I really was looking forward to the food but it was not bad at best (approximately 3 stars), but the way the business is run raises some eyebrows.

tl;dr:

1. Food: Gyu-katsu was flavorful and rich, but lack consistent quality across customers.
2. Xenophobic / racist chef
3. Sketchy store management flow

Food I had ordered the 1 cutlet Gyu-katsu as I was not hungry, and was not looking for a large portion. As seen in the picture, the katsu I received was merely the thickness of 2 chopsticks, compared to the customer beside me who had a significantly thicker cut. I am sure the store staff is fair in ensuring the weights are the same, but the textures we both tasted were far from it. Can try if you're willing to be disappointed with cuts of meat that are far from perfect.

Racist chef As a foreigner, I try my best to respect local customs and practices, and I accidentally infringed on their "no photos of anything other than food" policy (which was not stated anywhere in the store). I felt apologetic for crossing such a boundary when the kind waiter pointed it out to me, however the young chef without spectacles across the counter (on 12 Oct lunchtime) sniggered at my act and muttered the classic "gaijin" under his breath. This lack of respect extended to other customers as well, as i observed him not greeting other customers like the respectful waiters and other chef in the short 40 minutes i was there. I would normally rate a restaurant by the food, but such an obvious act of disrespect does not represent the business well. A red flag.

Sketchy store management When I was ushered into the store by the waiters, I was surprised since I assumed the store was full and yet no customers had left in the last 5 minutes. Immediately as I entered, I noticed that the store was barely 20% full, and there were empty seats all around. Even as I was seated down, I had to wait for a couple of minutes before my food was ready, hence they didn't do the "seat-when-your-food-is-ready" type of flow. I was glad to have finally sat down after 1 hour, but I couldn't help but wonder why didn't the store staff let the long line of customers in earlier to seat down when there was clearly space. There were some older customers just behind me, and my heart went out to them when they could be sitting comfortably to wait for their food instead of standing unnecessarily. I have my suspicions on the store's marketing tactic but I leave this to the inference of the reader.

Overall, I would not visit this store again. I was genuinely looking forward to the food, and while it wasn't a flop, the entire dining experience was a cultural and emotional letdown.