Gyu-kaku serves amazing food. That being said, I debated publishing that statement that because I wasn't sure whether the credit goes to them or myself because they make you cook your f***ing food. So yea, maybe I'm just an awesome chef. In terms of time between ordering and being served, the good news is, your food comes out very fast. The bad news, it's raw. The rest is a fine balance between your hunger and food poisoning. I've never been food-poisoned at Gyu-kaku because I'm an awesome chef, apparently, but I can definitely see it happening if you don't abide by their recommended cook times. Cost-wise, like most people said, go during lunch, otherwise it's just not worth the money. I have no idea why Gyu-Kaku only has two dollar signs, it should have four: one extra for the honest cost of the food (especially during dinner), and another extra for the added cost of hiring you as a part-time chef. Some cost estimates: ate there once with another male friend: $100 for two people, including tip. Ate with my girlfriend and got a lunch special and some other plates, and she got an Old Fashioned, for a total of $90 ish plus tip. The restaurant definitely goes an extra mile when it comes to interior design. Service has always been great every time I went. The waiters and waitresses have great personalities. As for what to choose, if you're looking for flavor, get the marinated meats. Otherwise, they just take like... cooked meat. Might as well just bring some over from the Whole Foods next door.
(4)
David K.
I went to eat dinner with 5 other people for a friend's birthday. So of course we got the meat lover's course for 6 people. Get comfortable. I'm going to go down most of the food listed in the course. Starters - Edamame: Pretty standard salted edamame. - Miso Chili Wings: WAY too salty, not really too flavorful. - Calamari Strips: Nicely fried pieces of calamari. They were a bit too bunched up. - Sukiyaki Bibimbap: Pretty bland, I would rate it below most bibimbap I've had but then again, I'm korean. BBQ Items In general, most of the meat were already seasoned and were on the saltier side. I didn't really like how they put in a chicken basil into the mix. Not exactly sure what's so japanese about chicken basil nor do I feel that it's smart to let their customers, who aren't accustomed to cooking their own meat like this, cook chicken. Especially alongside other meats. The sausages were a huge miss for the entire table. Overall, a nice meal but I think it could have been better. Maybe a different course would have been better? *shrug*
(3)
Tracey L.
I enjoyed our experience here. Came during Happy Hour for lunch, which lasts from 11:30am-3pm everyday. I think it's more worth it to going during Happy Hour because prices from the regular menu can add up quickly. Some items during happy hour are almost 1/2 off. We ordered mostly meats. You can choose different marinades for each item; I couldn't really taste the difference between each sauce but they were all marinaded well and tasted great. I like the idea of grilling your own food, makes for a fun and different experience. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. She came over several times to oil our grill and change it out. When they serve your meats they let you know how long to cook them. Between two people we ordered about 5 meat plates which filled us up. I would recommend coming here if you want a new and fun dining experience.
(4)
Marlana Y.
Love this place. The dark brown wood makes the atmosphere very chic. It's very loud and a great group atmosphere to hang out with friends. I can't imagine it to be romantic because it can be very loud from the waitstaff saying thank you to the guests multiple times. I don't mind it because it's very much how the Japanese culture is like. I come during happy hour but the parking sucks because the limit is two hours and I can totally become absorbed in the food and atmosphere that I could be there longer than 2 hours! My favorites is the hot oil seared salmon (raw), salmon lettuce bibimbap rice (cooked), and of course ...loveee loveeee the lady m cake. That's actually what brings me back! Their green tea ice cream - I love the taste of the matcha, so strong it gives me a caffeine kick!
(4)
Miranda K.
Their food is delicious, friendly staff, and great prices. Only complaint is the leaky AC unit that was located above the table I was seated at. The back booth on the right side of the restaurant near the Exit Only door has a dripping AC that will spontaneously drip on my arm and head as I was eating. It disturbed my meal and I did mention it to the wait staff, and they offered to move tables for us.
(3)
Ryan G.
I'm always skeptical about places that make you cook your own food. As much as I think its an ingenius business plan, as a consumer I totally despise it! You're telling me I HAVE TO LEAVE MY HOUSE TO COOK MY OWN FOOD....weird. None the less, Gyu-Kaku is a pretty standard higher end chain whos quality and atmosphere is pretty consistent with other gyu-kaku's around the U.S. The thing that only makes this 3 stars for me is the price. For a average height male that doesn't work out much, it takes $40 of food to get me full. Although, it is great food and the quality is great and the choices are terriffic, I feel like I just don't get my money's worth. The upside side is that their is a FOOD HAPPY HOUR, in which some dishes are half off. Can't really beat that and if you are on a budget I recommend going during happy hour, then I would consider it worth it. If Happy hour prices were the normal prices, lets just say this place would be getting 5 stars....
(3)
William L.
Gyu Kaku is now one of my favorite restaurants. Both times I have dined here it was during Happy Hour, making it very affordable (~$11/person). Each time we were greeted warmly when we entered and seated within a few minutes. The servers were very friendly and helped us navigate the extravagant menus (somewhat overwhelming). The food arrived in a reasonable time and very well presented. I can not recommend the filet mignon and spicy pork enough, they are my favorite meats and pair very well with the "spicy" dipping sauce. Speaking of which, does anyone have a recipe for similar spicy pork? I want to recreate it at home but my pallet is limited and I need help! Overall, I highly recommend Gyu Kaku, especially during Happy Hour (lunch/afternoon). Addendum: My wife and I went back this past weekend for lunch (Happy Hour!). We were served by Reshu. I can't say enough good things about Reshu. She kept our drinks full, answered all our questions, and chatted with us for a bit. By far the fastest (and best) service I've received so far. In addition to my recommendation for the restaurant, I also highly recommend Reshu!
(5)
Joanna H.
I just wanted to stay here forever. Japanese BBQ is always pricey, but it's always so worth it. Here are the must-haves on the menu: Garlic rice with steak bits- portions about 2.5 regular bowls of rice Kalbi short rib- juicy, fatty, delicious Spinach and garlic- soft greens, steamed to perfection (guess the cooking part was my contribution?) Beef tongue with scallions- 3 inch circular slices. MMMM & lastly Dorayaki ice cream- there's a reason Doraemon was so obsessed with them. Heat up your dorayaki over the stone grill for a smokey flavor, then add the red bean and green tea ice cream. LOVE.
(5)
Ailynda W.
The BBQ was good. The lychee drink sounded delicious but it was not that great. Ramen was not so good for me. A bit pricey overall. The table was a bit too small for 4 people. But overall i like it. Give the credit to the BBQ and the restaurant decoration.
(4)
Tiffany L.
I made the mistake to wait over 45 minutes for this place - Shame on me. The hostesses told us there would be a 30-45 minutes wait for a party of two when we walked in so we decided to wait by the front/bar area. The bartender acknowledged us right away and she was very kind and bubbly. I had to ask her to check my ID - she wasn't going to because she thought I looked "old enough". Anyway, I ordered a Lychee Bellini - it wasn't too bad, but I will not order it again. We waited for 45 minutes, I had to go up and check on how much longer the wait was. They told me another ten minutes. I went back after ten minutes and she told me another ten minutes (..........). The problem: it was not busy. I had a party of two and we were waiting with one other group that came in at the last 5 minutes of our wait so it's not that hard for them to update us on the wait-time ESPECIALLY since we were there for over 45 minutes and all they did was looked at us from their computer. They definitely had tables open because we kept seeing people getting seated right away (granted, they probably had reservations - but don't take my word for it). My guess is that if you have a baby/child, you will get seated right away. We finally got seated and my server was really nice. I asked for appetizer recommendations and he recommended me dumplings and some salmon thing - which I did not order. I ordered the Wasabi Shrimp and then he told me it was his favorite, which made me wonder why he didn't recommend it in the first place? - beats me. The food was not bad - but honestly, how can you go wrong with BBQ + meat? There's nothing so impressive or extraordinary about this. The only difference they could have made was their service, which wasn't bad, but could be a LOT better. There was no management present and if there was, they didn't make themselves apparent. I will not be coming back to this place.
(3)
Kim W.
This has got to be my new favorite spot! The value you get here is unbeatable. Come here for their happy hours and you will not be disappointed. $4 meat plates and $2 sides? It's too good! I always have a great time here as well as a very satisfied belly!
(5)
Julia N.
Food was great!!! Dessert was a disappointment.
(4)
Jimbo J.
Just ok, nothing to write home about. First time there and tried the Kobe beef special for $85. 4 plates of beef or assorted "Kobe" beef. Some were better than the others, some were tough and chewy. I thought this was "Kobe" beef? The apps were decent fare, nothing out of the ordinary. Miso soup, seaweed salad, all common Hmart quality stuff. I have decided to find out where they get their table set grills and set it up at home and spend my $85 on a good slab of beef and assorted meats. Decent restaurant, but will visit most likely 2 times a year.
(3)
Tu N.
Cannot beat the lunch special. The green tea crepe cake is usually available on on from Thursday-Sunday only.
(5)
Linda Y.
I've seen Gyu-kaku in New York, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Tokyo. It's definitely becoming an international chain, and I was quite surprised to hear that it was the actual one that opened in Brookline. Even so, I've never dined at the one in New York because I always assumed it was geared towards non-Asian demographics. Based on the menu, I don't think I'm far too off. Gyu-kaku serves a combination of Japanese bbq, Korean bbq, Korean stone bowl rice, and other fusion-esque choices. But what sets Gyu-kaku aside from your average Korean bbq joint is that variety and quality of meat that is offered; there's a lot more than short rib and pork belly. Our table didn't go too crazy and just ordered the harami miso skirt steak, kalbi short rib, and a variety of vegetables. Both meats were thoroughly marinated but were still served with several sauces, so yay extra sodium. Furthermore, both meats were pretty fatty and tender, but the consistency varied from piece to piece and sometimes you were left with some that just wouldn't give. What this Gyu-kaku really has to work on, however, is the service. This is a Japanese/Korean restaurant. When there is meat on the table, the white rice should be right there with it. The white rice should not be served at the same time as the clay pot rices because who wants to eat rice with rice? Please hire or at least train the waiters to understand the culture of the cuisine. As for clay pot rices, the bibimbaps were light on the fresh chopped vegetable variety it is usually served with, but the shiitake mushroom fried rice stone pot is something I can see myself returning for. Finally, the dessert. Smores? Great idea to milk your customers. But more importantly, the featured dessert: Yes, Lady M green tea mille crepe cakes are amazing and all, but its commute to Boston does not do it justice. You can just tell that the crepe layers are tougher to fork through and that the cream and the crepes have sort of melded together to a over creamy mess. You lose all the details in the work put into the many distinct layers of the cake. If this was how the food and service was in New York, I would have given it two stars. But because this is Boston and I can totally see the allure of this place for Asians and non all alike, it needs a booster. Anyways, I have got to check out the ones in Honolulu. I hear it's a thing there.
(3)
Thanh L.
Came in for happy hour. We got alot of delicious food at the happy hour price. Staff was busy but did their best to get us everything that we needed. Everything was really good. Our bill was about $190 which would of been more at normal price.
(4)
Sidi L.
My BF and I love this placeï¼ï¼We aimed to try the lady M at the first time，and both of us loved itï¼even though my BF doesn't like desserts，he also likes itï¼And the #1 seller tofu soup and rice（i forget names）are awesomeï¼ï¼the bbq also wonderfulï¼well，we love here so muchï¼
(5)
E M.
