Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

Great spot for Japanese BBQ in Cupertino. Cozy, comfortable atmosphere and perfect for a relaxed Saturday lunch. The menu has tons of variety and everything we ordered was super fresh. The cabbage salad was excellent, and the Kobe beef was so good we ordered another round for dessert. Prices are reasonable, especially with happy hour deals. Overall really solid and definitely worth a visit.

We tried the All you can eat menu’s supreme option at $78 per person. There were 80 items. We were in food heaven lol. Lots to choose from. We tried almost all of the beef grill items. For sides we tried the garlic noodles, cheese wontons, chili & yuzu roast beef. However, the latter was our least favorite, it’s a cold dish and seemed very flavorless to us. The cheese wontons were bangers, and the garlic noodles was also flavorful and delicious. The meat items were perfectly seasoned with sauce and tasted amazing when charred. The finishing with the lava cake was the best, super rich and moist chocolate with dense oozing filing of chocolate went perfectly with the mild ice cream. The service was comparatively quick to other Gyu-kaku branches and grills were replaced very often. Everyone was super attentive and friendly. I loved the experience and was wholeheartedly fulfilled.

This review is for the à la carte menu, specifically during happy hour. We ordered a variety of meats, chicken, and vegetables. I did notice that the portions were smaller than what I’m used to at Korean or Japanese barbecue spots, which was a bit surprising. That said, the pricing reflected it, and the lower portions made it easier to try a wider variety. Between the two of us, we sampled four to five different proteins and two vegetables. We didn’t order alcohol, just hot tea and water, and the total was very reasonable for the area. The restaurant was busy, but we were seated quickly. Our server was attentive, though moving very fast, so we occasionally had to flag him down. Everyone was friendly overall. Parking was surprisingly manageable, especially for a holiday Saturday. It’s usually very challenging to find parking in that lot. The food quality was good, and the overall experience was positive. I’ve been to other locations before, and this visit was consistent. My friend, who had never been here and had never experienced cook-it-yourself barbecue, really enjoyed it. She’s a fairly particular eater, so her enthusiasm was a great sign. The atmosphere is casual, lively, and family-friendly, with large tables for groups and smaller ones for friends or casual dates. It’s definitely not a quiet or romantic spot, but more of a bustling, energetic environment. Overall, solid food and a good experience.

Usually the Gyu-Kaku Cupertino location is our go-to over the San Jose location, but unfortunately Saturday’s experience was extremely disappointing. It seemed like there was no expeditor to ensure food was coming out of the kitchen properly. We waited 45 minutes for a very simple appetizer, which arrived ice cold. We had to ask another table’s server multiple times about our food because our own waiter kept disappearing. Before receiving our appetizer or any of our meat items, we were repeatedly served the two bibimbap side dishes, which weren’t even hot enough to continue cooking in the stone pot. Since these sides are meant to be eaten with the meal, I sent one back and asked that it be held or kept warm until our meats arrived. Despite this, our server brought it back out about 10 minutes later—still with no meats or main food. The entire experience became increasingly frustrating and unenjoyable. It was so off-putting that we chose not to order anything else, even though we had only ordered a few items to share, which wasn’t nearly enough for two people. For reference, we usually spend around $190 before tip when dining here; on Saturday we spent only about $80, clearly cutting the evening short due to the experience. We just wanted to leave and didn’t want to continue paying for disappointment. IF we do return, it will definitely be a while—we’ll need to forget about this experience before giving this location another chance.

A solid Japanese BBQ restaurant that has been around for many years. We went on a Monday evening and found out they had happy hours all day on Mondays, with discounts for many dishes on the menu. We tried a couple of marinated beef cuts, basil chicken, and garlic shrimp, all recommended by our waiter. When they were served, our waiter explained the time needed in each side on the hot grill, and we grilled them ourselves. The beef bibimbap and house salad were both tasty as well. Overall very reasonable price for the amount of food we ordered. Service was friendly.

Our first time coming to this restaurant. The food is good. Just like other Japanese/Korean BBQ restaurants, grill it yourself and enjoy! They have a really good set of meat for larger party. By ordering the set is already fulfilling, and of course, always can add more for the sides. We came as party of 4 adult, and the set for 4 people (Yakiniku Party) is perfect for us!

The previous times we went here, the experience was great. The last few times though, the grill was almost always broken, and took 15 minutes to heat up properly. This was super frustrating, as we couldn’t properly cook the meat. Also, the server didn’t check on us and give us a grill change. The grill was very charred, and we had to ask for a change ourselves. The only reason this isn’t a 2-star review is because of the food. The meat was excellent, as always. We also ordered a green tea ice cream. This place seemed like heaven before, but now, it’s not as great as before.

