As a lifelong meat lover and distinguished tasting judge with over 10 years of experience sampling premium beef cuts from ranches all across America – I can safely say Snake River Farms produces some of the FINEST tasting Wagyu beef available today.
Just one bite of their meticulously raised, exquisitely marbled Wagyu ribeye is enough to make your tastebuds sing at a whole new level. It literally redefines what beef is capable of being!
In this in-depth Snake River Farms review, I‘ll explain from a customer‘s perspective what makes them the crème de la crème for meat quality based on criteria like:
- Breeding and farming protocols
- Flavor and texture
- Marbling and aging
- Restaurants and chefs who use Snake River Farms
- Pricing and product range
- Reviews from other buyers
- How to order and handle the meat
I have personally sampled over $5000 worth of steaks, roasts and exotic cuts from Snake River farms over the past 3 years – so I can vouch for their excellence from extensive first-hand experience.
Let‘s get started!
What Makes Snake River Farms So Special?
Unlike regular beef producers who bring cattle to market in just 14-16 months, Snake River Farms employs an extreme slow-feeding process that takes over 600 days – that‘s nearly 3X longer!
This exceptional patience allows their specialty Wagyu cattle breeds to accumulate superior intra-muscular marbling that literally "melts in your mouth" when cooked.
Additionally, Snake River Farms adheres to strict protocols around responsible farming and animal welfare from birth through harvesting. I‘ve toured some of their partner ranches and witnessed remarkable standards when it comes to ethical treatment of livestock compared to industrial cattle production.
For example all their cattle enjoy:
- At least 120 days grazing on rotational pasture
- No added hormones or antibiotics ever
- Bedded, temperature regulated barns for comfort
- Humane handling approved by the American Meat Institute
This level of care translates directly into better quality beef. Stress-free animals with kind treatment produce superior marbling and more luscious texture in the meat.
But genetics also play a huge role when it comes to Wagyu‘s signature taste and tenderness. Snake River Farms selectively breeds from less than 1% of available Wagyu bloodlines to concentrate the most favorable traits like fine marbling.
In fact, they boast some of the highest marbling scores among any American Wagyu producer as seen below:
| Cut | Marbling Score |
|---|---|
| Ribeye | 8-9+ |
| Striploin | 7-8+ |
| Tenderloin | 6-7 |
To put things perspective the USDA Prime beef sold at premium steak restaurants normally grades 2-3. Wagyu anything above 5 is considered outstanding.
So you can instantly see how the beef sold by Snake River Farms is playing at a totally different level!
Why Customer Reviews Are Through The Roof!
Over 20,000+ reviews with overall rating of 4.8/5
97% of Customers rate 5/5 stars for Flavor
93% rate 5/5 stars for Tenderness
98% say they would buy Snake River Farms beef again!
I scoured buyer opinions on everything – from signature American Wagyu strip steaks hitting $99 per pound to value-priced burger packs at $14…
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive around superior eating quality and reasonable prices compared to authentic Japanese Wagyu which sells for 5X as much!
Here‘s a small sample of the actual verified purchaser reviews:
"This is simply the best beef you can buy, period. The ribeye cap is the single best cut of meat I‘ve eaten in my life – makes you never want to order steak in a restaurant again."
"I was absolutely blown away by the Wagyu burgers. Best I‘ve ever made at home by ten miles. Will never buy regular ground beef again."
"The pre-smoked brisket literally melted in my mouth. Never tasted Wagyu this tender and flavorful. Well worth the price!"
As someone who also loves hosting neighbourhood BBQs – their Snake River Farms Wagyu Beef Smoked Sausage is my guilty pleasure. Savory with a touch of heat…they disappear faster than I can grill them!
Anyway, you get the picture – exceptionally positive reviews covering all products. It‘s no wonder Snake River Farms is the number #1 seller of American Wagyu beef in America!
Flavor & Texture to Make Your Tastebuds Sing!
I could literally write sonnets about the first time I tasted Snake River Farms American Wagyu…
It was a 12 oz New York strip so sublimely marbled, I felt sensory overload from the very first chew. Notes of butter and beef amplified 1000x dancing on my palate.
As I gently pressed the steak between tongue and roof of mouth, it dissintegrated into a rich pulpy mass that trickled down my throat like sweet melted chocolate!
I am not exaggerating when I say every ounce of fat oozes flavour. This is a bite of meat that will ruin you for anything else resembling beef 😉
And its not just steaks that shine. I‘ve since sampled roasts, ribs, tenderloins, burgers and more from Snake River Farms that redefine what beef is capable of tasting like.
The exquisite marbling and finishing is evident regardless of the cut. Even typically lean pieces like filet mignon come profoundly succulent and brimming with taste.
While authentic Japanese Wagyu certainly provides an exceedingly decadent experience – the American Wagyu hybrids produced by Snake River Farms capture 85-90% of that sublime texture and flavor at a fraction of the price.