Our party of 4 went there tonight with a 7 o'clock reservation. We were there on time, but had to wait by the bar till 7:25 to be seated. We saw customers who walked in after us but got seated before us. We were wondering why we were still standing & waiting while there're so many empty tables inside?! For the apps, we tried #1, #2, #3 bestsellers, and the fried shishito peppers, along with the egg soup. All were just OK, especially the soup. I've had better egg drop soup at some other American Chinese restaurants. For the BBQ, we had #1, #2, #3 bestsellers, pork belly, lamb chop, intestine, mushroom medley, sweet potato, and spinach garlic. The meat were marinated well and I especially like the skirt and white sweet potato. At the end of the meal we added the sukiyaki bibimbap rice and the kobe bacon bits garlic fried rice. Sukiyaki bibimbap is flavorful but kobe bacon bits is a bit heavy on the garlic side so I couldn't taste the kobe bacon. A comment on the server who brought over the two rice bowls. When she helped us stirred the food inside the bowls, she used the same pair of spoons for both. Really?! Wouldn't the flavor get mixed up between the two? Also, when we asked her to bring us some small bowls, her response was "I only have two hands." This is an unacceptable customer service. I think this newly opened restaurant should put some time on staff training because there is still a lot of room for improvements on the hostess, waiters, servers, and bus boys. Last but not least, I notice the egg soup and the sukiyaki bibimbap look different than the pictures shown on the menu. Egg soup was missing the green and sukiyki had red peppers added. Since this is a chain restaurant, I believe they should keep the presentation of their food consistant.
(3)
Daniel C.
Went on the spur of the moment after realizing cooking in 100 degree kitchen not really fun. The decor is fantastic. The dark woods and private booths provide a great feeling of privacy. We ordered three meats, a salmon appetizer and shared a bowl of ramen. The salmon was forgettable. The ramen, while not soggy, left a lot to be desired flavor wise. But this is neither a ramen shop nor a sushi joint. The grilled meats, tongue, Harami, and Kobe flap steak, saved the meal. The tongue was especially flavorful, with scallions to wrap around with a drop of lemon. The Harami was pre marinated and succulent. The Kobe beef was the least impressive. Kobe should melt on the tongue, especially for the price. We will return, for the meats, if not the Kobe, the proximity to home, and the kind staff. Definitely worth a visit.
(3)
Cindy K.
My first experience with Gyu-Kaku was 7 years ago with my then boyfriend (now husband) in Hawaii. We have never experienced a place like this in Boston and we amazed. We said to ourselves, we should totally franchise this place and bring it over to Boston. Since then I have tried Gyu-Kaku in LA and NYC. Now 7 years later we are kicking ourselves because someone already did it. Either way were way too excited when we saw Gyu-Kaku was coming here. We went there during their soft opening. The menu was limited. We did one of the combinations for two people and additionally ordered some Kobe beef. Everything is what we imagined it to be. We will definitely go back!
(5)
Nb N.
This place is pretty good for Boston. There aren't that many korean bbq places and although this place isn't strictly korean bbq but they have good kalbi and balgogi and bibimbop.
(4)
Kate H.
Went again yesterday with a party of two. We arrived at 6 and found out we have to wait one hour so next time i'm going to reserve online before i go there. WAITED for exactly one hour then got serve at the upper level. IT was so much better this time. I think the max should be between a party of 2 to 4. I felt like the food was fast and my waitress was nice. Everything was pretty good. I definitely recommend the green tea crepe for dessert. The lights are dim no matter what time you r going there. Also our waitress helped us changed the grill metal two times so it was pretty nice. I definitely believe the top customer choices because everything we ordered on the top recommend list is so much better. We ordered like almost every dish of steak/beef on the menu and the best was #1 and #2 on the menu (forgot the names, something ribs lol). We spend around $120 included tips for two people. I think its almost like any other korean bbq for this price. I gave this time a 4 stars out of 5 because I think the experiences I had yesterday was way better than the first time. Everything was serve fast and better.
(4)
Allegra P.
Great lunch and dinner spot for meeting old friends. Went here with friends and we devoured the Geisha Combo for two (we fed three, and were still satisfied). Super good!
(4)
Irina N.
This is a little late but we went to Gyu-Kaku back in the summer to try it out when it first opened and because my boyfriend is fascinated by the concept. We tried "Geisha" pre-fix menu for 2 and I have to admit we were pleasantly full and happy! The dinner included everything both of us like and some: as I am not a huge meat eater, it was still tasty to try just enough for a taste (small portions of variety of meat). Asparagus and big salad covered the vegetables intake and smores were a great dessert. Again, the best part was that it was just enough to be full! Especially when we didn't really know what would be good to order on our own. Our waiter was great! I think his name was Paul. The changing of the grills was appropriate and timely. The cocktail was sweet and strong! The process did not seem difficult or overwhelming. It did make for a different cute kinda date-night! We thought that for Brookline and that kind of variety in meats, the price seemed reasonable. We would go back again and recommend!
(5)
Morris M.
Pork Katsu was really good. Dragon Roll and Caterpillar Roll was fairly okay. Decoration was nice. Good for lunch. Waitress was very kind.
(4)
Lisa L.
I've been here a few times since its opening, and each time I've had excellent service. The food is great and is a great place to go for bigger parties and for birthday celebrations. The only negative I would say is that the portions of good you get is a little disappointing, especially considering down the street at the Korean bbq place, their portions are gigantic. Overall, I'd recommend it for ppl to try. You don't be disappointed by the food or service, that's for sure.
(4)
Morra Y.
I am a frequent diner, really like this place from past experiences. Food is good as usual, but this time service was below expectation: no recommendation, wanted to finish our table as quickly as possible (take out plates too fast and pushed us to pay the bill). Hope next time it won't happen.
(4)
Sora C.
We've been to Gyu Kaku for dinner last week..it was on wednesday night around 6pm but we've waited half an hour...that was acceptable! I've ordered a draft asahi beer and an appetizer at the bar and the appetizer was good. Forgot the name....deep fried rice rolls with spicy tuna salad on top? It was good..but the draft beer taste different then what I usually get. I've had a japanese draft beer in NY, LA, and even tokyo so I know how it tastes...and somehow it tasteed weired. Anyways when we get to be seated, we ordered ten different parts of beef and pork and everything was good!! The food was pretty good perhaps I hope my server knew the each sauces on the menu and how it tastes like. I ask for some sauces on the menu that I don't know and...she didn't even know and just laughed...? Overall, the barbeque meats were well-marinated but I personally like the Korean-style bbq better..but it was a decent experience. Nothing bad nothing too goo.
(3)
Henry Z.
OK bbq compares to those Korean bqq restaurant, but I do like the ambiance here.
(4)
Khoa N.
Some of the meat was delicious. But overall, it was only an okay experience for me. We had a discount since it was their soft opening and still it was pretty expensive, with no unlimited sides as with Korean BBQ. At the end of the meal (we ordered the shogun combo for 4 .. for 4), I was left wanting more. I wasn't full. And I wasn't close to being satisfied. Too bad we couldn't order any more dishes since it was past last call. It would've nice to be notified. It's alright, their loss. It's not that I wouldn't come back, but I would prefer to stop at a Korean BBQ place for my cravings.
(3)
Steven F.
Ate here a few weeks ago with a friend I live next door and use to go to Ginza which it was before (Ginza wasn't that great ;P). We waited for about an hour to be seated as to be expected for a soft opening. We sat down I ordered a tea and the samurai dinner they offered. The meal came out pretty much all at once. The salmon hot oil they brought out was decent i think they should have seared it more. Salad was really good i actually liked it more than the salmon. The miso soup was in my opinion too watered down much like a lot of other places. The meats were all well marinated and delicious. You can tell the freshness by looking at it. The Sukiyaki Bipimbap was AMAZING. I could probably just eat that and be satisfied. The extra sauces they have on the table was too pleasing for my palate tasted a little too commercialized. Maybe because i feel i make a more enjoyable Ponzu. The S'more dessert was pretty good. The server didn't turn on the grill so my buddy and I was just goofing around with the marshmallow until our server turned it back on. They gave us 20% off and the meal came out to about $60 they charged me for my ice tea i never got didn't realize until I paid up just told the server and deducted from the tip which they could easily re-open the tab and void the tea. Overall it was enjoyable, the place is new and I didn't have high expectations. I will be back.
(4)
Mindy Z.
One of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Always ordered the three recommended BBQ meat and would never let me down. It's little expensive and save it for especial days
(5)
Salt H.
This place just recently opened in Brookline and we tried going on their first week and you literally cannot get a table either by reservation or walk-ins; that's how packed it is! I really wanted to try this place out so being the third wheel to a couple that was with me, I told the hostess we're willing to wait as long as it takes (I did not tell the couple this) and she said she'll see what she can do, but no guarantees. So I lied and told the couple it will be about an hour wait when in reality it would be more like 2 hours. I took the couple across the street to Taberna de Haro to get them liquored up and hopefully lose track of time. It worked for the most part, however, we ordered a pitcher of sangria that was like $50! The duck heart and fried kraken were good, but man that sangria really didn't help my cause and put them in a bad mood. So about an hour and a half passed and I went inside trying to pretend like I was working my magic to get a table when really i was just trying to prolong the wait as long as possible because the couple started getting restless. We went next door and I pretended I needed hot chocolate at Dunkin Donuts, but again I was just stalling. Finally they were just about ready to call it quits. They were cranky and hungry and the parking meter was about to expire. So I said ok fine, let me go to the bathroom first and then we can be on our way and grab some takeouts at Wings Over Brookline. So when I was in the bathroom taking the longest pretend piss of my life, I FINALLY GOT THE CALL!!! Great timing too because the couple were ready to go after I was done. So we got a table and just went to town ordering anything that used to have four legs and a pulse. Meat, meat, and more meat was on the menu that evening. Now granted it doesn't compare to the all you can eat Korean buffets you can get at Flushing, NY, but for a Japanese BBQ here in Boston it beats all the other asian BBQ places like Yasu, Koreana, and Apgujung. The Kobe kalbi and the pork belly were my favorite. I don't believe you can get Kobe kalbi anywhere else in Boston. When I had it in Akasaka in Tokyo, I didn't even know such a thing existed. Kalbi is like my all-time favorite Korean food, and Kobe my all-time favorite type of beef, what a wonderful combination! It's like combining bacon with dinosaurs and ninjas and then the universe implodes from the sheer weight of its awesomeness. So anyways back to the dinner, it was definitely worth the wait for me, and the couple I was with wasn't so cranky afterwards. Once they had a taste of those savory grilled meat slices in their mouths, they finally shut up and nearly forgot they had waited 2 hours earlier to eat. The only complaint I had is the portions leave a lot to be desired. Don't get me wrong, you won't go hungry, but you won't be full to the point it hurts when you breathe through your mouth like a serial killer either. You'll just be happy and content, which maybe with the obesity problems in America and our tendency for the excess, that's not such a bad thing. I'm just too used to the all you can eat buffets at New York and Toronto for under $30 and here you can easily spend over $100. Luckily they had a 17% discount for the month of April when I went, so we saved about $20. If I were to go back by myself I could spend $200+ easily; I'll be sure to bring a vegetarian date with me so I could have more for myself. Anyways, it's a great chain and the type of quality of meat they offer I usually have to go out of town for. I'm glad more of these places are coming to Boston now because I will certainly pay the premium for the convenience of eating right down the street from my house. Oh also, special thanks to the hostess (Sarah?) for moving mountains in getting us a table. I may also have a slight crush on our server (Becca? Rebecca?) with her cute voice and large hipster glasses, but that's just my own personal enjoyment that has nothing to do with this review. Oh yeah and the couple lived happily ever after. THE END.
