Gyu Jinya — Restaurant in Lancaster

A Hidden Gem with Room for Improvement: My Experience at Gyu Jinya

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Gyu Jinya, a Japanese restaurant nestled in the Antelope Valley. I was thrilled to discover this gem, as authentic Japanese dining options are rare in the area. The menu promised an array of delights--hot pot, shabu-shabu, Ishiyaki Zen stone cooking, and Wagyu beef. My daughter and I opted for the hot pot experience, eager to indulge in what sounded like a wonderfully curated meal.

The restaurant itself is small but beautifully decorated, with a distinct Japanese flair. The ambiance is calm and inviting, complemented by soft, spa-like music that adds to the serene atmosphere. The waitstaff was attentive and kind, although we were the only patrons in the restaurant during our visit.

We began with the salmon carpaccio and tempura-fried purple potatoes. The carpaccio was presented nicely, and while the salmon was fresh and the onions added a nice touch, the overall flavor was slightly underwhelming. It was decent, but it lacked that bright, savory burst I was hoping for. The tempura purple potatoes were good--not great--but the dipping sauce provided a much-needed boost to their flavor.

For our main courses, I ordered the Spicy Beef Hot Pot, while my daughter opted for the Black Angus Shabu Shabu. The dishes arrived promptly and looked visually stunning. However, my excitement quickly faded with the first taste. The broth in the Spicy Beef Hot Pot was surprisingly bland. Rather than the rich, umami depth that I associate with Japanese hot pot, the broth tasted like hot water--lacking the layers of flavor I anticipated. While there were plenty of vegetables, they too were devoid of any real taste, save for the carrots and corn, which, unfortunately, had an odd, almost dirty aftertaste.

Adding to the disappointment, the strong smell of fuel from the hot pot burner made us both feel ill, and it lingered as we tried to eat, further detracting from the experience. It was so overpowering that I eventually put it out, though the pot stayed hot regardless.

My daughter experienced a similar issue with her Shabu Shabu. The broth was again thin and flavorless, requiring a heavy hand of soy sauce just to make it palatable. She ended up with a bowl that tasted more like watered-down soy sauce than the delicately balanced broth we had imagined. The udon noodles were perfectly cooked with a lovely texture, but sadly, the broth's lack of flavor overshadowed their quality. Though I could see a hint of red in my hot pot, there was no detectable spice--just more of that wateriness that left us both horribly disappointed.

We spent over $100 for the two of us, and I left feeling genuinely disheartened and a bit angry. As a former restaurant owner, I understand the challenges of running a successful dining establishment, and I truly want Gyu Jinya to thrive. My critique is not meant to harm but to encourage improvement. After reading the favorable reviews, I couldn't help but wonder if other diners had simply not ordered the hot pot, or perhaps were unfamiliar with what a robust, flavorful Japanese broth should taste like.

The service, ambiance, and menu variety are all in place, but the true heart of any dish--the flavor--needs attention. I hope Gyu Jinya can refine its broths and elevate the dishes to match the promise of its beautiful atmosphere. I would love to return one day and experience that transformation. With just a bit more attention to the depth of flavor, this hidden gem could...

Happened to stumble upon this restaurant one day when I was looking for new Japanese restaurants. Definitely was very intrigued by the ishi-yaki (stone cook) as it's a similar concept as Gyukatsu Motomura in Japan. I've ordered here twice now, once dining in and another time via doordash.

Dine-in: The inside of the store overall has a nice atmosphere, nothing too over the top and ambient noise like music wasn't excessive. I did think the whale wood lights were quite cool. The servers were helpful and attentive, though probably helped that it was just my party at the restaurant at lunch.

For the food, I ordered the BBQ Style Spring Roll and the Ishiyaki Angus Sirloin Tip Gyukatsu Zen (6 oz). The spring rolls kind of felt like they were on the smaller side, but they do taste good and at $6 seems reasonable.

The Angus Sirloin Tip Gyukatsu Zen (6 oz), was much better than I had anticipated. What surprised me the most I think was the rice as it was cooked really well. Not overly dry, or wet, and not overworked. I do have some minor critiques on the rest though. Most of it's just my personal preference, but I think it would help the enjoyment of the food some more with it.

The outside, the panko they're using seems maybe a bit thicker and crunchier. I personally feel that it would be better if a more fine panko panko was used.

The two sauces they included was good for the gyukatsu, but I think another sauce/topping such as wasabi, yuzu pepper, or Japanese mustard would be a great addition to the sauce pairing.

I assume that Zen is a reference to a Gozen, but the sides only included rice, house salad, and a few vegetables to cook with the meat. It seems that miso soup is an additional $2, but I think it would be nice if it's just included in the set and maybe a small pickled dish.

Doordash: I ordered tonkatsu for Doordash. With the delivery the tonkatsu was still crunchy so that was definitely nice, but similar to the earlier critique, I think a different panko would be better for it.

I would love to see maybe additional sauce such as Japanese mustard or wasabi as well. And I would really like to see cabbage with the tonkatsu set. Generally cabbage is served as a staple side so the lack of it in the order was a bit disappointing.

Aside from that though, I think the food itself was very good and appreciate Gyu Jinya opening up in the AV. I'll definitely be back to try out other dishes over time. I think some of the points I've made wouldn't add huge costs to the restaurant either so fingers crossed that maybe some of those points will be implemented in the future.

But TLDR, quite good,...

Update: the full menu change - Waygu and grill is removed from the menu and the food quality is not longer the same. Overcooked katsu, non fresh sushi roll, bitter cabbage salad, no miso soup. What kind of Japanese restaurant doesn't serve miso soup... Yes it's cheaper now but it's not the restaurant I remember and love any more. It's just sad to see the once great restaurants fallen. The udon might still worth a try? But I really don't think I will be back anymore. 1 yr ago TL;DR: Give it a try! It's tasty. I will visit again. Don't dress too pretty because the smoke from the searing will make you smelly 😅

Food Great dining environment and very fresh ingredients. The Miyazaki Steak Ishi-Yaki set is definitely worth trying; the wagyu steak is of very good quality. The Gyo-katsu set is also pretty tasty. The takoyaki could have more flavor and stuffing, but it's still the best one in town (not oily or soggy). Spring rolls are decent but not amazing. For me, the shell for the pork gyozha is too thick but at least it's not oily. The miso soup is on the sweeter side and really good. The yuzu cheesecake and matcha montblanc are delicious, too. I will definitely want to try their udon and shabu shabu in the future.

Drinks No alcohol is available at the moment, but there are lots of soft drink and tea options. Get hot genmai green tea on the side to make the experience more authentic.🤤

Service Servers are all kind and helpful, but they probably require more training, which is understandable for a very new restaurant. For example, it took a bit for everyone to get the main entree and hot stone ready. The table was not cleaned before the desserts were served. More training and labeling on gluten-free options is required. One of our friends is on a "very strict no cross-contamination" gluten-free diet, and the server/kitchen staff were not knowledgeable enough about such diet restrictions. (They still have gluten-free options for the main dishes, but there's lots of ambiguity regarding the sides, soup, and sauce.)

Overall, we all really enjoyed the meal and experience. The price is not cheap but reasonable. We will definitely...