A dozen venues make Newport Beach a top destination for coveted wagyu beef.

There was a time when only the most ardent fans of Japanese cuisine were familiar with wagyu beef. The word entered the mainstream thanks to American and Australian wagyu, the result of interbreeding Japanese cattle with, say, Black Angus.

Bona fide Japanese wagyu — and Kobe, an even loftier wagyu variety — has since taken their place on discerning menus. A5 wagyu is the highest possible grade of Japanese beef. These luxury cuts can seem nearly all white with marbling; after brief searing, they are mind-bogglingly luscious.

Mastro’s was among the first stateside restaurants to offer Japanese A5 wagyu and elite A5 Kobe. An Australian wagyu tomahawk and halal American wagyu filet also complement the destination’s 10 USDA Prime cuts.

How popular are its wagyu offerings?

“Wagyu accounts for 15% to 20% of our steak sales,” says Markis Allen, executive chef at Mastro’s Ocean Club in Crystal Cove Shopping Center. “The 8-ounce New York strip is the most popular of the Japanese A5 cuts. At the other end of the spectrum, the 33- and 40-ounce Australian wagyu tomahawks offer another sort of celebration, sliced and shared at the table.

“These don’t replace the pleasures of a 22-ounce USDA Prime bone-in rib-eye — wagyu is a world all its own, a specialty experience. Whether wagyu or something else luxurious, our guests, especially in Newport Beach, want something special. We strive to go above and beyond.”

Here are a dozen places to enjoy the world of wagyu.

Telefèric Barcelona | Fashion Island
Wagyu empanadas! The winning new Spanish destination fills them with braised wagyu short ribs finished in a vibrant mojo sauce and topped with a lacework-leaf-shaped Manchego cheese cracker. There’s also a generous American wagyu rib-eye chuletón, bone-in and seared asador style over an open fire.

Ocean 48 | Fashion Island
Sourced from wine-fed Hakima Farms cattle, a 3-ounce starter of seared A5 Kobe New York strip at the spectacular venue serves as a prelude to mains of Australian “Japanese black” wagyu filet in two sizes and a behemoth American wagyu tomahawk.

Set Steak & Sushi | Newport Center
Intriguing options abound at the Pendry’s fine dining room. Date-night perfect: the cook-it-yourself American wagyu (or off-menu Japanese A5) hot rocks starter. Japanese A5 wagyu katsu sliders bring generous slices of super-tender filet. From Australia: “chocolate” New York strip from cacao-nib-fed cattle.

Mastro’s Ocean Club | Crystal Cove Shopping Center
The special-occasion favorite offers A5 Kobe and A5 wagyu in 2-ounce increments — starting at 4 and 8 ounces, respectively — and a generous appetizer of A5 wagyu carpaccio. Often featured: A5 wagyu filet mignon. There’s an American wagyu boneless rib-eye, too.

Joey | Fashion Island
Global-hit starters at the stylish spot include an American wagyu beef carpaccio whose truffle-Dijon aioli, capers and Grana Padano crisps are only the beginning. It’s an explosion of flavors and textures whose showstopping presentation literally stops other diners walking by.

Red O | Fashion Island
The wagyu smash burger is the start of the Mexican magnet’s weekday Express Lunch menu. It brings two Australian wagyu patties, American cheese and more on a brioche potato bun. Crazy-delicious fries are finished with tajín and cilantro.

Sushi Roku | Fashion Island
An impressive array of wagyu offerings at this sumptuous intersection of Japanese and global flavors includes prettier-than-a-picture A5 wagyu carpaccio; A5 “sushi” and crispy-rice hanabi, both strikingly presented; elaborate star-of-the-show A5 wagyu hot-stone ishiyaki; and creative American wagyu options, too.

Javier’s | Crystal Cove Shopping Center
Mexican heritage meets contemporary sophistication and … Australian wagyu. Lauded for its top-notch steaks as well as seafood and resort decor, Javier’s presents its wagyu tomahawk rib-eye with crispy smashed potatoes, refried beans, blistered peppers and a gobernadora shrimp-and-melted-cheese taco.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar | Fashion Island
The premium-beef icon presents a Japanese A5 wagyu strip — described as “A5+” — from renowned Kagoshima Prefecture as a sizzling hot stone experience with miso glaze, grated horseradish and artisanal salt. Also offered: an Australian Carrara wagyu strip with black garlic sauce.

RH Ocean Grill | Fashion Island
Served amid transporting decor on the roof at luxury home furnishings destination RH, the charred wagyu rib-eye arrives with a caramelized crust and thinly sliced. Sourced from Australia’s lauded Westholme, the 14-ounce cut makes it ideal for sharing.

Pelican Grill & Bar | The Resort at Pelican Hill
Grand decor, polished service and a relaxed vibe are the winning combination. Make it an all-American wagyu experience with beef tartare — minced steak and pickled Dijon mustard atop a toasted brioche trio — followed by a wagyu filet with bordelaise and bearnaise sauces.

The Butchery | Crystal Cove Shopping Center
Want to make a wagyu steak at home? The Butchery offers a spectrum of American wagyu cuts — skirt steak, picanha, tri-tip, boneless rib-eye and tomahawk — plus a Japanese A5 New York strip. The hottest tip of all: Don’t overcook!