We enjoyed our lunch time here with my parents. Since my mom doesn't eat like me, lol, we did order the meat variety combo which was good for 3. We were overwhelmed by the portions and the sides that came with it. They enjoyed it and liked it, flavors were on point and delicious. Service was great and the wait wasn't too bad at the time we went. I recommend this place to anyone. Good place for lunch or dinner dates. 😊👍🏽

Went here on a Sunday after Chuck E. Cheese across the street and luckily the wait wasn't too long. We wanted to do AYCE but they don't offer that on the weekends! It's all good though because they have some preselected deals and it was happy hour so we ordered some extras for the kids. Everything was delicious and the quality of the meats were so good! The butter corn was really good too and different from what I've tried before! The cucumbers were okay, nothing too special. We were definitely full by the time we left but we even got dessert-- s'mores. The kids had so much fun.

They definitely need better seating for groups. I was in a party of 6 and the table we were at was so small I had to sit in a chair at the end of our booth which led toany close encounters with guests and servers as they came in and out of the restroom and kitchen. Service was friendly but we had to ask several times for updates on missing items we'd ordered. The menu was varied and had something for everyone. You definitely won't leave hungry!

It's a fun experience, I like being able to grill my own meats and eat them as I cook. All the grilled meats I ate (toro beef, bistro hanger, yaki-shabu beef, and Kalbi chuck rib) tasted great, but I wouldn't recommend the sukiyaki rice cause it's a bit plain flavored and the beef in it doesn't taste the greatest and was a little tough to chew. I think the atmosphere of the restaurant is decently lively, lots of families and groups of friends just hanging out and enjoying each other's company. I think the service is pretty good, my server Miguel was really helpful and did a good job of giving me recs and just explaining the overall menu. I recommend coming during happy hour cause that's when the prices are slightly cheaper than regular time.

Thrill of the Grill Japanese Yakiniku dining experience that's very similar to the more ubiquitous KBBQ, where diners order raw meat(s) and cook it themselves at the table over a gas grill. Gyu-Kaku (ca. 1996) is probably the preeminent place to experience the Japanese version of this, as they're not only Japanese owned and operated but has over 800(!!) locations all over North America & Asia. The Good: *Reservations available via OpenTable *Great service *Fantastic happy hour daily 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. *Beer in bottles and on-tap, as well as sake and wine. *They have pre-selected meals for groups of two or four to help you save money and the headache of making decisions. *You can also order á la carte, which we think is the smarter move because all the prixe fixe items are non-changeable and I can almost guarantee you're gonna get stuff you're not really interested in. Why not spend a few more bucks and get stuff you want? ‍¯\_(ツ)_/¯ *Garlic noodles were terrific and a must-get *Prime Kalbi was also phenomenal. Great marinade and very tender. *Shrimp is always a good call, as it's tasty and cooks quickly on the grill *Desserts are on-point. The Matcha Tiramisu was phenomenal and had such an interesting flavor. The Meh: *Vegetable dishes need some work. Both ones we ordered seemed to take forever to cook, and the cheap, thin foil ripped on one allowing the sauce contents to drip out over the fire. =/ *I wish it was a real Yakiniku experience with actual coals instead of a gas flame, but I have a feeling there's safety regs against it. =/ The Ugly: *Definitely not the place to dine-out on a hot summer day. Conclusion: Tasty Japanese grilled eats with friendly service and basically a day-long happy hour.

I brought my parents here to try something new. We've had both Korean and Japanese BBQ before, and I'd seen Gyu-Kaku around L.A. and the Bay, so I was curious to finally try it. It's quite loud inside but that's okay because it makes the vibe seem more lively. Right off the bat, our server launched into a long explanation of the menu, the history of the restaurant, portion sizes, and cooking tips. While it seemed well-intentioned, it was overwhelming and not very relevant to us. It would've been better to simply ask what we had in mind before diving into minutes of nonstop info. We ordered the Seasonal Tasting Course for three ($168 before tax), which included: Gyu-Kaku Salad, miso soup, Stone Pot Curry Rice, Garlic Butter Asari Saka-Mushi (clams), 6-piece Gyu-Sushi, Basil Chicken with Cheese Fondue, Shrimp Garlic, Umakara Pork, Garlic New York Steak, Miso Bistro Hanger Steak, Miso Yaki-Shabu Beef, Sweet Soy Tare Prime Kalbi Short Rib, and "Uji Matcha" White Chocolate Fondue. Starters: * Salad: Dressing was all hiding at the bottom, but once mixed, it was pretty good (4/5). * Miso soup: Extremely watered down (1/5). * Gyu-Sushi: Way too much cold rice with thin beef on top, very unbalanced (2/5). * Clams: Decent, nice sauce (3/5). * Curry rice: Fine, but honestly not as good as homemade using Golden Curry (3/5). BBQ items: * Prime Kalbi Short Rib & Yaki-Shabu Beef: Tasty (4/5). * Garlic NY Steak & Bistro Hanger Steak: Tough and underwhelming, no matter how I cooked them (2/5). * Pork: Solid (4/5). * Shrimp: Flavorful (4/5). * Basil Chicken w/ Cheese Fondue: The cheese dip tasted like Velveeta + butter; just an okay pairing (3/5). Cooking the meats itself was easy enough, but the constant over-explaining from our server on exactly how long to cook each piece made the meal feel more stressful than fun. Service issues:At one point, our server offered a grill change. We said yes, but then sat waiting over five minutes, only to see her change grills at three other tables before ours. When we flagged her down, she acted like she had forgotten and then took another five minutes to actually swap ours. That meant we were sitting with no food cooking for about 10 minutes. Later, when our dessert came, we were told the grill needed to stay on. A busser came by, asked about the still-hot grill, and despite me saying we had dessert coming, turned it off anyway. The fondue tray also arrived without plates or napkins. Just another small misstep that added to the overall poor experience. Dessert: The matcha white chocolate fondue was fun, but nothing memorable. The consistency was also very watery. You couldn't get a good scoop with the graham crackers, strawberries, or marshmallows it came with. Overall, the food was mediocre and felt oversold, and the service was inconsistent with lots of small but noticeable mistakes. Compared to other options in the area (which often costs the same or less), this just didn't measure up in quality, flavor, or service. I likely won't be returning with so many better options nearby. That said, I'm glad I tried it once.

