Chubby Cattle and Wagyu House are two concepts under Chubby Group, known for AYCE Wagyu dining. Chubby Cattle offers BBQ and Shabu-Shabu, sourcing directly from prestigious ranches like Toriyama in Japan. They use a tiered pricing system (Silver, Gold, Diamond) with member discounts. Wagyu House complements its BBQ with premium seafood, also following a tiered pricing model. Both brands are expanding, with plans for over 70 locations by 2025 including right here in Orlando.
We spoke with April Li, marketing director about the two concepts to learn more – read on!
Wagyu House and Chubby Cattle BBQ/Shabu share many similarities but also have distinct differences. All three brands follow an all-you-can-eat (AYCE) concept. However, Chubby Cattle Shabu specializes in Japanese-style hot pot, while Wagyu House and Chubby Cattle BBQ focus on Japanese BBQ.
All three brands offer a three-tier pricing structure:
WAGYU HOUSE & CHUBBY CATTLE BBQ:
- Silver tier is priced at $55 with a member price of $49.99.
- Gold tier is priced at $75 with a member price of $65.
- Diamond tier is priced at $85 with a member price of $75.
CHUBBY CATTLE SHABU:
- Silver tier is priced at $45 with a member price of $38.
- Gold tier is priced at $78 with a member price of $68.
- Diamond tier is priced at $98 with a member price of $88.
Each tier includes everything from the previous tier, plus additional premium items. Beyond the extensive selection of appetizers—including sushi, hand rolls, fried dishes, vegetables, and seafood—we offer three types of Wagyu beef:
- American F1/F2 Wagyu, sourced from Masami Ranch in Northern California, where we partner directly for ranch-to-table freshness.
- Australian Full-Blood Wagyu.
- Japanese A5 Wagyu.
Our $28 annual membership covers dining benefits for two guests per visit, providing a $10 discount per person and a complimentary birthday meal across all states under the same concept.
Among the most popular menu items are:
- Japanese A5 Wagyu cuts, including A5 Short Rib, A5 Top Blade, and Full-Blood Wagyu Steak.
- Salmon Nigiri & Scallop Sashimi with Caviar & Uni.
- Beef Tongue Platter.
- Frenched Rack of Lamb.
Wagyu House Atlanta is our largest location (13,000+ sq. ft.), featuring a stunning rooftop bar with an Atlanta city view. Compared to Chubby Cattle, Wagyu House offers additional premium seafood options such as:
- Grilled Prawns.
- King Crab & Jumbo Shrimp.
- Premium Seafood Platter.
This combination of AYCE Wagyu, Uni, Caviar, Foie Gras, and King Crab offers an exceptional value for an $80 per-person BBQ experience.
The Evolution of Chubby Group & Their Wagyu Supply Chain
Chubby Group originally specialized in Chinese hot pot. However, after establishing our own Wagyu supply chain, we built a strong competitive edge. Unlike other restaurants that purchase Wagyu in portions cut, Chubby Group directly imports whole Wagyu cattle through exclusive partnerships.
- We are the sole U.S. partner of Toriyama Ranch (Japan).
- We have an investment agreement with Wagyu Master (S Food Inc.), Japan’s largest Wagyu exporter.
This allows us to optimize each Wagyu cut for different cooking styles across our expanding portfolio of Japanese BBQ and Shabu-Shabu restaurants.
We also tailor menus based on regional demographics and cost structures. For example:
- Wagyu House Atlanta offers seafood platters and king crab because of lower labor costs, increasing value for customers.
- Chubby Cattle Shabu in Duluth introduced spicy soup bases to cater to local tastes.
Wagyu Selection & Customer Experience
Our Wagyu offerings come from the U.S., Australia, and Japan, giving customers the flexibility to choose based on their preferred fat-to-meat ratio:
- Japanese A5 Wagyu: Extremely marbled, melts in your mouth, but can be rich in large quantities.
- Australian Full-Blood Wagyu: Slightly leaner, offering a stronger beef flavor.
- American Wagyu (F1/F2): Crossbred with Angus cattle, making it flavorful yet less fatty, ideal for extended dining.
Guests at Chubby Group restaurants can explore these distinct textures and flavors to find their perfect Wagyu preference.
Upcoming Expansion Plans & Membership Program
Currently, Chubby Group operates 32 locations and aims to open 35+ more in 2025, reaching 70+ corporate-owned locations nationwide.
Our Chubby Club membership program will soon offer two options:
- Annual Membership.
- NFT Lifetime Membership.
Members will enjoy discounts, rewards, and exclusive perks across all locations. We also plan to expand partnership benefits, creating a more diverse community with 1000+ brands around the brand.
Upcoming Brands & Concepts (2025)
In addition to expanding our existing brands, we are launching more new dining concepts focused on affordable, fast-casual dining:
- Chubby Bowls (Winter 2025, NYC): North America’s first robot-powered, Wagyu-focused, healthy Chinese fast-casual restaurant.
- Chubby Don (Summer 2025, Arcadia, CA): A Japanese-style hamburger concept.
- Chubby Dumplings (Summer 2025): Dim sum and noodle-focused eatery.
- Chubby Tan (Summer 2025): A beef tongue specialty restaurant.
And the closest upcoming opening will be:
- NIKU X (February 2025, NYC): A Michelin-recommended luxury buffet BBQ.
- NIKU X Miami is also opening in Miami later in 2025 at 555 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, Florida 33139.
