Ireland has won the world's best steak award at the world steak challenge in London.

Ireland landed a record-breaking 68 medals at the prestigious awards. With 24 gold medals, Ireland was the top-performing country overall.

Dawn Meats and Lidl won the coveted award of the world’s best steak for a grass-fed Angus sirloin. The steak is sold by Lidl in Ireland and comes from cattle bred in Co Waterford.

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The judges said that the tenderness of the steak is similar to tenderloin, but it also carries a wonderful taste similar to a rib eye, adding that it “offers the best in terms of texture and flavour”.

Along with winning the world’s best steak award, Dawn Meats secured 11 gold medals for Ireland at the competition.

The awards ceremony took place on Monday night in London at the Smith & Wollensky restaurant, where ABP Foodgroup Ireland, Ashbourne Meats, Dawn Meats, Liffey Meats and Redmond Farm were among the finalists across the fillet, rib eye and sirloin grass-fed steak categories.

Most popular

Irish grass-fed rib eye proved the most popular steak, securing 12 gold medals at the competition, followed by sirloin, which won eight and fillet, which took home four.

Among the standout Irish winners were Dawn Meats, Ashbourne Meats and ABP Ireland, whose entries impressed judges with their marbling, tenderness and flavour profiles.

The world steak challenge is now in its 11th year and is regarded as the ultimate benchmark for steak producers worldwide.

This year’s judging panel, comprising over 60 international experts, assessed entries on both raw and cooked criteria. Some 304 medals were awarded in total, with Ireland taking home the greatest haul of 68 gold, silver or bronze medals.

The awards are organised by William Reed Business Media, the publisher behind the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Massive effort 

Commercial manager with Dawn Meats Neil Lanigan said: " This award goes out to our farmers and producers. It's a massive effort and this award is a huge win for everyone in Irish beef.

"This award is an independent endorsement of our beef quality, reflecting the hard work of our team and the trust our customers place in us. Irish beef is full of flavour, tenderness and juiciness – qualities that chefs and retailers around the world have come to rely on.”

Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland chief executive officer Robert Ryan said: “Together with our valued Irish supplier Dawn Meats, we’re immensely proud our own-brand Irish grass-fed steak has been recognised as world’s best steak at the world steak challenge."

Speaking at the awards in London last night, Bord Bia’s beef sector manager Mark Zieg said that after three years of taking away a record number of medals in the world steak challenge, it is a fantastic win for Ireland to be awarded the world’s best steak award.

"Grass-fed beef from Ireland, produced under the Origin Green programme, continues to set the global standard for quality and sustainable production. These awards validate and reinforce Ireland’s position as a world leader in beef production," he said.