the Kagoshima region, an area said to be known for its warm climate and abundant water.

"We are thrilled to have a new winner for this year's World Steak Challenge," Ed Bedington, who represents the event, stated. "It is very exciting to have our first Japanese entry and consequently the winner of World's Best Steak. The vast number of entries from across the globe truly showcases the quality of steak on an international scale."

Other top awards went to Australia's Jack's Creek for World's Best Ribeye, Poland's MFC Carni for World's Best Fillet, and Northern Ireland's Linden Foods for World's Best Grass-Fed Steak. Interestingly enough, that last steak is sold by the major British retailer Marks & Spencer — and, proving that great steak doesn't have to be hard to find, other major grocers that earned Gold medals included Aldi and Lidl.

The competition received a record number of entries this year which were judged blind by a panel of over 60 independent experts including Richie Wilson, a TV personality and executive chef at Fire Steakhouse where the event was held. "To have the world's best beef cooked and served by our excellent team to a panel of industry experts was an absolute honor," Wilson stated. "A massive congratulations to all of the 2022 winners!"

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Japan Has the 'World's Best Steak' According to 2022 Contest (2024)

FAQs

Who won the World Steak Challenge 2022? ›

2022 Winners
CodeCompany NameMedal
Fil-077MFC CarniGold
Fil-034Carnes Pampeanas Al FuegoGold
Fil-021Devesa - Azul Natural BeefGold
Fil-060Albers GmbH & Jack's CreekGold
24 more rows

Why does Japan have the best steak? ›

It's All About the Marbling

What makes Wagyu beef so special is its enormous amount of fine-grain, intramuscular marbling. The Japanese Kuroge cow is best-known for developing kaleidoscopic bursts of fat throughout its muscles.

Does Japan have the best beef in the world? ›

Wagyu beef originates from Japan and is considered by many the best beef on the planet. With the name meaning “Japanese Cow” (wa = Japanese, gyu = cow), it can be found in four different types of Japanese cattle.

What is the #1 steak in the world? ›

However, according to Insider, there isn't any steak in the world like Wagyu beef from Japan: This expensive meat can sell for upwards of $200 a pound. Moreover, the Japanese government has strict controls over its production to ensure its quality and protect its value.

Who won the steak challenge? ›

Creekstone Farms Awarded North America's Best Steak at 2023 World Steak Challenge.

What is the best steak in the World Awards? ›

Australian producer Jack's Creek took home the accolade for its grain-fed wagyu black angus cross sirloin, which was also named the World's Best Sirloin and World's Best Grain Fed Steak as well as Oceanian's Best Steak.

How is wagyu beef killed? ›

How Are Wagyu Cows Killed? Wagyu cows are typically slaughtered in the same way that conventional cattle in the U.S. are killed — by driving a metal bolt to render the cow unconscious before slitting their throats.

What is Japan's top 3 beef? ›

Japan's "top three" wagyu brands — specifically Matsusaka Ushi, Kobe Beef, and Ohmi Beef — all hail from the Kansai region of Japan. While their bloodlines all trace their origins to Tajima beef, a subspecies of Japanese Black cattle from Hyogo Prefecture, each of these wagyu brands boasts a unique flavor profile.

Why Japanese steak is expensive? ›

Wagyu cattle aren't fed like normal cattle. They're fed on a specialized high-energy diet that keeps them happy and healthy while contributing to their famous marbling. They get three meals per day, and the food in those meals is often imported from other countries. In other words, these cows have expensive diets!

What is the king of all steaks? ›

Often referred to as “the king of steaks”, the Porterhouse is actually two steaks in one. One side of the bone yields a succulent and tender tenderloin, while the other side yields a flavourful striploin.

What is the rarest steak you can eat? ›

Blue steak, also known as extra rare steak or blue rare steak, is a steak that is lightly seared on the outside yet red on the inside. To achieve this, blue steak is cooked for a very short period of time. The result is a steak that is soft and tender, perfect for those that love that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

What country ate steak first? ›

Many historians have hypothesized that Italy is actually where the modern notion of cooking steaks originated. The origin story allegedly begins in Florence, which is arguably the location that birthed the Renaissance.

How many people have won the Big Texan Challenge? ›

To date, over 10,000 people out of about 90,000 people who attempted this challenge have accomplished this feat. According to the restaurant, when featured on the TV show Man v.

What is the world steak challenge? ›

The World Steak Challenge enables entrants to achieve an internationally recognised stamp of excellence, whilst providing an opportunity to engage with consumers and promote the benefits of eating steak which is sustainably sourced with good providence.

Is ribeye steak lean meat? ›

Is ribeye fatty or lean? Ribeye steak is one of the fattier steak cuts, as compared to leaner cuts of steak, like top sirloin and bottom round roast. As such, it is a decent amount of saturated fat. However, it's also a good source of good-for-you fats, like polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

Who are the judges on the World Steak Challenge? ›

Judges included Richie Wilson, culinary director of FIRE Steakhouse & Bar, Ioannis Grammenos, executive chef and Meatologist of Heliot Steak House in London, Paul Foster, chef-patron of Michelin-starred Salt in Stratford and GrassFed in Camden, Abdulrahman Alswailem, chef owner of Marble in Riyadh, currently ranked ...

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