(4)
Nancy J.
Good food,service is great.but sometimes we walk in to to restaurant to take a seat front dest said all seat is not available but i saw so many table available and i asked her so how can i do? Do i need to make a reservation online?and she said NO!! Today u can't make any reservation cuz table all full.u need to come back for next time.... So after that me and my friends walk out and looking for another place to have dinner.but we are still really want to have dinner here!! Even we have to wait until1hr that's ok.Then i try to go to make reservation online again even she said we can't!!! so it's work website said table available for us. And i go back to restaurant and ask her again she's look like she doesn't care customer :( but it's ok because Food taste good and server very nice and attentive even sometimes so slow but i know it's busy time :) i recommend yaki shabu beef and toro beef it's sooo yummyyyy :)
(4)
Elsa S.
I've been looking for a good BBQ grilling kind of restaurant forever! There are not many BBQ self grilling places in Boston. Finally I found this place, the parking is not an issue, there are a ton of parking spots around the area. We parked near by the restaurant. The host was nice and welcomed us, she asked if this was the first time for us. We said yes. We made our reservation online at the same day. She lead us to the table and the waiter explained and walked us though the process and Menu as well. All while he was siting on his kneels! I was impressed by that, I've heard they do something like this in Japan. It is so good to see how they pay such great attention to what they do. The restaurant definitely has a very nice atmosphere. We had Toro Beef, Filet Mignon,Spicy pork belly and Mushroom Medley. Spicy pork belly was ok but the beef dishes were the bomb! I recommend Toro Beef it has a lot of fat though, not for people who don't like fat. Filet Mignon was so tender it melted in your mouth. I want to go back there already lol, I just went last night. So don't miss this place for those who like Beef and BBQ. I am looking forward to going back there again!
(5)
Andy K.
A trendy restaurant. You really just pay for the experience of cooking and sharing with friends so def go with a group! Else going alone is kind of lonely.. The service is pretty decent, my waiter took the time to explain every cut of meat and every sauce.. so it was much appreciated! My all time favorite is the french fries in cod cavier sauce. It is to die for! You're probably going to be eating meat and rice the whole time. The meat is very salty.. flavorful! but salty. Portion wise, its fair. But you MUST go during their happy hour promotion periods. Else, you can really spend some serious money for dinner!
(4)
Carly L.
I had high expectations of this place but eh..fell short! Personally, I felt that the meats were over flavored. It was too salty for me. Portions are okay but for the price, you don't get what you pay. If you're used to a korean bbq restaurants, you will be disappointed. Otherwise, clean and trendy place to eat. Not bad but will I be back? Prob not.
(3)
Sam C.
Fantastic concept great food great service ask for Linda! Can't say much more than wow! Beer was on special kirin was $2 draft, recommend the skirt steak and the garlic bibmibap!
(5)
Tammy B.
I visited this restaurant a few days ago. A friend of mine suggested this for place for dinner and since I've heard nothing but good reviews from people - we gave it a shot. I am can truly say I left this place with a very satisfying tummy. But to give you an in depth review - here goes! A group of my friends and I went with the "meat lovers" meal course which was made for 6 people but we got it anyways and we were a group of 4. It's was the perfect amount of food and we did not order any additional side orders. The miso soup was good and the edema me was a great snack while we waited for the meats to come out. The variety of marinated meat options was awesome! There was also basil chicken as one of the meat options - one my of friends and I were just so amazed at how tender and flavor the chicken was. And even better they have three sauce options, dipping into the spicy sauce was my favorite (was not spicy, very flavor-full!). The meal came with 6 bowls of rice so you can definitely see how filling it can get. However, the meal if not come with dessert so we ordered two desserts - it was a fish you grill, stuffed with red beans and a side of green tea ice cream. I can't say this is the best dessert but it was nice to try something new. As for drinks, they had a pretty good menu. One of my friends got a vodka/saki drink and he said it was the most alcohol he has ever gotten in a drink (that's a great thing!). And the day we went, they had $2 Kirin 12 oz and $3 for a glass of Merlot. Over all, it was a great time! The service we had from our waitress was phenomenal! She checked back on us here and there. She also consistently removed our grilled and put oil on it us. I just really enjoyed her persistent service. Definitely will be back again!
(4)
Jenie N.
Absolutely thrilled that such a wonderful restaurant is open in the neighborhood in Brookline. My husband and I are both foodies but I'm vegetarian and he is not. Bbq has always been a challenge because they do not have that many options for vegetarians. Pleasantly surprised here. Not only did he have a very good selection of veggies to barbecue, there were also a number of dishes that vegetarians could order in addition to complement the barbecue. My husband and meat eater, Has always complained that he cannot go to have barbecue either Korean or Japanese because the portion sizes Are meant for 2 to 4 people and when you're dining alone it's hard to order. He absolutely loved the tapas portion sizes here, allowing him to do what he loves doing the best which is ordering a variety of things to eat. Now he could not stop talking about the marination and the wonderful flavor the meats came with for him to Bbq. Yes we definitely going back. Definitely taking friends back as well!!
(5)
Prince D.
Always happy to eat here. The beef tongue is great, I also love the ramen. And never forget the Lady M Cake. It's better to make a reservation.
(5)
Jhonny G.
One of the best services in Boston. The waitress are the best. The food is delicious. I didn't give it 5 stars because its a little expensive butt overall a must try type of place.
(4)
Ms. K.
LOVE IT! I am from Japan and it is exactly like the GyuKaku in Japan. It gets kind of pricey, but if you go there for happy hour, you could save a lot. If you love meat and grilling, this is the place to go to :-)
(5)
Eric L.
soso
(3)
Kim T.
They tell you the wait is 20 minutes. You wait for an hour. And then when you're still eating they rush you out. Food is good but how they run this place is awful. Can hardly finish your meal before they start hounding you to finish.
(2)
Jennifer M.
Overall a pretty good experience. We made a reservation, and a few hours before, they called and said that there was a power outage in Brookline which caused some of their grills to not work. They offered to keep me posted in case the power came back on, which they did, and we were able to keep our reservation. The wait staff was very friendly and informative--since we had never been there before and needed some recommendations on the menu. They were attentive but not too "in-your-face". The food was very good--we thought the portions were a bit small, but we ended up being VERY full by the end of our meal--we got about 6 dishes for 2 people. Would definitely eat here again.
(4)
Jenny W.
The branch of the Gyu-Kaku family is nothing compared to the others. The staff just doesn't seem to care about the customers. A good restaurant would have more control over employee attitudes. I once witnessed a manager at the host stand taking over the hosts' job and having a slight attitude towards their employees. That shouldn't happen, and if it were to happen, it shouldn't be occurring in front of the guests. The Brookline branch is also weak because there are many price adjustments. For example, lunch and happy hour have extremely low prices, lower than normal. The happy hour has even been extended to the bar and into the late hours of the evening. That is how you can tell a business is failing.
(1)
Philip H.
I came last night at 9:30 PM for the first time with a buddy and we ordered exclusively off the happy hour menu, which I shall say is probably THE happy hour menu of happy hour menus. We ordered all 7 meat dishes with the recommended sauces primarily and a few appetizers. Our favorite meats were the Beef Toro and Yaki Beef with Tare sauce. We found the service to be very excellent. They change the grill 4 times through the course of the meal and constantly check in to introduce the next course and see how we were doing. The entire meal came out to $62 with 7 meats, 5 appetizers, and 2 drinks. An amazing value for good quality Japanese BBQ.
(5)
Eddy C.
Nice japanese bbq place ever. the price is a little bit too high
(4)
Wesley C.
A little expensive, but worthy. BTW don't forget the green tea cake from Lady M.
(4)
Emily N.
Summary: Decent to good food, v. nice decor, a little expensive with not huge portions, and pretty terrible waitstaff. The good: The restaurant remodel was wonderful. Decor is trendy and nice looking with sorta private booths. Beer is $4-4.50 including imports, which is a good deal. Bistro hanger steak, bacon fried rice, garlic noodles, edamame, and the table sauces are very good. About 4 of the staff are very competent and they try hard to make up for the rest- especially the food runner, who might as well have been our waitress. The bad: The filet tip was uber-chewy (no, I didn't overcook it) and a bunch of the chunks were in much larger than bite-size pieces, and the filet tip and zucchini had pretty much no seasoning. The food seems expensive considering how small the portions are If you have some big eaters, you might end up eating at home after. The restaurant is no longer in soft opening and therefore has no deals. The staff...I will try to limit my rant. The hostess was clueless and awkward and kept revising our wait time, which ranged from 2 minutes to 20, and took about 25. The bartender was attentive but then had a debate with other staff about whether to bill us when our table was ready or whether it could transfer to our dinner tab. Our waitress talked incredibly fast and went through the menu like she was reading a teleprompter. I was confused about the marinade suggestions on the menu (eg. it says "try with miso"), so I asked and she said "I decide for you" and left. Actually, she started walking away every time she checked on us before her question was even done and even got into a kerfuffle with the table next us.. She also kept turning down our grill and another guy had to keep coming back and turning it back up. One of the server girls did the mix-at-the-table thing with the fried rice, and although the guy instructing her knew what he was doing, she didn't, and got it all over the table and left half in the bowl she took away. The overly efficient busser took everything away before dessert, so we ate our smores over the table without napkins. That's not even all the incidences, but I'll spare you the rest.
(3)
Siyao L.
the lady m there is great!
(4)
Elsie H.
The BBQ dishes are definitely awesome -- we had the "Samurai" value courses and we enjoyed all beef dishes as well as the S'mores. I would give it 5 stars but their service seems to be problematic -- they spilled our drinks and failed to clean the glass pieces on our table until we ask to change table. They also missed to serve one of our order and add in another dish in our bill that we never ordered. Might try again for the good quality meat dishes and hopefully they will have better service.
(3)
Vi H.
Tried it for the first time yesterday and I liked it. Bf and I didn't have to wait long since we got there a little early but it gets busy so make a reservation beforehand. Ordered the Samurai Course and it was pretty good. Almost couldn't finish because there was so much food. It tasted great though and our server was kind :). Only wish we could have ordered the green tea crepe cake dessert because I've heard good things but it was already sold out.
(4)
Tara T.
Excellent. Came here on a Monday night around 5:30pm; was told the wait would be 1 hour, but we only waited ~40 minutes for a party of 2. Servers were fast and courteous, and gave us great recommendations, especially since neither of us had been to Gyu-Kaku before. I also liked that they were prompt about switching out the grills before they got too charred. We ordered the addicting cabbage to start ($3), and then went with three beefs (Kobe kalbi chuck, skirt steak, and beef tongue) as well as two "other meats" (two pieces of lamb steak off the bone, pork belly), and finally a small plate of shishito peppers ($3). The food was excellent. The beef tongue was seasoned perfectly, the skirt steak and Kobe kalbi chuck were very fresh, and the slabs of lamb were nice and fat. My only complaint is that the shishito peppers were a bit under-seasoned, but the sauces on the table more than made up for that (favorites: Ponzu and Spicy). For dessert, we got the s'mores ($3 for two). The s'mores dessert was creative and fun (roasting marshmallows over the fire!), and inexpensive enough to not feel bad about. Finally, the beer is quite cheap here: $4-$5, which is nice since who doesn't like beer to round out a nice bbq meal? Ambiance/decor was nice. A little dark on the inside, but the slated wood panels separating each seating area gave people a nice sense of privacy. Not too noisy, yet chic and modern feeling. All in all, a great experience. Pretty affordable as well, given you're eating a meal of cook-your-own-meat. The two of us left feeling pretty full (although not stuffed) for ~$70, although I think there's an ongoing restaurant discount (15% maybe?) since it's still going through its soft opening. Highly recommend!
(4)
Elizabeth B.
Although most of the food tasted good, we were extremely frustrated and disappointed by the lackluster and slow service at lunch on New Year's day. We had a reservation and ended up sitting down about ten minutes past the booked time, which normally wouldn't have bothered us, but we grew concerned when guests that sat down next to us about ten minutes later were mid-way through their meal by the time we were served a single item. They also forgot one of the meats and both side dishes we ordered, so we ended up eating a very unbalanced meal of all meat for the majority of the time. We were confused about the long wait times considering we were cooking the food ourselves at the table. Ultimately, one of the appetizers never came and we were still charged for it until I asked that it be taken off the check. What should have been a fun meal turned into a very frustrating and long two hours.
(2)
Candy H.
The Food is Good, desserts are great. However, The Hostess are TERRIBLE! WE walked in at 6:30PM and asked how long the wait will be for a table of 3. One of the Hostes said at least 45mins wait, then the ASIAN Hostes said 25-45mins. So we decided to put down our name. 45mins later, we went to check, the ASIAN Hostess said 20 more mins. I waited 30 mins and check with her again, she said 20 more mins. I waited another 20 mins and check with her again, she said 20 more mins. I waited another 20 mins, since I was with friends and we have been waiting for an hour something already, she said we are the second one the list. It was 8:30, when we finally have our table. I was beyond frustrated with the Asian Hostess, because I feel like she tricked me into waiting for such a long time. I worked as a Hostess, before and when I said 25-45, 45 mins are usually the Max. She should have told us at least an hour wait, then it will be up to us to wait or not. This is INSANE!
(1)
Karen S.
This brand-new restaurant by St. Mary's is a Japanese take on a Korean-style barbecue - each table has a gas grill in the center which is on throughout the meal. It's a multi-state franchise, but this is its first location in Massachusetts. The food we had was good, particularly the marinated meats, but you do have to come prepared to cook it yourself. This can be fun if you want to do this, but distracting and annoying if you don't want the trouble of keeping track of your food. At a table with 6 diners, one grill will get pretty crowded. Note that although this is Japanese, there is no sushi - if you want that, go down the block to Sushi Express. They have a couple pre-set meals if you don't want to have to choose multiple courses for youself, but we just chose items a la carte. My favorite was the Kobe-style Kalbi Chuck with Tare Sweet Soy; my fiance liked the lamb chops the best. Pros: -Fun cooking your own a la carte meats, vegetables, and dessert items. For older children and adults who come ready to do a little grilling, this can be great! There is some coordination involved, as the wait staff had to remind us a couple times not to use our wooden chopsticks on the grill, but to switch to the metal tongs. -Attractive interior with dark, geometric woods and a more intimate feel than the average restaurant -Friendly staff who are eager to help -Various grill-ready desserts, including s'mores -Full bar, with a sleek bar area up front Cons: -You have to cook your food - again, this depends on whether you'd enjoy this. (There are salads, soups, and noodle dishes that you don't have to cook.) Also, it sometimes takes a little experimentation to figure out how long to cook each item. -Not good for young children (or the clumsy) - the grill is really hot and children too young to be safe around a hot stove will probably be more trouble than it's worth in this setting. -Some of the items get a little smokey while cooking, and the built-in grill smoke-fan isn't perfect, so if you're really sensitive to this, sit away from the grill.
(4)
Mary R.
Definitely a good choice if you're a meat lover, though it's a bit on the pricey end. It's better to come during happy hours so you don't go broke for eating one meal. My favorite would be the Green Tea Mille Crepe since I've always wanted to try, but they didn't have it the last time I went. I also liked their service and the way they greeted their customers.
(4)
Derek C.
Just average. The sauces were tasty, but the portions were small. I would rather have barbecued meats at a Korean restaurant, like Koreana or Chung Ki Wa.
(3)
Elaine C.
Instant five stars! Twice in one week and hoping to go again soon. Great setting and a nice waiting area so you don't really mind waiting at all. Food is great, meat is good! Fries are a must and their bibimbap is pretty good too. Very inexpensive and very nice bartender :) can't wait to write more about it soon.
(5)
Yuhui W.
My girlfriend and I went here for lunch before heading to Logan to catch a flight. We got there right as it opened so the wait was minimal. They have a happy hour and the food is pretty inexpensive (definitely cheaper than other BBQ places). They give our food as plate by plate which was actually pretty for grilling purposes. The food, itself, is alright, but nothing to rave about. Enough people like it here though that when we left, there were probably 5-6 groups waiting for a seat. Glad we got there early.
(3)
Elaine C.
Finally it arrives Boston. We are the last place on earth Great BBQ restaurant will decided to invest in this town. Anyway, alike other Gyu-Kaku, setting is alike. Meat are fresh, you BBQ with your bear hand. Great drink menu and great for group.
(5)
Yb W.
Gyu kaku has finally settled in Boston!! What could be more fun than in door grilling of succulent, delicately seasoned meat? Their kalbi, beef tongue, and lamb are the best. Their meat is resilient and stays tender and juicy even when handled by the novice griller. Their cocktails, salads, and appetizers are also refreshing and a great complement to the main courses. Love this place and will be back regularly!
(5)
Julie L.
Went here for a birthday with a party of 6, made reservation already. Some of us wanted to wait for the rest of the party before sitting so we went to the bar to get a couple if drinks. I order a "birthday cake shot " ....and the bartender asked me what liquor I wanted so I said GG VODKA so....she just pour that in a shot glass.. Then I asked her to chill the shot and she just sticked it in the refrigerator for like2min.. The shot was still warm...gross.... 1st...is she actually a bartender ? Birthday cake shot not..a shot..and put some ice in the shaker with the vodka to chill it not sticking it in the refrigerator!!! 2nd ...We got the table.. This is our first time there we do not know what we are doing...and the server never explain to us anything not even the sauces...just took the order and checked up on us once, we had to keep asking other server/staff for things. Some of the BBQ meat was very flavorful but some was meh..... But seriously I was not happy with the service and the bar situation
(2)
Darren L.
Great tasting BBQ, first time having Japanese BBQ! Have to say it is the best way to have BBQ! The food will make you want more and you might need another stomach because you will be staying there for a while. Very stylish restaurant and gloomy in a good way. :) The price is worth it by the way :D
(5)
Alan S.
So happy this place opened in Boston. Came here twice over the past week. The first time, I came on a Wednesday night around 6pm. Couldn't get in because I didn't have reservations. My friend and I decided to stay and sit at the bar where you can get noodle, rice, and apps. They have several happy hour items that saves a few bucks per dish. Got a number of apps and was fully satisfied with drinks for about $!5-20. Will definitely be back to take advantage of that! It was a beautiful night, the windows were open, and I couldn't think of anything better on a warm summer/fall night than to eat delicious Japanese food with drinks and friends. The second time, I made reservations for Saturday night and got to try the bbq. Got the chicken and strip steak. Great flavor! Overall, its just a fun place to eat with a group of friends. Order a bunch of meats and veggies and cook right at the table. I've had better Japanese bbq in my lifetime, but there is currently nothing like this that exists in Boston and thus if gets 5 stars from me!
(5)
Cony C.
I'm looking forward to the opening for a long time, Boston needs variety of food!! This place is just like what I expect of Japanese style BBQ, the decor, the flavor... tho the meat selection is still not as wide range as stores in NYC or California, but this is pretty good already. It's like what i had back in Asia. Very authentic! Regarding meat quality, it's ok to me, but probably already better than a lots of similar self-serve grill meat places. The service is the only thing I would like to complain. Waiters are friendly but need more professional training. The waiters who served food didn't deliver the items to right group (We are about 10ppl, divided into 2 group to grill), and some of them didn't even ability to tell what kind of meat that they are delivering. Overall, I still Love the place, will definitely come back again.
(4)
Picky B.
Excellent service. Delicious food. Terrific atmosphere. Great price. We came here with a party of 50! The entire experience was a delight. The appetizers and marinated beef bbq were my favorite. Quality Sake bottles and Kirin pitchers.
(5)
Gemma A.
I loved this place! I went twice during their soft opening in May. The atmosphere was great, and the Japanese barbecuing experience was one that is fun for friends and family alike. Also nice to note that during the soft opening, both my meals were 20% off, which was really nice and a great way to get me to come back. The menu is reasonably priced, and you can easily find things that will fit most price ranges. Some people don't like that they bring all the food out at once, but you have to understand that that is what all restaurants with this theme do. Plus, a lot of the appetizers are better with the meal anyway. The food was all fresh and seasoned/marinated nicely. I'be had the yaki-shabu with spicy miso, the kolbe galbi, broccoli, kimchee, chicken, and plain rice. I didn't really like the seasoning on the chicken (garlic). It came off a little plain, but luckily you can pick and choose, so I'll probably choose another one when I go back. The only thing that can get annoying is the wait. The first day I went we waited for an hour, but the second time we got there right when they opened so we were seated immediately. If you don't feel like arriving first, call ahead and make a reservation to avoid the long wait. I'm glad they opened nearby, and hope the restaurants continues to do well after they fully open.
(5)
boston y.
food is good, and so the ambience..
(4)
Julie H.
Gyu gaku is a decent Korean-Japanese fusion restaurant. Their portions are small. Their meats are flavorful. Their shrimp dumplings are a bit mushy but otherwise ok. I give them three stars because they really should not charge for kim chee. It's friggin fermented vegetables; it's cheap to make. Giving it free would not hit their food costs too badly. Their menu is 80% Korean. Kim Chee is a Korean staple. Banchan (side dishes) are present in all Korean meals. Even if you eat Korean food in a food court, they will give you a little dish of kim chee. For the prices you pay here, they really should include some kim chee.
(3)
Jing Z.
food was good, and service is nice, but too over-priced and food is in such a small portion; would go for the other Korean BBQ place rather than this one.
(4)
Julia J.
This place is ok compared to other gyu-kaku locations that I have been to, and it doesn't deserve my four stars. I went there with a friend at 4pm which is the start of their happy hour, and the place was already packed on a Saturday afternoon (Yes, I like to eat early dinner or I won't eat anything at all). We ordered their hot oil seared salmon and basically everything on the happy hour menu. Definitely order the asparagus and mushroom because they are even better than the meat! The salmon was just ok, and it was very disappointing since New York's tastes way better. I liked the spicy sauce, but they don't have green tea crepe yet. The server told me it's gonna take sometime for them to have that on the menu. So for dessert we had the smores which I don't suggest any of you order it because it doesn't taste good at all. I don't think I will go back for the meat, but I will when they serve green tea crepe!
(3)
K T.
Great service, good food. I hope they can keep this up!
(4)
David J.
I've just stepped out of the most rudest, disrespectful encounter with a host that I've ever experienced in my life, it was absolutely surreal. My friends and I heard that this place was open and went to try it out. We had a party of eleven but since it was our first time, we had no idea how big the place was so we just did a walk in. When the host at the desk heard we were 11, he rolled his eyes as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing, and told us in the most annoyed shrill voice that for a party of 11 we NEEDED a reservation. Okay we know we are a big group but that doesn't give you the right to be a total asshole to your customers. He offered to put out name down and call us but for the course of the entire interaction, the guy couldn't hide his absolute distaste and contempt towards us. In case there is any doubt, the guy had short hair pressed down with glumps of hair product and was tending the desk at lunchtime on a Saturday. Heads up management, this dude needs to go. I'm pretty sure someone will end up punching him in the face sooner or later.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Kenny L.
