8 of the Most Expensive Cuts of Beef You Never Knew You HAD to Have!
You love steak, and even in a recession you want the best that money can buy. But how much money are you really willing to drop to buy the “perfect” steak?
Let’s say you have an unlimited budget…what would be the best steak that your money could buy? Here’s a list of the 8 most expensive types of beef. The prices listed below are based on USDA Prime quality beef, but prices will vary according to your geographic location, the portion size, and grade of beef selected.
Not all beef is created equal. If you want to eat the best steak of your life, it’s gonna cost you…and it’ll be worth every penny.
The Best of the Best
1) Kobe Beef
This beef comes only from Kobe, Japan; therefore, costs more the further you travel from Japan. What makes it so special? Well, it comes from Wagyu cows that have been massaged with sake-fed grain fodder and given one beer a day. This makes the beef tender, flavorful and wonderfully marbled. You can find this in most of the top, high-end steakhouses in the U.S. like Japonais in Chicago.
At the Renga-tei Restaurant in Kobe, a cut of Wagyu, wrapped in rice paper and seared on an iron grill, then served with salmon and salad is $206. Chef Varley’s “Triple Seared” Japanese Kobe in Las Vegas costs $33 an ounce. So, an eight-ounce serving is $264.
2) American Wagyu
This type of beef comes from Wagyu cows imported from Japan but raised here in the U.S. They are rare (there aren’t very many of them) so they are expensive. They, too, are tender and very flavorful. You can find this type of beef at BLT Steak in New York City. There, an American Wagyu 12-oz. ribeye runs $92.
3) Tenderloin
Typically, the most expensive cuts of beef are taken from the most tender parts of the cow. These are the parts that don’t get “overworked” in the animal’s lifetime. Therefore, they’re tender. Tenderloin is an amazing example of this. Try The Tenderloin Room in St. Louis.
The “Pepperloin a la Tenderloin” dish at the Tenderloin Room (which consists of slices of specially seasoned, marinated tenderloin) costs $38.
4) Filet Mignon
Now, this is exquisite. Filet mignon is taken from the small end of the tenderloin (called the short loin) and is known as the “king of steaks.” It can often be cut with a fork, it’s so tender. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. You can find delectable filet mignon at most any upscale steakhouse, but I prefer an at-home version delivered by the Kansas City Steak Company. They’re widely known for their corn-fed beef – especially the filet mignon.
A 12-oz. filet at BLT Steak in NYC is $42. Six 6-oz. filets from Kansas City Steak Company run $64.95. Definitely a better buy.
5) Kansas City Strip
Strip steaks, taken from the short loin, are particularly tender, but not as tender as the tenderloin. They can, however, but cut into thicker portions which is appealing to lovers of more rare beef.
Sometimes called New York Strip or Delmonico, you can find strip steaks just about everywhere!
6) Porterhouse
Ahhh, the Porterhouse! Part tenderloin and part strip steak, this hefty favorite divides the two with a bone that helps provide amazing flavor. The Porterhouse has a larger side of tenderloin than the strip. A T-bone is just the opposite. Peter Luger Steak House in Brooklyn, NY, is famous for its 2-person Porterhouse. Newsday describes it as “Fibrous, mineral-sweet beef, crusty and tender.” Yum!
A single Porterhouse at the Tenderloin Room in St. Louis runs $39.
7) T-Bone
The yin to the Porterhouse’s yang, the T-bone is a more conventional favorite, yet still pricey in upscale restaurants. The fact that this type of steak comes from the short loin section of the cow (and, thus, the most tender) makes it expensive. Find a great T-bone at Ruth’s Chris Steak Houses across the country. A good bet.
8) Bone-in Ribeye (Cote de Boeuf)
It’s the bone that gives this cut its flavor. Leave the bone in and you leave the rich flavor intact. The ribeye comes from the rib section of the cow, which gives it its hearty flavor. Bob’s Steak and Chop House in Dallas, TX, has a bone-in beauty to die for!
November 15th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
Isn’t a beef tenderloin and filet mignon the same thing?
Great site!
April 11th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
great description! very informative. thanks for the info!
August 14th, 2012 at 8:38 pm
What happened to Angus Beef?
September 1st, 2012 at 12:21 am
Max, you are kinda correct its simailar to a prime rib being a rib eye. tenderloin is just cooked whole and then sliced usually in an oven a Fillet is a steak usally grilled