Gyu-Kaku customers cook their own delicious food
The front of Gyu Kaku displays unique wooden architecture and a connected area for outside dining.
Irasshaimase!
The Japanese word for “welcome” greets customers who 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 proved to be a fun experience, and we will be going again.
The restaurant’s décor caught our eyes, with booths made from wooden slats going across the room. In the center of each table there was a circular grill for cooking the food.
Despite having a wide variety of food, the menu’s clearly labeled sections and aesthetically pleasing photos make it easy to find what you are looking for. Although the restaurant advertises itself as a Japanese barbecue, they have a variety of plates from around Asia as well.
After ordering, the waiters returned quickly, carrying a great deal of plates. First came the items from the small plates. The “Spicy Addicting Cucumber” ($5.95) proved to actually be addicting, with a sweet and spicy sauce and garnished with pepper flakes. Next was 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 arranged on a plate with a sweet chili sauce accompanying them. Although they were a group favorite, we thought they were too expensive for the small portions they came in.
We also ordered one chicken katsu plate ($7.95). Along with that plate, the waiter accidentally brought an additional plate of chicken, the Japanese chicken karaage ($0.00). Both chicken dishes were packed with flavor and crunch, and the sauces that accompanied them made them taste even better.
Three beef plates arrived at the table: the 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.
However, even with the numerous orders, the amount of food was disappointing for a group of four, and we had to take small portions of each dish.
Eating good food is one thing, but we especially enjoyed the act of cooking a meal yourself. Using tongs to place the vegetables and beef on the grill was something we had to work together on to get right, and the results tasted amazing.
For dessert, we ordered s’mores ($3.50 for 2) and mochi ($9.00 for 4). The s’more making was a fun experience, and the mochi flavoring was interesting, but paying 16 dollars for two small desserts each was simply not worth it.
The restaurant is easily accessible for those who use the MBTA: both the D-line and C-line have stops less than two blocks away from the restaurant, Fenway and St. Mary’s. The accessibility of this restaurant is especially appealing.
The food at Gyu-Kaku? Phenomenal. The portion sizes and pricing? Not so much. We would absolutely recommend Gyu-Kaku to anyone looking for awesome food and a lively experience but not for everyday outings, as the total price was $104.40 for four, including tax and tip. I also recommend skipping dessert unless you are buying s’mores. But if you’re looking for a new experience or something to do with friends, this is the place for you.
