1 May 2021
Review by Tripadvisor traveller APsoh
Slice of Japan in SG: spacious relaxing self-grilled Japanese wagyu goodness with beer
If you do not like crowds on a weekend in Orchard Road, and want to enjoy a beefy meal in relative peace without fine-dining settings? Starting your lunch around 1.30 pm onwards at this yakiniku cove, solo or in a group, is a well-kept secret. Despite Din Tai Fung being a noisy neighbour, the distance between this eatery and that noisy restaurant ensures that it is easy to have a deliciously relaxed lunch.
The staff can take a little while to get to you ie within 2 minutes of them noticing you wanting something, and I have had no trouble getting their attention or having them leave me alone, despite always being seated as far away as possible from the counter where foods are prepared for servers to take to customers.
2 Sapporo beers (or Asahi, or some other beer that takes your fancy) went down very easily with my choices. I chose the limited platter of 3 types of cuts, 2 serves of the wagyu steak loin, 1 bowl of cold noodles, beef tongue with leek, and had a very enjoyable time with the grill.
They also have seafood choices, pork choices, chicken choices, and lamb for the grill, but I am here primarily for the Japanese beef a la carte, not the non-beef choices or the Aussie wagyu beef hybrids or the buffet.
Zabuton, nakaochi, karubi- Mm. The gyutan with chopped leeks is not to be missed. Spicy tare or sweet tare for you to dip your finished works, before happily consuming.
One star missing, due to factors such as a lack of potatoes as a choice from the menu. And the cold noodles portion is definitely too small, for the price of 10.80 SGD. When they served the cold noodles, the dude dropped the plastic bottle of liquid vinegar which could have turned out badly if it had spilled more than it did, given the charcoal and heat.
Overall, I found the meal very enjoyable. Friendly staff who efficiently brought me my orders, being left alone to do my thing as casually as possible, and a bill that came up to just under 235 SGD for everything.
Very worth it. I can get better quality beef at Shatoburian, but prices are also higher there, and only if I am primarily in the mood for sake and wanting to be fussed over and wanting amazing dessert. I would like more variety of cuts than listed in the menu, but there are other places that can do so, with prices to match.
There are other Japanese places in SG (omakase, izakaya, etc) that I enjoy but have not mentioned in any reviews, and those will definitely still cost you over 100 SGD for a tasty meal especially if you do not want food overly-doused in MSG or oil or salt. Otherwise, given the cost of a good Japanese meal in SG?
Gyu-Kaku at specific times makes me happy, when I want solo time or have yakiniku-loving friends to share with, offering safe and tasty grill choices that are easy to cook. I reckon people will probably also enjoy the buffet.
Timing and crowds always play a part in my choices of dining out (I hate being in crowds in poorly-ventilated places or suffering through bad acoustics, if I eat), and diners should also be aware that if you want to enjoy a meal, you have to ask yourself what factors you need to enjoy a meal, before you pick a place and a time. Not smelling like whatever I grilled was a necessary nice finish.
The Gyu-Kaku Singapore rewards card was also a nice surprise. 1 chop for every $20 spent, getting 10 and 15 chops lead to offers, and completing 20 chops gets me 20% off my next bill? The card is only valid for 3 months from date of issue, although I think management should give 4 months instead of 3 months. I shall see if I can redeem the rewards in time :)