Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

I really wanted to like this spot but I was simply let down by how salty all of the food was. First, it was the cheese corn, which tasted like a salty Mac n cheese with corn. Then, the chicken karage was not only overly seasoned, but it was not fresh at all and some pieces were cold. Finally, the meats were seasoned, which is usually a good thing, but it was to the extent that we didn’t even need to add any of the dipping sauces because that would make it unbearably salty. I did enjoy some dishes though, like the beef sukiyaki bibimbap and the black pepper chicken wings, which were big and juicy. The restaurant also appears small in the front, but is extremely spacious in the back. They have both AYCE menus and à la carte. Overall, I hope this restaurant chain reviews the quality of their food and makes changes because I would really want to give them a second chance, seeing that they claim to be the #1 jbbq chain in the world.

Guy-kaku offers all you can eat grilled dinners that you prepare yourself at the table. There are many options based on the size of the menu you can select from. The protein is mostly beef, with a few shrimp, chicken and pork options. Unlike sabu-sabu there is no broth, everything is grilled. We had three sauces to choose from. Ponzu was my favorite. At the end of the meal you could select green tea or vanilla ice cream. To cut down waste, the last 20 minutes of your 90 minute dinner are left for you to finish everything. If you do not, they charge you for the dish. I did not like the seaweed soup, it should have been called the black pepper soup, but i had to finish it to avoid paying extra for it.

We ordered a 4 people set. Very good combinations of appetizers and main dishes with desserts. Quite enjoyable during BBQ.

We had a really great experience here. Bow took excellent care of us and helped us choose the meats. We truly appreciated her hospitality, and the manager also came by frequently to check on us. We were very impressed with the service. Overall, delicious food and outstanding service!

host was super sweet. there was a lengthy wait, so we asked if we could sit at the bar. she gave us menu’s and told us we could. after 20 minutes of sitting at the bar, the bartender still hadn’t addressed us. he was making some drinks but was also standing leaning against the fridge quite a bit. eventually, we asked if we could order drinks. weird but whatever. once you are seated and order the first time, do not expect your waiter to address you anymore. we asked for another set of chopsticks—never saw them. ordered a beer and after eating most of our food, still no beer. asked again if a beer was coming, she clearly never put it in. food is pretty good, they have good combination plates for groups with PLENTY of food (also all you can eat options). would come back for the food but not the service.

ELVIN: this individual MADE my experience. Genuinely employee of the day, week, month, year, decade, even century I don’t need to see the other candidates he takes the cake!!!!!! ELVIN is the best server I’ve ever had at any dining experience and deserves good luck for the rest of his life. AMAZING NEEDS A BIG BIG RAISE PROMOTION EVERYTHING! He is genuinely amazing and needs recognition!

Had a really great time! The food was super tasty and staff are very friendly and willing to explain how to cook the food if asked. I wish they filled the water more often. We also ordered a sauce we never received. There was very loud music there and it was hard to hear ourselves or staff speak. Excellent atmosphere otherwise. Taiyaki was very good but the vanilla ice cream it came with was not very sweet or creamy, just okay. We ordered the party platter for four and had salad and noodles leftover that we took home. All in all a great time with only minor road bumps, would go here again for another special occasion.

We were told that we will be charged for the food we didn’t finish because the 90 minutes is up. However, there is no reminder about the time and they insisted that they will charge some remaining cucumber and 2 chicken bites even if I said I can finished them right now. They said they will charge us anyway because the 90 minutes were passed. Won’t come again.

Went for a nice lunch today, great prices off the lunch menu and wonderful service compliments of Leng. She was quick and attentive, made the visit enjoyable. Food was fresh and tasty, the Filet add on was perfect. Looking forward to my next visit with the office team Try it, you'll like it for sure.

The chain abides. A BBQ for 4 that readily overstuffed 5 at lunch, a verity of meat and meat sweats, portioned out in a calibrated parade of offerings. The miso soup, the salad, the optional edamame, the garlic noodles, and kimchi, and then these opening acts take seat as the main cast arrives. Platters and plates of quickly inseparable cubes, flats, and bricks, of various beefs, cooked on fire, with shrimp and chicken in tow. And carious s'mores to close. Duty-bound, we accomplished. It's a ritual, One I couldn't repeat for months. But it is done well, and done it must be.

