Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Review: Japan-Famous Beef Cutlet Chain Opens In SG

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu has famous beef cutlets at Raffles City

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu, Japan’s largest gyukatsu specialty restaurant with more than 70 outlets worldwide, is finally here in Singapore. We were raring to try their famous beef cutlets, and now that they’ve landed at Raffles City Shopping Centre, we wasted no time in heading over to give them a taste.

Once there, we were greeted by their famed creations: high-quality beef cuts, expertly deep-fried to a perfect medium rare. Their crispy, golden-brown exterior, known as koromo batter, is made using a traditional Japanese method involving beaten eggs, breadcrumbs, flour, and cold water, giving each cutlet a light yet satisfying crunch.

Food at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

There are five different beef cuts on the menu: Sirloin, Wagyu, Chuck, Tenderloin, and Tongue. If you’d like to try two cuts for a single serving, there’s a “Half & Half” option as well.

We decided to start with the most premium cut on the menu, the A5 Miyazaki Sirloin Gyukatsu Zen ($55++). With its gorgeous pink centre and immaculate breading you see above, we were ready to be blown away by the beef cutlet.

And blown away we were. Food writers sometimes throw around the term “melt in your mouth” too lightly, but we promise the meat did exactly that. A bite or two was all it took for the incredibly tender, buttery Wagyu to yield, with the crispy breading perfectly complementing its softness.

While you can definitely have them as is, there’s a whole range of condiments that can complement these slices of beef. These include a trio of umami-rich dashi soy sauce, tangy sansho pepper salt, and rich gyukatsu sauce, each contributing its distinct flavour profile to the dish. Wasabi is also an option if you’d like to add some heat to your meat.

There’s also the sweet Kyoto-style curry sauce and silky onsen egg, both of which combined excellently with the beef cutlet.

Like the other gyukatsu sets on the menu, the A5 Miyazaki Sirloin comes with rice and miso soup. This made it quite a hearty meal to consume, and we loved every second of it.

Next, we tried the Sirloin and Beef Tongue Gyukatsu Zen ($32++), which came with the two cuts of beef mentioned in the name of this “Half & Half” option.

While the sirloin was great—just a notch or two below the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu in terms of quality—it was the beef tongue that captured the spotlight. With its incredible meaty flavour and addictive chewiness, we found ourselves reaching for it far more often than the already great sirloin.

The last dish we tried wasn’t a cut of beef, but the Seafood Katsu Zen ($32++) which came with shrimp, scallop, and salmon katsu.

Sadly, the quality of the seafood just wasn’t on the same level as the beef. Still, they were adequately fresh, with a crunchy exterior that paired well with the creamy and tangy tartar sauce. You can get this if you aren’t a fan of beef, but those who are should definitely opt for the gyukatsu dishes instead.

Ambience at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

With its mostly-wooden interiors and light Japanese decor, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu isn’t exactly showstopping as far as ambience goes, but it is nevertheless comfortable enough to enjoy your food without distractions.

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu is a five-minute walk from City Hall MRT Station.

The verdict

It’s no wonder that Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu is such a titan in its home country—the beef cutlets it offers are high-quality and delectable, and the myriad of ways you can enjoy them only add to their X factor. Check out this restaurant if you’re at all a fan of beef dishes.

For Michelin-approved ramen with famous chicken broth at Raffles City, read our Mensho Tokyo review. For affordable seafood kaisendon in Clarke Quay, read our Kappo Shunsui coverage.

Address: 252 North Bridge Road, #B1-63/64, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Marcus Neo.
This was a media tasting at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu.