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BEEF BATTLE ROYALE: JAPAN'S ULTIMATE GYUKATSU SHOWDOWN

Ever wondered what happens when premium wagyu beef gets the katsu treatment? Enter gyukatsu – Japan's answer to the eternal question: "How do we make wagyu even more indulgent?" This culinary masterpiece takes thin slices of prime wagyu beef, coats them in crispy panko breadcrumbs, and flash-fries them to create a mind-blowing contrast of textures – crunchy exterior giving way to a medium-rare, buttery center that practically dissolves on your tongue. What makes this delicacy truly special is that many restaurants serve it intentionally rare, providing a sizzling hot stone so you can cook each piece to your exact preference. It's an interactive food experience that's both ridiculously fun and utterly delicious.

Born in Tokyo around 2010, gyukatsu emerged as the bovine rebel cousin of the traditional pork tonkatsu. It quickly captured the hearts (and Instagram feeds) of food lovers nationwide. While you'll find it scattered across Japan's major cities, Tokyo and Kyoto remain the spiritual homes of this beef cutlet phenomenon. I’ve tried Gyukatsu in both cities - let the battle commence.

Contender #1: GYUKATSU KATSUGYU, KYOTO

The internet-famous Katsugyu has become a tourist pilgrimage site, with its signature thick-cut wagyu fillets generating lines that snake around Kyoto's historic streets. After a 70-minute queue (yes, I sacrificed valuable temple-viewing time for this), I finally secured a seat at this buzzing hotspot.

The star of the show – a hefty slab of panko-crusted japanese beef – arrives looking like it belongs on a culinary magazine cover. That first bite? Pure theatre. The crispy exterior shatters with a satisfying crunch, revealing a centre so pink and juicy it borders on the obscene. The meat melts away, leaving behind the memory of intense umami and buttery richness. I will say though, the sizes of the slices were uneven and the beef was already cooked slightly more than I would have liked.

The set comes with an nice array of accompaniments: dashi-infused soy sauce, a salt and pepper blend for dipping, their signature gyukatsu sauce, a bowl of miso soup, a perfectly wobbly onsen egg, shredded cabbage, fresh wasabi, and supposedly a citrus soy sauce (though this mysteriously never materialized during my visit – menu mirage, perhaps?). The miso soup was disappointingly bland – the kind of afterthought that makes you wonder why they bothered. The onsen egg, however, was a revelation – breaking the delicate yolk over a slice of beef created a silky, rich coating that elevated the meat to new heights.

Their signature curry sauce deserves its own paragraph – velvety, complex, and perfectly balanced between sweet and savoury notes. One of the highlights of the meal.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows

But now for the reality check. This Instagram darling has some serious drawbacks. The nickel-and-diming is real – want extra rice? That'll be ¥300. Every condiment feels like a calculated upsell. The single hot stone plate they provide barely stays hot enough to finish cooking your meat, and the sauce selection is disappointingly basic. Most egregiously, there are no cabbage refills (a cardinal sin in the katsu world). And did I mention the queue from hell?

Contender #2: GYUKATSU MOTOMURA, SHINJUKU

Walking into Motomura's Shinjuku location with a mere 15-minute wait felt like finding a secret cheat code. The unassuming façade hides what might be Tokyo's best-kept gyukatsu secret.

Their wagyu slices are slightly thinner than Katsugyu's, but what they lack in thickness, they make up for in sheer flavour and juice. The meat is so tender it practically surrenders at the mere suggestion of your chopsticks. Each bite delivers a perfect symphony of textures – the crackly panko giving way to beef so buttery it feels almost disrespectful to chew.

The real game-changer? Each diner gets their own personal hot stone. Not just any stone – a properly scorching one that sizzles dramatically when you place your meat on it. The DIY experience lets you find your personal beef nirvana, whether you prefer it barely kissed by heat or with a more substantial sear.

The sides situation is where Motomura absolutely destroys the competition. They offer an embarrassment of riches: spicy mentaiko roe, creamy grated yam, fragrant wasabi, velvety potato salad, vegetable pickled salad and not one but three specialised dipping sauces. The cabbage? Unlimited and dressed with a house sauce that I would happily drink straight. Oh, and free rice refills. FREE. RICE. REFILLS. And just when you think the experience couldn't get any better, there’s even a tiny pot of warabimochi for dessert.

The Verdict

Katsugyu Kyoto will set you back ¥2,800 for their basic set – with additional charges for extras pushing it well over ¥3,500 when all is said and done.

Motomura's more generous set meal comes in at ¥2,100, including all those glorious sides, unlimited rice, and that delightful warabimochi dessert.

The winner is clear: Gyukatsu Motomura delivers superior value, a more enjoyable dining experience, and equally impressive beef quality without the tourist-trap vibes. Pro tip: They have multiple locations across Tokyo, including in Shibuya and Ikebukuro.

London cravings?

If you're stuck in London with serious gyukatsu FOMO, your options are limited but not non-existent. While not exclusively focused on gyukatsu, Koxa in Marylebone offers a respectable take on the dish that might temporarily satisfy your cravings. For a more traditional katsu fix (albeit pork), Katsu Sando in Covent Garden delivers serious quality. Otherwise, this might be your sign to book that Japan trip you've been putting off.

Get Ready to Tailor Your Envy: The 2025 Met Gala Was "Superfine"!

The 2025 Met Gala, fashion's most artistic night at NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art, truly dazzled on Monday, May 5, 2025. This year's theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," with a "Tailored for You" dress code, was a powerful celebration of Black dandyism, exploring the history, identity, and artistry woven into tailored clothing.

Helming this stylish spectacle were co-chairs Anna Wintour, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams, with LeBron James as an honorary chair.

Now, let's dive deeper into those unforgettable celebrity ensembles:

Cardi B: Ivy green velvet Burberry suit, custom-created by Daniel Lee. A statement on the "feminine dandy." Lee drew inspiration from Victorian-era fashion, particularly corsetry. The look, with its rich texture and silk devoré shirt, was about the spirit of non-conformity inherent in dandyism. I think it was an undisputed success!

Rihanna: Rihanna celebrated her pregnancy and the theme in a pinstripe Marc Jacobs masterpiece. Her look was a chic reinterpretation of early 20th-century dandy style, featuring a dramatic large hat. A clever and historically resonant touch was the tied sleeves of a men's suit, artfully transformed into a bustle, signifying a blend of masculine tailoring with a distinct feminine silhouette.

Zendaya: Always a fashion visionary, Zendaya was the epitome of sharp elegance in a custom white three-piece zoot suit by Louis Vuitton, designed by Pharrell Williams. Accessorized with a matching wide-brimmed hat, the ensemble was a direct homage to the historical significance of zoot suits, a form of social and political expression.

Nicki Minaj: The queen of rap graced the event in a striking pinstripe suit-dress by Thom Browne. This creation cleverly deconstructed traditional tailoring. Her stylist, Law Roach, noted the look was inspired by the "quaintrelle" – the sophisticated and stylish female counterpart to the dandy.

The 2025 Met Gala truly brought the art of fashion to life, weaving stories of heritage, identity, and incredible style into every thread!