I had the pleasure of dining at Gyu-Kaku in Brookline yesterday for Dine Out Boston, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. Upon arrival, the hostess greeted us warmly and escorted us to our beautifully decorated and private booth. The atmosphere was inviting, and the staff's Japanese greeting added to the authenticity of the experience. Our waitress, Hoang, was attentive and friendly throughout the meal, ensuring that we had everything we needed. We opted for the Dine Out menu, which offered a fantastic selection of dishes. The miso soup, sushi, salad, and dumplings appetizer were all delicious, but the standout was undoubtedly the hanger steak from Set B of the meat options. The flavor and tenderness were exceptional. We also had the opportunity to try the yaki Shabu beef from Set A, which was equally impressive. The food came out quickly, almost too quickly to keep up! Each dish was expertly prepared and bursting with flavor. We paired our meal with a couple of cocktails, which were sweet and refreshing complements to the savory dishes. What truly amazed us was the value of the meal. For a fixed price of $46 per person, we enjoyed a feast of high-quality food and impeccable service. Considering the quantity and quality of the food, as well as the attentive service, this was an incredibly priced dining experience that exceeded our expectations. Gyu-Kaku in Brookline is definitely a must-visit for anyone craving delicious Japanese BBQ in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.

All you can eat during the weekdays are definitely worth it. Lots of options of meat and other small dishes; all taste great. Note: They charge fees at managers discretion if you don't finish your food for the all you can eat.

A decent experience at Gyu-Kaku BBQ. the service is good. The food is good. Basically, a good relaxing placing to BBQ your Japanese marinated meat. I do wonder why they don't allow using the cooking oil for the grill anymore... I searched the internet and could not find the rationale.

What a fun experience! Came here with a group of friends for a birthday dinner. As I had never been here before, I had no idea what to expect. A friend suggested we split one their holiday packages. You can alter it based on party size...of either 3, 6 or 12 people. It comes with starters (miso soup and salad), as well as a variety of meats and s'mores for dessert. (Full menu pictured below) We got the holiday course for 6 people, and let me tell you this was a great decision. Not only did I enjoy this becuase it allowed me to sample many of their different foods, but I left satisfied and full. They also offer other packages to my knowledge, such as an all you can eat package between certain hours. If you don't want a lot, you can order meats/other items individually. For first timers I recommend the packages as they allow you to try a variety and I think in the long run are more cost effective. This holiday one only runs for so long but I'm sure they circulate other ones that are similar. Staff was also friendly and attentive to our party of 8 so that was a plus. All in all, a good experience. This place is a little pricey so be prepared. P.S. They also have a cooking guide on each table. ;)

Came here w/ my sister & nephew. It was pretty busy. We had to wait for a table so my sister & I had pina coladas. Pina colada was just right not too sweet like some bartenders tend to make them.We got to our table in about 20 mins. The seats were nice & comfortable. There is a build in grill on the table. You grill your own food to your liking. I really liked that. We ordered all kinds of meats,seafood,& vegetables. For dessert we had the s'mores.This was my 1st time dining at a Japanese BBQ restaurant. Waiter was nice & showed us how to use the grill. He was very attentive as well. Inside is spacious & warming. Decor is nothing spectacular!

When I am just craving meat, I go to GyuKaku. It is pricey (varies per package you choose but I always get the $55 Ultimate) but I think that splurging once in a while doesn't hurt for these AYCE places, especially when you can get all kind of decent meats/veggies/other kitchen items. I'm a huge fan of their corn cheese and garlic rice! The service honestly depends on what time of day you go, because there are times when we had to remind the waiters our orders when it's super busy. I would recommend to go from 12pm-5:30pm to get the best service and less busy hours. The servers here were really efficient, friendly, and fast! The Brookline location has a lot of booths and even a bar to chill at if you're waiting for your table. Always recommend to reserve beforehand and not just walk-in (or give them a call same-day).

Came here for a large group dinner. Had an amazing experience - great food, fun environment, and top notch service from Miguel who was so kind and accommodating. Highly recommend!

