AMY SUN/SAGAMORE STAFF
The facade of Gyu Kaku features unique wooden architecture and a connected area for outdoor dining.
Irasshaimase!
The Japanese word for “welcome” greets customers as they enter Gyu-Kaku, a Japanese barbecue restaurant located at 1002 Beacon Street. Gyu-Kaku is known for its unique dining experience where customers cook the food themselves. As a special occasion it definitely turned out to be a fun experience and we will be returning.
The decor of the restaurant caught our eye, with wooden slat banquettes crossing the room. In the center of each table was a circular grill for cooking food.
Despite a wide variety of dishes, the clearly labeled sections of the menu and aesthetically pleasing photos make it easy to find what you’re looking for. Although the restaurant advertises itself as a Japanese barbecue, it also offers a variety of plates from all over Asia.
After ordering, the waiters came back quickly, carrying lots of plates. First came the small plate items. The “Spicy Addicting Cucumber” ($5.95) turned out to be really addictive, with a sweet and spicy sauce and topped with chili flakes. Next is the napa kimchi ($5.50), which tasted amazing after cooking it on the grill.
The fried cheese wontons ($6.45) came next. Four wontons were laid out on a plate with a sweet chili sauce to go with them. Although they were a favorite of the group, we thought they were overpriced for the small portions they contained.
We also ordered a chicken katsu plate ($7.95). In addition to this plate, the waiter accidentally brought an extra plate of chicken, the Japanese chicken karaage ($0.00). Both chicken dishes were packed with flavor and crunch, and the accompanying sauces made them even better.
Three beef plates arrived at the table: yaki-shabu beef ($7.45), toro beef ($7.45) and kalbi chuck rib ($9.45). While the previous plates were too small for their prices, the prices and portions of the beef plates seemed more reasonable.
Grilling makes dining out a fun experience
However, even with the many orders, the amount of food was disappointing for a party of four and we had to take small portions of each course.
Eating well is one thing, but we especially enjoyed cooking a meal yourself. We had to work together to use tongs to place the vegetables and beef on the grill, and the results were amazing.
For dessert, we ordered s’mores ($3.50 for 2) and mochi ($9.00 for 4). S’more making was a fun experience and the mochi flavor was interesting, but paying $16 for two small desserts each just wasn’t worth it.
The restaurant is easily accessible for those using the MBTA: the D and C lines have stops less than two blocks from the restaurant, Fenway and St. Mary’s. The accessibility of this restaurant is particularly appealing.
The food at Gyu-Kaku? Phenomenal. Portion sizes and prices? Not really. We absolutely recommend Gyu-Kaku to anyone looking for delicious food and a lively experience, but not for daily outings, as the total price was $104.40 for four including tax and tip. I also recommend skipping dessert unless you’re buying s’mores. But if you’re looking for a new experience or something to do with friends, this is the place.
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