Just like the name suggests Wagyu Ya specialises in wagyu, and the best way to enjoy it is "Yakiniku" style, which is Japanese for "grilled meat". With an array of options for different cuts and grades, this is as good as Australian beef gets. The meat is cooked over a charcoal grill to fully render the fat and give it a unique flavour. Just to be sure, there are also à la carte and non-beef dishes.
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| Aburi Wagyu Uni Nigiri $10ea |
Our beef feast began with the wagyu nigiri. With a slice of uni on top the nigiri was torched giving it a nice smoky touch. The buttery uni also added a mellow sweetness.
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| Ox Tongue Steak $23 |
First up on the charcoal was the ox tongue, it was not the usual thin slices we anticipated. With an interesting chewy texture, almost like pig kidney, it carried a distinctive flavour.
We decided to try the M7 cuts this time after having sampled the M9 cuts on our previous visit. Although the M7 cuts have a lower fat content, there is still a fair bit of marble evenly distributed over the meat.
Cooking the meat is simple, as soon as the meat gets a nice char on one side flip it over to the other side - the whole process takes less than a minute (for those who like their meat well done you can leave it on the charcoal for a touch longer).
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| M7 Wagyu: Oyster Blade $25; Rump $25; Chunk Roll $22; Tri-Tip $25 |
The chunk roll was incredibly tender, fatty, and coated in delicious beef oils. It overloaded our palates with savoury flavours.
The tri tip was thinner than the other pieces, making it quicker to cook. It was just as marbled, if not more, than the chunk roll. This was the most tender cut of meat.
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| M7 Wagyu Rib Finger $19 |
The rib finger was the most dissimilar cut, which ultimately made it the most interesting. It is a thicker cut with more chew to it. When biting into it it's like a sponge bursting in beef oils.
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| Pork Belly $17 |
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| Mushrooms $6 & Asparagus $9 |
Being healthy piggies as much as we try to be, we got some veggies which gave a nice break from the meat's heaviness.
Food: 9/10
Service: 7/10
Atmosphere: 5/10
Highlight:
- Quality wagyu from M7 to M10+ grades
- Wish there was a joint in Sydney serving equal grade wagyu
- Unavoidable smoky environment
