Gyukatsu Motomura Akihabara Branch — Restaurant in Tokyo

After trying the beef cutlet in Shibuya a couple of weeks ago and telling a friend about it, we ended up trying another place together that also serves gyukatsu but this time in Akihabara. We saw the sign and just got in. The restaurant is located in the basement and when we went, there was a menu outside with pictures and prices written in English as well. It was a bit cheaper than the place I had tried before at around 1300 - 1400 yens for a set meal with a regular 130 gr portion of beef.

As we got in the restaurant, we were politely welcomed by the staff, as it is usually done here in Japan. We had to wait a little bit as the place was crowded but there was still a rapid turnover and plenty of tables so it took only 5 minutes or so. There was a dinning counter as well as a dozen or so tables. The restaurant had a quiet atmosphere and was not too brightly lit. It felt a little more upscale then the one I had tried before as well as a little bit more intimate. The decor was simple and agreeable. I would not say it is fine dining, but I think the place could be nice for a first date sitting at the counter facing the kitchen.

The staff was friendly and most seemed to be able to speak some English as I heard a foreign tourist family make requests in English, so I would assume that there is at least one person who can manage to communicate with customers in English.

As for the most important part, the food, I would say that it was quite delicious. I found it much better than the previous place I had been to. It was cheap and tasty and I enjoy very much having to cook my cutlet on the little fire thing that was provided. It made for some fun and entertainment while dining, but also it allowed me to eat my meat the way I like it, that is mostly blue. The sides were also good, especially the miso soup. I was also told that a second rice bowl was complimentary. I enjoyed that it was a set meal as it makes it easier to get a full meal without having to order multiple things. I also enjoyed the grated yam that I poured on my rice, but I am aware that some people, especially those who are not used to it, might find it a bit gross, but I say try it ! It is delicious ! Finally, it also came with complimentary cold tea.

If I have to sum my dining experience I would say that I had a good time and meal at this restaurant. I don't know if I would go back there myself, as there are so many restaurants to try in Tokyo, but I would definitely recommend it to people who have yet to try...

Having heard plenty about its reputation for delivering quality gyukatsu (deep-fried beef cutlet). Unfortunately, my experience left me more lukewarm than impressed—both literally and figuratively.

To start, the lack of air-conditioning was immediately noticeable. Tokyo’s summers can be unforgiving, and stepping into a restaurant without proper ventilation or cooling is not ideal. The interior felt stuffy, and it made the dining experience far less comfortable than it should have been. While some might argue that such issues are temporary or seasonal, for a branch in a popular district like Akihabara, it felt like a serious oversight.

Space is also at a premium. The seating area is cramped, with narrow counter-style arrangements and very little elbow room. If you’re coming with luggage or in a group, prepare for a tight squeeze. There’s an almost conveyor-belt feel to it—eat, pay, leave—which may suit solo diners but lacks any atmosphere for enjoying a meal at leisure.

Now, on to the food. The gyukatsu was adequate but not outstanding. The beef is served rare, and diners cook it to their preferred doneness on a personal hot stone. While this interactive element is a nice novelty, it quickly becomes messy and can lead to uneven cooking, especially if you’re new to the process. The meat itself was tender enough, but not particularly flavourful or marbled. The breading was crisp, but again, nothing that truly stood out from similar establishments.

The set came with shredded cabbage, barley rice, pickles, and miso soup—standard accompaniments done reasonably well, though the miso lacked depth. Portion sizes are modest, especially for the price point. I wouldn’t call it bad by any means, but it didn’t live up to the hype or justify the queue some people are willing to endure.

Important note for curious tourists: if you’re coming here expecting a raw beef experience (as the pictures online might suggest), you may be disappointed. The beef is meant to be cooked on your personal grill stone. It’s not a sashimi-style or tataki dish. While it does arrive rare, eating it raw is not recommended by staff. If you’re after authentic raw beef cuisine, this is not the place.

To be fair, the staff were polite and efficient, and the meal was served quickly. It’s a functional operation, clearly used to high turnover. But overall, I’d say this branch feels like it runs on reputation rather...

We were lucky to discover this gem during our visit to Akihabara for our family of four (2 adults and 2 young teenagers).

We were caught up in all the shops and sights and when we decided we were all ready to eat we were in the heart of the lunch rush. Everywhere we looked had some substantial lines of patrons waiting to get in but after a quick search on Google Maps for restaurants nearby we saw Gyukatsu Motomura and thought if we needed to wait, this one looked worthwhile.

To our surprise, we must have come at an opportune time as we had no line, and there were plenty of seats and we were provided a table immediately (this would have been approximately 12:30PM on a Wednesday). In contrast, when we had left approximately 45-55 minutes later the place was full and people queued up outside the building.

Like most of our experiences the staff were so amazing and friendly. English was not a problem at all and they were receptive to my attempts at Japanese.

The menu selection is small, but that is because what they offer: they have mastered, so why offer anything potentially subpar?

Even while we had figured out what we were going to order, just discussing quantities, our wonderful server came by to make sure we understood the menu and walked us through what came with each dish etc. and that we weren’t too confused or overwhelmed by anything.

When the food came, the server explained what each component was and what sauce to use on the rice / which to use on the meat etc and then how long to cook on each side for the recommended temperature.

Food was absolutely delicious and would recommend!

As a small tip: and this was more intuitive for us as we were seated close to the host stand & cash register and saw other patrons as they were paying: when you are ready to pay there will be a small leather clipboard that the server placed at the end of your table (face down) with your table number that you bring up to identify which bill is yours. For us, it was tucked behind some extra cooking stones and our water jug at the end of the table and would have been easily missed had we not known to look for it.

If we are back in Tokyo and the Akihabara district, we would...