Gyu-kaku serves amazing food. That being said, I debated publishing that statement that because I wasn't sure whether the credit goes to them or myself because they make you cook your f***ing food. So yea, maybe I'm just an awesome chef. In terms of time between ordering and being served, the good news is, your food comes out very fast. The bad news, it's raw. The rest is a fine balance between your hunger and food poisoning. I've never been food-poisoned at Gyu-kaku because I'm an awesome chef, apparently, but I can definitely see it happening if you don't abide by their recommended cook times. Cost-wise, like most people said, go during lunch, otherwise it's just not worth the money. I have no idea why Gyu-Kaku only has two dollar signs, it should have four: one extra for the honest cost of the food (especially during dinner), and another extra for the added cost of hiring you as a part-time chef. Some cost estimates: ate there once with another male friend: $100 for two people, including tip. Ate with my girlfriend and got a lunch special and some other plates, and she got an Old Fashioned, for a total of $90 ish plus tip. The restaurant definitely goes an extra mile when it comes to interior design. Service has always been great every time I went. The waiters and waitresses have great personalities. As for what to choose, if you're looking for flavor, get the marinated meats. Otherwise, they just take like... cooked meat. Might as well just bring some over from the Whole Foods next door.
(4)David K.
I went to eat dinner with 5 other people for a friend's birthday. So of course we got the meat lover's course for 6 people. Get comfortable. I'm going to go down most of the food listed in the course. Starters - Edamame: Pretty standard salted edamame. - Miso Chili Wings: WAY too salty, not really too flavorful. - Calamari Strips: Nicely fried pieces of calamari. They were a bit too bunched up. - Sukiyaki Bibimbap: Pretty bland, I would rate it below most bibimbap I've had but then again, I'm korean. BBQ Items In general, most of the meat were already seasoned and were on the saltier side. I didn't really like how they put in a chicken basil into the mix. Not exactly sure what's so japanese about chicken basil nor do I feel that it's smart to let their customers, who aren't accustomed to cooking their own meat like this, cook chicken. Especially alongside other meats. The sausages were a huge miss for the entire table. Overall, a nice meal but I think it could have been better. Maybe a different course would have been better? *shrug*
(3)Tracey L.
I enjoyed our experience here. Came during Happy Hour for lunch, which lasts from 11:30am-3pm everyday. I think it's more worth it to going during Happy Hour because prices from the regular menu can add up quickly. Some items during happy hour are almost 1/2 off. We ordered mostly meats. You can choose different marinades for each item; I couldn't really taste the difference between each sauce but they were all marinaded well and tasted great. I like the idea of grilling your own food, makes for a fun and different experience. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. She came over several times to oil our grill and change it out. When they serve your meats they let you know how long to cook them. Between two people we ordered about 5 meat plates which filled us up. I would recommend coming here if you want a new and fun dining experience.
(4)Marlana Y.
Love this place. The dark brown wood makes the atmosphere very chic. It's very loud and a great group atmosphere to hang out with friends. I can't imagine it to be romantic because it can be very loud from the waitstaff saying thank you to the guests multiple times. I don't mind it because it's very much how the Japanese culture is like. I come during happy hour but the parking sucks because the limit is two hours and I can totally become absorbed in the food and atmosphere that I could be there longer than 2 hours! My favorites is the hot oil seared salmon (raw), salmon lettuce bibimbap rice (cooked), and of course ...loveee loveeee the lady m cake. That's actually what brings me back! Their green tea ice cream - I love the taste of the matcha, so strong it gives me a caffeine kick!
(4)Miranda K.
Their food is delicious, friendly staff, and great prices. Only complaint is the leaky AC unit that was located above the table I was seated at. The back booth on the right side of the restaurant near the Exit Only door has a dripping AC that will spontaneously drip on my arm and head as I was eating. It disturbed my meal and I did mention it to the wait staff, and they offered to move tables for us.
(3)Ryan G.
I'm always skeptical about places that make you cook your own food. As much as I think its an ingenius business plan, as a consumer I totally despise it! You're telling me I HAVE TO LEAVE MY HOUSE TO COOK MY OWN FOOD....weird. None the less, Gyu-Kaku is a pretty standard higher end chain whos quality and atmosphere is pretty consistent with other gyu-kaku's around the U.S. The thing that only makes this 3 stars for me is the price. For a average height male that doesn't work out much, it takes $40 of food to get me full. Although, it is great food and the quality is great and the choices are terriffic, I feel like I just don't get my money's worth. The upside side is that their is a FOOD HAPPY HOUR, in which some dishes are half off. Can't really beat that and if you are on a budget I recommend going during happy hour, then I would consider it worth it. If Happy hour prices were the normal prices, lets just say this place would be getting 5 stars....
(3)William L.
Gyu Kaku is now one of my favorite restaurants. Both times I have dined here it was during Happy Hour, making it very affordable (~$11/person). Each time we were greeted warmly when we entered and seated within a few minutes. The servers were very friendly and helped us navigate the extravagant menus (somewhat overwhelming). The food arrived in a reasonable time and very well presented. I can not recommend the filet mignon and spicy pork enough, they are my favorite meats and pair very well with the "spicy" dipping sauce. Speaking of which, does anyone have a recipe for similar spicy pork? I want to recreate it at home but my pallet is limited and I need help! Overall, I highly recommend Gyu Kaku, especially during Happy Hour (lunch/afternoon). Addendum: My wife and I went back this past weekend for lunch (Happy Hour!). We were served by Reshu. I can't say enough good things about Reshu. She kept our drinks full, answered all our questions, and chatted with us for a bit. By far the fastest (and best) service I've received so far. In addition to my recommendation for the restaurant, I also highly recommend Reshu!
(5)Joanna H.
I just wanted to stay here forever. Japanese BBQ is always pricey, but it's always so worth it. Here are the must-haves on the menu: Garlic rice with steak bits- portions about 2.5 regular bowls of rice Kalbi short rib- juicy, fatty, delicious Spinach and garlic- soft greens, steamed to perfection (guess the cooking part was my contribution?) Beef tongue with scallions- 3 inch circular slices. MMMM & lastly Dorayaki ice cream- there's a reason Doraemon was so obsessed with them. Heat up your dorayaki over the stone grill for a smokey flavor, then add the red bean and green tea ice cream. LOVE.
(5)Ailynda W.
The BBQ was good. The lychee drink sounded delicious but it was not that great. Ramen was not so good for me. A bit pricey overall. The table was a bit too small for 4 people. But overall i like it. Give the credit to the BBQ and the restaurant decoration.
(4)Tiffany L.
I made the mistake to wait over 45 minutes for this place - Shame on me. The hostesses told us there would be a 30-45 minutes wait for a party of two when we walked in so we decided to wait by the front/bar area. The bartender acknowledged us right away and she was very kind and bubbly. I had to ask her to check my ID - she wasn't going to because she thought I looked "old enough". Anyway, I ordered a Lychee Bellini - it wasn't too bad, but I will not order it again. We waited for 45 minutes, I had to go up and check on how much longer the wait was. They told me another ten minutes. I went back after ten minutes and she told me another ten minutes (..........). The problem: it was not busy. I had a party of two and we were waiting with one other group that came in at the last 5 minutes of our wait so it's not that hard for them to update us on the wait-time ESPECIALLY since we were there for over 45 minutes and all they did was looked at us from their computer. They definitely had tables open because we kept seeing people getting seated right away (granted, they probably had reservations - but don't take my word for it). My guess is that if you have a baby/child, you will get seated right away. We finally got seated and my server was really nice. I asked for appetizer recommendations and he recommended me dumplings and some salmon thing - which I did not order. I ordered the Wasabi Shrimp and then he told me it was his favorite, which made me wonder why he didn't recommend it in the first place? - beats me. The food was not bad - but honestly, how can you go wrong with BBQ + meat? There's nothing so impressive or extraordinary about this. The only difference they could have made was their service, which wasn't bad, but could be a LOT better. There was no management present and if there was, they didn't make themselves apparent. I will not be coming back to this place.
(3)Kim W.
This has got to be my new favorite spot! The value you get here is unbeatable. Come here for their happy hours and you will not be disappointed. $4 meat plates and $2 sides? It's too good! I always have a great time here as well as a very satisfied belly!
(5)Julia N.
Food was great!!! Dessert was a disappointment.
(4)Jimbo J.
Just ok, nothing to write home about. First time there and tried the Kobe beef special for $85. 4 plates of beef or assorted "Kobe" beef. Some were better than the others, some were tough and chewy. I thought this was "Kobe" beef? The apps were decent fare, nothing out of the ordinary. Miso soup, seaweed salad, all common Hmart quality stuff. I have decided to find out where they get their table set grills and set it up at home and spend my $85 on a good slab of beef and assorted meats. Decent restaurant, but will visit most likely 2 times a year.
(3)Tu N.
Cannot beat the lunch special. The green tea crepe cake is usually available on on from Thursday-Sunday only.
(5)Linda Y.
I've seen Gyu-kaku in New York, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Tokyo. It's definitely becoming an international chain, and I was quite surprised to hear that it was the actual one that opened in Brookline. Even so, I've never dined at the one in New York because I always assumed it was geared towards non-Asian demographics. Based on the menu, I don't think I'm far too off. Gyu-kaku serves a combination of Japanese bbq, Korean bbq, Korean stone bowl rice, and other fusion-esque choices. But what sets Gyu-kaku aside from your average Korean bbq joint is that variety and quality of meat that is offered; there's a lot more than short rib and pork belly. Our table didn't go too crazy and just ordered the harami miso skirt steak, kalbi short rib, and a variety of vegetables. Both meats were thoroughly marinated but were still served with several sauces, so yay extra sodium. Furthermore, both meats were pretty fatty and tender, but the consistency varied from piece to piece and sometimes you were left with some that just wouldn't give. What this Gyu-kaku really has to work on, however, is the service. This is a Japanese/Korean restaurant. When there is meat on the table, the white rice should be right there with it. The white rice should not be served at the same time as the clay pot rices because who wants to eat rice with rice? Please hire or at least train the waiters to understand the culture of the cuisine. As for clay pot rices, the bibimbaps were light on the fresh chopped vegetable variety it is usually served with, but the shiitake mushroom fried rice stone pot is something I can see myself returning for. Finally, the dessert. Smores? Great idea to milk your customers. But more importantly, the featured dessert: Yes, Lady M green tea mille crepe cakes are amazing and all, but its commute to Boston does not do it justice. You can just tell that the crepe layers are tougher to fork through and that the cream and the crepes have sort of melded together to a over creamy mess. You lose all the details in the work put into the many distinct layers of the cake. If this was how the food and service was in New York, I would have given it two stars. But because this is Boston and I can totally see the allure of this place for Asians and non all alike, it needs a booster. Anyways, I have got to check out the ones in Honolulu. I hear it's a thing there.
(3)Thanh L.
Came in for happy hour. We got alot of delicious food at the happy hour price. Staff was busy but did their best to get us everything that we needed. Everything was really good. Our bill was about $190 which would of been more at normal price.
(4)Sidi L.
My BF and I love this placeï¼ï¼We aimed to try the lady M at the first time，and both of us loved itï¼even though my BF doesn't like desserts，he also likes itï¼And the #1 seller tofu soup and rice（i forget names）are awesomeï¼ï¼the bbq also wonderfulï¼well，we love here so muchï¼
(5)E M.
