If you’re looking for a Snake River Farms review because you’ve been on the fence about digging deep in your pockets for American Wagyu beef, then this post is for you. Get my honest opinion on the meat, and see if I would order it again.
Not to brag, but we’ve eaten some of the best steaks from some of the best restaurants all over the world, from Toronto to Chicago to Las Vegas (which is home to 3 of only 8 U.S. restaurants certified to sell authentic Kobe beef). And while a steak dinner at a fancy restaurant is nice, it’s sometimes hard to stomach the bill. That’s the reason that we prefer to cook our own steaks at home using premium quality beef.
We usually opt for USDA Choice ribeye steaks from our favorite grocery store, because their Choice grade steaks are very close to Prime grade beef for half the price. And since we buy them on sale, we get quality ribeyes for around $7.99 per pound. Even chain restaurants average $25 – $28 for a 1 lb. ribeye, so that’s a huge savings. But occasionally we like to go all out and try something new.
So, of course, trying the Snake River Farms American Wagyu steaks has been on my bucket list for a while. Did the SNF Black and Gold Grade Wagyu ribeyes live up to my expectations? Read on to find out.
*Note – We purchased our Snake River Farms Wagyu ribeyes on our own and did not receive any special discounts or compensation.
This is not a sponsored post, but it does include affiliate links, which means if you click a link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
What is American Wagyu beef?
Snake River Farms dubs themselves “The Pioneers of American Wagyu”, but that begs the question… what exactly is American Wagyu beef?
Well, first you have to understand Japanese Wagyu…
“Wagyu” refers to Japanese cattle, and it literally translates to “Japanese cow”. There are 3 major Japanese Wagyu brands, but the one you’re probably most familiar with is “Kobe”. Pretty much all 3 brands are commonly referred to as “Kobe” beef, just like most tissue is referred to as Kleenex, whether it’s actually Kleenex brand or not.
So is Wagyu beef and Kobe beef the same thing?
No. Kobe beef is a brand of Wagyu beef, but not all Wagyu beef is Kobe. The three major Japanese Wagyu beef brands are Kobe Beef, Matsusaka Ushi Beef, and Ohmi Beef. Each comes from a different region in Japan.
What makes Wagyu beef so special?
Japanese Wagyu is famous for its intense marbling, or intramuscular fat, and is considered a delicacy. Because it has such a high concentration of fat, it is incredibly tender, and it is often served sliced thin in very small portions of only 3-4 ounces.
So how does that compare to American Wagyu?
According to the Snake River Farms website, the company first developed American Waygu when they created a brand new breed of cattle, cross-breeding the purebred Japanese Wagyu cattle with high quality American cattle in the 1980s. This new breed of cow yields beef that has superior marbling similar to Japanese Wagyu AND the robust beef flavor that American cattle are known for.
Even celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck says,
“It has the richness of Japanese beef with lots of marbling, but the flavor is more akin to what we’re used to in America. You can give me a pound of the best Wagyu from Japan, or a pound of this, and I’ll choose the [steak] from Snake River Farms every time.”
And if it’s good enough for Wolfgang, it’s good enough for me!
Snake River Farms Black Grade vs. Gold Grade – What’s the difference?
But which American Wagyu should you order? Snake River Farms sells two different grades of American Wagyu beef, just like you can buy different USDA grades of beef (Select, Choice, Prime). The American Wagyu is actually graded using the Japanese Beef Marbling Score (BMS) on a scale of 1 to 12. Here’s how they compare:
Black Grade
The Snake River Farms Black Grade steaks have a rating of 6 or above on the Japanese BMS scale, so while it’s not the best of the best, it still grades much higher than the best USDA Prime beef. A Black Grade ribeye from Snake River Farms has an average weight of 15 ounces, is cut 1.5″ thick, and will set you back about $75.
Gold Grade
The Gold Grade beef is the cream of the crop and the highest grade American Wagyu beef that you can buy, with a Japanese Beef Marbling Score (BMS) between 9 to 12. A 1.5″ thick cut Gold Grade American Wagyu ribeye will run you about $99.
Black vs. Gold – Which should you choose?
The choice is up to you, but if you’re going to spend a bunch of money on quality beef, why not spend a bit more and get the top of the line? The Gold Grade ribeyes will run you about 25% more than the Black Grade, but that’s still less than one steak dinner at a fancy restaurant (which could easily top $350 for two people). And if you don’t order the Gold Grade just to save a couple bucks, then you’ll probably be left wondering about the best of the best.
I ordered one Black Grade ribeye and one Gold Grade ribeye to see if I could tell the difference, and the Gold Grade was slightly more tender than the Black Grade in my opinion. Both steaks were excellent and a noticeable step up from USDA Prime, but if I had not tasted the two different grades side by side, I probably would not have noticed any difference.
Here is a photo of the two American Wagyu ribeyes from Snake River Farms after cooking. The one on the right is the Gold Grade and does have a noticeably higher amount of fat:
Initial Impression – Packaging, Delivery, Etc
The shipping costs associated with getting American Waygu beef delivered right to your doorstep may be a hindrance for you, but you know what they say… “You get what you pay for.”
