Gyukatsu Motomura Nishi Shinjuku

Super yummy and food came very quickly! Theres a few chains walking distance amongst each other so if you see a huge a line at one chain just go to another chain to try your luck. Thats what we did, one chain had a line out the door and we walked another one and it was three people waiting only and got seated fairly quickly. Very cool atmosphere as it was underground so when cooking sometimes the places fills out with smoke giving it a mystical feel! Food is very yummy and tender. If i could eat two plates i honestly would! Definitely a must try and will return place.

The meat was very delicious! The downside is that the table is quite small, resulting in our drinks glass heating up from the flame - so be careful it could burn you. If you’re not a fan of yam or wasabi, the menu comes with this. So you could be limited with what you eat from the foods served on their set menu. Like every other Japanese restaurant, it was small and hot inside, and when it gets busy, there’s a line in the stairway. A bonus is you get a free refill of rice.

Yums! Great food! .You can grill the beef to your own preference for done-ness. There was a queue when we reached and we had to wait in line in the narrow staircase leading to the basement where the restaurant is located. It was worth the wait. The staff were attentive and friendly despite their busyness. Will return.

One of the best food I've had whilst in Japan. Inside is quite small and there may be a wait (we waited about 15min during lunch time on a weekday) but it's definitely worth it. Gyukatsu was just so good and would definitely be back next time!

Probably the quickest we’ve been seated and served throughout our trip in Japan. We ordered immediately and got our food 2 minutes later. Very small location, can fill up quite fast. Food was a very fun experience. Wasn’t too sure what to do with some of the items on the tray, but we played around with dipping and cooking with/without sauces. Everything was delicious! Everything on the table gets quite oily while cooking the meat, so avoid leaving your stuff anywhere near, and roll up your sleeves! Definitely ask for a bib too.

The gyukatsu here was not tasty. The gyukatsu breading doesn't offer an adequate crunch and feels like those cheap frozen shrimp breading, and the meat texture is akin to meltique beef. Taste-wise, there was 0 beefy flavour, and all I could taste was black pepper. As for the rice, just give me regular japanese rice without the barley. Seriously. The restaurant felt musty and tables were oily and sticky, and I guess part of this has to do with the fact that the restaurant is tucked away in an isolated basement section of the mall, so you can imagine the ventilation situation.

Gyukatsu Motomura in Shinjuku is a must-visit for meat lovers seeking a unique and flavorful dining experience. This popular spot specializes in breaded and lightly fried beef cutlet (gyukatsu), served rare with a hot stone grill so you can cook each bite to your preferred doneness. The beef is incredibly tender, juicy, and full of umami, paired perfectly with rice, cabbage, and miso soup. The cozy, no-frills setting and friendly service enhance the experience, though be prepared to queue during peak hours—it’s well worth the wait.

Not a bad choice. We enjoyed the meat menu, which was perhaps a bit less sophisticated than we had it in other places, since the "side dishes" and seasoning where a bit ... lackluster and not very spicy. However, we enjoyed the atmosphere and the staff was really friendly. Give it a try! Watch out for the small entrance leading downstairs.

Yummy food, fast service, and nice ambiance. This restaurant is worth the hype it has gotten. Went here on a Monday night around 7:30pm and there was a small line out the door. While waiting in the line, one of the servers asked us how many people were in our group, handed us a menu then proceeded to take our order. We waited for about 30 minutes total. When we finally got seated, our food was brought out to us right away. The service is really fast and effective since they know their restaurant is super popular. I ordered the medium size and it was more than enough food for me. Highly recommend getting the set since it comes with a drink as well. I recommend going around 8pm if you don't mind eating a late dinner because there was no line right after that and they close at 10.

With numerous locations around Japan, this chain has risen to fame for a reason. Though the locations are small, their impact and flavor are huge. Easily one of the best meals I had in Japan, the gyukatsu was incredible. Super soft and tender while having the hot stone to allow for extra cooking, everything came together perfectly.

