Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu, Philippines – After learning about the opening of another gyukatsu restaurant in the Philippines, we knew we had to try it out. And it was the perfect time as they are still having a soft opening!
It’s funny that although we’ve been coming back and forth Japan, we haven’t eaten at a gyukatsu restaurant even for once. One reason is that we’re traveling with a kid, and if you’ve been with us, you should know by now how chicken karaage is the only thing edible for him when dining at a Japanese restaurant.
But thankfully, now that he’s a bit older, he’s more excited to try out new food!
When we learned about the opening of Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu in SM Mall of Asia, we knew it was something we shouldn’t let pass. Of course, after trying it out, I knew I had to give a decent review so I could help you decide which ones you should try, and which ones you should ignore.
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu MOA
Where to find Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu in MOA?
If you’re familiar with Yayoi and (you probably are) with Uniqlo, then, you’re in luck! They are very near the new Japanese restaurant in MOA. The katsu restaurant is across Yayoi, but to enter, you have to exit the mall.
So, if you’re going to queue and wait for your turn, just a reminder to bring your mini fan, because the waiting area is a bit hot, especially during lunch! What I’d recommend is Jisulife fan and Simplus fan because they’re both handy and lasts very long!
I always bring mine everywhere I go! So I have one, while my son uses the other one. Hihi
You can also get them from Lazada.
Expect Long Waiting Time Especially During Peak Hours
We arrived at the Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu at 12:40 PM. And we weren’t surprised by the number of people queueing as they waited to be called. We entered the restaurant to have our name listed and found we were 10th on the line.
Me and my son checked the nearby stores but hubby had to stay there and wait until it was our turn to go in. After an hour of waiting, hubby called and said he was already seated so we rushed back to place our orders.
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Menu
We checked the Gyukatsu menu when we arrived there earlier so we had an idea about what to order once we’re seated. And when me and my son went back, hubby had already told the staff what we liked.
The Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu menu showed 2 prices for each item – the original and the discounted prices. On another page, you’ll see a pictured set and the number of grams for the designated menu item.
So here’s the Gyukatsu MOA menu with pictures…
Sirloin Gyukatsu Zen Double
The orders arrived just about 5 minutes after sitting!
First came the Sirloin Gyukatsu Zen Double, and I was surprised to find a generous amount of meat in front of me. The plate came with shredded cabbage with 2 dollops of green wasabi paste.
The set includes rice, miso soup, and a 3 compartment sauce plate. The 2 dipping sauces had quite similar taste, one a bit sweeter while the other had some tangy taste. In the middle, there’s green seaweed flakes, which can add umami flavor to your food.
Another single sauce plate on one side, that’s curry sauce – which was my favorite dipping sauce for my gyukatsu! Curry is different depending on the cuisine, because while Indian curries are mostly spicy, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu’s curry sauce has little to no spiciness!
I bet even young children will enjoy it! The savory flavor of the curry sauce compliments the tender gyukatsu meat so well you’ll forget you’re on a diet!
Meat cuts are different and special in their own way. With sirloin gyukatsu, we enjoyed every bite because they were very tender even though we overcooked some of the slices. My son loved it too!
I think that it’s one of the must-order for first-timers like us!
All sets can enjoy free refills of rice, miso soup, and shredded cabbage.
One thing that’s made my lunch more enjoyable is the fascinating sight this lighted flame retardant gel performed. Not very often found in other restaurants, this flame gel helps to cook your katsu without burning your food.
Wagyu Gyukatsu Zen
We were expecting quality meat when we eyed the Wagyu Gyukatsu.
And yes, each piece of the wagyu katsu was very juicy! But you have to consider that wagyu comes with a bit of a fat. The extraordinary marbling of each slice add a rich buttery flavor with every bite, so it will surely leave you filling full!
Just be wary when cooking the wagyu gyukatsu on the pan, as when we were cooking it, the pan started collecting oil from the meat (the sirloin pan wasn’t like it). Sometimes oil might splatter so be wary and try to request a change of pan as needed.
Nonetheless, the wagyu meat was very tender and flavorful, so, it’s 3rd on my list, next to sirloin and ebi katsu.
Rosu Gyukatsu
We tried the a la carte order of Rosu Gyukatsu, so we could compare the 3 beef meats.
However, since we ordered it in the middle of our meal, we waited quite a bit long for the dish to arrive. When it came, we immediately cooked and tried it out.
However, we didn’t quite appreciate the rosu variant.
The meat was a bit tough, although one of the advantages of ordering the rosu is that it has less fat than wagyu. Much like sirloin but a little bit tough to break. Thankfully, we only ordered 60 grams.
Ebi Katsu
Another thing not to miss on the Gyukatsu Kyoto menu is the Ebi Katsu.
The ebi, or prawn, they use is the tiger prawn. You’ll definitely enjoy this one if you’re a shrimp lover! Although the prawn was large, it wasn’t overcooked. It was cooked perfectly just like your al dente pasta!
Upon biting, I found myself forgetting my sirloin gyukatsu for a while. Ebi Katsu comes with a mayonnaise with some hard-boiled egg bits and a slice of lemon.
Kids Cutleries
I wasn’t expecting it, but the staff gave our son his own set of cutleries when we requested a high chair. But based on our experience, legit Japanese restaurants usually have cute plate and spoon and fork set specially for young kids.
That’s one of the few things to note about the Japanese. They’re very considerate when it comes to kids. And since they want even the young kids to enjoy their meals, they do extras just for your kids!
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Review Conclusion
So what can I say?
The long waiting time of the Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu reservation was well worth it!
The best among our orders was the sirloin, ebi katsu comes second, then comes the wagyu (but don’t order it if you want to cut calories!), then, rosu is on the last place on my list.
I hope this review has helped you decide to go to SM Mall of Asia very early for lunch! (and dinner!), so that you don’t have to wait that long in line to experience the newly opened Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu.
Enjoy your cooking, sizzling, experience!
