The Place Located in Raffles City Singapore, Kyoto brand Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu will be opening on 7 September at the basement of the mall right beside Ippudo, the brand’s first outlet in Singapore. Founded in Kyoto in 2014, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu is famous for serving lean cuts of beef, deep-fried quickly at a high temperature to medium rare. The space of Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu at Raffles City is casual and open concept, and it is also the largest gyukatsu specialty restaurant from Japan. 

Raffles City is seeing a big revamp in its dining options this year with the opening of hugely popular Casa Vostra, Wo Wo Dian and now Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu. 

The Food Expect the same menu, flavours and beef as Japan. Choose from a variety of cuts from the menu such as beef sirloin, tenderloin and tongue. 

The Sirloin is typically sweeter with higher marbling, while the Tenderloin is leaner with lower fat and higher moisture. The Tongue has a more exotic taste and chewier texture for lovers of alternative cuts. 

Each set comes with various condiments and sauces such as Kyoto-Style Curry, Dashi Soy Sauce, Sansho Pepper Salt or Gyukatsu Sauce. It also comes with rice, fresh cabbage, wasabi and onsen egg along with a bowl of miso soup. 

For the best of both worlds, I tried the Half-and-Half Gyukatsu Zen – Sirloin and Tenderloin (S$29) and Half-and-Half Gyukatsu Zen – Sirloin and Beef Tongue (S$32).

I definitely prefer sirloin to tenderloin since the meat is fattier and more flavourful. You get a nice golden crust of the beef where its texture is quite crunchy from its koromo batter (a secret blend golden ratio of breadcrumbs, flour and egg wash). 

By default, the meats are already grilled to medium-rare in the kitchen, but you can choose to grill it yourself over the hot stone pot at your table according to your own preferred doneness. 

If you love your beef fatty, then go for the Wagyu which is the most premium cut on the menu such as the A5 Miyazaki Sirloin Gyukatsu Zen (S$55). 

Non-beef options include Large Prawn Katsu Zen and Salmon Katsu Zen. 

Rants As compared my gyukatsu experience at Gyukatsu Motomura in Tokyo where the beef is served relatively raw, the beef served here at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu is already done medium-rare, hence the self-grilling experience is less prevalent (which takes away the fun in the dining experience) if you are good with medium-rare. The restaurant does not take reservations for now.

Will I Return Again? Another exciting new Japanese option to Raffles City especially if you love your gyukatsu from Japan. While prices are much higher than Japan, this is probably the closest alternative it gets to a similar gyukatsu experience.     

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 3.5/5
Hole in the pocket: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3/5
Overall Experience: 3.5/5

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu 
252 North Bridge Road 
#B1-63/64 Raffles City Shopping Centre 
Singapore 179103 

Opening Hours 
Monday to Sunday: 11am to 10pm (9pm last order) 

Ranted by The Ranter