Been coming over the years off and on for Happy Hour, but since they added the AYCE option, I came a few weeks ago and last night for a friends bday dinner. Our server Anthony was pretty awesome. Always made sure we had meats cooing or ready to be cooked, drinks were always filled and never empty and kept checking in on us fairly often, but not too much as if it were bothersome. I used to be a Gen guy because of their AYCE option, but I can see why the $30 difference is worth it. The portions are a bit smaller when they bring them out, but the quality is where it's at! The meat here is so good. The side options are good as well. The only thing I miss are the rice papers, but with options like gyoza, spring rolls, salad, rice and a few others, I can deal with it. Gyu Kaku is now my go to KBBQ spot for sure!

Did a bunch of ala carte selections and each meat felt a higher quality than the AYCE places. They have a wide selection of meats/sides/group packs that were all decently priced. Each cut tasted great and well portioned. The plaza this location is in is very crowded during peak times so plan beforehand. We sat outside and they had warmers in the balcony area for the evening cold.

Coming from out of town. Party of 7 adults and 3 kids. We had originally made reservations for a restaurant across the street but decided to give this place a try. It was Sunday around noon and they didn't have a wait. They were able to accommodate our large party. They sat us out on their patio with 2 grills. They didn't have AYCE at the time of our visit. Their menu was extensive so many options and it was quite overwhelming. Also pretty pricey depending on the route you take on ordering your bbq items. They had a limited time Celebration Menu which we all agreed to order from. We picked both options; Yakiniku Party and Gyu-Kaku Feast. They came with starters, bbq items and dessert. A few of my favs; The spicy tofu chiga spicy but delicious, the garlic noodles and fried rice. There were so many meats I was loosing track of what was what lol one of my cousin in law was cook and was just giving me pieces of protein. I thought the meats were good quality, they were tender. Enjoyed some of the flavors but I felt they all tasted pretty similar I really enjoyed the sweet soy tare flavored meats. Our server was nice she took the time to explain the menu at the beginning. They brought out our orders fairly quickly. Starting with apps and after that everything was just rolling in we were running out of table space. It was also my cousin in law birthday. They offered a free birthday ice cream in vanilla and matcha he had asked for vanilla but they brought matcha. Overall I would return.

We surprisingly came during happy hour which is offered on a Saturday before 6pm. We did the Value meal to share for 2 for $75. My fiance eats both our meat portions lol and I ordered a side of the tofu kimchi and the garlic noodles. The meal comes with salad, miso soup, edamame and rice to start. A side of veggies and corn also. Fiancé's commentary on the meats: chicken was surprisingly good. Pork belly was his favorite. Beef short ribs were good but very thin. My commentary on veggie options: the salad and soup were so refreshing. They gave plenty of soft tofu in the soup, I wanted another soothing bowl. The kimchi tofu was my favorite with the surprising crunchy chili crisp. The mushroom medley was buttery and savory. We both agreed the garlic noodles were our least favorite dish. We would not get that again. We also enjoyed the house sauces on the table. Spicy sauce is good. Servers were amazing, friendly and check on us often and changed our grill. It was our first time and they were so nice and helpful. We really enjoyed this experience. Fiance says when we return, he'll consider getting everything a la carte!

We love this place! We've been here a handful of times. The meats are high quality and tender. We had the Meat Lovers, and it was more than enough for us. The garlic noodles, kimchi, salad, and miso soup are all delicious. We asked to replace the pork with beef or chicken, and they were happy to accommodate us. Overall, I really like the service here.

