World Steak Challenge: Ireland claims World’s Best Steak title

A 32-day aged Irish angus striploin steak has been named World’s Best Steak for 2025 in the World Steak Challenge. 

The steak from Dawn Meats is available in Lidl and was also named Europe’s Best Steak, and the World’s Best Grass-Fed Sirloin.

The award ceremony took place at Smith & Wollensky in London on 10 November, and followed a two-day judging process in September at Vlees & Co Steakhouse in Amsterdam.

Dawn Meats commercial manager Neil Lanigan said the business was “thrilled” with the win and said it was an “endorsement of our beef quality, reflecting the hard work of our team and the trust our customers place in us”. 

“This award goes out to our farmers and producers,” he added. “It’s a massive effort and this award is a huge win for everyone in Irish beef.

“Irish beef is full of flavour, tenderness and juiciness – qualities that chefs and retailers around the world have come to rely on,” Lanigan said. 

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• Aussie beef wins World Steak Challenge for second year in a row

• World Steak Challenge: Australia claims World’s Best Steak title

A previous winner of the World’s Best Steak, Australian producer Jack Creek, saw its grain-fed pure-bred wagyu sirloin awarded Oceania’s Best Steak, and World’s Best Wagyu.

“Australia is the largest exporter of wagyu globally and we’re extremely excited to see how well our wagyu producers have placed in this year’s World Steak Challenge,” said Richard Sanders, country manager for the UK for Meat & Livestock Australia. “It’s a testament to the environment they’re raised in as well as the breeding programmes and strict processes our farmers follow to ensure their products are the very best.”

Other winners include Australia’s 2GR Wagyu Beef, which took home the award for World’s Best Grain-Fed Fillet; Fritz Fleisch & Fisch and Bēf&Co for a La Morocha ribeye that was named South America’s Best Steak; and Meat Japan, whose Juku Japanese Mother Wagyu Striploin A4 was named Asia’s Best Steak.

A total of 304 medals were awarded at this year’s World Steak Challenge, which is owned by William Reed: 122 gold, 109 silver, and 73 bronze, in both grain-fed and grass-fed categories.

Awards were also handed out in two company categories, with Spain’s Vacum Carnes de Lujo SL winning the Small Producer Award and Japanese producer Arita Wagyu Co earning the Large Producer Award.

Australia took home the most gold medals for its steaks at 25, whilst Ireland scored the biggest haul overall with 68.

“This year’s winner shows that the best steaks can be available to everybody and the lengths that suppliers and retailers go to bring top-quality beef to people’s tables,” said Restaurant editor Stefan Chomka. “Having a winning steak produced close to home is testament to the high quality of Irish beef and the country’s farming methods.”

A full list of winners can be found here.