We came at 6 on a Friday and were seated immediately for a table for 2! Nhi, our server, was very attentive about refilling our waters, asking if everything was good, and if we wanted anything else :) The food came quickly after we ordered and was very delicious! We got the special carnation deal for Mother's Day. I'd say my favorite dish was the sausage because it was so flavorful :9 the garlic mushroom was also very good and the miso soup is one of the best I've had at a restaurant. And of course the meats were delicious as well

We've driven by this place a ton and finally decided to give it a try. We were able to make a reservation via phone for a next-day timeslot, and the employee was extremely nice and accommodating. For a Friday evening, it wasn't that busy at all and service was prompt. It was fairly quiet inside, but it was pretty hot outside and not very air-conditioned inside. With the hot grill in front of you, it was toasty! I think it would be super cozy to come back on a rainy day. My partner ordered marinated skirt steak which he said was "EXTREMELY GOOD". I was so excited to see they had a vegetarian bibimbap (made with Beyond meat!!) on the menu and it was absolutely delicious (although a little skimpy on the Beyond). Don't forget to check in to Yelp for a free edamame! For dessert, they were out of mochi so we got the s'mores which was super cute (but the graham crackers were a little stale). Next time, I think I would either get the same thing or try the vegetable bibimbap. My partner said he would maybe try one other meat in addition to what he ordered this time. We also want to try the spicy cucumber and the different edamame variations. Parking in the area was super easy (street parking only) and free after 6pm. We would definitely recommend and come again!

Gyu-kaku in US is always a reliable choice for some good Japanese BBQ. Bee, our waitress was excellent.

Juliana provided amazing service and delicious food, creating an excellent experience.

On Friday, we had a reservation to celebrate a birthday, and although there was a minor hiccup upon arrival due to what seemed like overbooking, the staff efficiently handled the situation. Despite a slightly longer wait than our scheduled reservation time, once seated, the service and food exceeded our expectations. We decided on the combo for 4 people, with an addition of fried rice, every dish was flavored to perfection.The birthday boy was genuinely happy with the celebration. To cap off the delightful meal, we were treated to a dessert, followed by birthday chants from the staff, adding a festive touch to the overall experience.

Great food , fast and friendly service , Great place to eat with friends, it is cool place gets busy and loud but you will enjoy the great experience and the food and dipping sauces are amazing. If you are in the area make reservations! You will be glad you tried this bbq place ! Plenty of options for the vegetarian too!

Food: we got the meat lover set! It was still a bit pricey but I thought it was worth it! It came was karage, miso soup, sushi, rice bowls, a variety of meat and a dessert. Service: they made sure we got everything we needed! Changed the grill often so we weren't cooking the meat on burnt grills. Ambiance: they greeted us in Japanese and we could see that they had a lot of customers coming in and out.

Miguel was amazing and so kind! A great server and had a lovely dinner because of him

This place gets very busy at times but it is worth it. The staff was very friendly in getting us seated and we got to order quick. You get to sit in you own little booth to cook in and go to town. The food was so good and I ate so much I was stuffed. Ambiance was nice super busy in there.

We were hosting some friends from out of state and wanted to bring them here. We were able to make a reservation for 4 easily for a convenient time on a weeknight. Booths are spacious and the wooden beam decor creates an element of privacy between groups. Noise level was not an issue. We ordered from the premium all-you-can-eat menu. Our favorites were the garlic New York steak and the sweet soy Angus beef rib. We didn't reach the 45 item limit and we were all so full! Recommend for groups looking to have a great time bonding over BBQ!

Breakdown of our most recent visit: Favorites: Takoyaki - great Beef tongue - wonderful slight offal taste Filet minion - amazing gamey flavor and super tender texture Sirloin - marinated, great flavor Duck breast - really nice Will probably skip next step - not particularly flavorful: Angus beef chuck rib Pork belly (surprised we didn't like this more) It's a good idea to get a large side of rice to eat with the meats. The heat was a bit finicky. We ended up staying on a high setting and cooking for shorter, which I think led to a better sear. Setting a 1-min timer to keep track of things was super helpful for me at least, since the meats have different cooking times but most things should be on for at least a minute for a nice sear. The service was great! The server gave us complementary green tea ice cream at the end, which was great because I was craving ice cream after all the meat :)

Had a great time here. Our server Ruby was fantastic and made sure we got everything we needed and were safe with the grill. Highly recommend!

