Wagyu beef London: Where to find luxury meat in the capital

Steak has long been a staple of the London dining scene. It’s a simple, reliable order that rarely disappoints, but still feels special thanks to its sauces and sides. In recent years, though, even the most prized cuts of USDA and Scottish Angus have been eclipsed by something more luxurious in London's steak restaurants: wagyu.

For the uninitiated, wagyu refers to four Japanese breeds of cattle (Black, Polled, Brown and Shorthorn), famed for their rich flavour and remarkable marbling. While London’s best steak restaurants remain ever popular, wagyu’s strict grading system is what truly sets it apart.

How does the wagyu grading system work? Essentially, it’s graded by how much usable meat comes from the cow. Grade A means a high yield of meat, whereas Grade B means an average yield, and Grade C means a low yield. Each grade is then judged by the quality of the fat and its colour, before being labelled from one to five (with five being superior). So if you’ve ever seen a restaurant menu touting Grade A5 Japanese Wagyu, you now know why it’s so special.

Japanese Wagyu is considered the finest, but you’ll also find Australian and Yorkshire Wagyu in London, often at a more affordable price point. Most places serve wagyu steaks, but some restaurants instead use limited quantities of the meat in other dishes, such as sushi rolls, tacos and more. This means that alongside premium fine dining wagyu restaurants, you’ll find more affordable wagyu in London too.

Whether you’re celebrating in London with fine dining wagyu or looking to sample affordable wagyu in a more casual setting, these are the top restaurants for you.

Fancy wagyu restaurants in London

It’s a very special cut of meat, often reserved for treats and celebrations, so why not pull out all the stops and book somewhere with the atmosphere to match? These are some of our favourites right now:

TOKii, Marble Arch

What: A clean and crisp Japanese restaurant, within The Prince Akatoki hotel, TOKii is by no means a cheap eat, but the restaurant’s wagyu offering is unmissable. Enjoy seared wagyu sashimi with kizami wasabi and sweet soy, handrolls, and hot stone wagyu with grilled vegetables and spricy ponzu. There are set sharing menus too, plus plenty of sake and wine to wash it all down with. Alternatively, if you’re feeling bold, why not raid the restaurant's store of premium Japanese whiskey?
Where: 50 Great Cumberland Place, W1H 7FD
Booking for a special occasion? Discover private and group dining options at The Prince Akatoki
Book now: TOKii

Beast, Fitzrovia

What: From the people behind the Goodman mini-chain, Beast is a luxuriously appointed (albeit eye-wateringly expensive) restaurant in a basement space featuring glittering candelabras and long communal wooden tables. If you’ve got the funds though, you can head here to enjoy the likes of whole Norwegian king crab and triple-cooked chips flecked with black truffle shavings. Naturally, when it comes to the steak selection, wagyu is the star of the show, starting with tataki and sour radish and moving on to Sakura and Tajima-Wagyu kobe (all A5), along with a more affordable Australian ribeye cut.
Where: 3 Chapel Place, W1G 0BG
Booking for a special occasion? Discover private and group dining options at Beast
Book now: Beast

Park Chinois, Mayfair

What: Kitted out to look like a 1930s Shanghai speakeasy, Park Chinois is big-ticket special-occasion dining done right. While you’ll no doubt be distracted by the opulent, gold-drenched interiors, we’d recommend keeping focus when it comes to the menu. It’s Chinese fine dining, with the venerated cut making its way into fluffy charcoal bao buns, seaweed gyoza, noodle dishes, and stir-fries. Park Chinois also boasts several bars, so you won’t be short of post-meal cocktail options.
Where: 17 Berkeley Street, W1J 8EA
Booking for a special occasion? Discover private and group dining options at Park Chinois
Book now: Park Chinois

Akira at Japan House, Kensington

What: Working according to the ‘trinity of cooking’ (finest food, tableware, and presentation), regulars at Akira at Japan House love the menu’s wagyu beef and cheese croquettes, which come with foie gras. That said, there are so many wagyu options to choose from, including sukiyaki charcoal-grilled wagyu rum to share, wagyu ramen with Parmesan, and wagyu sushi. That said, our recommendation would be to go for the three or five-course wagyu omakase menus.
Where: 101-111 Kensington High Street, W8 5SA
Book now: Akira at Japan House

Engawa, Soho

What: Wagyu beef is the headline act at Engawa, a smart minimalist Japanese restaurant right by the Ham Yard Hotel. It’s luxury dining, with hot stone A5 sirloin and Kobe beef available. Alternatively, get your fix of marbled meat with the omakase offering, kicking things off with a chef’s choice of appetiser and seasonal soup before heading onto a bento box and A5 Kagoshima served on a hot stone. This one also includes a selection of sashimi.
Where: 2 Ham Yard, W1D 7DT
Book now: Engawa

Hot Stone, Fitzrovia

What: As the name suggests, this is a restaurant specialising in Japanese hot stone cooking. It involves the delivery of a volcanic stone heated to 450 degrees, upon which you’ll be grilling up cuts of meat, scallops and prawns. If you’re going a la carte, you can expect 100g portions of A5 sirloin (both Kobe and wagyu), but there are also two tasting menus offering up a selection of wagyu. Alternatively, if you’re deep into the wagyu addiction, you can enquire in advance about the A5 Kobe tasting menu.
Where: 3 Windmill Street, W1T 2HY
Booking for a special occasion? Discover event and party hire at Hot Stone
Book now: Hot Stone

Nobu Old Park Lane, Mayfair

What: Nobu London Old Park Lane features several premium wagyu offerings. There are Nobu-style wagyu sliders delivering melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef in soft slider buns, and you’ll also find wagyu dumplings with spicy ponzu, alongside Australian Wagyu rib eye with anticucho, plus a whole host of Japanese A5 Wagyu dishes cooked in various ways and styles. Think wagyu tataki, ishiyaki, tacos, and toban yaki. Whether it’s lunch or dinner, expect plenty of choices.
Where: COMO Metropolitan London, 19 Old Park Lane, W1K 1LB
Booking for a special occasion? Discover private and group dining at Nobu Old Park Lane
Book now: Nobu Old Park Lane

SUSHISAMBA, Covent Garden and City of London

What: Whether it’s the sweeping views of the City outpost or the jungle-inspired interiors of the Covent Garden site, Sushisamba’s two London locations sure know how to make an impression. Peppered throughout the menu, you’ll find premium Kobe served as gyoza with kabocha puree and sweet soy, parcelled up in empanadas, or served hot from the robata grill with kuromitsu and mustard cress. There’s also Kobe nigiri and sashimi, offering up seared A5 Kobe, with foie gras, shaved truffle, and yuzu peel.
Where: Opera Terrace, The Piazza, WC2E 8R; Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, 38-39th floor, EC2N 4AY
Booking for a special occasion? Discover private and group dining options at SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden
Book now: SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden; SUSHISAMBA Heron Tower

Affordable wagyu restaurants in London

While the hunt for cheap wagyu in London is a tricky one, we’ve uncovered some pretty affordable gems. Many of London's wagyu restaurants also have a more relaxed atmosphere, as well as great value wagyu.

STK, Holborn and Stratford

What: The London outposts of international brand STK act as a magnet for the Instagram crowd (you’ve definitely seen its famous purple-hued interiors on your feed before). It’s not all about looks here though, as STK also does a decent line in high-quality steaks. The wagyu here is sourced from Australia and is available in either sirloin or skirt form, best enjoyed with STK’s sumptuous sides such as black truffle mac ‘n’ cheese or parmesan-topped chips.
Where: ME London Hotel, 336-337 Strand, WC2R 1HA; 40 Celebration Avenue, E20 1DB
Book now: STK London; STK Rooftop Steakhouse & Bar