Since I'm a "regular", I'll keep it short: brought some friends and I really think we should have ordered more! Two plates each of Umakara Ribeye, Kalbi Chuck, Bone-In Kalbi, one plate of Toro and three plates of Yaki-Shabu in Umakara, miso, and spicy miso. And a shoutout to our server for the night, Juliette!

Love everything here! My favorite is the meat lover's set. It's plenty for 2 people and has an excellent ambiance for chit-chat. They serve the meat super fast and promptly change the grills too.

Incredibly delicious! Love how intimate the seating is as well. Music inside is fun as well. Service was decent, waiting takes a little long sometimes as it is busy (Saturday night), but I will say it was awkward when a server had dropped a pepper on our table and just put it back in the plate

Service is always quick and pleasant. We had server Tam who was prompt and kind. He was quick in bringing out all the dishes. Love the food and service. I always get full after eating here . Love they have an app so you can easily collect rewards.

I'm never going to kbbq again. Instead I'll be coming here. The service was 10/10. Super friendly and accommodating waiters. We were probably helped by about 4-5 staff members in total. They voluntarily changed our grills and refilled our waters multiple times without needing to flag someone down. The server gave us a helpful explanation on what to order and explained the best timings for cooking the food. The meat quality was amazing and tender. I got the meat lover's for 2 people. While I probably could've eaten more, I was pretty satisfied at the end of the meal.

Wow, my first time here in all the years I've been in the bay and this Japanese BBQ is really something yummy. I came on a Friday night around 5:30, but was told I had to wait about 15min since they weren't ready even though I saw empty tables. Managed to get seated at 5:45 and was instantly approached by a friendly waiter explaining the menu to a first timer like myself. Happy hour is until 6PM (unsure when it started) so I managed to save myself a few bucks haha. I ordered the Value Course, Tuna Volcano, Sirloin, and Hangar Steak as additional meats. For 3 people, I feel like our order was pretty filling. Our waiter told us each meat and how long to cook each meat for. Each meat was super tender, juicy, and flavorful, and is definitely better than KBBQ in terms of quality and flavor. The meats all tasted a little marinated, and with the taste of the grill just added to the yummy experience. The salad was also on the sweeter side and not drenched in dressing. They give you 3 sauces to dip your meat in: sweet soy, ponzu, and spicy. They were pretty on top with grill swaps, swapping when the grill got blackened. I'd say we had ~3 grill swaps, all voluntary by our server! Our water glasses were also always topped off without flagging someone, which was super nice especially since we had a super thirsty diner. Overall an amazing place, just bummed out I discovered this so late. Meat quality is superb, prices are pretty fair (especially during happy hour), and service was always on top of everything. I also didn't leave with smelly clothes so ventilation also seemed to be doing its thing. Parking can be tough at peak times in this plaza.

Yummy little stop and was presently surprised they have a new AYCE menu! It's been a while since I've come by but now they offer a tiered AYCE set, we did the premium for $58 and it includes all sorts of meat. If you buy a higher tier you get everything the lower tier offers as well. The 45 items includes the vegetables, corn cheese, meats and seafood (each as one item) but you do get unlimited rice and miso soup! I found the marinated meat tasty but a little on the saltier side sometimes so we opted for non marinated and used their dipping sauces on the side (ponzu, spicy, and sweet soy) Service came by super quick and they were very attentive for grill changes, we were seated in the very back so it was a cozy booth and we could take our time and chat! They do let you know when your "last call" is for the AYCE time limit in advance too! :)

Came here for dinner with a group of six adults and five kids. We were able to get a patio table within about 30 minutes. We ordered the family meal for six and added a few individual meat items. The family meal included gyoza and rice. My child usually enjoys gyoza, but didn't like the ones served here. The meat was slightly better in quality compared to some all-you-can-eat BBQ spots, but in my opinion, not enough to justify the price. I'd consider it mid-grade meat at best. Out of everything, I think I like the salad the most.

Great location in a popular plaza, parking is a problem. We reserved via Yelp, got a 8.15pm reservation on Saturday. Staffs are friendly and quick service. We had the two person "meat lover"set, it's a great choice with various types of meat, salad, miso soup and we upgraded white rice to bibimbap. I had umeishu with soda, there's no plum in it.

Great service, unique experience, yummy food. We were there for a Holiday party and had so much fun.

Very close to a 5, but the service suffered. I'll end with that. I rarely have Japanese BBQ; normally Korean, but this one was gooooood! We had several appetizers. Edamame covered in garlic. I mean, seriously a lot of raw, minced garlic. I think I'd get the normal one next time. Fried gyoza also good, but the steamed chili dumplings were VERY good. Spicy volcano tuna looked awesome but was just ok: tuna poke on deep fried rice ball. Karage with ponzu side sauce was yummy. And the fried rice sizzles in a hot bowl in front of you. I like the charred rice that sticks to the bowl. All the meats were delicious. Very tender, high quality meat. And they cook really quickly. We had premium beef (kalbi short rib) and standard beef (beef rib, NY steak). And we were compelled to try pork belly. Not sure why we didn't try seafood, but we were pretty full already. It gets very busy and I highly recommend reservations. Walk-in for dinner on the weekend probably over an hour wait. The inside is nice. Not overly cramped and is well lit. We sat in the covered outside area in the back of the restaurant which is right along Steven's Creek Blvd. The back is quite nice. But it was cold and they struggled to get the heaters working. Then they dragged heaters away from us to another table. We fussed and they got 3 guys working on getting another heater working.

