Japanese Waygu A5 at Costco

Is this possible? Wasnt there an article that said you cant get true Waygu in the US?

Anyway, a few of my friends might get this and have a dinner at home one night. 10 guys - $150 each.

http://www.costco.com/Japanese-Wagyu-Ribeye-A-5-Grade.product.100082950.html

 

You certainly can get it in the US. Heck, almost all Vegas

high end steak houses sell it

 

Until fairly recently that was a total scam, and in many instances still is.

I believe the ban was lifted in mid-2012.

 

You're right and I'm still sure lots of restaurants still sell steak that is anything but waygu.

 

I don't know if it's true, but it is possible. Due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, imports were banned for a couple of years. However, as ken2v stated, the ban was lifted in 2012.

As ND80 stated, the term "wagyu" is notoriously misused in the United States. However, stating that the beef is "Wagyu beef from Japan" would seem to be unambiguous. Hopefully it's true. I'm a little concerned that the link also mentions as a feature "Japanese Wagyu Kobe Beef," which seems highly unlikely. True Kobe beef is a particular brand of wagyu; it was never available in the U.S. until very recently, and even now in only vanishingly small quantities. The term "Kobe beef" isn't protected in the United States, and is subject to terrible abuse.

Grade 5 is the highest grade (the "A" has nothing to do with quality) -- but there are different quality levels within grade 5. The link talks about a key factor -- BMS -- but never specifies the BMS of its offering.

 

Has anyone tried American Waygu or the steak below?

http://www.costco.com/6---12-oz.-D%e2%80%99Artagnan-Kobe-Style%2c-American-Wagyu-New-York-Strip-Steaks.product.11608240.html

Any comments? Better than prime?

Might go this route. Does not look like we have 10 guys interested in doing the A5 Japanese Waygu.