We Visited SG’s First Halal A5 Wagyu Gyukatsu Spot—Here’s Our Honest Review

Gyusei Gyukatsu Wagyu Steakhouse has halal gyukatsu in Bugis

We’re no strangers to the various delicious tonkatsu renditions around Singapore, but it’s only at Gyusei Gyukatsu Wagyu Steakhouse, a new restaurant on North Bridge Road, where you’ll find the nation’s first halal-certified A5 Wagyu gyukatsu!

Gyukatsu—or deep-fried beef cutlets—are immensely popular in Japan, and first touched down in Singapore at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu. Halal versions of katsu are rare, and finding a spot serving halal A5 Wagyu gyukatsu alongside XL oysters imported from Japan is even rarer. Naturally, we were extremely curious to find out if Gyusei Gyukatsu could walk the talk.

Food at Gyusei Gyukatsu Wagyu Steakhouse

In addition to their signature Wagyu gyukatsu, you’ll be spoilt for choice with an extensive array of deep-fried dishes, from premium seafood platters to vegetarian options.

Though, if you’re here, it’s hard not to go for their A5 Wagyu Ribeye Gyukatsu Set ($69++), which is clearly the star of their menu. It is served on a locally crafted ceramic platter that showcases 10 different condiments to complement each bite of Wagyu beef.

The gyukatsu here is charcoal-smoked right after exiting the deep-fryer, imparting a deep, smoky flavour reminiscent of Tonshou’s tonkatsu.

Visually, each slice of Wagyu gyukatsu was a beauty—you can clearly see the streaks of delicate, marbled fat layered into the meat, also known as shimofuri, or “falling frost”.

One of the most satisfying aspects of gyukatsu is grilling your beef cutlet slices on the provided hot stone grill to your preferred doneness.

As the fats in the Wagyu beef melted on the hot stone, each piece took on a luxurious buttery, velvety mouthfeel, complemented by the crisp layer of katsu breading—thin enough not to detract from the burst of amazing flavour in every bite.

What’s more, each bite of Wagyu gyukatsu was heightened by the 10 provided condiments, which included freshly grated Wasabi, tingly Sansho Pepper, sweet-savoury Katsu Sauce, and spicy, complex Shichimi, among others. This ensured the rich, luscious beef didn’t become too cloying. My favourite condiment was the zesty and peppery Yuzu Kosho, which I felt complemented the intense flavours of the beef very well.

Overall, the combination of top-tier Wagyu beef, the hands-on nature of grilling each slice on the stone grill, and pairing them with different condiments made for an exquisite experience that was well worth the price.

Perhaps I had spent too much time waxing lyrical about the Wagyu set, but we also tried the Premium Seafood Set ($39++), which included salmon, unagi, ebi, and soft-shell crab, all done tempura-style.

I’d start here by mentioning that while the soft-shell crab tempura was decent with a good amount of soft meat and roe within, the ebi pieces were rather small, and the salmon was disappointingly dry and flaky.

However, the big winner here was the unagi tempura, which was extremely juicy and full of fresh flavours. It had a really meaty bite as well, with a perfectly thin and crisp exterior that did not overpower.

One of their signature offerings here is also their XL Hyogo Oysters ($29++), which are topped with black tobiko and yuzu ponzu, accompanied by a lemon wedge and tabasco sauce.

If the picture does not do these oysters justice, let me tell you: they’re absolutely massive. I’ve eaten many oysters, but I’ve never seen any so plump, with a whiff confirming their freshness. Though I wish an oyster fork was provided to help detach the sinewy muscle from the half-shell, chopsticks could get the job done—though much less easily and elegantly.

For first-timers to large oysters, these might be a bit overwhelming. Sinking your teeth into them yields an explosion of briny, metallic tang, made more complex by the ponzu and lemon juice. The tobiko was an excellent touch, adding a burst of texture while increasing the salinity of each oyster.

For sides, we had the Menchikatsu ($12++), which came sliced into four quarters. This was basically a beef patty made of ground A5 Wagyu and Australian beef, served deep-fried with katsu sauce on the side.

I loved how much richer and crispier the fried exterior was here, which I would compare to the Chinese “UFO” oyster cakes found around Singapore. However, though the beef patties were flavourful, they were rather tough, chewy, and rubbery, which detracted from the mouthfeel.

We were also served their Agedashi Tofu ($12++), which I thought was rather sizeable. Though it was not a standout, I thought it was well-executed—rich dashi, a hefty sprinkling of bonito and nori, and delicately fried soft tofu made this dish an enjoyable appetiser.

For vegetarian options, you’ll find the Yasai Tempura Set ($29++), which features a medley of vegetable tempura, and the Portobello Mushroom Cutlet ($29++).

Ambience at Gyusei Gyukatsu Wagyu Steakhouse

Gyusei Gyukatsu has a rather intimate interior, with a seating space of only about 20 to 30 customers. Muted wooden furniture contrasts with the brighter counter seating, where an open kitchen allows patrons to catch a glimpse of their katsu being prepared. Though the space is small, it feels cosy and comfortable, offering plenty of room to breathe.

Gyusei Gyukatsu is located at Hotel Clover along North Bridge Road, which is a 10-minute walk from Bugis MRT Station.

Gyusei Gyukatsu Wagyu Steakhouse – Eatbook review

It’s already difficult to find gyukatsu specialty spots in Singapore, but a halal-certified one that serves up premium A5 Wagyu and XL oysters from Japan? Now that’s something special! While the prices here are indeed on the higher end, I think that a visit here is well warranted at least once, be it for a special occasion, or just to treat yourself to a decadent Wagyu gyukatsu experience.

For more eats in the area, check out our Bugis food guide. The annual Kampong Gelam Ramadan Bazaar is also located nearby.

Address: 775 North Bridge Road, Hotel Clover, Singapore 198743
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs, Sun 12pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 10:30pm
Website
Gyusei Gyukatsu Wagyu Steakhouse is a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Nathania Tay.
This was a media tasting at Gyusei Gyukatsu Wagyu Steakhouse.