Legendary Butcher Brings Japanese Wagyu Beef to San Francisco

Guy Crims, known as 'Guy the Butcher,' has spent decades perfecting the art of premium meat sourcing and preparation.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Guy Crims, the lead butcher at Niku Butcher Shop in San Francisco, is a legend in the world of Japanese Wagyu beef. In 2017, he was responsible for bringing 4.3 metric tons of the prized beef into the United States. Crims' interest in butchery started 41 years ago when he read Upton Sinclair's novel 'The Jungle' as a teenager. After working in the meat industry for decades, including a stint getting an architecture degree, Crims found inspiration during a trip to Nepal in 2015 to continue his career at the highest level.

Why it matters

Crims' dedication to sourcing and preparing the finest quality Wagyu beef has made Niku Butcher Shop and its adjacent steakhouse a destination for meat lovers in San Francisco. His commitment to the craft of butchery and passion for premium ingredients showcase the artistry that can be found in the meat industry.

The details

Crims provides Niku Steakhouse, next door to the butcher shop, with a steady supply of premium Wagyu beef. The production process for Wagyu beef is highly rigorous, with Japanese cattle being fed a special high-energy diet for up to 700 days, much longer than the 120 days for domestic beef. This results in more flavorful and expensive meat. Crims travels the world visiting ranchers to find the best Wagyu, some of whom raise beef exclusively for Niku. Behind the counter, Crims trims and prepares the meat like an artist to create unique cuts.

  • Crims started working in the meat industry 41 years ago at age 14.
  • In 1989, Crims was hired by the Pape Meat Company in Millbrae, where he worked for the next two-and-a-half decades.
  • In 2015, Crims considered leaving the meat industry but found inspiration during a trip to Nepal.
  • In 2017, Crims was responsible for bringing 4.3 metric tons of Japanese Wagyu beef into the United States.
  • In 2019, Crims met with representatives of the Omakase Restaurant Group during a trip to Japan, which led to his current position.

The players

Guy Crims

Also known as 'Guy the Butcher,' Crims is the lead butcher at Niku Butcher Shop in San Francisco and a legend in the world of Japanese Wagyu beef.

Niku Butcher Shop

A butcher shop in San Francisco that provides premium meat, including Japanese Wagyu beef, to the adjacent Niku Steakhouse.

Niku Steakhouse

A steakhouse in San Francisco that receives a steady supply of premium Wagyu beef from Niku Butcher Shop.

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What they’re saying

“They have these huge prayer wheels which are six or eight feet high. Because they're across the entrance, you have to squeeze around them to get in and out, so you're confronted with your spirituality no matter what you believe. And as I was passing through, I had this lightning bolt moment where I knew I was going to continue with the industry and I was going to do it at a level that I didn't even know I was capable of.”

— Guy Crims, Butcher (potreroview.net)

The takeaway

Crims' dedication to sourcing and preparing the finest quality Wagyu beef has made Niku Butcher Shop and its adjacent steakhouse a destination for meat lovers in San Francisco, showcasing the artistry that can be found in the meat industry.