Written on 12/28/2024
Name: Gyukatsu Sanjo Kawaramachi
Ratings and Comments
Exterior – N/A
Restaurant is on an upper floor of a building. so no rating for the exterior.
Interior – 4/5
This restaurant is actually much more spacious than your typical Japanese restaurant, but it doesn’t compromise on some of the nuance and details you would expect to see at any other nicer establishment in Japan. There is a large walkway that runs through the restaurant shaped like a square. On the outside of the walkway you have a variety of tables and even some private dining rooms. On the interior, which is where I sat, runs a long countertop adjacent to the kitchen so you can watch the action!
Menu/Price – 3.5/5
There is essentially only one thing on the menu, so if you don’t like beef, this restaurant is not for you. You order a set meal and the only thing you are selecting is the amount of meat you want (1, 1.5, or 2 cutlets). The pricing is a little high, but I do feel like you get a lot of value out of your meal. Your set meal includes the following:
- Beef cutlet
- Cabbage
- Wasabi
- Miso soup
- Rice (with one free refill)
- Small amount of potato salad
- Grated yam (intended to be added to your rice)
- Spicy cod roe
- Pickled vegetables
- Warabi mochi (small dessert)
- Assorted sauces
Drinks – N/A
Cold tea is complementary with your meal and there are pitchers at your table so you can refill at your pleasure. I did not order any other drinks and the tea was nothing special so I am leaving this section without a score.
Food – 3.5/5
The food here is quite good but not great. The main thing leaving me wishing for more is the breadcrumb exterior. In my two dining experiences (at different locations) the breading lacked crunch/crisp. It was actually very soft on both occasions. That being said, the variety of dipping sauces and sides are very enjoyable. Besides that, cooking each individual piece of beef to your liking is pretty fun and it allows everyone to enjoy their meal exactly as they want it. There is a reason why I find this significant. In Japanese dining culture, it is generally accepted that you eat your meal as the chef intended and prepared it. This concept could be really difficult for people who prefer their meats closer to well-done, because more often than not, you will be served something on the rarer side. But here, you can cook it as much or as little as you like!
Staff – 4/5
The staff here were particularly kind, accommodating and attentive during my visit. They helped me understand some of the prescribed ways to eat and cook the gyukatsu, and made sure I had everything I needed. What might you need? Actually a lot: dipping sauces, rice refill, maybe you burned through your pitcher of tea, and if your fire goes out before you are done cooking all of your gyukatsu they will reset it for you.
Restroom – 4/5
The restroom is very nice and clean!
Conclusion – 3.5/5
The star of the restaurant is the gyukatsu, and since it leaves a little something to be desired, I cannot award more than a 3.5. Highlights however are pretty much everything else. The restaurant has a very nice layout, the staff are fantastic, and the supporting elements of the meal are very good.
