Kobe Gyukatsu — Restaurant in Buena Park

First off, you clearly don't go to Kobe Gyukatsu for the atmosphere. It looks to be a repurposed, old, perhaps very old, dive taco shop. Okay, now that's out of the way.

One goes to any restaurant for the food. And this is where they excel. As it should be. As one might expect they offer many versions of katsu. My introduction to this dish was a hole in the wall spot on the island of Oahu. The pork cutlets were perfectly breaded. The dipping sauce was sublime. (Here they added sesame seeds to the sauce, which I quite liked.) The finely shredded cabbage was topped with an oh so light dressing that was both tangy and slightly sweet. These were accompanied by slightly sticky rice, which was perfect. Kobe Gyukatsu replicated this meal to perfection. They also added some pickled radish kimchi, and a bit of edamame. And come with either a large appetite or the idea that you're going to be taking half of your meal home for leftovers.

They lose a star for service because each table comes with a tablet, which is how you place your order. I also threw in a couple images of the tablet showing ads which can, I suppose, be helpful sometimes. But as I often dine alone due to travel for work, I prefer to interact with a human being when I do go out to have my evening meal. If half stars were available, they might get half a star back for service. Why? Because not only did I get a to-go box, but I also got a container for my sauce, and another container for the remainder of my kimchi.

So..... Good katsu for a reasonable price. And it doesn't require a 6-hour flight....

My boyfriend and I tried the beef gyukatsu, creamy curry udon, and buckwheat soba noodles. We enjoyed every dish, and the food came out quickly, which was great. However, there were a few drawbacks that made the experience less than perfect.

Firstly, the kimchi and edamame that come with the beef and the soba noodles are baby portions. For the high price point of the beef, it would have been better if there were complimentary refills on these sides or if their portions were the same size as the cabbage salad.

Secondly, this place is severely understaffed. There was one person seating, bussing, taking orders, and giving out the bills, and another person bringing out water and food. Not once did either of them come by to check on us. We had to wave one of the employees down a few times to order food, ask for napkins, and get the check. The napkins never came, and neither did the check, so I ended up going to the front to pay.

Also, one of the employees was making a lot of noise while bussing tables by literally throwing dishes into the cleaning bin instead of quietly setting them in there. This was quite annoying and disruptive.

The food here is excellent, but the service needs improvement. I'd consider coming back here when they get more staff or during dead hours when there are...

Kobe Gyukatsu is a charming Japanese eatery, nestled in a small space with a limited parking lot. However, its limited physical space is by no means indicative of the expansive flavors it offers. This place takes you on a culinary journey through a realm of Japanese cuisine that many, including myself, might not have explored extensively beyond the realms of sushi and sashimi. It was on a Sunday afternoon that my sister introduced me to this gem. The restaurant's cozy ambiance immediately appealed to me, setting the stage for what turned out to be an exceptional dining experience. The uniqueness of the dishes we tried added an exciting touch to the meal. Our choice for the day included the pork cutlet combo and the premium gyukatsu combo, both of which we shared. The quality, presentation, and taste of these dishes were exceptional. The premium gyukatsu, in particular, left an indelible mark on my taste buds. The tenderness and flavors were beyond compare – it practically melted in my mouth, and I found myself savoring each bite. This dining experience transformed an ordinary Sunday lunch into a memorable occasion spent with my sister. The allure of returning for another exceptional meal is undeniable; Kobe Gyukatsu has undoubtedly earned a place in my list of favorite Japanese...