Reviews & Ratings for Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Dining

04/12/12

MUST TRY!!!

by VanessaMarzitelli

I LOVE GYU KAKU!! Whenever I'm in the city my boyfriend and I can't leave without getting another taste! I have been to all 3 in the city and also the one in California. All of them were magnificent. I am a Filet Mignon girl so that's definitely what I get but, I have also tried many other dishes..some that I would never imagine to eat because I'm so picky but I was so surprised on how good EVERYTHING was! I was tricked into trying the intestine because if I was told that I would have neverrrr ate it! BUT it was actually very flavorful and tasty. I went here for my 23rd birthday as well and we all had a fantastic time. A very unique and fun dining experience!

08/02/10

Great Japanese BBQ

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor

I have always had good time at Gyukaku. Excellent BBQ meat and great service.

My favorite is the tuna tartar. It is fresh and well seasoned. The bi bim bop here is alright. there isn't much inside and the hot sauce wasn't hot at all. I guess it is just a way to stuff your stomach with some carb :)

The highlight though is definitely the meat selection and their BBQ sauce. You have to try the kalbi, the short ribs, the mushroom and the shrimp.

I also love their desserts. My favorite is absolutely the s'more. It is just so much fun to grill the marshmallow. They also have this green tea layer cake and it is very soft and light as well.

This is perfect for group dining or a romantic dining occasion.

• Pros: High quality food and excellent service

04/23/10

Indoor BBQ? Yes please

by Emoy

I love this place.

Not only is the food great, but the Japanese BBQ concept is so fun, I love bringing new people in to experience it.

It's a great place to hang out with some friends where you can cook and eat your food while enjoying some drinks and each other.

Looking for a date location? Sit on the same side of the grill and wow your date with your ability to cook. It's great for an intimate night out.

Check this place out.

• Pros: Great concept, fun, great food
• Cons: Hard to get reservation on weekend night.

10/17/09

A very goodevening

by vin1019

A very close friend brought me here for my birthday. I was really surprised at being here. She had been here before and thought it would be a nice treat. We were not disappointed. Our waiter was helpful in helping us choose a bottle of sake, guided us on some of the different course choices. The real surprise came when I was brought a birthday ice cream followed by the waiters singing. Truly a satisfying experience

• Pros: helpful wait service
• Cons: none

11/25/08

Amazing Group Experience

by HungryinNY123

I can't express how much I love this restaurant. I've now been to Gyu Kaku 6 or 7 times and have never been disappointed. Being one of my favorite restaurants I decided to host a large group dinner event there on a Saturday night. I was able to secure a great price fixe menu and collaborated with Joji on a fantastic menu. If you've never been here and want to spoil yourself a bit, I recommend the Miyabi Course (price fixe for four people). Each course is better than the last however you'll have to roll yourself out of there because there's just so much food! If you're looking for something a little bit more manageable and cheaper though, I'd suggest getting an order of the Premium Kalbi Short Rib, my favorite item (the restaurant suggests the Taro marinade but I prefer the Miso). Needless to say, everyone left the restaurant fully satisfied.

The service was phenomenal and Lianne took wonderful care of us. She was incredibly attentive and all of our requests were accommodated, no easy task with a party of 19 hungry and thirsty people. As the night progressed and our party continued to drink and get rowdy she maintained her professionalism and positive attitude. Despite their busy night she even let us stay at our table for an extra half an hour.

Overall I was incredibly impressed with the service and quality of the food and can't wait to go back...if they let me.

• Pros: Value, Service, Food
• Cons: Not recommended for parties over 15 (although it was still manageable for my group)

03/08/08

Wonderful food, great service

by vikinnyc

This is a great spot to eat. You can cook your own meats over open fire, enjoy great drinks and sides. I love to take Out of Towners here. The Service is real great and you just gotta love the meats and fish. Ask for a window table to look down on 3rd Avenue.

09/07/07

Good upscale do-it-yourself food

by mr_meursault

We've come here for dinner a couple of times. Reservations are a must. The service is generally good and the decor is pleasant. The food is expensive, the portions small, but the quality is quite good. Personally I prefer the feel of a much less sophisticated, less expensive and tastier Shabu Tatsu. Still, I have enjoyed by meals here. If you are looking for trendiness over authenticity, and don?t mind slightly overpaying for good food, give this place a shot.

• Pros: Sophisticated
• Cons: Expensive, a touch pretentious.

08/24/07

much better than korean bbq

by victoria

this place is great. it's japanese bbq. the food is very good and i've been there way too many times already. the staff is very friendly and attentive. and best of all....you dont smell like bbq when you leave the restaurant. i hate going to K town and every time i leave i smell like the place. so gross...but not at gyu!

• Pros: you dont smell like bbq when you leave

08/01/07

Once and no more.

by kj118

I went to Gyu-kaku for a birthday dinner w. a group of friends(10). The restaurant looked better inside then from outside. Its on a 2nd floor so its not noticable and the entrance is NOT on 3rd ave. You have to go around the corner to see the entrance. They seated us on a table for 12 but it was tight even for 10. I was very disappointed when i saw the menu because it seemed as if most of it was a korean dish. Waitresses were quite friendly but they kept on pushing us for the group meals on the back of the menu(assorted meats and seafoods, etc). Don't order the GROUP MEAL! The portions were TINY and their kobe beef was tougher than ribeye. Lobster tail was extremely salty that no one touched. Price was very high for the amount of food served. 10 small pieces of rib-eye for $18 was not worth it and $6 for Kimchi. Only good thing about the meal was that the table had a vacumn on the bottom sucking the smoke away from us.

• Pros: Good Decor, Good Drinks, No smell of BBQ on your clothes when you leave.
• Cons: Overpriced, Hard to find, Hard and tight seats.

06/12/07

BBQ Tabletop Grilling Done Right

by qtgurljny

First off, if you don't like tabletop grillling, skip this place altogether, you'll have sparse options. That being said, everything else is fantastic. The bibimbap is excellent when paired with the meats. The clay bowl comes out piping hot, hot enough to burn the rice just the right way. The meats are great, kalbi in particular. Tuna is great when seared for about 40 seconds. Chicken I heard to stay away from. The beer comes out great, slightly iced in the summer in frosted over mugs. Best beer I've been served in a while. I prefer the Cooper Square locale but this one is great as well.