Kin Gyu Japanese Grill — Restaurant in Waterloo

I had a somewhat lackluster experience at Kin Gyu Japanese Grill in September 2025.

The location itself is nicely renovated inside - you wouldn't guess that it used to be a Carter's babies and kids store when you step inside. But I guess that makes sense since there isn't really a proper kitchen, as it's a BBQ and the customer does most of the cooking. There's two entrances, one at the front and one at the back - and of course plenty of parking in the lot just behind the building.

Unfortunately, the visit was characterized by waiting and more waiting. I was there at 4pm on a Sunday, and it was less than half full - yet it took quite some time for someone to finally take our order. And equally long for anyone to return in order for us to order again. It's an AYCE - you don't want to spend half the time sitting around waiting, you wanna be eating! And furthermore, no one took the time to ask me if I wanted another drink when my beer was finished. So overall below average to poor experience with the waitstaff. Honestly not even sure who was our official server, maybe it's just a group effort? Either way, felt neglected.

The food itself was good! In terms of the meat offerings I would say not particularly different from the other Japanese BBQ restaurant in town nor the Korean BBQ that come to mind. That said everything was delicious. The house marinated kalbi was the standout to me. It's like a wan kalbi. There is a buffet style set up where you can get your own side dishes - the sprouts and potato were much to my liking.

In short - nice restaurant, certainly a good choice for BBQ in Waterloo but unlikely that I will be back given the somewhat disappointing experience and the other...

I took a group of six out for dinner last night. The restaurant only served “all you can eat” and the total bill was about $350. Take note that the restaurant charges and automatic 15% gratuity on parties larger than four. This is a strange policy since it is primarily a buffet and a “cook-your-own-food” place. Diners even have to place their own orders via a QR code. It seems like a cash grab to claim the restaurant is providing “service” when the wait staff really are just bussing food from the kitchen to the table. Diners even have to pour their own water. Beyond that, I can understand an automatic gratuity for large groups in some cases, but five people is not a large group to serve.

The food was … food. The restaurant is primarily a grill-your-own setup, and so most of the menu items are raw meat or fish. Most arrive without seasoning or sauces. So, if you enjoy grilled steak or chicken without any additional flavours, then it is a good place to eat. If you are hoping, perhaps, for some teriyaki sauce or mayonnaise on the side, then this is not the place for you.

The portions are skimpy. We ordered pineapple, to grill, and received a single piece measuring about 10 cm in length. Diners will need to be careful when they place their order to specify the number of morsels they want for most items.

Bottom line: this is a costly place to eat, for what you get. If you simply want a place to sit and eat mounds of freshly grilled steak for two hours, then it may well be a smart choice. If, however, you are looking for anything else, there are far better Asian restaurants in town that offer a far better dining experience for...

✨ Sophisticated yet grounded — Kin Gyu brings the soul of Japanese grilling to downtown Waterloo, one smoky, artful plate at a time.

Hoping to try a little bit of everything, we ordered a variety of appetisers and entrees. The Katsu Chicken Skewers were little bites of joy — golden crisp on the outside, juicy and tender inside, with just the right dip of umami. The Deep Fried Golden Bun was pillowy perfection: a crispy shell giving way to warm, savoury filling — comforting and unexpected all at once. Meanwhile, the Bibimbap came in vibrant and fresh — crunchy veg, fluffy rice, and that spicy-sweet gochujang tying everything together. Stirred up, it hit all the right textures and tastes.

Then came the mains — and they did not hold back. The Miso Pork Belly was a standout: rich, fatty, melt-in-your-mouth, with a miso glaze that added depth without overpowering. The Kalbi was bold and beautifully marinated — sweet, smoky, and caramelized just enough to get that edge of char. The Short Rib was grilled to juicy perfection — tender with a deep BBQ flavour that lingered. The Lamb was seasoned simply and grilled confidently — slightly gamey in the best way, earthy and satisfying.

Seafood got its spotlight too. The Miso Salmon was soft and flaky with a smoky-sweet glaze that made every bite count. The Shrimp were fresh, lightly charred, and still bursting with natural sweetness — no frills (or fins) needed.

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