This was my first time here, and I'd rate the overall experience a solid 4/5. We arrived right at 11:30 AM for brunch and were seated immediately by our server (Nhi). He was friendly, attentive, and took the time to explain the menu options for our group of four. We decided on the Yakiniku Party set (designed for 4 people). The starters included a nice variety: gyu-kaku salad, miso soup, chicken garlic noodles, gyu-sushi, edamame, kimchi, Japanese chicken karaage, and the spicy tuna volcano. Each dish was flavorful and set the tone for the meal. For the meats, we got a selection of prime kalbi short ribs, filet mignon, umakara ribeye, yaki-shabu beef, chicken, umakara pork, kalbi chuck rib, and shrimp. I appreciated how the meats were brought out in stages, which helped us pace ourselves and made the most of the limited table space. Each cut was pre-seasoned with either garlic, sweet soy tare, miso, basil, or salt & pepper, and the table came with spicy, sweet soy, and ponzu dipping sauces. The smaller portions were a nice touch, allowing us to try a variety of items without feeling overwhelmed, and by the end, our party was comfortably full. Ended up having to unbutton my pants--definitely a sign of a satisfying meal! One thing to note is that this option doesn't include any extra meats or desserts, aside from the s'mores that come standard. If you're a big eater, this might not be your best bet, so be prepared to order more. But, it's perfect for those with smaller appetites or who enjoy variety over quantity. Service was exceptional. Nhi checked on us frequently, and another server kept the grill clean and ready. Even as the restaurant got busier, the regional manager, Charles, stepped in to help. It's clear that teamwork is a priority here. A big plus is the ventilation--unlike most barbecue spots, you don't leave smelling like smoke or food since the fans are built into the grills. I'd definitely come back for special occasions. The prices are on the higher side, so it's not somewhere I'd visit regularly.

I love the place and the customer service. I always crave with Japanese Bbq and this one did not dissapoint

We were drawn to this restaurant as they had later hours than the other restaurants nearby. We were seated after a few moments on the back patio. I've been to the Los Angeles location of this restaurant, so I was surprised to see that this location had a different menu and did not offer AYCE. There were 5 of us and we opted for the Yakiniku Party for 4 people. Although we were seated in the patio, we were kept warm by the space heaters and grill. We were continuously pleased with the service here. The waiters switched in between our service, but both of them were able to answer our questions and thoroughly explain each cut and how to cook it. We added an additional miso soup for our fifth person and they had given it to us for free. In addition, at the end of the meal, our waiter had given us another free store so everyone could enjoy. The set menu had more than enough food for everyone. Our only complaint was the edamame was steamed for too long and was falling apart. Of course, it was on the pricier side, but it was well worth it.

I love Korean bbq and sushi so I was excited to try Japanese bbq as I saw some sushi-style items on the menu! For a party of 5 (3 female, 2 male) we ordered the Gyu-Kaku feast which should have supposedly fed 6 people. We thought it was a great price, but it was a lot less food than we imagined it to be. As a group of 5 we could've still ate more. Overall it is still a great price and a good way to try a lot of the different meats, marinades, and side dishes they offer without having to pick individual plates. Overall all of the meat was good and it came out in a timely manner. The beef sukiyaki bibimbap was amazing!! Probably my favorite dish of the night. As for the meat cuts, the short ribs were our group's favorites.

I have not been to Gyu Kaku for a long time, almost 10 years, so I was pleasantly surprised to see they have changed up their business model a bit and introduced AYCE! You can order up to 4 items at a time and there are also different tiers of the AYCE menu that will give you access to more premium cuts of meat and additional dishes. My personal favorite has to be the beef toro or beef belly cut which is incredibly fatty but honestly all of the cuts were high quality and delicious - they even let you swap out the marinade flavors! Service was also incredibly attentive, grills were pretty much swapped out after every saucy meat so that it wouldn't burn and drinks were always topped off. I had a great time despite being absolutely stuffed, just be wary that they will charge for excessive uneaten items! I can't wait to come back soon!

