Earlier in the year, when a new little shop opened up a stone’s throw from The British School of Nanjing, few noticed, for locked down we were.
We’re talking here about the famed Wagyu, known by some to be any of the four breeds of beef cattle in Japan, and by others as cows that drink beer and get massages.
In Nanjing however, it means the two newly-opened Wagyu Shops; the aforementioned and a second location in Xianlin, one quite a bit out of the way that flung its doors open just last month.
As the name implies, therein find a multitude of frozen beef cuts, all carrying the distinctive Wagyu brand name. In itself, that’s nothing new, as the very same products are available in supermarkets across Nanjing that include the heavyweights, BHG and G-Super.
However, the point most worthy of mention (and really the point of this review) is that the prices in the Wagyu Shop are a ballpark 20 percent cheaper than those in the big-mall supermarkets.
To illustrate the point, The Nanjinger picked up a pack of three sirloin steaks for a mere ¥78. Granted the shop was having a sale that day, but nevertheless, the same would go for ¥150 in the likes of BHG.
And the verdict? Quality cuts indeed that sport the hallmark of Wagyu that is the kind-of marbled appearance. As for taste, this is the genuine steak flavour that is all too hard to find in Nanjing, but, in the case of our sirloin at any rate, all too easy to over cook.
But there’s more. Much more. The Nanjinger also tried out the chicken nuggets on offer; spice-infused good value at ¥15.50. At the exotic end of the spectrum, the Wagyu Shop also stocks Shark Catfish (swai), and at the other, hot-pot cuts of beef for those more salt-of-the-earth Chinese gatherings.
The Wagyu Shops are located beside the north gate of Cuiping International Community, 60 Jiangjun Avenue, Jiangning District, and at 10-6 Xuesen Lu, Qixia District.
