Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store

Beef cutlet (Gyukatsu)  instead of pork cutlet… I wondered who on earth came up with this dish, so I searched online and found that it seems to have originated from a dish called “côtelette,” which was introduced from the Western world during the Meiji era. I was surprised to learn that its history is actually quite long. Since then, beef cutlet has become popular mainly in the Kansai region, so there’s no doubt that Kansai is the heartland of beef cutlet in Japan.

However, it’s only relatively recently that the beef cutlet has gained widespread acceptance in the restaurant industry. Compared to pork cutlet, there are still far fewer restaurants serving it, and opportunities to eat it are limited. But thinking, “I’d like to try something a little different for a change…,” I visited the Pontochō Main Store of “Kyoto Katsugyu”—a pioneer in the beef cutlet industry—one evening. So, how was my experience when I actually went there…?

Perhaps because of its location, there seem to be quite a few foreign tourists… Here’s what the Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store is like…

If you head south down Pontocho-dori from the Sanjo Ohashi Bridge, you’ll find our destination for this visit—Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store—on your right. I arrived at the restaurant around 6:00 p.m., and there were a few foreign customers waiting outside to be seated. I decided to line up behind them, but it seemed a seat was ready inside fairly quickly, so I was able to enter just a few minutes later, right after those foreign customers. Waiting for a long time in Ponto-cho’s narrow alleyways would have been tough on me and a nuisance to passersby, so I was really grateful for this.

The restaurant’s layout is typical of Kyoto—it’s what you might call a “snake-like” design, with a narrow front and a long dining area extending deep into the back. I did a quick visual count and estimated there were 35 seats inside, including 12 at the counter. It might have just been the time of day when I visited, but—perhaps due to the location—I got the impression there were quite a lot of foreign tourists. I think beef cutlet has only become popular in Japan relatively recently, so I was a little surprised to realize, “It’s already this well-known among foreigners…”

I was surprised at how quickly the food arrived… Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store’s signature dish—the Original Premium Sirloin Cutlet Set (Large)—so how did it actually taste?

Now, let me introduce the signature dish I ordered that day at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store: the Original Premium Sirloin Cutlet Set. It comes in two sizes: regular and large. This time, I ordered the large, and the price—which I was curious about—was 2,690 yen plus tax…

To my surprise, just 3–4 minutes after placing my order, the Original Premium Sirloin Cutlet Set (Large) I’d ordered was brought right to my table. No joke—it was as fast as instant ramen. I did think, “Isn’t that a little too fast?” but hey, as long as it tastes good, right…

With that in mind, I took a slice and took a bite… The breading was thin and crispy, and the beef inside was springy and had a satisfying chew. The cross-section was moist, with juices slowly seeping out… but, just as I’d feared, the cutlet wasn’t warm. I didn’t want to think that, but at that moment I wondered, “Could it be pre-made?” (I’m sorry if I’m wrong, but that’s how it felt…). I was sitting at the counter, and I didn’t even hear the sound of the cutlet frying… Well, since it’s served rare, the frying time is probably very short.

So, I’d recommend heating this beef cutlet on the accompanying iron plate before eating it. It’s a bit sad to heat something that’s been fried rare, but… hmm, I have mixed feelings…

By the way, they offer a wide variety of seasonings, including wasabi soy sauce, sansho pepper salt, and curry sauce. The portion size of the beef cutlet doesn’t disappoint, so it’s great that you can fully enjoy trying all the different seasonings. That’s exactly why I wish they’d served it rare, with the heat properly penetrating all the way through… So, to sum it up, I probably won’t be paying out of my own pocket to eat the “Original Premium Beef Loin Cutlet Set” at Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store again.

Other Menu Items at Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store (Prices exclude tax)

• Japanese Black Beef Premium Sirloin Cutlet Set: 4,890 yen
• Domestic Black Japanese Beef Premium Sirloin Cutlet Set: 3,690 yen
• Beef Tenderloin Cutlet Set: 2,690 yen
• Thick-Cut Beef Tongue Cutlet Set: 2,490 yen
• Beef Sirloin Cutlet Set (Regular): 1,890 yen
• Kyoto Katsushige: 1,850 yen
• Specialty Meat Cutlet: 450 yen

Add them as a friend on LINE to get free refills on rice, red miso soup, and cabbage… Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store is a 5-minute walk from the nearest station, Sanjo Station on the Keihan Electric Railway (Sanjo Keihan Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line).

At Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store, if you add them as a friend on LINE, you can get free refills on rice, red miso soup, and cabbage…

It seems you can get these refills not just once, but as many times as you like for free. Isn’t this practically a must for anyone with a LINE account? Unfortunately, I don’t use LINE, so I wasn’t able to take advantage of this perk…

Now, here are the restaurant details…