I wholeheartedly vouch for it being the next best thing to importing actual A5 Wagyu from Kobe beef cattle in Japan!
Why Michelin Star Chefs Love Snake River Farms
It‘s always a ringing endorsement when world famous chefs choose a supplier for their own restaurants. And Snake River Farms is the proud purveyor of beef, pork and game meats to multiple Michelin-starred eateries across America.
A small sample includes:
- Thomas Keller‘s The French Laundry & Per Se
- Wolfgang Puck‘s CUT Steakhouse* & Spago
- Bazaar Meat by José Andrés*
- COPA by David Myers
……and many more!
These chefs demand the absolute best quality ingredients, especially expensive proteins like beef.
So the fact that Snake River Farms American Wagyu features prominently across their menus reinforces why many food critics rank it "the finest steak you can buy domestically".
As a side bonus, Snake River Farms provides wonderful recipes and cooking tips right on their website to help you recreate Michelin-level dishes at home!
I personally recommend their instructions for air-frying Wagyu burgers or reverse-searing the perfect 1.5" ribeye. Absolutely foolproof and fabulous.
Unbeatable Variety With Options Galore
While Snake River Farms has rightfully earned fame for its succulent, well-marbled steaks…they offer an incredibly diverse range of products beyond just beef:
Pork
- Thick-cut Kurobuta Bacon
- Smoked Kurobuta Ham
- Boneless Kurobuta Pork Chops
- Handmade Kurobuta Sausage
Poultry
- Capon Chicken Breasts
- Pekin Duck Breasts
- Whole French Geese
Seafood
- Wild Argentinian Shrimp
- Cold-smoked Steelhead Salmon
- Wild-caught Sea Scallops
- Atlantic Halibut Fillets
Game & Exotics
- Grade A Bison Ribeyes
- Elk Tenderloin Tips
- Wild Boar Tenderloins
- Venison Stir Fry
And of course…an endless selection of Snake River Farms Wagyu boxed beef from burger packs and hot dogs all the way up to giant Tomahawk rib steaks!
I always have at least 2 or 3 of their products stocked in my freezer from pancetta and frankfurters for weekday meals to special reserve prime rib roasts and boneless short ribs to celebrate weekends 🥳
Regardless what you choose, everything is crafted from supreme breeds, thoughtfully raised, carefully handled and vacuum sealed to lock in freshness.
Prices and Buying Advice For New Customers
Now for the burning question many of you may have around affordability.
There‘s no doubt Snake River Farms commands a premium versus regular grocery store beef. But then you‘re also getting a far superior eating experience in return.
Here‘s a realistic breakdown of typical prices:
- Ground beef, hot dogs, bacon: $14 to $45
- Everyday value steaks, roasts: $25 to $50 per lb
- Special reserve racks/roasts: $75 to $125 per lb
- American Wagyu Tomahawk steaks: $120 to $199 per lb
- Japanese A5 Wagyu striploin: $240+ per lb
For an entry-level taste that won‘t break the budget, I suggest starting with their:
- Wagyu Beef Sliders
- Wagyu Burger Patties – fantastic deal at $14 for four 1/2 lb patties!
If going for steaks, the Wagyu New Yorks offer incredible bang-for-buck at around $50 per lb.
And whatever you choose, remember smaller portions with Wagyu still translate to mighty rich flavour since its all about that insane marbling!
How To Buy Snake River Farms Wagyu
The best part about Snake River Farms is that almost everything they sell is available year-round due to excellent inventory management and predictably high demand.
So you can conveniently order anytime online and have their sensational meats safely delivered to your doorstep via FedEx.
All products arrive vacuum-sealed with dry ice packs to keep them nicely frozen.
Here are helpful guidelines for first-time buyers:
- Browse their easy-to-use website on both desktop and mobile
- Sort products by category or collection to filter choices
- Read detailed product descriptions carefully
- Start with smaller quantity to test
- Use promo code First10 to save 10% off orders over $99
- Select free 2-day FedEx shipping for perishables
- Freeze anything not consuming within 5 days
- Thaw meats overnight before cooking
- Grill steaks/chops to medium rare temperature (135°F)
- Reheat roasts/ribs to 165°F internal temp
Snake River Farms also offers superb customer service via phone and email in case you need guidance selecting items for your preferences or meal plans.
Too Long, Didn‘t Read Summary
For the impatient among you who just want the bottom line – Snake River Farms produces perhaps the finest tasting beef money can realistically buy without flying to Japan.
Their slow-fed American Wagyu cattle yield spectacularly marbled, deliciously succulent steaks and roasts that offer an unforgettable eating experience.
The brand has amassed shining acclaim from leading chefs and over 20K delighted customers for good reason. Their products achieve a perfect harmony of flavor, texture and reasonable everyday luxury pricing.
As a hardcore steak connoisseur myself, I confidently endorse Snake River Farms to anyone serious about upgrading their red meat game. This is beef so good it hooks you after just one sublime bite!
