The ‘Costco of Wagyu’ Opens a Japanese Barbecue Spot in Rowland Heights | Eater LA

"At the Rowland Heights flagship I found a theatrically staged Japanese barbecue with dramatically lit dining rooms that resemble Asian cooking-competition stages, complete with projected light shows and backlit shoji. The restaurant offers all-you-can-eat wagyu across tiered pricing and a $28 annual membership that discounts each tier (and an accompanying NFT that grants event access, discounts, and even “free food for life”); membership reduces the silver tier to $49.99 (regular $55) and the diamond tier to $75 (regular $85). The group sources wagyu primarily from Japan (and also from Australia and the U.S.) and raises some cattle in collaboration with domestic ranches, which lets them offer high-grade A5 beef at bargain-style all-you-can-eat prices across formats like yakiniku, hot pot, shabu-shabu, and even curry. Menu examples include wagyu short plate, pork belly, A5 top blade, T-bone steak, and A5 Miyazaki short rib, and the meal comes with typical barbecue sides such as kimchi, corn cheese, steamed eggs, pickled radish and a dozen other small dishes; gold and diamond tiers add dessert and nonalcoholic beverages (alcohol is extra). Service rules are strict—a 90-minute table limit with a 20% overtime penalty, a two-person minimum, a six-orders-per-round cap, and charges for leftovers. Chubby Cattle has expanded across Southern California (Rosemead, Monterey Park) and to Denver and Philadelphia with more markets planned." - Matthew Kang