We were nearby and thought we'd beat the dinner rush crowd. As we arrived, there's a line down a set of stairs as expected. Just like some yelp pics have provided (thanks fellow yelpers). But don't be fooled, it'll go quicker than you think. When we were next in line, I was confused as they had shut the door on us thinking they wanted tourists to stay out. Or they shut the door due to the size of the place. Later finding out, they did purposely shut the door because seating is limited, and there is no waiting area inside. The good thing was, the hostess handed out a menu to take our order as we waited. This meant, eat fast and enjoy! Here's a little bit about this place called Gyukatsu-Motomura: ~ Dining and Service ~ A few tables clean tables, so be prepared for a tight squeeze. And a few stool options around the grill a'la teppanyaki style. If your group is larger than six, I wouldn't recommend coming here. Plus if you have a lot of shopping bags, forget it. There's no room for it. As for service, we had no issues. Staff was still cordial in helping get settled. ~ Beef Cutlet Meal ~ It's "Stone Grilling Time"!!! Their specialty is simply the Beef Cutlet Meal Set, and it's practically all that's on the menu lol. The set consists of soup, a bowl of barley rice, shredded lettuce, and three side dishes: spicy cod roe, grated yam, and a mochi dessert. As for the star attraction, you can order one beef cutlet, one plus a half, or two cutlets. I had ordered one and a half. And boy oh boy, this was some of the best tasting beef cuts I've had in Japan thus far. The cutlets are precut, so all you do is give it a quick sear on the hot stone. Add rock salt, dip it in soy sauce, or have it with some wasabi, and maaaan you'll be in heaven! The meat was soft, fatty, and flavorful that it simply melted with every bite. AND the whole set was only 2600¥, or just under $17usd. So totally worth it! ~ Overall ~ This was by far one of the most memorable meals I've had here in the Shinjuku area. Expect tight dining and fast service. But savor each beef cutlet slice with love! The whole meal set was worth the price. Oh yeah, and don't be rude like me taking pics other than the dishes, but HEY it's my yelpie duty! ;)

I sound like such a cornball, but I love traveling because you get so much life experience in such a short period of time. To me, it's like speed running life in the best way possible. For example, Gyukatsu Motomura was my introduction to Gyukatsu, a type of Japanese cuisine I didn't know existed before this trip. It's a Japanese beef cutlet that is crunchy on the outside and served to you rare. You then cook them on the hot stone in front of you to your liking. I waltzed in and got two beef cutlets, along with a full set of dipping sauces, rice, and miso soup for 3,060 yen ($19 usd). I'm a simple guy, so my favorite pairing ended up being salt and scooping some rice. Salt is so underrated. I'm obliged to mention that compared to other Gyukatsu restaurants I tried on this trip, these cutlets were a tad bit oily and the most expensive, but were still bomb. I sat there in this discrete underground restaurant, sipping on a whiskey highball, torching these cutlets, and googling to see if there are any good Gyukatsu restaurants back in NYC for when I return. Life is good. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

We came here for a late dinner on a Friday. Not sure if there's always a line but when we arrived around 8pm there were about 6-7 people in line ahead of us. The restaurant isn't very big so we ended up waiting about 45min to an hour to be seated. Also keep in mind that if you come too late they may sell out! While waiting in line a waitress came out to take all of our orders. As soon as a table was available we were seated right away and we got our food within a few minutes. Food was very good and I loved the little sides. I just wish the cutlet itself was a little bit thicker. Overall, great meal but be prepared to wait.

2nd night in Tokyo and we wanted to see if the food was worth the hype. Though the food was good, not sure if I would come back weekly. There are other flavorful local joints that don't get the recognition due to their lack on social media. My recommendation is to always try it for yourself and be open to discovering where the locals eat... esp if there's a line and you didn't hear about them on IG or TIk Tok.

Aware this is a tourist spot, but was eager to try it regardless. A bit inconspicuous of an entrance, but once you've found a narrow staircase leading downstairs, you're in the right spot. The line looked daunting, but because I was by myself, it was only a 15 minute wait. The menu is pretty much 1 item (katsu) with options to add more meat if you'd like a larger portion. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal. Cooking the meat to the desired state was fun. The meal felt balanced with the sauces/sides. It is moreso a go-in/get-out environment, not a place to take a rest and slowly enjoy your meal. But if that's what you're looking for, it's great.

