GYUKATSU Kyoto Katsugyu Umeda — Restaurant in Osaka

WORST EXPERIENCE EVER ON MY TRIP TO JAPAN SO FAR. The restaurant is located in B1, with a staircase leading down to the dining area, and the cashier is right at the bottom of the stairs. We stopped at the end of the staircase because there were people paying at the cashier — and we were SHOOED away to stand ON THE STAIRCASE to wait.

Even though the waitress was right there at the cashier, she KEPT US WAITING and DID NOT BOTHER to check us in. It was the GUESTS WHO HAD FINISHED PAYING who gestured for us to come in. When we finally entered, we were given an aisle seat — even though there was still one SOFA SEAT left. That sofa seat ended up being given to the group that came in AFTER us, and the rest of the sofa seats were occupied by single diners.

While we were still ordering, another sofa seat became available. We waited and made sure the waitress was not busy with any other tables or cleanup, and tried to check if we could switch to that table. We ASKED THREE TIMES — and the waitress DIDN’T EVEN STOP to acknowledge us. She just walked right past us and used a HAND GESTURE to signal, like we were bothering her.

When we eventually moved ourselves, they STILL DIDN’T BRING OUR WATER to the new table.

When I'm writing the post, the entilre place is almost filled, with ONLY the aisle seat empty. How ironic!!

I am still waiting to try the food, but this experience has ALREADY SPOILED MY MOOD. I don’t know if we were treated differently because we’re foreigners — but to all tourists: DO NOT COME TO THIS RESTAURANT IF YOU DON’T WANT TO...

Very bad experience. Very deceitful.The chain has decreased in quality since Covid. We ordered 2 Premium Wagyu Sirloin, the most expensive at +4.900 yen. The beef did not taste Wagyu at all! And I know what I'm talking about, coming every year in Japan since 2007. I couldn't even say it was angus, because there were no recognizable flavour. The portion is ridiculous when you compare to the pictures on the menu... and even from pictures in Google for this shop. I got tendons that were un-eatable. NOT PREMIUM SIRLOIN. Clearly not given the meat ordered... My opinion is that menu should have been paid 1.500yens at most. Cabbage not washed, it smelled the plastic bag it was bought in... The miso soup is gaijin flavour, too salty and too strong. Are we in Japan? Service was meek... terrible waitress that do not want to be here and do not look at customers. Unruly customers are let doing whatever they want. An impolite Asian (not japanese) was talking loudly on the phone and even putting the call on speaker. No reaction from the staff, and they are surprised when we want to move further away.

Conclusion: this was my last dinner EVER at this chain....

Underneath the Links Umeda mall on the B1 floor or I guess the basement floor. Located was all kinds of fancy restaurants or a fancy food hall of the mall. There were lots to choices of places to eat from but this place stood out. The decor was nice too. It was popular so our group waited about 20 plus minutes.

I wanted to try their cutlets and they don't cook it all the way as you cook it to your liking on the little cook grill. Neat idea how it was done. I will have to copy this at home. I choose their Japanese Sirloin beef and some of us chose the Wagyu Cutlet for a little more. Man, both were nice and tender even if we cooked it a little more. The breading was not a lot. I really liked it with their citrus soy sauce with Japanese radish. Everything blends together well even with the shredded cabbage and curry sauce. Also, it's good with Japanese beer, too!!

I am surprised but I really really liked the food here. The price was not bad at all for the quality of food. I totally recommend this place if you are in...