First time having this and won't be my last! Arrived at 5pm when they opened for dinner and were seated right away. They don't allow outside drinks so be careful if you plan on visiting Izumi matcha in the plaza! We ordered the Meat Lover's combo ($45 per person) along with the corn cheese and crispy tuna rice. The Meat Lover's combo featured a variety of beef options that we all enjoyed. It came with plenty of starters, including salad, miso soup, rice (2 servings), edamame, gyu sushi, and fried chicken. There was a lot of food, and you will definitely feel full afterward. The corn cheese was cheesy, creamy, and delicious. The crispy tuna rice was okay, but I found there was more rice than tuna topping. The gyu sushi was tough, and I expected the meat on top to be warm, but it was ice cold. For dessert, we had s'mores! You get to cook them over the grill, which made for a fun and interactive experience. Overall, I enjoyed my time at Gyu-Kaku. The staff was friendly and attentive. It was some of the best service I've ever received!

Final Thoughts: 4.77/5 Honestly, my friends and I have been here so many times now because their food, quality, pricing, and service are all quite on par. I've gone for both lunch and dinner times and my experiences have usually been pleasant all around. Wait times will vary depending on when you go. We always try to avoid the rush and make reservations ahead of time when able. Food: Cheese Corn: 4.2/5 Always a go-to appetizer for us. Hmm...this would honestly get a higher rating if the quality weren't so inconsistent. There are times where we are served a hot, buttery, well-seasoned plate of cheese corn and there are other times where the cast iron is really just warm to touch with just some corn pieces inside of it, which is not ideal. With that said, the flavor of this dish is typically consistent. Well-seasoned with a nice sweetness that pairs well with the richness from the butter. Spicy Tuna Volcano: 4.0/5 We get this appetizer every now and then. It's also a delight. The rice has a crispy exterior and soft inside. Very light seasoning of what seems to be soy sauce on the outside. A plus that it also gives the rice a nice caramelization. Tuna on top has a soft texture because it's finely minced. Again, seasoning is good and well balanced. The green onion garnish actually provides a nice texture and flavor to this dish. I believe it complements everything well. Hmm...for me, I don't think it's spicy at all - This is subjective though. Meats (Angus Beef Ribs, Umakara Ribeye, Umakara Pork): 4.7/5 There are many more meats that I've tried aside from these ones listed and it's difficult to review each individually, so this is just my overall thoughts about their meats. They are all *chef's kiss* honestly. The sauces that are used to marinade the meats are probably some of my favorites. The angus beef ribs is something we get every time. They typically cut it into cubes and it's just so tender when done. From my experience, all the meats are quite tender and really don't require any scissors to cut it. Very nice bite to all of them. The seasonings have a very umami, sweet, and salty flavor to it. While some sauces appear the same, there are subtle differences and this is likely due to the meat and marinade. From my memory, I can't recall once where I complained about seasonings because it's so well balanced though. Sauces (Spicy, Ponzu, Sweet Soy): Their sauces compliment some of the meats really well. Other meats wont typically need it because of the marinade that's present already. If you need just a slight flavor enhancer or addition of spicy, these sauces do a fairly good job with that. My favorite two are always the spicy sauce and sweet soy. --------- Quality: Appears high Again, their meats are very tender and have a nice marbling to them. Even in the dim lit restaurant, you can see that the meats have a nice shine to them. Color of the meats also look quite nice. Some are redder than others and that likely related to some meats being marinaded in a sauce. Price: Fair to expensive When you think of Japanese BBQ or Korean BBQ, there's usually a price tag that comes with it. Average range will typically be about $30 to $50 perhaps. To define "fair" in this case, I mean that the quality is worth the price. This place now has the option for AYCE or you can still go with the option of just paying for the plates that you choose. My friends and I always go for the latter. In regards to the plates, range in pricing is also quite large ($5 to $30) depending on what you get. Happy Hour is also our favorite time to go because we are able to cut down a significant amount. Service: Fair to optimal Overall, the service here is quite nice. A greeting is always provided to each individual group, which I appreciate. Service at the tables are typically optimal. There have only been half a handful of times where I remember a longer wait time for an item. They do fairly well in checking up on us for ordering, checks, and grill changes. Ambiance: Dim lit Quite dim lit in here and very drafty. It's kind of a mix of warm and cold, which is interesting. The temperature inside is especially colder during the winter time, but the lighting inside makes the area seem very warm. Seems like a small interior, but they make it work. Location/Parking: Fair to optimal There are multiple restaurants and stores here, so this appears to be an optimal spot for them. The back side of the restaurant does face the streets, as well. In regards to the parking, their parking lot looks to be optimal in this plaza. However, I believe there have been times where we had to do in a round or so to get a spot. I've been here within and outside of rush hour and parking hasn't ever been horrible.

This place is a must visit! The service here is the best ive seen in the bay area! Juliette was an amazing hostess and super helpful for our group explaining the menu, the grill, and the alcohol choice. she also set us at a table thats easier to get in and out of since one of our friends were in crutches. The quality of the grill and the air quality inside were also way better than other places ive been; there wasnt a kind of thick musky air you get at other places from not cleabing the fat off properly, so you can really tell they care about the cleanliness at this place! Last but not least the food here is top quality, we kept ordering the hangar steak after our first round because we just couldnt get enough of it. Between the amazing service Juliette provided, the cleanliness, and the food quality, we are definitely coming back!