Our party of 4 went there tonight with a 7 o'clock reservation. We were there on time, but had to wait by the bar till 7:25 to be seated. We saw customers who walked in after us but got seated before us. We were wondering why we were still standing & waiting while there're so many empty tables inside?! For the apps, we tried #1, #2, #3 bestsellers, and the fried shishito peppers, along with the egg soup. All were just OK, especially the soup. I've had better egg drop soup at some other American Chinese restaurants. For the BBQ, we had #1, #2, #3 bestsellers, pork belly, lamb chop, intestine, mushroom medley, sweet potato, and spinach garlic. The meat were marinated well and I especially like the skirt and white sweet potato. At the end of the meal we added the sukiyaki bibimbap rice and the kobe bacon bits garlic fried rice. Sukiyaki bibimbap is flavorful but kobe bacon bits is a bit heavy on the garlic side so I couldn't taste the kobe bacon. A comment on the server who brought over the two rice bowls. When she helped us stirred the food inside the bowls, she used the same pair of spoons for both. Really?! Wouldn't the flavor get mixed up between the two? Also, when we asked her to bring us some small bowls, her response was "I only have two hands." This is an unacceptable customer service. I think this newly opened restaurant should put some time on staff training because there is still a lot of room for improvements on the hostess, waiters, servers, and bus boys. Last but not least, I notice the egg soup and the sukiyaki bibimbap look different than the pictures shown on the menu. Egg soup was missing the green and sukiyki had red peppers added. Since this is a chain restaurant, I believe they should keep the presentation of their food consistant.
(3)Daniel C.
Went on the spur of the moment after realizing cooking in 100 degree kitchen not really fun. The decor is fantastic. The dark woods and private booths provide a great feeling of privacy. We ordered three meats, a salmon appetizer and shared a bowl of ramen. The salmon was forgettable. The ramen, while not soggy, left a lot to be desired flavor wise. But this is neither a ramen shop nor a sushi joint. The grilled meats, tongue, Harami, and Kobe flap steak, saved the meal. The tongue was especially flavorful, with scallions to wrap around with a drop of lemon. The Harami was pre marinated and succulent. The Kobe beef was the least impressive. Kobe should melt on the tongue, especially for the price. We will return, for the meats, if not the Kobe, the proximity to home, and the kind staff. Definitely worth a visit.
(3)Cindy K.
My first experience with Gyu-Kaku was 7 years ago with my then boyfriend (now husband) in Hawaii. We have never experienced a place like this in Boston and we amazed. We said to ourselves, we should totally franchise this place and bring it over to Boston. Since then I have tried Gyu-Kaku in LA and NYC. Now 7 years later we are kicking ourselves because someone already did it. Either way were way too excited when we saw Gyu-Kaku was coming here. We went there during their soft opening. The menu was limited. We did one of the combinations for two people and additionally ordered some Kobe beef. Everything is what we imagined it to be. We will definitely go back!
(5)Nb N.
This place is pretty good for Boston. There aren't that many korean bbq places and although this place isn't strictly korean bbq but they have good kalbi and balgogi and bibimbop.
(4)Kate H.
Went again yesterday with a party of two. We arrived at 6 and found out we have to wait one hour so next time i'm going to reserve online before i go there. WAITED for exactly one hour then got serve at the upper level. IT was so much better this time. I think the max should be between a party of 2 to 4. I felt like the food was fast and my waitress was nice. Everything was pretty good. I definitely recommend the green tea crepe for dessert. The lights are dim no matter what time you r going there. Also our waitress helped us changed the grill metal two times so it was pretty nice. I definitely believe the top customer choices because everything we ordered on the top recommend list is so much better. We ordered like almost every dish of steak/beef on the menu and the best was #1 and #2 on the menu (forgot the names, something ribs lol). We spend around $120 included tips for two people. I think its almost like any other korean bbq for this price. I gave this time a 4 stars out of 5 because I think the experiences I had yesterday was way better than the first time. Everything was serve fast and better.
(4)Allegra P.
Great lunch and dinner spot for meeting old friends. Went here with friends and we devoured the Geisha Combo for two (we fed three, and were still satisfied). Super good!
(4)Irina N.
This is a little late but we went to Gyu-Kaku back in the summer to try it out when it first opened and because my boyfriend is fascinated by the concept. We tried "Geisha" pre-fix menu for 2 and I have to admit we were pleasantly full and happy! The dinner included everything both of us like and some: as I am not a huge meat eater, it was still tasty to try just enough for a taste (small portions of variety of meat). Asparagus and big salad covered the vegetables intake and smores were a great dessert. Again, the best part was that it was just enough to be full! Especially when we didn't really know what would be good to order on our own. Our waiter was great! I think his name was Paul. The changing of the grills was appropriate and timely. The cocktail was sweet and strong! The process did not seem difficult or overwhelming. It did make for a different cute kinda date-night! We thought that for Brookline and that kind of variety in meats, the price seemed reasonable. We would go back again and recommend!
(5)Morris M.
Pork Katsu was really good. Dragon Roll and Caterpillar Roll was fairly okay. Decoration was nice. Good for lunch. Waitress was very kind.
(4)Lisa L.
I've been here a few times since its opening, and each time I've had excellent service. The food is great and is a great place to go for bigger parties and for birthday celebrations. The only negative I would say is that the portions of good you get is a little disappointing, especially considering down the street at the Korean bbq place, their portions are gigantic. Overall, I'd recommend it for ppl to try. You don't be disappointed by the food or service, that's for sure.
(4)Morra Y.
I am a frequent diner, really like this place from past experiences. Food is good as usual, but this time service was below expectation: no recommendation, wanted to finish our table as quickly as possible (take out plates too fast and pushed us to pay the bill). Hope next time it won't happen.
(4)Sora C.
We've been to Gyu Kaku for dinner last week..it was on wednesday night around 6pm but we've waited half an hour...that was acceptable! I've ordered a draft asahi beer and an appetizer at the bar and the appetizer was good. Forgot the name....deep fried rice rolls with spicy tuna salad on top? It was good..but the draft beer taste different then what I usually get. I've had a japanese draft beer in NY, LA, and even tokyo so I know how it tastes...and somehow it tasteed weired. Anyways when we get to be seated, we ordered ten different parts of beef and pork and everything was good!! The food was pretty good perhaps I hope my server knew the each sauces on the menu and how it tastes like. I ask for some sauces on the menu that I don't know and...she didn't even know and just laughed...? Overall, the barbeque meats were well-marinated but I personally like the Korean-style bbq better..but it was a decent experience. Nothing bad nothing too goo.
(3)Henry Z.
OK bbq compares to those Korean bqq restaurant, but I do like the ambiance here.
(4)Khoa N.
Some of the meat was delicious. But overall, it was only an okay experience for me. We had a discount since it was their soft opening and still it was pretty expensive, with no unlimited sides as with Korean BBQ. At the end of the meal (we ordered the shogun combo for 4 .. for 4), I was left wanting more. I wasn't full. And I wasn't close to being satisfied. Too bad we couldn't order any more dishes since it was past last call. It would've nice to be notified. It's alright, their loss. It's not that I wouldn't come back, but I would prefer to stop at a Korean BBQ place for my cravings.
(3)Steven F.
Ate here a few weeks ago with a friend I live next door and use to go to Ginza which it was before (Ginza wasn't that great ;P). We waited for about an hour to be seated as to be expected for a soft opening. We sat down I ordered a tea and the samurai dinner they offered. The meal came out pretty much all at once. The salmon hot oil they brought out was decent i think they should have seared it more. Salad was really good i actually liked it more than the salmon. The miso soup was in my opinion too watered down much like a lot of other places. The meats were all well marinated and delicious. You can tell the freshness by looking at it. The Sukiyaki Bipimbap was AMAZING. I could probably just eat that and be satisfied. The extra sauces they have on the table was too pleasing for my palate tasted a little too commercialized. Maybe because i feel i make a more enjoyable Ponzu. The S'more dessert was pretty good. The server didn't turn on the grill so my buddy and I was just goofing around with the marshmallow until our server turned it back on. They gave us 20% off and the meal came out to about $60 they charged me for my ice tea i never got didn't realize until I paid up just told the server and deducted from the tip which they could easily re-open the tab and void the tea. Overall it was enjoyable, the place is new and I didn't have high expectations. I will be back.
(4)Mindy Z.
One of my favorite restaurants in Boston. Always ordered the three recommended BBQ meat and would never let me down. It's little expensive and save it for especial days
(5)Salt H.
This place just recently opened in Brookline and we tried going on their first week and you literally cannot get a table either by reservation or walk-ins; that's how packed it is! I really wanted to try this place out so being the third wheel to a couple that was with me, I told the hostess we're willing to wait as long as it takes (I did not tell the couple this) and she said she'll see what she can do, but no guarantees. So I lied and told the couple it will be about an hour wait when in reality it would be more like 2 hours. I took the couple across the street to Taberna de Haro to get them liquored up and hopefully lose track of time. It worked for the most part, however, we ordered a pitcher of sangria that was like $50! The duck heart and fried kraken were good, but man that sangria really didn't help my cause and put them in a bad mood. So about an hour and a half passed and I went inside trying to pretend like I was working my magic to get a table when really i was just trying to prolong the wait as long as possible because the couple started getting restless. We went next door and I pretended I needed hot chocolate at Dunkin Donuts, but again I was just stalling. Finally they were just about ready to call it quits. They were cranky and hungry and the parking meter was about to expire. So I said ok fine, let me go to the bathroom first and then we can be on our way and grab some takeouts at Wings Over Brookline. So when I was in the bathroom taking the longest pretend piss of my life, I FINALLY GOT THE CALL!!! Great timing too because the couple were ready to go after I was done. So we got a table and just went to town ordering anything that used to have four legs and a pulse. Meat, meat, and more meat was on the menu that evening. Now granted it doesn't compare to the all you can eat Korean buffets you can get at Flushing, NY, but for a Japanese BBQ here in Boston it beats all the other asian BBQ places like Yasu, Koreana, and Apgujung. The Kobe kalbi and the pork belly were my favorite. I don't believe you can get Kobe kalbi anywhere else in Boston. When I had it in Akasaka in Tokyo, I didn't even know such a thing existed. Kalbi is like my all-time favorite Korean food, and Kobe my all-time favorite type of beef, what a wonderful combination! It's like combining bacon with dinosaurs and ninjas and then the universe implodes from the sheer weight of its awesomeness. So anyways back to the dinner, it was definitely worth the wait for me, and the couple I was with wasn't so cranky afterwards. Once they had a taste of those savory grilled meat slices in their mouths, they finally shut up and nearly forgot they had waited 2 hours earlier to eat. The only complaint I had is the portions leave a lot to be desired. Don't get me wrong, you won't go hungry, but you won't be full to the point it hurts when you breathe through your mouth like a serial killer either. You'll just be happy and content, which maybe with the obesity problems in America and our tendency for the excess, that's not such a bad thing. I'm just too used to the all you can eat buffets at New York and Toronto for under $30 and here you can easily spend over $100. Luckily they had a 17% discount for the month of April when I went, so we saved about $20. If I were to go back by myself I could spend $200+ easily; I'll be sure to bring a vegetarian date with me so I could have more for myself. Anyways, it's a great chain and the type of quality of meat they offer I usually have to go out of town for. I'm glad more of these places are coming to Boston now because I will certainly pay the premium for the convenience of eating right down the street from my house. Oh also, special thanks to the hostess (Sarah?) for moving mountains in getting us a table. I may also have a slight crush on our server (Becca? Rebecca?) with her cute voice and large hipster glasses, but that's just my own personal enjoyment that has nothing to do with this review. Oh yeah and the couple lived happily ever after. THE END.
