Fresh off the grill — the 2022 World Steak Challenge winners

The 2022 World Steak Challenge took place at Mansion House in Dublin on 28 September. After a full day of technical judging at FIRE Steakhouse & Bar, a Japanese Wagyu was crowned the overall winner, also taking the World’s Best Sirloin and World’s Best Grain-Fed.

A first-time entry from Japan, the winning steak is an A4 grade, 30-month-old female from Starzen Co. Raised in the Kagoshima region with a warm climate and abundant water, this ‘Akune Gold’ is carefully cultivated, resulting in high-quality Wagyu steak.

Ed Bennington, World Steak Challenge, said: “We are thrilled to have a new winner for this year’s World Steak Challenge. It is very exciting to have our first Japanese entry and consequently the winner of World’s Best Steak. The vast number of entries from across the globe truly showcases the quality of steak on an international scale.”

World’s Best Steak 2022 from Starzen Co, Japan.

The World’s Best Rib-Eye went to Australia’s Jack’s Creek, previously the 2021 Best Fillet, Best Rib-Eye and Grain-Fed winner. The 32-month-old pure bred Wagyu was grain-fed and praised by judges for being tender, juicy and full of buttery flavour.

The winning fillet steak was the MFC Carni female from Poland. Grain-fed and obtained by a cross breed of Polish Holstein and Black Angus, the steak is well-known for its intense flavours, sweet aroma and tenderness.

The Best Grass-Fed steak went to a full-bred Dexter from Linden Foods, Northern Ireland. The 30-day matured rib eye was described by judges as being very tender and rich.

Now in its eighth year, the competition had more entries than ever, with Ireland taking the most medals at 54, followed by England with 36 and Finland with 28.

This year’s challenge was judged by a blind panel of over 60 independent experts including Richie Wilson, well-known TV chef and Executive Chef of FIRE Steakhouse, and Ioannis Grammenos, Executive Chef and Meatologist of Heliot Steak House in London.