This restaurant can get pretty busy. The stores surrounding it can also get quite busy. I suggest coming during off-peak hours to avoid a long wait. Luckily, my party did not have to wait on a Sunday afternoon. FYI - They do accept reservations, even for parties of 2! I enjoy coming here for their happy hour! One of my favorite menu items is the "Spicy Addicting Cucumber". It isn't all that spicy and I really enjoy its refreshing taste! My favorite meats to order are the Beef Toro (Beef Belly) and the Premium Sirloin. The Toro Beef has a sweet/savory marinade option, which paired very well with the meat. I prefer the premium sirloin over the filet mignon; it's easier to eat and produces a nice smoky finish. The Bistro Hanger Steak (garlic marinade) was also delicious! Additionally, I thought their matcha tiramisu was a pretty decent option for dessert. I recommend it if you like matcha and sweets. If not, there are a bunch of nearby options to choose from. Overall, I like this location and would be happy to come back again!

We had lunch here on Sunday and ordered the Meat Lover set. With tax, the bill was about $100, and I left a tip to bring the total to $118. Today, I was shocked to find my credit card was charged nearly $130. It appears the restaurant altered the tip without my consent. I hope other customers are aware of this issue, as I've seen similar reports in other reviews.

I've been here a handful of times and would recommend making a reservation to avoid having to wait. I really enjoy their beef combo and think it's the perfect amount of food for 2-3 people. Meat quality has been pretty good every time I've gotten it. However the service is a hit or miss sometimes- sometimes it's hard to flag down your waiter.

The food was amazing, the quality of the meat was so good better than the average KBBQ spot, this JBBQ spot is a must try. The servers were very attentive and helpful throughout the meal. This place was a little dim but it helped the vibe and ambiance of the meal which I understand.

I love gyukaku and the assortment of meats offered! I like ordering one of the sets and adding addition items on top of them. The reservation system online was easy to follow and book. Usually the restaurant is busy on the weekend, but they still provide great service and there is even a button for you to press!

Was craving japanese barbecue one day and came with my friend. Xoi served us and recommended a list of wonderful cuts of meat. He specifically recommended toro beef, bistro, yakishabu, spicy pork, pork belly, kalbi chuck. We were quite impressed by the quality for happy hour. I personally wasn't too impressed with any of the pork options. Those I can skip on next time but the rest were amazingly good. Xoi was very attentive and made sure we were both satisfied. The total for happy hour came out to about 78 excluding tip for 2 people. Parking can be an issue because it's in asian plaza which can get very busy and full. We will definitely be back for this great deal and wonderful food.

I really wanted something simple and easy to eat while on the go. I was craving meat and rice, and saw that Gyu-Kaku offered rice plates with 2 or 3 bbq items where they cooked the meats for you. I ordered the garlic shrimp and toro beef with miso and soy glaze. The combo includes miso soup and salad and came out to be about $18. I was very pleasantly surprised and satisfied with the food. The quantity was perfect for a quick and satisfying meal. The toro beef was the perfect amount of fatty and meaty while the shrimps were grilled and succulent. I also enjoyed the salad since it was more than just lettuce and some dressing. I'll definitely remember to come back for a quick meal and maybe stop in for their happy hour.

I have been to Gyu-Kaku BBQ in San Diego and Kansas City . This is the first time we visit the one in the Bay Area , Northern California. We made a reservation for lunch one week ago because they only serve lunch on Friday and the weekends. Rest of the weekdays are dinner only . There were not as many customers as I expected in the Steven Creek Blvd. I think it is closed by the Valley Fair mall and Santana Row with many nice restaurants have affects the business. They have excellent customer service . Restaurant is clean and cozy . The restroom smelled great with the special Japanese multi functions toilet with heated toilet seat . There was no standard lunch menu in this location but we can get happy hours price on everything. We have ordered the two person value meal with 6 types of meats and grilled vegetables . It has also included a large salad , two bowls of rice , Miso soup and large bowl of edamame. Meats are top quality and delicious. I didn't like the basil chicken because I don't like white meat . But my husband loved it . We have more than enough food and I appreciates the different types of beef so I could have a different flavor and made the meal interesting. Like all Japanese grill the price is on the high side. We only ordered one beer . With tax and tips the bill is closed to $100 . It is a nice experience but I would like to try another restaurant for other things. Definitely like to come back later like 3 months . Highly recommended if you have never been to a Gyu-Kanu BBQ before .

First time trying Japanese BBQ. The meats were all very high quality which is also why the place was very pricy. They had different sets you can choose from and it took a while to decide what we wanted since there were some item we wanted and others we didn't want in the set. I wish there was a mix and match option. Overall the meat was delicious but they had very standard sauces (soy, ponzu, etc.) and I wish they had more variety. It is a place I would go again for special occasions but not a regular go to place.