(4)Nancy J.
Good food,service is great.but sometimes we walk in to to restaurant to take a seat front dest said all seat is not available but i saw so many table available and i asked her so how can i do? Do i need to make a reservation online?and she said NO!! Today u can't make any reservation cuz table all full.u need to come back for next time.... So after that me and my friends walk out and looking for another place to have dinner.but we are still really want to have dinner here!! Even we have to wait until1hr that's ok.Then i try to go to make reservation online again even she said we can't!!! so it's work website said table available for us. And i go back to restaurant and ask her again she's look like she doesn't care customer :( but it's ok because Food taste good and server very nice and attentive even sometimes so slow but i know it's busy time :) i recommend yaki shabu beef and toro beef it's sooo yummyyyy :)
(4)Elsa S.
I've been looking for a good BBQ grilling kind of restaurant forever! There are not many BBQ self grilling places in Boston. Finally I found this place, the parking is not an issue, there are a ton of parking spots around the area. We parked near by the restaurant. The host was nice and welcomed us, she asked if this was the first time for us. We said yes. We made our reservation online at the same day. She lead us to the table and the waiter explained and walked us though the process and Menu as well. All while he was siting on his kneels! I was impressed by that, I've heard they do something like this in Japan. It is so good to see how they pay such great attention to what they do. The restaurant definitely has a very nice atmosphere. We had Toro Beef, Filet Mignon,Spicy pork belly and Mushroom Medley. Spicy pork belly was ok but the beef dishes were the bomb! I recommend Toro Beef it has a lot of fat though, not for people who don't like fat. Filet Mignon was so tender it melted in your mouth. I want to go back there already lol, I just went last night. So don't miss this place for those who like Beef and BBQ. I am looking forward to going back there again!
(5)Andy K.
A trendy restaurant. You really just pay for the experience of cooking and sharing with friends so def go with a group! Else going alone is kind of lonely.. The service is pretty decent, my waiter took the time to explain every cut of meat and every sauce.. so it was much appreciated! My all time favorite is the french fries in cod cavier sauce. It is to die for! You're probably going to be eating meat and rice the whole time. The meat is very salty.. flavorful! but salty. Portion wise, its fair. But you MUST go during their happy hour promotion periods. Else, you can really spend some serious money for dinner!
(4)Carly L.
I had high expectations of this place but eh..fell short! Personally, I felt that the meats were over flavored. It was too salty for me. Portions are okay but for the price, you don't get what you pay. If you're used to a korean bbq restaurants, you will be disappointed. Otherwise, clean and trendy place to eat. Not bad but will I be back? Prob not.
(3)Sam C.
Fantastic concept great food great service ask for Linda! Can't say much more than wow! Beer was on special kirin was $2 draft, recommend the skirt steak and the garlic bibmibap!
(5)Tammy B.
I visited this restaurant a few days ago. A friend of mine suggested this for place for dinner and since I've heard nothing but good reviews from people - we gave it a shot. I am can truly say I left this place with a very satisfying tummy. But to give you an in depth review - here goes! A group of my friends and I went with the "meat lovers" meal course which was made for 6 people but we got it anyways and we were a group of 4. It's was the perfect amount of food and we did not order any additional side orders. The miso soup was good and the edema me was a great snack while we waited for the meats to come out. The variety of marinated meat options was awesome! There was also basil chicken as one of the meat options - one my of friends and I were just so amazed at how tender and flavor the chicken was. And even better they have three sauce options, dipping into the spicy sauce was my favorite (was not spicy, very flavor-full!). The meal came with 6 bowls of rice so you can definitely see how filling it can get. However, the meal if not come with dessert so we ordered two desserts - it was a fish you grill, stuffed with red beans and a side of green tea ice cream. I can't say this is the best dessert but it was nice to try something new. As for drinks, they had a pretty good menu. One of my friends got a vodka/saki drink and he said it was the most alcohol he has ever gotten in a drink (that's a great thing!). And the day we went, they had $2 Kirin 12 oz and $3 for a glass of Merlot. Over all, it was a great time! The service we had from our waitress was phenomenal! She checked back on us here and there. She also consistently removed our grilled and put oil on it us. I just really enjoyed her persistent service. Definitely will be back again!
(4)Jenie N.
Absolutely thrilled that such a wonderful restaurant is open in the neighborhood in Brookline. My husband and I are both foodies but I'm vegetarian and he is not. Bbq has always been a challenge because they do not have that many options for vegetarians. Pleasantly surprised here. Not only did he have a very good selection of veggies to barbecue, there were also a number of dishes that vegetarians could order in addition to complement the barbecue. My husband and meat eater, Has always complained that he cannot go to have barbecue either Korean or Japanese because the portion sizes Are meant for 2 to 4 people and when you're dining alone it's hard to order. He absolutely loved the tapas portion sizes here, allowing him to do what he loves doing the best which is ordering a variety of things to eat. Now he could not stop talking about the marination and the wonderful flavor the meats came with for him to Bbq. Yes we definitely going back. Definitely taking friends back as well!!
(5)Prince D.
Always happy to eat here. The beef tongue is great, I also love the ramen. And never forget the Lady M Cake. It's better to make a reservation.
(5)Jhonny G.
One of the best services in Boston. The waitress are the best. The food is delicious. I didn't give it 5 stars because its a little expensive butt overall a must try type of place.
(4)Ms. K.
LOVE IT! I am from Japan and it is exactly like the GyuKaku in Japan. It gets kind of pricey, but if you go there for happy hour, you could save a lot. If you love meat and grilling, this is the place to go to :-)
(5)Eric L.
soso
(3)Kim T.
They tell you the wait is 20 minutes. You wait for an hour. And then when you're still eating they rush you out. Food is good but how they run this place is awful. Can hardly finish your meal before they start hounding you to finish.
(2)Jennifer M.
Overall a pretty good experience. We made a reservation, and a few hours before, they called and said that there was a power outage in Brookline which caused some of their grills to not work. They offered to keep me posted in case the power came back on, which they did, and we were able to keep our reservation. The wait staff was very friendly and informative--since we had never been there before and needed some recommendations on the menu. They were attentive but not too "in-your-face". The food was very good--we thought the portions were a bit small, but we ended up being VERY full by the end of our meal--we got about 6 dishes for 2 people. Would definitely eat here again.
(4)Jenny W.
The branch of the Gyu-Kaku family is nothing compared to the others. The staff just doesn't seem to care about the customers. A good restaurant would have more control over employee attitudes. I once witnessed a manager at the host stand taking over the hosts' job and having a slight attitude towards their employees. That shouldn't happen, and if it were to happen, it shouldn't be occurring in front of the guests. The Brookline branch is also weak because there are many price adjustments. For example, lunch and happy hour have extremely low prices, lower than normal. The happy hour has even been extended to the bar and into the late hours of the evening. That is how you can tell a business is failing.
(1)Philip H.
I came last night at 9:30 PM for the first time with a buddy and we ordered exclusively off the happy hour menu, which I shall say is probably THE happy hour menu of happy hour menus. We ordered all 7 meat dishes with the recommended sauces primarily and a few appetizers. Our favorite meats were the Beef Toro and Yaki Beef with Tare sauce. We found the service to be very excellent. They change the grill 4 times through the course of the meal and constantly check in to introduce the next course and see how we were doing. The entire meal came out to $62 with 7 meats, 5 appetizers, and 2 drinks. An amazing value for good quality Japanese BBQ.
(5)Eddy C.
Nice japanese bbq place ever. the price is a little bit too high
(4)Wesley C.
A little expensive, but worthy. BTW don't forget the green tea cake from Lady M.
(4)Emily N.
Summary: Decent to good food, v. nice decor, a little expensive with not huge portions, and pretty terrible waitstaff. The good: The restaurant remodel was wonderful. Decor is trendy and nice looking with sorta private booths. Beer is $4-4.50 including imports, which is a good deal. Bistro hanger steak, bacon fried rice, garlic noodles, edamame, and the table sauces are very good. About 4 of the staff are very competent and they try hard to make up for the rest- especially the food runner, who might as well have been our waitress. The bad: The filet tip was uber-chewy (no, I didn't overcook it) and a bunch of the chunks were in much larger than bite-size pieces, and the filet tip and zucchini had pretty much no seasoning. The food seems expensive considering how small the portions are If you have some big eaters, you might end up eating at home after. The restaurant is no longer in soft opening and therefore has no deals. The staff...I will try to limit my rant. The hostess was clueless and awkward and kept revising our wait time, which ranged from 2 minutes to 20, and took about 25. The bartender was attentive but then had a debate with other staff about whether to bill us when our table was ready or whether it could transfer to our dinner tab. Our waitress talked incredibly fast and went through the menu like she was reading a teleprompter. I was confused about the marinade suggestions on the menu (eg. it says "try with miso"), so I asked and she said "I decide for you" and left. Actually, she started walking away every time she checked on us before her question was even done and even got into a kerfuffle with the table next us.. She also kept turning down our grill and another guy had to keep coming back and turning it back up. One of the server girls did the mix-at-the-table thing with the fried rice, and although the guy instructing her knew what he was doing, she didn't, and got it all over the table and left half in the bowl she took away. The overly efficient busser took everything away before dessert, so we ate our smores over the table without napkins. That's not even all the incidences, but I'll spare you the rest.
(3)Siyao L.
the lady m there is great!
(4)Elsie H.
The BBQ dishes are definitely awesome -- we had the "Samurai" value courses and we enjoyed all beef dishes as well as the S'mores. I would give it 5 stars but their service seems to be problematic -- they spilled our drinks and failed to clean the glass pieces on our table until we ask to change table. They also missed to serve one of our order and add in another dish in our bill that we never ordered. Might try again for the good quality meat dishes and hopefully they will have better service.
(3)Vi H.
Tried it for the first time yesterday and I liked it. Bf and I didn't have to wait long since we got there a little early but it gets busy so make a reservation beforehand. Ordered the Samurai Course and it was pretty good. Almost couldn't finish because there was so much food. It tasted great though and our server was kind :). Only wish we could have ordered the green tea crepe cake dessert because I've heard good things but it was already sold out.
(4)Tara T.
Excellent. Came here on a Monday night around 5:30pm; was told the wait would be 1 hour, but we only waited ~40 minutes for a party of 2. Servers were fast and courteous, and gave us great recommendations, especially since neither of us had been to Gyu-Kaku before. I also liked that they were prompt about switching out the grills before they got too charred. We ordered the addicting cabbage to start ($3), and then went with three beefs (Kobe kalbi chuck, skirt steak, and beef tongue) as well as two "other meats" (two pieces of lamb steak off the bone, pork belly), and finally a small plate of shishito peppers ($3). The food was excellent. The beef tongue was seasoned perfectly, the skirt steak and Kobe kalbi chuck were very fresh, and the slabs of lamb were nice and fat. My only complaint is that the shishito peppers were a bit under-seasoned, but the sauces on the table more than made up for that (favorites: Ponzu and Spicy). For dessert, we got the s'mores ($3 for two). The s'mores dessert was creative and fun (roasting marshmallows over the fire!), and inexpensive enough to not feel bad about. Finally, the beer is quite cheap here: $4-$5, which is nice since who doesn't like beer to round out a nice bbq meal? Ambiance/decor was nice. A little dark on the inside, but the slated wood panels separating each seating area gave people a nice sense of privacy. Not too noisy, yet chic and modern feeling. All in all, a great experience. Pretty affordable as well, given you're eating a meal of cook-your-own-meat. The two of us left feeling pretty full (although not stuffed) for ~$70, although I think there's an ongoing restaurant discount (15% maybe?) since it's still going through its soft opening. Highly recommend!
