Quick answer: An A5 wagyu filet mignon is a tenderloin steak from Japanese Black cattle graded A5, the top of the Japanese scale, with a marbling score of BMS 11 or 11-12. At Destination Wagyu you can choose from three: the 8 oz Miyazaki A5 filet ($165), the 4 oz Miyazaki A5 petite filet ($85) and the 8 oz Kobe Wine A5 filet ($160). Pick Miyazaki for a clean, sweet, buttery bite. Pick Kobe Wine for a slightly rounder, fruitier richness. Choose 4 oz to taste it and 8 oz to share it. Every A5 order includes a JPGA certificate and the animal's cattle ID.
Filet mignon is the steak people trust. It's tender, familiar and hard to get wrong. A5 changes the picture, because a cut that is normally lean now has fine marbling all the way through. This guide covers what you are paying for, how the three A5 filets differ, how much to buy per person, and how to cook one so it's worth the money.
What makes an A5 wagyu filet mignon different
A regular filet mignon is the leanest premium steak on the animal. It's very tender but mild, which is why steakhouses wrap it in bacon or pour sauce over it. An A5 filet mignon comes from the same muscle, the center of the tenderloin, but from Japanese Black cattle graded A5 with BMS 11 or 11-12. That marbling melts as it cooks and gives the filet the flavor it usually lacks.
- Texture: softer than any other steak. It cuts with a fork.
- Flavor: sweet and buttery, with deep umami. It's still less intense than an A5 ribeye.
- Richness: lighter than a ribeye or NY Striploin, so most people can eat more of it.
If you've found A5 ribeye too rich, the filet is usually the answer.
Miyazaki vs Kobe Wine: which A5 filet to buy
Both are Japanese A5 with BMS 11, both are 8 oz, and both come with a JPGA certificate and cattle ID. The difference is where the cattle are raised and how they are fed.
Miyazaki A5 filet ($165, 8 oz)
Miyazaki Prefecture has won the Prime Minister's Award, Japan's top prize for wagyu, four times in a row (2007, 2012, 2017 and 2022). Miyazaki bulls combine the Kedaka, Ito and Tajima lines. The result is a very clean, sweet filet with a silky finish. Choose this if you want the purest version of A5 or if this is your first A5 filet.
Kobe Wine A5 filet ($160, 8 oz)
Kobe Wine wagyu comes from Japanese Black cattle fed fermented grape pomace, the skins and seeds left over from winemaking. It is not Kobe Beef, which is a separate certification. The feed gives a slightly rounder, softer richness with a faintly fruity note. Choose this if you've had A5 before and want a different expression, or if you're doing a side-by-side tasting.
Quick comparison
| Miyazaki A5 filet | Miyazaki A5 petite filet | Kobe Wine A5 filet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 8 oz | 4 oz | 8 oz |
| Price | $165 | $85 | $160 |
| Marbling | BMS 11 | BMS 11 | BMS 11 |
| Flavor | Clean, sweet, silky | Clean, sweet, silky | Rounder, softly fruity |
| Serves | 2 (or 1 big appetite) | 1 | 2 (or 1 big appetite) |
| Paperwork | JPGA certificate + cattle ID | JPGA certificate + cattle ID | JPGA certificate + cattle ID |
4 oz or 8 oz: how much A5 filet per person
A5 is rich, even in the filet. Most people are satisfied with 3-5 oz as a main course, especially with sides.
- Tasting or first time: one 4 oz petite filet per person.
- Dinner for two: one 8 oz filet, sliced and shared, plus sides.
- Tasting for two: one Miyazaki and one Kobe Wine 8 oz filet, each sliced in half. Everyone tastes both.
- Big steak eaters: one 8 oz filet each.
Two 8 oz filets come to $325, which qualifies for free 2-day shipping (free on orders of $250+). Orders of $500+ ship free overnight.
A5 Japanese vs Full Blood Australian filet
If you want filet with wagyu richness for everyday dinners, the Full Blood Australian wagyu filet mignon ($90, 8 oz) is BMS 9+, the highest Australian marble score. It's beefier and firmer than A5, and you can serve a full 8 oz per person. The A5 filet is the special-occasion steak. The Australian filet is the one you can eat more of. Browse every option in the filet mignon collection.
How to tell an A5 filet is the real thing
"Wagyu filet" on a menu or label can mean crossbred beef raised anywhere. Real Japanese A5 has paperwork. Look for:
- The origin prefecture named on the product, such as Miyazaki
- The A5 grade and a BMS number (11 or 11-12)
- A JPGA certificate and the animal's individual cattle ID, which you can trace
Every Destination Wagyu A5 order includes both. Our A5 verification guide shows how to read the certificate.
How to cook an A5 wagyu filet mignon
- Thaw slowly. Move the sealed filet to the fridge for about 24 hours. Take it out 20-30 minutes before cooking.
- Season simply. Pat it dry, then use flaky salt just before it goes in the pan. Skip marinades and heavy rubs.
- Sear hot and fast. Use a cast-iron pan on high heat with a thin film of wagyu tallow or neutral oil. Sear each side until a deep crust forms, then sear the edges briefly.
- Stop early. Aim for rare to medium-rare, about 125-130°F inside. Thicker filets can finish for a few minutes in a 275°F oven.
- Rest and slice. Rest it 5 minutes, then slice it into thick coins so everyone gets a taste.
Serve it with something light and acidic: a simple green salad, pickled vegetables, steamed rice or grilled asparagus. A5 does not need sauce.
Shipping and support
Filets ship frozen by FedEx Monday through Thursday. Thursday orders ship overnight only. No signature is required. Shipping is free on 2-day orders of $250+ and on overnight orders of $500+. Arrives perfect. We will always make it right. If anything is off, tell us within 24 hours of delivery and your concierge will take care of it.
FAQ
Is A5 wagyu filet mignon worth it?
Yes, if you want the most tender steak with real wagyu flavor. A5 marbling gives filet the richness it normally lacks, and it's lighter than an A5 ribeye. For a first try, the 4 oz Miyazaki petite filet ($85) is the lowest-risk way in.
How much does an A5 wagyu filet mignon cost?
At Destination Wagyu, the 4 oz Miyazaki A5 petite filet is $85, the 8 oz Kobe Wine A5 filet is $160 and the 8 oz Miyazaki A5 filet is $165. That's roughly $20-21 per ounce.
Is A5 filet mignon better than A5 ribeye?
It depends on what you want. Filet is more tender and less rich. Ribeye has more fat and a bolder, beefier flavor. If A5 ribeye feels like too much, choose the filet.
How much A5 filet do I need per person?
Plan on 3-5 oz per person for dinner. A 4 oz petite filet serves one, and an 8 oz filet serves two when sliced and shared.
Is Kobe Wine wagyu the same as Kobe Beef?
No. Kobe Wine wagyu is Japanese Black cattle fed fermented grape pomace. It's graded A5 with BMS 11 but is a different product from certified Kobe Beef.
Does an A5 filet come with a certificate?
Yes. Every Japanese A5 order from Destination Wagyu includes a JPGA certificate and the animal's cattle ID.