Machiya, Piccadilly Circus

What: Looking for affordable wagyu in London? Machiya offers just that, along with a casual and unpretentious setting. Comforting cooking is the name of the game here, and that extends to wagyu dishes too. Opt for small plates like niku dango, with spicy beef meatballs and itame sauce, or make it a full plate for a main course. You’ll also find wagyu beef katsu, served with wasabi mayonnaise and yuzu kosho, along with a whole host of hot Japanese comfort dishes, noodles, rice and more.
Where: 5 Panton Street, SW1Y 4DL
Book now: Machiya

Los Mochis, Notting Hill and City of London

What: You’ll likely have heard of Los Mochis by now, with two beautiful restaurants in London, along with two super exclusive omakase spots, Luna and Juno. It’s Mexican-Japanese cooking, so expect to see the likes of wagyu steak crudo tostaditos with sweet potato shells, carne tataki with chilli-sesame ponsu and a wasabi salsa, and seared wagyu guajillo maki rolls with crispy onions and fried capers. If you’re hunting for a fun wagyu restaurant that hums with colour, Los Mochis should absolutely be on your radar.
Where: 2 Farmer Street, W8 7SN; 9th Floor, 100 Liverpool Street, EC2M 2AT
Booking for a special occasion? Discover private and group dining options at Los Mochis London City
Book now: Los Mochis Notting Hill; Los Mochis London City

Kanpai Classic, Soho

What: Kanpai treats wagyu cookery like an art, and you’ll find the interiors and atmosphere match that ethos. The premise lies in a fusion of East and West, emerging as a new-school Japanese steakhouse. It’s been around for 20 years now, serving up a yakiniku (‘grilled meat’) feast menu with Himawari wagyu dishes like wagyu sugatayaki with nanatsuboshi rice from Hokkaido and a choice of steak cuts for your main. The most affordable feast menu comes in at around £55, but la carte and omakase menus are also available.
Where: 147 – 149 Wardour Street, W1F 8WD
Book now: Kanpai Classic

Dinings SW3, Belgravia

What: At Dinings SW3, the centrepiece is the exquisite A5 Japanese Wagyu sirloin - premium, dry-aged, and koji-cured - served with choices like garlic koji soy, yuzu chimichurri, and fresh English wasabi. But Dinings SW3 is great for more affordable wagyu too, thanks to its popular tender mini beef buns, finished with date teriyaki and a spicy sesame emulsion. Offering a balanced bite of umami, heat, and rich wagyu indulgence, it’s a perfectly handheld treat.
Where: Walton House, Lennox Garden Mews, SW3 2JH
Book now: Dinings SW3

Celebrating something special? Peruse our round-up of every Michelin-starred restaurant in the capital right now. Alternatively, for something extra special, peruse our round-up of London's luxury and Michelin-starred private dining rooms.

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What is so special about wagyu beef?

Wagyu is considered superior because it has higher levels of intramuscular fat, which gives the meat a marbled, finer texture, creating a richer, beefier flavour. It also has a lower melting point, contributing to a more satisfying and indulgent eating experience. These fats are also higher in monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, which are judged to be healthier than saturated fats.

Why is Japanese Wagyu so expensive?

Wagyu beef is more expensive than other breeds because it is of a higher quality. Plus, the Japanese government also tightly controls how much wagyu beef can be made and exported, to protect the value and quality of the product.

It can also be more time-consuming and expensive to rear wagyu cattle. It requires a stress-free environment, clean drinking water, and some producers will even feed cattle beer and massage the animals. Wagyu from elsewhere, like Australia, tends to be cheaper - though not in every case. 

What do wagyu cows eat?

Wagyu cattle are usually raised on a high-energy diet formulated to encourage marbling and improve meat quality. Their feed often consists of hay, grains such as barley, corn, and wheat, along with other specialised supplements and protein-rich grains. In certain cases, ingredients like rice straw or even byproducts from olive oil production (as seen in Olive Wagyu) are included in their diet.