The Senku Pure Wagyu fillet took the top title at the 2026 World Steak Challenge in Amsterdam after being judged against 470 entries from more than 30 countries.
For Brisbane diners, the result quickly became more than an overseas accolade. Fatcow on James Street was serving the winning fillet in Fortitude Valley, giving locals a chance to try the Queensland beef that had topped the international field.
That supply did not last long. The Senku fillet sold out at the restaurant within days of the win, with more being sought for the venue.
The result was also the first World Steak Challenge entry for Paradigm Foods, the company behind Senku Pure Wagyu. More than 60 judges assessed the competition entries blind, examining both raw and cooked qualities.
Trade and Investment Queensland described the win as the first time the World’s Best Steak title had been awarded to a Queensland-bred steak.
A Queensland Story From Paddock To Plate
The cattle behind Senku are bred by fourth-generation producers Adam and Hayley Rea at Aberfoyle Station near Torrens Creek in Central Queensland.Photo Credit: Senku Pure Wagyu/InstagramThe cattle behind Senku are bred by fourth-generation producers Adam and Hayley Rea at Aberfoyle Station near Torrens Creek in Central Queensland.
The Wagyu program has roots stretching back to the 1990s, when Adam Rea’s father and uncle brought genetics from Japan to Australia. The breeding program was subsequently refined for Australian conditions over several decades.
Senku is classified by Paradigm Foods as purebred Wagyu with a minimum of 93.75 per cent Japanese genetics.
After leaving the Central Queensland property, the cattle are finished at Sapphire Feedlot near Goondiwindi, where they spend at least 400 days on a purpose-formulated Wagyu ration.
The finished beef is graded using AI-assisted marbling imaging and hand inspection.
Taking On Beef From Around The World
The World Steak Challenge placed Senku alongside a varied international field that included Japanese Wagyu, Irish grass-fed beef and North American grain-fed beef.
The Amsterdam result followed other recognition for the brand in 2026, including gold at the Australian Wagyu Association Wagyu Branded Beef Competition and gold in a Wagyu class at the Sydney Royal.
Most Senku Wagyu is exported overseas, making its appearance at Fatcow a direct local connection to the Queensland-produced beef.
For Fortitude Valley diners hoping to try the winning fillet, the first allocation had already sold out, with the James Street restaurant working to secure more.
Published 15-September-2026