Tried out this place for dinner around 7p and with around 6-8 people in line ahead of me waited for about 45 minutes. The interior is a bit smoky (aka clothing will smell like food after) but wow the food was soooo good. I got their cutlet combo - 1 piece - with drink of oolong tea. The meat was so tender and flavorful it really was quite memorable. It does need to be put on the mini-stove for around 15-30 sec to cook before eating. Would recommend even with the wait, however there are many chain locations.

These thinly cut beef cutlets cooked on a hot stone were just perfect. Located in the heart of Shinjuku this is a whole in the wall and the chain is a must visit when dining in Japan. I went on an early Saturday evening and luckily the wait was less than 20 minutes. I've heard people wait well over an hour. It's a very simple menu choose how much meat you want and add on any sides. Food is made fresh to order. The dish comes with some rice, cabbage and mochi. Prize wise it's definitely reasonable for how many cuts you get. The quality of meat is very tender and seasoned well. Textures were on point. Service is really quick I got my food in under 5 minutes and it's a place you go, eat quickly and leave. Seating is limited for large parties I saw tables of 4 max. Fun spot to go to enjoy a cool experience. They do require everyone in your party to order at least 1 entree.

This place was sooooo good!! The meat was so tender and flavorful! Very affordable price too. We had to wait for almost an hour around 9 PM and were lucky enough to be seated at their last customers. Since then I have always recommend this place to friends and family when they visit Japan

Seriously, a little hole in the wall. Go down the stairs to enter a small and tight space with table and bar seating. If possible, get bar seating to be close to the kitchen. They offer meal sets of 1, 1.5 and 2 deep fried beef cutlets that come with 4 sauces, potato salad, cabbage, barley rice and dessert. The katsu was great, super tender and the grill is a nice added touch. Grill each side for 20 seconds and enjoy! 1.5 cutlet meal set is $17ish.

Finally made it to one of Japan's famous establishment. We showed up right before 6pm on a Wednesday and had a 2 minute wait. Our orders were taken as we were waiting and the food promptly arrived as we sat down. We inhaled our meal - the cutlets indeed melted in your mouth. We asked for water for drinks which never arrived but atleast there was complimentary green tea on the table. A must-try place!! When we left, there was atleast 20 people waiting in line.

This was probably the best meal we had in Tokyo. Every piece of the meal was perfect, from the A5 Wagyu to all the sauces. It was a cozy environment, which meant a very long wait (probably around 2 hours). This was one of the few places I'd say that the wait was worth it.

Lunch at Gyukatsu was like finding a fine gem, food was so good and the place was small and could only accommodate a few guests, we are probably so used to experiencing great food at restaurants that has more advertising or more promotional ads, this one doesn't need that for it's better than most restaurants in the US. What an amazing experience!

It's fair. It's decent food worth a single visit. Don't expect too much. Your only choices are how much meat is served and what you want to drink. Options are LIMITED! This is not a place where you can sit and relax, order another drink and browse a dessert selection! It's basically a tourist spot - I doubt a single Japanese national was in the place. Would I go back? No. Expect to wait in line because seating is limited. If you're a party of 4 or more, expect to wait longer as tables are limited.

3 years later, hello Tokyo! My first meal was well worth the wait. The wagyu katsu experience was a smashing success. The menu have changed since Covid. In addition to the 130 gm or 260 gm wagyu set meal, you can now also choose the 195 gm which is what I did. You grill your own meat on a sizzling stone plate. It may not be A5 grade but it was still hella buttery. All it took was a few sec on each side, imagine seared tuna but better. The setting is totally casual & your clothe will smell. Entrance is at the street corner & then go down the stairs. There are prob 7-8 small tables. I sat at the kitchen counter. My 195 gm wagyu meal costs only 2100 JPY ($15 USD) which is insane. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the weak JPY. This is a chain & there are 3 of them around Shinjuku. This location is called gyukatsu motomura nishishinjuku. Its north of Shinjuku station & 2 blocks from Kabukicho.

