Every Gyukatsu Motomura outlet opens at 11am; however, you’d be surprised to see queues forming as early as 10am (and lasting for as long as two to three hours!). This is the newest food craze to hit Tokyo, a D.I.Y. Gyukatsu (breaded wagyu beef cutlet) establishment.

There’s only one thing on the menu here, with the gyukatsu coming in different sizes. Choose the 100g portion (JPY1,200; ~SGD12.20), 130g portion (JPY1,400; ~SGD14.30), or the large 260g portion (JPY2,200; ~SGD22.40). And if you’re taking into the account the fact that you’ll be dining on wagyu beef, the meals here are offered at really quite a steal! Each set comes with barley rice, miso soup, cabbage, potato salad, pickles, and two small pieces of mochi.

The beef is served rare, and is ready to eat. However, each diner is provided with a personal stone plate, where you can grill the beef to your preferred doneness.

Each slice of beef was substantially sliced, and boasted a good marbling. It tasted rich and decadent, with a welcome crunch from the breadcrumbs. I did find the richness to be a little too much after a while, but I can see how this is the holy grail for self-professed carnivores.

Eat your beef in different ways: as it is, with soy sauce, with soy sauce and wasabi, with horseradish and onion sauce, or with rock salt. Wash it all down with a glass of beer, or the complimentary free-flow tea.

The outlet itself has a no-frills design, with a rather cramped interior. Each outlet only has a limited number of seats, which might explain the queues too.There are many Gyukatsu Motomura outlets in Tokyo; check their official website for the one nearest you.

Was the meal delicious? Pretty much. Would I queue for it? Not really, perhaps just for a maximum of 15 minutes. But if you’re a meat lover, I’d say go for it!