Gyu-Kaku

Gyu-Kaku
30 Victoria Street
#01-01 CHIJMES

238 Thomson Road
#02-46 Velocity @ Novena Square

11 Tanjong Katong Road
#01-16 OneKM

81A Clemenceau Avenue
#01-18 UE Square

1 Vista Exchange Green
#02-17 The Star Vista

http://www.gyu-kaku.com.sg/

Raw Wagyu Signature Platter - Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi, Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Nakaochi Karubi, Beef Wagyu Karubi (SGD $64.80)

Good Japanese Barbecue For Meat Lovers

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 6
Spent about SGD $48 per person.


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Founded in 1996 in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, and operated by Reins International Inc., Gyu-Kaku is an international chain of Japanese yakiniku restaurants, offering affordable, delicious, and fashionable Japanese barbecue. Then founder Tomoyoshi Nishiyama successfully grew Gyu-Kaku worldwide, and the restaurant regularly makes lists of 'most successful business' or 'business to watch'. Gyu-Kaku opened its doors in Singapore in December 2004.

Ambience at Gyu-Kaku is warm and intimate. Low and warm lighting cast shadows upon the dark, sturdy wooden furnishings. Privacy screens partition the area, ensuring each group of diners have some privacy within their own cocoon. Even the layout takes privacy into account, booths are not directly aligned across from each other. Ventilation is pretty good, despite all the grilling, there is but a hint of cooking odour in the air. I also like the spacious tables which can accomodate many plates at once.

Service at Gyu-Kaku is attentive and personalised. A call-bell to alert staff is present at each table, and staff respond quickly. They carry out requests efficiently, and display good product knowledge on the menu, able to state the weight of a platter, or describe the different types of beef steak cuts. Helpful too, they proactively offer to clear away empty / dirty plates throughout your meal. Staff will also assist to change the barbecue grill at the mid-point of your meal. Very professionally done.

Food at Gyu-Kaku is all about Japanese barbecue, which means lots of meat. In particular, wagyu beef and kurobuta pork feature heavily on the menu, with a variety of cuts to choose from. Generally, their meat is succulent and well marinated, and you cook the raw items directly on the built-in grill at your table. Portions are sized for 2 people, best shared. While prices are comparable to most restaurants, it's not the most affordable place to dine at. Budget about SGD $48 per person for a meal here.


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Gyu-Kaku Signage

Gyu-Kaku Exterior

Gyu-Kaku Interior

Cuts Of Steak

Privacy Partitions

Seating

Table Setting

Binchotan Charcoal Grill

The Beer Asahi Super Dry (SGD $10.90) is a Japanese pale lager, brewed by Asahi Breweries in Tokyo, within the Kanto region of Japan. This bright, clear golden yellow brew has a tame aroma of hops, grass, corn, and apples, with a smooth, refreshing, medium body and medium carbonation. Taste is floral bitter sweet, with notes of wheat, rice, malted barley, and lemon citrus, with a super dry, crisp finish. Very drinkable.

Beer Asahi Super Dry (SGD $10.90)

The Garlic Fried Rice (SGD $4.60) has a light smoky aroma, with a delicate fragrance from the garlic. The rice is nicely fluffy and savoury, with the garnish of garlic chips lending a burst of flavour. Not bad, though I've had better.

Garlic Fried Rice (SGD $4.60)

The Furikake Yaki Onigiri (SGD $5.80 for 2 pieces) has large rice balls, packed with sticky fluffy Japanese rice, sprinkled with furikake. Baste it with a light shoyu tare / light soy sauce, then grill it. I realise in hindsight that this is best eaten towards the end of the meal, as the rice grains tend to stick to the metal grill. If you eat it mid-way, get staff to assist in changing the grill. Still, it's delicious, the smoky aroma on the sweet salty rice balls is so appetizing, and the exterior takes on a crisp crunchy texture after grilling.

Raw Furikake Yaki Onigiri (SGD $5.80 for 2 pieces)

Raw Furikake Yaki Onigiri

Cooked Furikake Yaki Onigiri

The Choregi Salad (SGD $5.80) features a bed of fresh, crunchy lettuce, topped with cucumber, daikon radish, crisp seaweed flakes, and a light shio sauce / salt sauce. Refreshing, the juicy sweet vegetal crunch of the vegetables, the earthy notes of the seaweed flakes, followed by the salty savoury sauce. Yum.

Choregi Salad (SGD $5.80)

Choregi Salad

The Vegetable Wrap Set (SGD $5.80) features fresh, crunchy, green lettuce and purple lettuce, meant for wrapping the grilled meats before eating. It's served with several condiments; garlic, chili paste, mayonnaise, and chopped bird's eye chili / chili padi, which can be paired to your liking.

Vegetable Wrap Set (SGD $5.80)

Vegetable Wrap Set

The Beef Wagyu Karubi (SGD $24.80), or boneless beef short ribs, is among the optimum cuts for yakiniku / grilled meat barbecue, due to its tender, juicy texture, and high amount of marbling. Good amount of savoury flavour, it's best cooked 80% of time on one side, and only 20% of time on the other. The portion here is served with 80g, or 5 slices of beef wagyu karubi / short ribs, and the medium thin slices can be cooked in about 10 seconds or so.

Raw Beef Wagyu Karubi (SGD $24.80)

Raw Beef Wagyu Karubi

Raw Beef Wagyu Karubi

Grilling

Cooked Beef Wagyu Karubi

Cooked Beef Wagyu Karubi

The Raw Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi (SGD $43.80), or Beef Wagyu Zabuton Karubi, has a decadent melt-in-the-mouth texture, with a rich, oily feel to the meat, and robust savoury flavour. The high amount of marbling gives it a luxurious bite, silky and smooth, completely luscious. The portion here is served with 80g, or 5 slices of beef wagyu zabuton / chuck, and the medium thin slices can be cooked in about 10 seconds or so.