Very stoked to have eaten here since it's been in my itinerary. Went ahead with the seat meal which included beef cutlet, miso soup, seasonal pickles, sesame tofu, and barley rice. Service was at the top when it came to drink refill and explained each component of the dish. What was more instructing is that my group had its own private area behind sliding door to keep privacy. It was a very charming place to eat.

This place is amazing. One of my best meals in Tokyo. Only one menu item. It's just a matter of how much you want. Cozy ambiance. Make sure you go early. There's a line at opening.

Awesome beef cutlets that you get to finish cooking on your personal hot plate. Their house sauce is a must to pour on your salad; one of the best sauces I've ever tasted. The wasabi sauce is also my favorite to dip the beef cutlets in. Keep in mind there is one free refill for rice. You also get bite-size brown sugar mochi as dessert. The staff are really nice and service is fast. I definitely recommend coming here to try the beef cutlet set.

We had to wait in line for about 30 minutes to be seated. The menu was easy to understand, they only served the wagyu beef. The only real choice was the serving size of the amount of beef. The quality of the food and being able to finish cooking the steak to your personal preference, great idea! Loved the price point, especially the quality of the food and ambiance of the restaurant. I'm already missing the food. Can't wait to go again.

Another recommendation from Jason H. I've tried another gyukatsu restaurant and thought that it was just ok. It was during a conversation that Gyukatsu Motomura was brought up and that it was one of his favorite restaurants to dine at in Tokyo. Decided to head here for lunch and realized that it was diagonal from Rokkasen. Walked downstairs and was greeted by the waitress and asked if we were ok sitting at the counter. Directions in English were provided which was fairly simple, choose portion size (single, double or triple), grated yam (to be used as a topping for the rice) and then sides. The grated yam and sides were all ¥100 each (iirc). I opted for the single portion and added warabi mochi as my side. The waitress then lit the stone grill in front and within 2 minutes our food was brought out. The gyukatsu is lightly coated with a pablo crust and was served a rare temperature. Patrons then can use the stone grill in front to cook to the desired temperature. Since I do prefer my steaks rare, I only cooked the pieces of gyukatsu ~ 5 seconds just to warm the meat up. The steak was fairly marbled and you are given a 2 dipping sauces to use (soy or an onion/horseradish). I loved the onion/horseradish sauce so much that I ended up having to ask for more. Warabi mochi was good but we had a better one at a small shop in the Nihombashiningyocho area. Only complaint with the gyukatsu was that it wasn't as crunchy as I would've liked but it was still tasty.

I didn't know what the big deal was with gyukatsu until I came to Gyukatsu Motomura, but it definitely deserves all the attention it's getting. Background - Gyukatsu is breaded, deep-fried beef cutlets. Gyukatsu Motomura would coat raw slices of marbled beef with breadcrumbs and then briefly deep fry them so that the outside is golden and crispy but the meat is still partially red. Restaurant Experience - After standing outside in an OBSCENELY long line (we got to the restaurant after twenty minutes of opening hour and had to wait over half an hour), you go down a very narrow corridor of stairs to the dining area. Unlike most restaurants, you pay first for your order before being seated. It's a small menu largely based on the portion sizes of gyukatsu. I was so full after the 260 grams that I only had a light dinner. Once you are assigned a table, waiters will place serving trays containing gyukatsu, miso soup, rice (I strongly recommend you add the grated yam accompaniment!), and sliced cabbage. There's a small iron burner in front of you on which you grill your medium rare gyukatsu to your liking. Finally, you can choose to garnish your meat with Himalayan salt, wasabi, miso, or a sweet sauce. The fried skin is crunchy from the recent grilling on the burner, while the beautifully marbled beef is melt in your mouth tender and unforgettable. This was one of the most fun dining experiences in Japan, and one of the few places where I say that the wait is definitely worth it!