Considering how affordable it is compared to other Japanese-imported steaks sold in the U.S., is Costco's A5 Japanese Wagyu really worth buying?

Wagyu, directly translated, means “Japanese cow,” which makes literally all beef from Japan wagyu. It is the number scale, and that coveted A5 rating, that brings with it the cachet.

What is Wagyu beef? In English, "Wagyu" translates to Japanese cow. Wagyu beef comes from a Japanese horned cattle breed that's typically red or black, according to the American Wagyu Association.

Find Japanese beef flights at Prime & Providence, the steakhouse from Dominic Iannarelli in West Des Moines. The flight contains three 3-ounce portions of certified A5 Japanese wagyu.

Japanese beef flights at Prime & Providence, $199 The flight contains three 3-ounce portions of certified A5 Japanese wagyu.

Critic Brad A. Johnson says these bento boxes from one of the region’s finest Japanese barbecue restaurants are designed to travel.