Restaurant’s offering of unique Japanese beef makes it stand out in BP’s saturated Asian cuisine market
By Brooklynn Wong
Buena Park is home to an odd array of cuisine. Sure, there’s the crowd-pleaser Porto’s, and there are the experiential restaurants like Medieval Times and Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant at the Berry Farm. There are some big Korean chain restaurants.
And then there are a multitude of hole-in-the-wall places that are easy to overlook. Wagyu, at 7808 Orangethorpe, could fall into that category. It stands in the shadow of The Source, which is full of Asian cuisine options, and there are restaurants with similar food in a small radius. It is a small and unassuming storefront in a strip mall.
However, Wagyu has been in business for about a year and a half now, and has a loyal collection of patrons and some great offerings for casual and delicious fare.
“Wagyu,” broadly as a genre, is Japanese beef, and some call it the best meat on earth.
And Wagyu the restaurant’s beef is sourced from a family-operated beef company called HeartBrand. HeartBrand specializes in maintaining and protecting rare Japanese cattle breeds so the beef can be enjoyed by an American palate.
This beef that is shipped to Wagyu is also available for pre-packaged and preserved purchase in the restaurant, making Wagyu equal parts restaurant and meat market.
As for dining, their menu is small, but tasty, healthy and high-quality.
It is akin to WaBa or Flame Broiler, in that its main offering is a bowl in which you pick your rice and your protein.
However, the unique offerings such as Wagyu beef, Kurobuta pork and salmon make it unique. They also offer a “Wagyu Moco,” their take on the loco moco, which traditionally is a hamburger patty topped with a fried egg, over a bed of rice. The Wagyu version features Wagyu beef.
The ambience was not great for a sit-down meal, but the food was perfect as takeout. Not to mention the prices are incredibly reasonable. They are also active on social media and frequently post coupons and special deals on Facebook.
Its nuance makes it a nice addition to Buena Park’s array of options.
Wagyu is open daily from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
