Asahiya, a family-run butcher business in Takasago City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, has a staggering 43-year waitlist for its frozen Kobe beef croquettes.
Established in 1926, Asahiya introduced these beef croquettes to the market after World War II, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that they gained online popularity, resulting in extremely long wait times for customers. The third-generation proprietor, Shigeru Nitta, mentioned that they started online sales in 1999 and initially offered the sought-after “Extreme Croquettes” as a trial.
The croquettes, known for their high-quality ingredients, including fresh potatoes and three-year-old A5-ranked Kobe beef, continue to draw significant attention.