Trend Restaurant: Gyu-Kaku Restautants, California and New York City

Gyu-Kaku, meaning “horn of the bull” in Japanese, is Japan’s best-loved Yakiniku restaurant, with over 800 locations in Japan. The grilling method used is a fusion of Korean charcoal barbeque and Japanese-style meat grilling. Now, Gyu-Kaku has come to the U.S. The flagship restaurant is located on Restaurant Row in Beverly Hills with other Los Angeles area locations, and has just opened two more restaurants in Sherman Oaks, California and in New York City (see Asian Restaurant News, May 2005) with an ambitious plan to open four more by year-end. Hollywood celebrities like Mike Tyson, Drew Barrymore, Bridget Fonda and Sofia Coppola all are fans of Gyu-Kaku. Gyu-Kaku has taken yakiniku to a new level of dining enjoyment by combining state-of the art charcoal roaster systems with a bountiful menu of meats, seafood, poultry and vegetables as well as vegetarian specialties and delicious Japanese drinks and desserts. Gyu-Kaku has a variety of original sauces, which it uses as marinades and provides for basting of its select meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables. Grilled by the customer over a flowing charcoal brazier, each item becomes a unique and delectable taste experience. A single order of meal is 6-8 bite-sized pieces. Every item comes marinated in one of their original Gyu-Kaku sauces. Vegetables come in either pre-assembled foil packets that seal in the juices for a full-bodied flavor, individual servings, platters or wraps. A variety of rice and noodle offerings complete the main course. Leaving room for dessert, customers can select an ice cream, pudding, sorbet, and even s’mores (a traditional campfire fare). The menu offers a variety of starters, salads, sakes, beers and plum wines, as well as soft drinks, teas and waters. Prices at Gyu-Kaku range between $25 - $30 per person.