Welcome back to "Project M," a series where the Post's food team visits restaurants featured in Florida’s first-ever Michelin Guide, with tips on how to spend the least amount of money without sacrificing taste or satisfaction.

To recap, nine local restaurants earned the Guide’s recognition: Konro, Aioli, Palm Beach Meats, Būccan, The Butcher’s Club, Coolinary, Moody Tongue Sushi, Nicholson Muir Distinguished Meats and Stage.

Subtract two West Palm Beach spots from our series — Konro and Moody Tongue Sushi — because both offer prix fixe menus and there’s no negotiating the price.

This go-round, my colleague Eddie Ritz and I visited Palm Beach Meats, which combines casual counter-service dining with a Wagyu-centric gourmet butcher shop where cuts are sourced from Japan, Australia and the U.S.

It's one of two West Palm Beach eateries to earn Bib Gourmand status (the other, Aioli), a recognition celebrating spots with high-quality food at great value.

The Guide praises its “eclectic, umami-rich offerings,” highlighting the Wagyu cheesesteak with truffle aioli and "PBM Wagyu Burger." Design takes cues from Japan with wood tables, caramel leather chairs and a neon "Nice to Meat You" sign.

But there's a lot more to love.

A clever (or is that cleaver?) original concept

Wagyu aficionados Eric and Meghan San Pedro built Palm Beach Meats around their beefy passion and opened the original South Dixie location in 2020. A second outpost opened in Orlando in late 2024.

Palm Beach Meats' famous Frito Pie is $11.

Every seat was taken during our off-season Tuesday afternoon visit. This afforded an opportunity to peek at what others ordered, lending inspiration to our next visits.

Not that we were unhappy with our meal comprising the aforementioned burger with chips for $19 and the famous $11 layered Frito Pie that's reminiscent of nachos, but dang, we could have spent the same on the tantalizing Filipino-inspired menu selections we spied at another table or swapped chips for tater tots paired with a burger.

As someone who loves eggs on pizza, salad, rice or really almost anything, the $19 Wagyu beef tapa bowl is next on my list.

Wagyu beef tapa is what I wish I ordered at Palm Beach Meats, a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand winner for 2025.

For dessert, we shared an ultra-rich brownie that counts beef tallow and Nutella in its ingredients. It's decadent in a fudge-y way and almost too much for one person.

Almost.

What to know: Palm Beach Meats

Meghan and Eric San Pedro of Palm Beach Meats. A second location opened in Orlando.

Excluding the four-ounce $90 Japanese A5 Wagyu steak, menu items range from $11 to $23. We pinky promise you won't leave hungry when ordering the less expensive menu items.

WPB hours: Monday to Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday until 7 p.m. Sunday until 5 p.m.

Etc.: Ample parking. Trendy beef tallow for diet and/or skin care is available by the jar. My favorite Ito En green teas are sold there too. Check out Palm Beach Meat's Facebook page for frequent special events and sales.

Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post's new food & restaurant writer. Care to share news tips about the local dining scene? Please send them to [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Michelin Guide dining under $25: What to eat at Palm Beach Meats, a Bib Gourmand winner