Our Snake River Farms order arrived on time and perfectly frozen. Each of the items were individually vacuum sealed, and placed in a nice reusable insulated bag with the Snake River Farms logo.
It was packaged in two different insulated boxes with dry ice (we ordered 2 ribeyes that we kept for ourselves, and a Porterhouse and American Wagyu hot dogs that we gifted to my Dad). And even the boxes looked expensive. The glossy black box didn’t even look like cardboard.
Our order also included a high-quality personalized gift letter (Son of the Year right here!) and a brochure with cooking tips, perfect for gifting:
How I Cooked the Snake River Farms American Wagyu Ribeyes
I did NOT want to experiment on a $100 steak, so I stuck with what I like best in terms of seasoning and cooking method. Some people argue that this high quality of beef doesn’t need anything more than salt and pepper, but my homemade steak seasoning is my go-to so that’s what I used.
I seasoned my steaks liberally, because I had already decided to stay true to my own cooking methods.
After I seasoned the beef, I set my Weber charcoal grill up like a smoker and reverse seared the steaks. If you’re not familiar with reverse searing on a charcoal grill, it’s essentially smoking the meat first at a lower temperature and then finishing it off by searing at a high temperature. This cooking method makes it easier to get your steak to the desired doneness with maximum flavor and the perfect crust while limiting the risk of overcooking.
You’re only cooking the steak at a grill temp of around 250 degrees, so the meat won’t cook as quickly giving you time to dial it in to the perfect temperature for you.
Check out Snake River Farms meat offerings here!
The Taste
A Snake River Farms Wagyu review wouldn’t be complete without telling you about the actual TASTE of the beef…
Cutting in to the Wagyu ribeyes, I immediately noticed the lines of fat running through the beef, and if you’ve seen my YouTube videos you know that I always say “Fat equals flavor.”
And these ribeyes were dang flavorful. The extra marbling that you get with this American Wagyu makes the steaks incredibly tender, juicy, and delicious. Even after letting my steaks rest for a full ten minutes after pulling them off the grill, the juices were running all over the cutting board.
The taste of the meat was buttery and robust, and with each bite I was more and more impressed.
If you appreciate a fine steak and don’t mind paying for quality, then try these American Wagyu ribeyes.
Where to buy Snake River Farms meat?
If you’re lucky enough to live in an area that has grocery stores that sell Snake River Farms meat, then you won’t have to fork out for shipping. If not, you can purchase a wide range of quality meat products on the Snake River Farms website here.
Final Thoughts – Is Snake River Farms Waygu Worth It?
Snake River Farms Wagyu is the cream of the crop, and while the price tag is steep, the quality is unmatched. I’ve eaten a $100 ribeye at a fancy steakhouse in Chicago, and the Snake River Farms American Wagyu ribeye that came off of my Weber charcoal grill was better than that.
From the prompt delivery, superb packaging, and superior marbling and taste, you can’t go wrong with Snake River Farms meats. Would we order it monthly or even quarterly? No. At a higher price point, it just isn’t in our budget. But would we gift it to my Dad on Father’s Day or Christmas, or celebrate an anniversary with a quality steak cooked at home? You bet!
Check out Snake River Farms meat offerings here!
Want to watch me cook my Snake River Farms Wagyu ribeyes? Check out my YouTube channel below!
Comments & Reviews
Sher says
I have to agree with you on SRF quality. I have been a big fan of theirs since 2019.
I also like their less expensive line Double R Ranch( Hot Dogs and Pastrami from the Deli). I have been able to get in my local Grocery stores. I was lucky enough to be in Boise (at a known store) that actually has SRF in an Aged Cabinet. Though the cost is a little high, the proof is in the cook. Great for all special occasions.
Ed Choate says
The grocery store that we shop at has SRF Wagyu on the weekend. If they don’t sell out on the weekend and if they get too close to the “best by” date they wind up on the clearance shelf. I bought two sirloins for $10.99 and a strip steak for $7.99.
Every time I go shopping I always go to the clearance shelves first.
Eric says
I’ve eaten A5 wagyu in Japan from some of the most expensive steakhouses. While the taste is amazing, each bite releases like a teaspoon of fat into your mouth. I can only eat a few ounces before I start to feel a bit nauseated. Does American Wagyu from SNF have this effect? I’m considering ordering their gold-level standing rib roast for an extra special Christmas dinner.
