Kobe beef

noun

Ko·​be beef ˈkō-bē- How to pronounce Kobe beef (audio)
-ˌbā-
variants or less commonly Kobe
: highly marbled premium beef from Japanese Wagyu cattle of the Kobe region of southern Honshu that is noted for exceptional tenderness and flavor

Examples of Kobe beef in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the Butcher Shop by Niku, diners can access wagyu and Kobe beef, as well as smashburgers and chicken katsu sandwiches. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 Bo Social media videos of sizzling Kobe beef set ablaze by a raging flamethrower are what got me through the door at Pho Duoi Bo in San Jose. — Associate Restaurant Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Dec. 2024 The firm adds Dishoom to its growing slate of restaurant investments, including Japanese Kobe beef chain Kisshokichi and Spanish casual dining brand Goiko. — Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2025 Meat is of course at the heart of the menu, which offers filet mignon, ribeye, New York strip, lamb chops and other prime cuts of meet, plus a wagyu experience ($225) built around Kobe beef purchased at Japanese auctions. — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Kobe beef

Word History

Etymology

Kobe, Japan

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Kobe beef was in 1889

Rhymes for Kobe beef

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Browse Nearby Words

Kobe
Kobe beef
kobellite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kobe beef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Kobe%20beef. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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