Kyoto Katsugyu is the home of Japan’s iconic gyukatsu (beef cutlet)

Home to the iconic delicacy known as gyukatsu, Kyoto Katsugyu is a beef cutlet franchise that features crispy breaded and fried wagyu beef!

Gyukatsu is a delicacy of Japanese cuisine that originated in the traditional capital Kyoto. At the forefront of this local delicacy is the no.1 gyukatsu chain Kyoto Katsugyu.

Since its first instance back in the Meiji Era, gyukatsu has its origins tied with Western cuisine when the concept of “cutlets” i.e. slices of meat that are breaded and fried was introduced to Japan.

Nowadays, Kyoto Katsugyu branches can be found not just in Kyoto but all over Japan!

Awesome Gyukatsu Sets!

Of course, Kyoto Katsugyu wouldn’t be the restaurant giant that it is if all it did was fry pieces of breaded beef. Rather, it’s a franchise that emphasizes customer experience by providing a classy environment, ambient atmosphere, and delightful lunch and dinner sets!

While you can order gyukatsu dishes on their own, it’s highly recommended to go for one of the many set pieces to enjoy these amazing beef cutlets to their fullest potential.

Comprising soup, rice, salad, and most importantly, a huge variety of dipping sauces, you absolutely won’t regret ordering yourself the full-course lunch or dinner set!

Delicious Gyukatsu & Unagi Katsu!

As a lover of medium rare steaks, the beef cutlets at Kyoto Katsugyu are everything I’ve dreamed of and more!

Thick, juicy pieces of succulent wagyu beef are coated in a crisp orange layer of fried breadcrumbs known as “panko” while leaving the center of the beef nice and red to keep that chewy rare texture.

In addition to gyukatsu, Kyoto Katsugyu also offers unagi katsu which is essentially grilled eel that is also breaded and fried in a panko coating.

Cook It Your Way!

Kyoto Katsugyu provides its customers with a mini stove that they can use for heating up their gyukatsu and cooking it further as they please.

As a lover of medium-rare, I didn’t want to tamper with the stove too much and mostly used it for heating up my cutlets, though it was fun to try a couple of well-done pieces too.

The outer layer of panko makes it easy to heat the gyukatsu without compromising the rareness of the meat simply by keeping contact with the stove limited to just the breaded coating (no direct contact with the meat).

Amazing Dipping Sauces!

The unexpected MVP of my Kyoto Katsugyu experience was the abundance and variety of dipping sauces which were both unique and incredibly high quality.

My favorite of all was this whipped egg dipping sauce which encompassed savory flavors combining creamy egg yolk with teriyaki marinate for an explosive flavor hit.

Other condiments included curry sauce (another favorite of mine), soy sauce, and a variety of salt and pepper seasonings.

With branches all across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, there’s a Kyoto Katsugyu restaurant for you wherever you may be in the land of the rising sun!


Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!

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