Stopped by here for dinner last week to grab some dinner with my brother and a family friend. We stopped by the restaurant without a reservation and we had to wait about 10-15 minutes to get a table (which wasn't bad by any means). We shared the "Meat Variety" Japanese BBQ course and also ordered some Spicy Wontons and Spicy Cabbage Salad. The food was great - the meat was of excellent quality and all marinated perfectly. For me, the highlights were the Harami in Secret Pot and the Pork Belly. And to top it all off, they gave us materials to make smores over the grill (literally) at the end of our meal. Overall, I'd recommend anyone who hasn't tried Japanese BBQ before to give Gyu-Kaku a go. Go with a big group, have some drinks and have a good time. Would definitely revisit this spot again

Always love eating here with friends! We got the four person meal package (for four of us) and it filled all of us up perfectly. Just make sure you don't fill up on starters before the meat comes! Otherwise you'll miss the best part :) Each meat dish was savory and sweet, especially with the spicy sweet dipping sauce. I recommend trying their drinks too because their fruity cocktails are amazing. The staff was also really helpful and prompt with changing out our grill when it was dirty and grabbing empty plates to clear the table. Grilling was easy and quick, loved the experience! It is quite loud here though so if you're catching up with friends, it can be hard to hear. Otherwise, it's a great experience!

Juicy holes in the back of dining room. Making you pant juicy. Yeah had notify my waiter and he just careless. If you like to get you butt wet go ask for the back dining room and no extra charge to making you butt wets

Taynor 1000% deserves the Best Server Competition award. He accommodated all of our requests (had some gluten free members to our party), was RUNNING from table to table to ensure speedy service, and overall was just such a joy to work with. We were one of the last tables to finish eating at the restaurant (party of 10) and he did not make us feel rushed whatsoever. I would love to return to this restaurant and have Taynor as my server. Pick him to win the competition !!!! Go Taynor!

With the lack of good affordable Korean BBQ options in Boston, I go to Gyu-Kaku for my BBQ meat cravings. It's a chain with multiple locations, but the Brookline and Dorchester locations are my favorite since they're the biggest and most modern. I highly recommend making a reservation, even on the weekdays, since this restaurant is very popular. Since their introduction of the AYCE menu Monday to Thursday (excluding major holidays), that is mostly what I come here for. It has three tiers which cost $48, $58, and $68 respectively. The higher tiers most just add fancier dessert and appetizer options and a few extra meat dishes. They do have a 90 minute limit, but in my experience sometimes they push it out to 2 hours. Of note, they do charge extra if you don't finish everything. My favorite appetizers to order are the spicy cabbage salad, cheese butter corn, pork gyoza, cheese wontons, gyu-sushi, and chicken karrage. The best meats are the premium sirloin, filet mignon, kalbi chuck rib, umakara ribeye, and angus beef rib. Overall, I think all the dishes are strong and it's hard to order anything bad. The service here is top notch and the servers are very friendly. If AYCE isn't your thing, I would recommend their combination meals for the best deal.

Leng was and has been outstanding! This is our second time here and our second time with Leng. She has made the experience so worth the cost! Food is so good!! The ambiance takes you to Japan!! We can't get enough of this place!!

Absolutely love this place. Our server Duang was sooooo friendly and helpful , especially with my 9 yr old son who is a little wild. I need to come back with other adults!!! Totally understand why it's usually so hard to to walk in without a wait.

Service was very problematic for takeout, order was scheduled to be ready for pickup by 8:21pm but was not ready until 8:36pm. Was waiting at table in front that was incredibly sticky, so couldn't really out my laptop down while I waited so not great setting. Food was fine, but obviously not worth the inconvenience. Would not order takeout here again

Leng was a great server! Yum so tasty. The food was very good, nice ambiance. I've been coming here for years and Leng was the best I've had.

Great service! Kat was very nice and helpful. She made sure we got our food quickly! :)

Smaller than other locations but I like the decor of the place. Service was great and attentive to what we needed. The parking over here sucks, either have to do side parking or the garage. All the food was delicious but it did take a while to get the vegetables to the table, but no big deal.

We went to the Brookline Gyu-Kaku for Christmas Eve this past year! It was fabulous! We had so much fun in this casual restaurant. The service and food were excellent! Be sure to make a reservation!

They thinly sliced THE MEATS for table grilling and provided various dipping sauces tailored to the meat selection. Additionally, they offer vegetables for grilling alongside the meat, providing a thoroughly tantalizing experience for the palate. I'm definitely returning! Prior to my visit, I watched YouTube videos to prepare, and I must say, the experience lived up to my expectations. This place is truly authentic.

I am BLOWN away! The food is incredible, so fresh, great quality, so so delicious. And the service is INSANE in the best way. Our server was ARNOLD and he was the best! So attentive, quick & friendly I've been living in MA for awhile now and he's the best waiter I've ever had anywhere! The staff and him changed our grill over 5x and we felt so catered too. The place is clean and such a welcoming environment. It's clear the management here is top tier! I'm impressed!