Came here on a Sunday night an hour and a half before they closed and they accepted us as walk-ins. The interior is very nice and chill. Our server Yasuo was very friendly and nice and helped explain to us the menu since it was our first time. We ordered the meat lovers and ordered cream cheese wontons and duck breast for happy hour. We were impressed and amazed by the quality of the food! Everything was very delicious and we loved it all. The dessert s'mores were offered at the end of the meal and it was a fun and tasty. We enjoyed our experience and will definitely return.

Plenty of parking. Meats coming out pretty fast. Service was okay. Wish we got more frequent grilling changes and check ins~

Came for happy hour to have a light early dinner. Some selected menu items have a red price - those are for happy hour. We enjoyed everything we got! But even with the happy hour prices and light meal, it was still rather pricy. Their kids combo menu is a great deal - only $6.50 and if they do the activity on the back, they get a free s'mores dessert too! Ordered the salmon, but had to cancel because they forgot to take it out of the freezer to defrost early enough... would have been nice to know that rather than having to follow up on my own to learn that info.

Came here for the AYCE menu advertised in their website. We were disappointed that the Cupertino store does not offer it- instead they have set meals. For having been around for many years now-the restaurant is still clean and service was friendly. Their ventilation system is way better than most- you will leave with just a little cooked smoke smell-not the craziness of other places. Being very hungry we ordered the meat set for 6 people - thinking this would be plenty of food for the 4 of us. Everything comes out in a hurry- rice, salads, appetizers. They pace the meats so you have time to cook and eat. Eat cut/seasoning were good. Different cuts actually has different textures and at levels. And the marinades were bomb. Biggest issue is portions - they were tiny. We ordered the 6 person meal - and still had to add 4 more orders of meat. Luckily the price point for bot the set and additional meat weren't that crazy. Overall- good service, great high quality cuts of meat. Just be prepared to order extra.

we ordered the meat lovers set. it's a lot of food for the price yes but the portions are slim like OKAY SKINNYY and the flavor for most of the food was bland. the spicy tuna volcano was underwhelming considering its name. the gyu sushi fell flat for me too where it felt like rubber meat and flavorless. the matcha tiramisu was delicious and a good kick of matcha the service here was amazing tho! even with the chaotic environment, our servers were still so attentive, helpful, and efficient!!!

We rounded up the stars to 4, here because it has been a good experience in the past. The bbq food is good but the portions have been shrinking quite a lot lately. We were seated outside and the tables were always too small. The four person table is suitable for 2-3 and the table with 6 chairs is suited for 4. They don't have an effective way to extend their tables with portable trays like some of their competitors. Also they seemed understaffed today and we had long periods of waiting and reminding which is not typical.

One of my favorite places to go to when i'm in the mood for BBQ! Servers are always so kind and attentive, even when it's packed to the brim. One time I brought my dog here and they even provided him water :D so sweet. I never fail to get the cheese fondue here it just tastes sm better with everything. It looks relatively small from the outside, but there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating!

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ is definitely better than Gen, the quality of meat is much better. They have a fun drink menu and some happy hour deals as well. I would avoid the marinated meats as they get too salty for me. I always end up smelling like smoke after eating here so make sure you wear clothes that you can throw directly into the wash when you get back.

We came here on Valentine's Day and they were super busy, but the staff was still incredibly nice and attentive. Always a good time at gyu kaku.

I came here for the first time with a friend on the weekend and was quickly seated. We happened to be there during their Happy Hour, during which everything was discounted!! Since we both didn't want to use extra brainpower to decide what to order I ordered the meat lovers combo with an upgrade for the white rice to become beef sukiyaki bowl, and a melon soda to split. For the sides, the egg salad was decent & the edamame was good! Chicken karaage kind of a miss, it did seem like reheated/the breading wasn't excellent & the chicken quality wasn't stand out. The cuts of meat were definitely good and the ambiance was nice as well! This was my first time barbecuing on a charcoal grill, so I was kind of nervous haha. It went well though, and the s'mores at the end added a nice sweet touch to the end of a great day. Overall I had a good time, but the price was around $50 per person after tax and tip. I'd rather get AYCE next time, the cuts of meat we ordered specifically weren't really enough to justify the cost in my mind? But I did leave very full, this is filling & has an elevated feel to it.

When I lived in Hawai'i, my sister and I would go to their location there at least once a week during happy hour. I was so happy to find that it's a chain and there are many locations! My friend and I go to this location often. The ambience is nice and inviting. The food is delicious, there are great group options. We always get the "meat lovers" which includes miso soup, salad, karrage, variety of meat, and s'mores you roast at the end to end a perfect meal. Very good deals! The service was always been good, the workers have always been so friendly and have never had an issue I do recommend before you go to try and make a reservation or hop onto yelp to see if there's any availability before you go because they are usually busy