(4)Elizabeth B.
Although most of the food tasted good, we were extremely frustrated and disappointed by the lackluster and slow service at lunch on New Year's day. We had a reservation and ended up sitting down about ten minutes past the booked time, which normally wouldn't have bothered us, but we grew concerned when guests that sat down next to us about ten minutes later were mid-way through their meal by the time we were served a single item. They also forgot one of the meats and both side dishes we ordered, so we ended up eating a very unbalanced meal of all meat for the majority of the time. We were confused about the long wait times considering we were cooking the food ourselves at the table. Ultimately, one of the appetizers never came and we were still charged for it until I asked that it be taken off the check. What should have been a fun meal turned into a very frustrating and long two hours.
(2)Candy H.
The Food is Good, desserts are great. However, The Hostess are TERRIBLE! WE walked in at 6:30PM and asked how long the wait will be for a table of 3. One of the Hostes said at least 45mins wait, then the ASIAN Hostes said 25-45mins. So we decided to put down our name. 45mins later, we went to check, the ASIAN Hostess said 20 more mins. I waited 30 mins and check with her again, she said 20 more mins. I waited another 20 mins and check with her again, she said 20 more mins. I waited another 20 mins, since I was with friends and we have been waiting for an hour something already, she said we are the second one the list. It was 8:30, when we finally have our table. I was beyond frustrated with the Asian Hostess, because I feel like she tricked me into waiting for such a long time. I worked as a Hostess, before and when I said 25-45, 45 mins are usually the Max. She should have told us at least an hour wait, then it will be up to us to wait or not. This is INSANE!
(1)Karen S.
This brand-new restaurant by St. Mary's is a Japanese take on a Korean-style barbecue - each table has a gas grill in the center which is on throughout the meal. It's a multi-state franchise, but this is its first location in Massachusetts. The food we had was good, particularly the marinated meats, but you do have to come prepared to cook it yourself. This can be fun if you want to do this, but distracting and annoying if you don't want the trouble of keeping track of your food. At a table with 6 diners, one grill will get pretty crowded. Note that although this is Japanese, there is no sushi - if you want that, go down the block to Sushi Express. They have a couple pre-set meals if you don't want to have to choose multiple courses for youself, but we just chose items a la carte. My favorite was the Kobe-style Kalbi Chuck with Tare Sweet Soy; my fiance liked the lamb chops the best. Pros: -Fun cooking your own a la carte meats, vegetables, and dessert items. For older children and adults who come ready to do a little grilling, this can be great! There is some coordination involved, as the wait staff had to remind us a couple times not to use our wooden chopsticks on the grill, but to switch to the metal tongs. -Attractive interior with dark, geometric woods and a more intimate feel than the average restaurant -Friendly staff who are eager to help -Various grill-ready desserts, including s'mores -Full bar, with a sleek bar area up front Cons: -You have to cook your food - again, this depends on whether you'd enjoy this. (There are salads, soups, and noodle dishes that you don't have to cook.) Also, it sometimes takes a little experimentation to figure out how long to cook each item. -Not good for young children (or the clumsy) - the grill is really hot and children too young to be safe around a hot stove will probably be more trouble than it's worth in this setting. -Some of the items get a little smokey while cooking, and the built-in grill smoke-fan isn't perfect, so if you're really sensitive to this, sit away from the grill.
(4)Mary R.
Definitely a good choice if you're a meat lover, though it's a bit on the pricey end. It's better to come during happy hours so you don't go broke for eating one meal. My favorite would be the Green Tea Mille Crepe since I've always wanted to try, but they didn't have it the last time I went. I also liked their service and the way they greeted their customers.
(4)Derek C.
Just average. The sauces were tasty, but the portions were small. I would rather have barbecued meats at a Korean restaurant, like Koreana or Chung Ki Wa.
(3)Elaine C.
Instant five stars! Twice in one week and hoping to go again soon. Great setting and a nice waiting area so you don't really mind waiting at all. Food is great, meat is good! Fries are a must and their bibimbap is pretty good too. Very inexpensive and very nice bartender :) can't wait to write more about it soon.
(5)Yuhui W.
My girlfriend and I went here for lunch before heading to Logan to catch a flight. We got there right as it opened so the wait was minimal. They have a happy hour and the food is pretty inexpensive (definitely cheaper than other BBQ places). They give our food as plate by plate which was actually pretty for grilling purposes. The food, itself, is alright, but nothing to rave about. Enough people like it here though that when we left, there were probably 5-6 groups waiting for a seat. Glad we got there early.
(3)Elaine C.
Finally it arrives Boston. We are the last place on earth Great BBQ restaurant will decided to invest in this town. Anyway, alike other Gyu-Kaku, setting is alike. Meat are fresh, you BBQ with your bear hand. Great drink menu and great for group.
(5)Yb W.
Gyu kaku has finally settled in Boston!! What could be more fun than in door grilling of succulent, delicately seasoned meat? Their kalbi, beef tongue, and lamb are the best. Their meat is resilient and stays tender and juicy even when handled by the novice griller. Their cocktails, salads, and appetizers are also refreshing and a great complement to the main courses. Love this place and will be back regularly!
(5)Julie L.
Went here for a birthday with a party of 6, made reservation already. Some of us wanted to wait for the rest of the party before sitting so we went to the bar to get a couple if drinks. I order a "birthday cake shot " ....and the bartender asked me what liquor I wanted so I said GG VODKA so....she just pour that in a shot glass.. Then I asked her to chill the shot and she just sticked it in the refrigerator for like2min.. The shot was still warm...gross.... 1st...is she actually a bartender ? Birthday cake shot not..a shot..and put some ice in the shaker with the vodka to chill it not sticking it in the refrigerator!!! 2nd ...We got the table.. This is our first time there we do not know what we are doing...and the server never explain to us anything not even the sauces...just took the order and checked up on us once, we had to keep asking other server/staff for things. Some of the BBQ meat was very flavorful but some was meh..... But seriously I was not happy with the service and the bar situation
(2)Darren L.
Great tasting BBQ, first time having Japanese BBQ! Have to say it is the best way to have BBQ! The food will make you want more and you might need another stomach because you will be staying there for a while. Very stylish restaurant and gloomy in a good way. :) The price is worth it by the way :D
(5)Alan S.
So happy this place opened in Boston. Came here twice over the past week. The first time, I came on a Wednesday night around 6pm. Couldn't get in because I didn't have reservations. My friend and I decided to stay and sit at the bar where you can get noodle, rice, and apps. They have several happy hour items that saves a few bucks per dish. Got a number of apps and was fully satisfied with drinks for about $!5-20. Will definitely be back to take advantage of that! It was a beautiful night, the windows were open, and I couldn't think of anything better on a warm summer/fall night than to eat delicious Japanese food with drinks and friends. The second time, I made reservations for Saturday night and got to try the bbq. Got the chicken and strip steak. Great flavor! Overall, its just a fun place to eat with a group of friends. Order a bunch of meats and veggies and cook right at the table. I've had better Japanese bbq in my lifetime, but there is currently nothing like this that exists in Boston and thus if gets 5 stars from me!
(5)Cony C.
I'm looking forward to the opening for a long time, Boston needs variety of food!! This place is just like what I expect of Japanese style BBQ, the decor, the flavor... tho the meat selection is still not as wide range as stores in NYC or California, but this is pretty good already. It's like what i had back in Asia. Very authentic! Regarding meat quality, it's ok to me, but probably already better than a lots of similar self-serve grill meat places. The service is the only thing I would like to complain. Waiters are friendly but need more professional training. The waiters who served food didn't deliver the items to right group (We are about 10ppl, divided into 2 group to grill), and some of them didn't even ability to tell what kind of meat that they are delivering. Overall, I still Love the place, will definitely come back again.
(4)Picky B.
Excellent service. Delicious food. Terrific atmosphere. Great price. We came here with a party of 50! The entire experience was a delight. The appetizers and marinated beef bbq were my favorite. Quality Sake bottles and Kirin pitchers.
(5)Gemma A.
I loved this place! I went twice during their soft opening in May. The atmosphere was great, and the Japanese barbecuing experience was one that is fun for friends and family alike. Also nice to note that during the soft opening, both my meals were 20% off, which was really nice and a great way to get me to come back. The menu is reasonably priced, and you can easily find things that will fit most price ranges. Some people don't like that they bring all the food out at once, but you have to understand that that is what all restaurants with this theme do. Plus, a lot of the appetizers are better with the meal anyway. The food was all fresh and seasoned/marinated nicely. I'be had the yaki-shabu with spicy miso, the kolbe galbi, broccoli, kimchee, chicken, and plain rice. I didn't really like the seasoning on the chicken (garlic). It came off a little plain, but luckily you can pick and choose, so I'll probably choose another one when I go back. The only thing that can get annoying is the wait. The first day I went we waited for an hour, but the second time we got there right when they opened so we were seated immediately. If you don't feel like arriving first, call ahead and make a reservation to avoid the long wait. I'm glad they opened nearby, and hope the restaurants continues to do well after they fully open.
(5)boston y.
food is good, and so the ambience..
(4)Julie H.
Gyu gaku is a decent Korean-Japanese fusion restaurant. Their portions are small. Their meats are flavorful. Their shrimp dumplings are a bit mushy but otherwise ok. I give them three stars because they really should not charge for kim chee. It's friggin fermented vegetables; it's cheap to make. Giving it free would not hit their food costs too badly. Their menu is 80% Korean. Kim Chee is a Korean staple. Banchan (side dishes) are present in all Korean meals. Even if you eat Korean food in a food court, they will give you a little dish of kim chee. For the prices you pay here, they really should include some kim chee.
(3)Jing Z.
food was good, and service is nice, but too over-priced and food is in such a small portion; would go for the other Korean BBQ place rather than this one.
(4)Julia J.
This place is ok compared to other gyu-kaku locations that I have been to, and it doesn't deserve my four stars. I went there with a friend at 4pm which is the start of their happy hour, and the place was already packed on a Saturday afternoon (Yes, I like to eat early dinner or I won't eat anything at all). We ordered their hot oil seared salmon and basically everything on the happy hour menu. Definitely order the asparagus and mushroom because they are even better than the meat! The salmon was just ok, and it was very disappointing since New York's tastes way better. I liked the spicy sauce, but they don't have green tea crepe yet. The server told me it's gonna take sometime for them to have that on the menu. So for dessert we had the smores which I don't suggest any of you order it because it doesn't taste good at all. I don't think I will go back for the meat, but I will when they serve green tea crepe!
(3)K T.
Great service, good food. I hope they can keep this up!
(4)David J.
I've just stepped out of the most rudest, disrespectful encounter with a host that I've ever experienced in my life, it was absolutely surreal. My friends and I heard that this place was open and went to try it out. We had a party of eleven but since it was our first time, we had no idea how big the place was so we just did a walk in. When the host at the desk heard we were 11, he rolled his eyes as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing, and told us in the most annoyed shrill voice that for a party of 11 we NEEDED a reservation. Okay we know we are a big group but that doesn't give you the right to be a total asshole to your customers. He offered to put out name down and call us but for the course of the entire interaction, the guy couldn't hide his absolute distaste and contempt towards us. In case there is any doubt, the guy had short hair pressed down with glumps of hair product and was tending the desk at lunchtime on a Saturday. Heads up management, this dude needs to go. I'm pretty sure someone will end up punching him in the face sooner or later.
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