Gyukatsu Motomura — Restaurant in Kyoto

01.04.2025 Night

Food delicious, but I will say it’s not the best, so I give 3 star. I ordered size S.

Service : rude waitress. they have a long queue -7 group since -around 8.30 PM. -around 09.00 there was new customer waiting, but there is no worker outside. -around 09.10, last order call, so the waitress write down every order and let to know the last person (behind me), that they can’t receive any customer again. because it already at 09.10. -after waiting, we enter the room around 09.20.

I don’t have a problem with long queue, but the waitress need more attitude :

When I sit, I hear the waitress in a rush, try to clean everything and She asked a customer : “are you already finish?” while they still sit and then they said “no, I’m not finish”

We asked to get an ocha. The table next to me has an ocha, but it is the left-over from someone who sit there.

(The next table condition when I first came, full of dirty plate and the jug still there. The waitress tak the plate but still leave the jug, 2 mug, and dirty table.)

Without thinking, the waitress take the ocha and give to us.

Is it the attitude of a Gyukatsu restaurant?

Just let you know, even if the jug is full, you need to take it back, and then if you want to give it to us, you can give to us again after you are from the back.

A restaurant never do a transfer of water jug from the left-over from the next table.

When I hear that, I was rushing myself to eat fast, because they close at 10.00. Around at 09.40, I asked to get 1 more rice. I still have left-over rice on my bowl, and she grab my bowl. She said, can I take your bowl? I said yes with confuse.

Why don’t you take the new bowl of rice without picking up the customer bowl?

I finished all of my foods and pay at 21.55.

I come to Japan to eat this delicious food that everyone said. But I’m wrong and will never come back again in this store because of the service. So I give 1 star.

Place : quite spacious, clean.

Customer pay to get nice food and nice experience in this gyukatsu restaurant, if you want to close early, just close order at 8.30PM, so you don’t need to rushing the customer. You still have 1.5 hours until...

Gyukatsu Motomura – A Rare Experience Perfected

If culinary heaven had a texture, it would be the impossibly crisp crust of perfectly cooked gyukatsu. And if it had a name? It might just be Gyukatsu Motomura, or any shrine-worthy spot that dares to treat beef the way most only treat pork—with reverence, restraint, and just the right amount of rebellious flair.

For the uninitiated, gyukatsu is beef katsu: a lightly breaded, deep-fried cutlet of beef, typically served rare and sizzling alongside a personal hot stone so you can sear each slice to your liking. It’s dinner as both performance and ritual—and when done right, it’s unforgettable.

Here, the experience begins with the first sound: the whispering sizzle of the raw-in-the-middle cutlet arriving fresh from the fryer, its golden panko armor whisper-thin and audibly crisp. The meat? A flawless medium-rare, marbled just enough to promise decadence without overindulgence.

You lay a piece onto the hot stone. Wait five seconds. Flip. Another five. Then—perfection. The crust remains intact, crackling faintly against your chopsticks, while the beef yields like silk, juicy and tender at the center. Dip it in a touch of wasabi soy, or a dab of pink Himalayan salt, and it’s as if every steakhouse in the world suddenly feels underdressed.

The sides elevate rather than distract: finely shredded cabbage dressed in a sesame vinaigrette that cuts through the richness like a citrus breeze; miso soup that’s understated and comforting; barley rice with a raw egg yolk on request, adding another layer of indulgence. And the pickles? Bright, tart, necessary.

But it’s the gyukatsu itself that will haunt you long after the last bite. It’s a masterclass in contrast—hot and cool, crispy and tender, minimal and extravagant. A dish that doesn’t shout, but rather whispers, “This is how beef should be treated.”

It’s rare—literally and figuratively—to find a dish that feels this deliberate, this pure, and this...

“An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto”

I had the pleasure of dining at Gyukatsu Motomura in Kyoto, and it was an experience I won’t soon forget. From the moment I stepped inside, the cozy, welcoming ambiance set the tone for a fantastic meal. The star of the show was undoubtedly the gyukatsu — perfectly breaded and fried to a delicate, golden crisp while maintaining a tender, juicy interior.

The cooking process at the table is a unique and interactive experience, allowing you to sear each slice of beef to your liking on a small hot stone. The meat itself was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, with a rich umami flavor that paired wonderfully with the variety of dipping sauces provided. I especially loved the wasabi soy sauce, which added a delightful kick to each bite.

The set meal was well-rounded, with miso soup, fresh cabbage, and a side of Japanese rice cooked to perfection. The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly, providing clear instructions on how to best enjoy the gyukatsu, even for first-time visitors.

Overall, Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto offers an exceptional dining experience that is both authentic and memorable. It’s a must-visit for anyone in Kyoto looking to try something truly special. I can’t wait to return and savor it...