I’m back at Shibuya again for another afternoon of exploring. Last time I was here, my friend took me to his usual sushi place for some dinner. Now that it’s my turn, I’m using this opportunity to fill out my checklist of “Places to eat while in Japan” – Gyukatsu Motomura. I’ve been to Gyukatsu Motomura a couple of times before, so I was really looking forward to try their beef cutlets again. So after spending the afternoon at Taito Station, we walked over to the nearest store for some dinner. And after a bit of waiting in line (8PM at Shibuya is probably not the smartest time to have dinner if you don’t want to wait in line), we finally got our seats and placed our orders. Now that our meal has arrived, let’s find out… How Good is Gyukatsu Motomura Actually?
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🥩 Choosing Your Gyukatsu 🥩
This place serves one thing – Gyukatsu – so the real choice here is how much of it you want. You have the standard Gyukatsu Set (130g) for ¥1,400, Double Gyukatsu Set (260g) for ¥2,200. And if you want something in the middle, there’s also the 1.5x Set (195g) for ¥1,900.
In any case, the set also comes with a few side dishes. There’s the Mugimeshi – Rice with Barley – of which you can refill as many times as you’d like, as well as Miso Soup, Potato Salad, Shredded Cabbage, Pickled Vegetables, and a side dish of your choosing – Tororo (Grated Yam / Yamaimo), Mentaiko (Pollack Roe), or Warabi Mochi for a little dessert. If you want more than one of these side dishes, you can add it to the set for an extra ¥100. Conversely, if you don’t want the side dishes, you can go without it and they’ll discount the set by ¥100.
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🍳 Cooking your Gyukatsu 🍳
While you could probably eat the Gyukatsu as is (It’s quite rare, but maybe try a few pieces like that), the staff here recommends you grill the cutlets until your desired doneness – or to at least get the exposed portions seared .
If you know how you like your steak, this is where the DIY fun begins. If you need a rough guide, here’s what I’d recommend. For a medium rare sear, you only need to grill the pieces for around 10-15 seconds each side.
But since this is such a fatty cut (I mean, have you seen the marbling?), I’d recommend you shoot for at least 15 seconds for medium (or even medium well). The beef is full of marbled fat, so the extra time really helps bring out the melt-in-your-mouth fat between the muscle fibers, resulting in a sweetness unique to high quality Japanese beef.
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🍳 Serving your Gyukatsu 🍳
Now that you’ve grilled your Gyukatsu, how DO you eat the thing? There’s the standard Barley Rice and Cabbage, Shoyu or Wasabi+Shoyu for a Japanese spin, their Horseradish Sauce for a little creamy kick, or you can sprinkle on some Rock Salt for a steak-like flavor. Plus, if you ordered the Tororo side dish, pour it on the rice or dip your Gyukatsu in it for a light but savory finish.
So, about the Tororo. I’ve never actually tried it before. I’ve seen it being prepared a couple of times, and I wasn’t looking forward to trying out the gooey texture. (I blame my Japanese friend for ordering the side dishes for me… in Japanese) That being said, the Tororo was surprisingly really nice! It’s hard to explain the taste of it, but it’s a combination of sweet, savory, and garlicky flavors. The texture wasn’t as bad as I thought, but most of my Tororo applications were as a dipping sauce, so I never really had much of it in a single bite, but add a little shoyu in there and you’re good to go. If you haven’t tried Tororo before, might I suggest you start your journey here? It’s only a ¥100 discount if you order the set without it, so I say just have a go at it.
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💬 How I Serve My Gyukatsu 💬
As for how I ACTUALLY enjoy my Gyukatsu? I’d like to call my way the “Toasted Shoyu” method. I like to dip the rare Gyukatsu in the soy sauce first, then grill the cutlet.
The shoyu being exposed to the heat really concentrates its flavors and brings out its savory aroma. And since I like my Gyukatsu north of medium, I get more time to grill the shoyu, all while creating a stronger crust and rendering more of that sweet marbling.
I have a habit of messing around if I get to cook at restaurants, so this is my way of satisfying that urge. Have a go at it, or experiment on your own to find your personal favorite serving style.
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🥩 Add-On Options 🥩
If you’re in the mood for some extras, Gyukatsu Motomura also has some add-ons to your set. There’s the additional Gyukatsu for ¥800 and half Gyukatsu for ¥500. The add-ons are the same as the Gyukatsu in the set, and the prices here are the exact same ordered this way vs when you order it directly as a set. (Both the 2x Set and 1+1 Order will run you ¥2,200, for example.) So if you’re trying out Gyukatsu Motomura for the first time, have a go at their 1x Set and grab the 2nd Gyukatsu if you like what they offer.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is Gyukatsu Motomura actually? Well, it’s on my “Places to eat while in Japan” list, so it should be no surprise when I say that it’s one of my favorite restaurants here. Setting aside my bias for a bit, even the value of the meal itself is quite impressive. At this price point, you don’t typically expect to be served beef as well marbled as this. Between the quality of the food, its value, and the little DIY stone grill, I really have nothing to complain about. It’s straight up amazing.
Of course, don’t just take it from me, though. Apparently my other friend from Thailand (who had already traveled to Osaka ahead of me) also had Gyukatsu Motomura on the exact same day I did. Safe to say this place is rated very highly on both of our lists. So if you want to experience some great quality Gyukatsu (with really great value-for-money), then head on over to Gyukatsu Motomura.
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🚗HOW TO GET THERE 🚗
There’s actually a few Gyukatsu Motomura stores around Shibuya, but the one I went to was right around Shibuya Station. If you’re coming from the station, head to the Hachiko Gate and the store should only be about a 5 minute walk from the exit. (This exit is also home to the famous Shibuya Crossing, so make sure to stop by after the meal.)
Gyukatsu Motomura also has other stores around Tokyo, as well as in Osaka and Fukuoka. Have a look when you’re in these cities and stop by the store nearest to you.
Gyukatsu Motomura – Shibuya Store
🌏 Location: Japan, 〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 2 Chome−19−17 地下一階 グローリア渋谷ビル
🗺 Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ntSESW2S33EWi56MA
⏰ Opening Hours: 11A.M. to 11P.M. (Last Order – 10P.M.)
💻 Website: https://www.gyukatsu-motomura.com/en/
📖 Online Menu (English): https://www.gyukatsu-motomura.com/en/menu
