Matu Kai: Brentwood’s New Wagyu Destination
On San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood, the sister location of Beverly Hills' beloved Matu opened in April 2025 and immediately became the most compelling new dining option for red meat lovers on the Westside. Matu Kai serves 100% grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farms in New Zealand — and nothing else. This is a restaurant built entirely around beef, and it earns that focus completely.
The original Matu in Beverly Hills has been running since 2021 and built a serious following for its steak omakase approach. Matu Kai brings that same philosophy to Brentwood with a dark, moody room, a massive wraparound bar, and a wood-fire grill visible from nearly every seat in the house.
“The five-course tasting menu at $87 per person includes bone broth, tartare, and a wagyu ribeye. It is one of the most affordable ways to eat quality wagyu in Los Angeles — and one of the best meals on the Westside.”
The Wagyu
First Light Farms produces 100% grass-fed wagyu in New Zealand — cattle raised on open pasture rather than grain-finished, which gives the beef a cleaner, more mineral flavor profile than the richer Japanese wagyu most LA steakhouses use. The result is deeply beefy, consistently arriving medium-rare, and tender in a way that doesn't feel heavy. For people who love the flavor of great beef without the richness of heavily marbled grain-fed cuts, this is the restaurant.
The ribeye and tenderloin are the central cuts. Individual steaks run $55–$85. But the smart order is the five-course tasting menu at $87 per person — it moves through ginger-kissed bone broth, steak tartare, a wagyu meatball in pomodoro, and a ribeye, finishing with a dessert course. For a wagyu tasting experience in Los Angeles, that price is essentially unmatched.
Beyond the Steak
Matu Kai isn't strictly a steakhouse — it's a beef restaurant. The menu extends across every form the ingredient can take: Tenderloin Satay with crying tiger sauce, Ribeye Ragu with hand-torn pasta, Harissa-spiced Brochettes, Beef Croquettes with celeriac purée, and the famous Wagyu Cheesesteak that became a signature at the original Beverly Hills location. The Spiced Tahini Caesar and Mediterranean Potatoes round out the supporting cast.
The Room
Dark, warm, and atmospheric — the kind of dining room that recedes and lets the food take over. A wraparound bar anchors the space, the open kitchen with its wood-fire grill gives the room a focal point, and the energy is upscale without being formal. It's the right setting for a date, a celebration, or any occasion that deserves a serious meal.
What It Costs
Individual steaks run $55–$85. The four-course menu starts at $64. The five-course tasting is $87 and represents the best value in the house — a full wagyu experience from broth to ribeye for less than what a single steak costs at comparable restaurants. Wine pairings are available. Sides are $12–$15.