This place was great! Meat was extremely flavorful sauces were amazing. The spicy pork was definitely spicy and had a nice kick to it. Dumplings were a bit over fried but kitchen was busy so no points deducted. Drinks were delicious and our server was awesome. The beef toro, spicy cucumber and short ribs are a must try!

We tried the Ultimate all-you-can-eat. We discovered that around four items in the menu were not available. It will be a much better experience if the staff can inform us which items are not available before we make our choice or just label it on the menu. It didn't feel very nice but I was still in a good mood because we were celebrating our friend's 28th birthday. It is critical to strategically choose which items to order. I highly recommend getting the shrimp and mushroom ahijo, harami skirt steak, premium sirloin, garlic fried rice, and angus beef rib. The kimchi was old and sour but we used the steel plate from the shrimp and mushroom ahijo to cook the old kimchi (older kimchi is better for cooking this way). Great food but it's a very under-staffed location with a disorganized workflow. Our grill was changed at random intervals, and came to our table were multiple servers whom had lacking inter-communication. We tried to order kimchi and cucumber, out of five attempts, only 2 were successful. It was a busy place but some of the seats are spaced widely with others so we could hear each other talk. My wallet is staring back at me and I feel ashamed. I might have to come here once in a year or sell my kidney to visit more often. I recommend you to try this place.

A little pricey for the portions but the quality of food is well worth the price. Service was fantastic, ambiance was very nice, location was a bit difficult to get to, parking was tough. Overall a great experience, I would come back in a heartbeat!

Kat was our server and was super friendly and on top of everything. It was my father's bday and she made sure he got a a birthday song, a sign, and a gong player. Food was great and service was even better

Had a wonderful time here the other night with my wife. We were in the back in a pretty private booth. The space is huge and comfy, service was friendly and timely enough considering how busy it was. Starters were delicious and the meats we tried for grilling were all top notch with good side sauces. Only drawback is portions are a bit small

Fabricio was an amazing waiter, fast service and dedicated providing detailed care for food and drinks.

Very good service and very good food. Came as a group of three, so ordered a set barbecue meal-for-2 and a load of side dishes. The food in the set meal was tasty, the edamame and spicy dumplings were tasty.

Tanaiwat did such an amazing job as our server - very kind, energetic and respectful!

The service are pretty good. They talk walk in during lunch time. It's hard to walk it during dinner cuz they are often full! This place offers lots of set and combo, it is not an all you can eat Japanese barbecue. The place is a bit dark, it's pretty nice to hang out with friends there. The angus beef rib is very hard to chew! The beef tongue is pretty good! The didn't tell us that we would saved lots of money if we just order 2 bbq item ($14.95) and double the meat, rather than ordering 3 bbq items (18.95) and pick the same meat. Lots of meat to choose from, very nice!

Upon arrival, the hostess was nowhere to be found and there was a line forming. It was clear there was no organization - they should have prioritized those with reservations. We had a reservation for 6:15pm but it had taken awhile to even check-in, let alone get seated. When told "3-5 minutes to prepare our table", it took longer than expected. If there was simply transparency from their end, I wouldn't have minded waiting but we weren't being told anything. The food itself remains consistent from the last time I ate at this establishment. For some reason, they doubled our orders which didn't really matter since we were all-you-can-eat but for those that do a la carte, you may want to be wary of this. Our waiter was friendly and checked in a few times which was nice since we were sitting towards the back of the restaurant and were worried we were going to be forgotten about.

Foood was spectucular, it took us a while to get seated, but our server, Lenk, was very attentive and super infectious with her personality. Had a great time.

Kat was unbelievably attentive, friendly and made our first experience here so enjoyable and memorable. The food was unbelievably flavorful and we left feeling full and happy!

Very nice people LENG! We had a great time! The food is also very good. The environment is very chill as well .

the food was absolutely amazing, marinated to PERFECTION. everything was on point. the ambiance is also very moody but friendly. you can wear casual clothing and still fit in. but our server LENG was the sweetest person ever. she was so attentive and caring. making sure we liked the food as it was our first time. would definitely come again and request to sit in Leng's section. if it's your first time here, you should also request for Leng, shes very patient with you and answers all questions about the menu.

Leng is the best server ever! Very encouraging and gave great suggestions. She replaced our grill so promptly.