Raw Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi (SGD $43.80)

Raw Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi

Cooked Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi

The trio of pork in the Kurobuta Platter (SGD $39.80 for 270g) is good value for money. All have good savoury sweet flavour, but the main difference is the texture and amount of fat in each. The Pork Belly has the most fat, with a satisfiying sizzle, and a decadent tender chew. The Pork Jowl has a lovely bouncy chew, and a luscious juicy meaty flavour. The Pork Collar is tender but lean, with a more stringy chew than the others. This platter makes for a good filler.

Raw Kurobuta Platter - Pork Belly, Pork Jowl, Pork Collar (SGD $39.80 for 270g)

Raw Kurobuta Platter - Pork Belly, Pork Jowl, Pork Collar

Grilling

Cooked Kurobuta Platter - Pork Belly, Pork Jowl, Pork Collar

Cooked Kurobuta Platter - Pork Belly, Pork Jowl, Pork Collar

The Assorted Meat Platter (SGD $25.80 for 240g) has a trio of beef, all nicely juicy and savoury salty. The Beef Karubi or boneless beef short rib is the most tender cut, having a soft chew. The Beef Harami Shio or salt marinated beef skirt steak has a deliciously bold flavour, having a little moisture with a strong chew, requires slightly more effort to cut than the others. The Beef Fire Karubi or chili marinated beef short rib has a light spicy heat, with a soft chew to texture. This platter makes for a good filler.

Raw Assorted Meat Platter - Beef Karubi, Beef Harami Shio, Beef Fire Karubi (SGD $25.80 for 240g)

Raw Assorted Meat Platter - Beef Karubi, Beef Harami Shio, Beef Fire Karubi

Raw Assorted Meat Platter - Beef Karubi, Beef Harami Shio, Beef Fire Karubi

Grilling

Grilling

Cooked Assorted Meat Platter - Beef Karubi, Beef Harami Shio, Beef Fire Karubi

Cooked Assorted Meat Platter - Beef Karubi, Beef Harami Shio, Beef Fire Karubi

Loved the Beef Tongue (SGD $10.80) with its meaty bouncy chew to texture, and light savoury flavour. This cooks rather quickly, and is a good way to start the meal.

Raw Beef Tongue (SGD $10.80)

Raw Beef Tongue

Grilling

Cooked Beef Tongue

The Basil Chicken & Cheese Fondue (SGD $5.80) is very nice, with large chunks of chicken marinated in a zesty herbal basil pesto. Takes slightly longer to grill due to its size, but it comes off smoky herbal sweet savoury in flavour, with a nice tender juicy chew to texture. The gooey cheese lends good flavour, but it can also be eaten on its own.

Raw Basil Chicken & Cheese Fondue (SGD $5.80)

Grilling

Cooked Basil Chicken & Cheese Fondue

Cooked Basil Chicken & Cheese Fondue

The Gindara Miso Foil (SGD $19.80) has slices of gindara / black cod fish, steamed in a foil packet along with onions, straw mushrooms, miso paste, butter, and carrots. The result is the black cod fish becomes so tender and flaky, with a light sweet salty savoury flavour. Takes about 5 - 7 minutes to steam on the grill, well worth the wait. However, I wish the portion was more generous.

Cooked Gindara Miso Foil (SGD $19.80)

Cooked Gindara Miso Foil

The Wagyu Signature Platter (SGD $64.80) was the highlight of our visit. The Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Nakaochi Karubi, or Beef Wagyu Intercostal / Rib Fingers, has a meaty, satisfiying chew, with an oily, fatty luscious texture, and a bold savoury flavour. Also featured here is the Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi, and the Beef Wagyu Karubi. Really enjoyed this platter.

Raw Wagyu Signature Platter - Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi, Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Nakaochi Karubi, Beef Wagyu Karubi (SGD $64.80)

Raw Wagyu Signature Platter - Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi, Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Nakaochi Karubi, Beef Wagyu Karubi

Raw Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi

Raw Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Nakaochi Karubi

Raw Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Nakaochi Karubi

Grilling

Grilling

Cooked Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Chuck Karubi

Cooked Kagoshima Beef Wagyu Nakaochi Karubi

The Wagyu Thick Tongue (SGD $23.80) is decadent. Thick with a soft fatty chew, it has a luscious savoury oily flavour, with a soft chew. I enjoyed this.

Raw Wagyu Thick Tongue (SGD $23.80)

Raw Wagyu Thick Tongue

Grilling

Cooked Wagyu Thick Tongue

The Sweet Potato With Butter (SGD $3.80) is lightly steamed over the grill, the butter melting to coat the fingers of thick cut sweet potato, laced with honey. This gives the dessert a dual layer of sweetness in taste, with some depth, the chewy tender strips having a lovely fragrance. Good enough on its own, even without pairing with the vanilla ice cream on the side.

Raw Sweet Potato With Butter (SGD $3.80)

Raw Sweet Potato With Butter

Grilling

Cooked Sweet Potato With Butter

Vanilla Ice Cream

The Taiyaki (SGD $5.80 for 2 pieces) was somewhat underwhelming for me, possibly because we didn't cook it long enough. The filling of red bean paste is nicely sweet, but the doughy texture of the pastry shell is dry. Skip this.

Raw Taiyaki (SGD $5.80 for 2 pieces)

Cooked Taiyaki

Vanilla Ice Cream

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