Neal says
Well I can we didnt think so. We both ate the whole 1lb steak each at the same sitting. We both wanted more…
Mark Du Ree says
Neal, I’ve eaten SNF beef I’ve been able to get here locally at the Fry’s (Kroger’s local brand). It is fantastic. If you ever get a chance, sometimes Costco will have real Japanese Wagyu A5 ribeyes. I’ve found them a few times, usually around Christmas but once around Independence Day as well. Having lived in Japan for many years and been CEO of a company there, I’ve had many opportunities to entertain both overseas guests as well as local clients. I’m not a fish lover, so we had Wagyu on many occasions, Kobe, Matsuzaka, etc. So I’m very familiar with it. It is SO fatty that it is really a delicacy for sharing as opposed to eating a 12-16 oz steak like we often to here in the US. Right now, I have 3 Tri-tips in my freezer from Double 8 Cattle company that sold full blood Wagyu grown in the US and descended from Japanese cattle imported before exporting them was banned. Unfortunately, Double 8 just went out of business due to the health of the owner. If you run across any US grown full blood Wagyu, I’d love to know where to find it. Thanks for your videos!
Jay says
We just received several packages of SNF Wagyu hot dogs I purchased on a dare from a fellow hot dog snob. I was pleasantly surprised. I made the first tasting simple and quickly grilled up two of these pre-cooked premium frankfurters (they truly deserve more than be called “hot dogs”) on a gas stove-top non-stick pan and ate them simply in whole wheat buns with a bit of sauerkraut and a dab of spicy mustard. Great casing snap and the meat inside was luscious and just shamed all of my fave Kosher brands in terms of quality of meat, seasoning, flavor and texture. Next time I’ll try them grilled outdoors over charcoal or even beer steam one just for kicks. I’m sold on SRF and I’m now waiting on two Gold 6 oz filet mignon!
Jake Wilson says
I’ve ordered twice from Snake River Farms. First time was strictly to buy a few lbs. of hamburger to emulate the smash burgers KosmosQ did up on one of his videos. IIRC I fried mine on my Blackstone griddle. The hamburgers were delicious, very tasty, buttery fat to die for
The next time I ordered was recently and at least a year passed from this order between the first, but this order we bought a lot more. We ordered 4 slabs of St. Louis pork ribs, a dozen pounds of hamburger, a 17lb. Packer Brisket, two gold cap rolled & tied rib eyes (4 ounces each), 3- 8 ounce black grade rib eyes & I think that was it
First up was the good cap rib eyes. OMG they were so good. I had a hard time finishing my rib eye it was so rich. Next up some days later we made burgers. Now I’ll be frank as possible. IMO, the hamburger this time around was not as good as the two pounds we ordered for our first order. Thus was not a fluke as we have cooked their one pound packages of hamburger from this order 3X’s all together and my opinion is the same all 3X’s which is the burger was not as flavorful and not as much fat, +, the burger didn’t taste buttery to me at all. I could be wrong but I got the feeling because the dozen lbs. of hamburger was discounted (price wise), we were sold a lessor grade of Wagyu vs. the first time when I only bought two lbs. of hamburger only. The hamburger was good, just not as good as the first time I ordered it
The packer brisket was smoked at 225 degrees in our Rec Tec wood pellet smoker using mesquite wood pellets (Traeger brand wood pellets). I didn’t trim much in the way of fat off the brisket as it didn’t need much in the way of trimming. That brisket went 13 hours IIRC. I knew it was done as my temperature probe went in and out of both the flat and the point like butter. The flavor of this brisket was out of this world. What surprised me was how much fat was in the flat meat. I never smoked BBQ a brisket whose flat had so much fat, and to the uninitiated, that is a good thing. This was the 8th packer brisket ive had the pleasure of smoking. 5 if the previous packers were select and two were choice. Not all select packer’s flats were somewhat dry yet smoked appropriately. Anyways, the point was even fattier and the taste of the beef was superb, as was the flat
I bought all my other packer briskets from Walmart. A 17 lb select packer brisket (the last one) I got from Walmart was approximately $50. I paid $170 for the SRF brisket and I’ll do it again. The SRF brisket was to die for. In this instance, I got what I paid for. Some other notes on the SRF brisket, I used salt & pepper 50/50 to season. When it hit the stall temperature (170 degrees Fahrenheit) I wrapped it in pink butcher paper
I haven’t had a chance to try their pork spare ribs yet
Neal says
Wow! I’m typically not a brisket fan because I feel like it gets dried out and it’s just generally not my favorite cut of meat, but you might have sold me on the Snake River Farms brisket. I think the extra fat is what I’ve been missing in briskets I’ve made in the past. Of course my favorite cut of meat is ribeye, so that tells you I like the fat! I’ll have to add the SNF brisket to my list – Did you get the prime or Wagyu brisket? That’s a great tip about using the pink butcher paper when it hits the stall… I used that same paper when I made Poor Man’s Burnt Ends recently, and I definitely prefer it to aluminum foil. Glad to hear you’ve had such a positive experience with SNF too… we think their meat is awesome!
Neal says
As far as the hamburger meat goes, we’ve found inconsistencies with all grades of meat from our local grocery stores also… Maybe just has something to do with the cow or the inspector grading the meat that day. For instance, sometimes we’ll get Choice ribeyes from our local grocery store that we use, and even though they look similar and they’re both graded as Choice, they’ll sometimes taste like Prime beef and other times seem not as flavorful.