Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto Porta Branch

One evening, as I was walking through Kyoto Porta—which is directly connected to JR Kyoto Station—thinking, “I’m really hungry…,” I noticed that a new Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto Porta Branch had just opened. The restaurant is located between Ippudo Kyoto Porta Branch and Mimiko Kyoto Porta Branch, in the spot where Hokkyokusei Kyoto Porta Branch—a popular omelet rice restaurant—used to be. “Huh? Hokkyokusei is gone…” I thought, feeling a bit disappointed, but such is the nature of business—the rise and fall of businesses is just part of the way things go. Anyway, as for this newly opened restaurant, here’s what it was like…

The third Kyoto location of a beef cutlet specialty restaurant that originated in Tokyo… Here’s a look at Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto Porta Branch…

Let’s start by answering the question: “What kind of restaurant is Gyukatsu Motomura, anyway?” Gyukatsu Motomura is known, alongside Kyoto Katsugyu, as a brand that sparked the beef cutlet boom. Founded in 2015, it is a specialty restaurant chain focused on rare-cut beef cutlets that, as of April 2026, operates 35 locations both domestically and internationally. Since Kyoto Katsugyu was founded one year earlier, in 2014, it feels as though beef cutlet chains were launched in Kyoto and Tokyo at almost the same time, sparking a boom in Japan’s food and beverage industry. In Kyoto, branches are already operating near Sanjo Ohashi Bridge and in the Shin-Kyogoku Shopping District, making this Kyoto Porta Branch the third location in the city.

Now, regarding the Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto Porta Branch: upon entering and glancing around, I saw that the seating consisted of seven counter seats and 30 table seats, for a total of 37 seats. The space doesn’t feel particularly cramped, but bringing in large luggage, such as a suitcase, might be a bit of a squeeze. I visited about 10 days after the store opened, and the staff didn’t seem at all awkward—they were working quite efficiently. The service is polite, and I think you’ll have a comfortable experience from the moment you walk in until you leave, no matter when you visit.

A Comparison of Kyoto-Style Beef Cutlet with “Kyoto Katsugyu”… How Did the Beef Cutlet Set Meal (1 slice of beef cutlet) with 3 Side Dishes, Ordered at Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto Porta Branch, Actually Turn Out?

Now, the food menu at Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto Porta Branch basically consists of just one type of set meal: the Gyukatsu Set Meal. As customization options, you can choose between one piece of gyukatsu (2,110 yen, tax included), 1.5 pieces (2,810 yen), or two pieces (3,290 yen), but this time I ordered the standard option with one piece of gyukatsu (130g).

They took my order while I was waiting in line, so the beef cutlet set meal was brought to my table just 2–3 minutes after I was seated. Even though the beef cutlet weighs 130g, it actually looks quite large when placed in front of me. After all, 130g of beef is usually more than the weight of a beef cutlet you’d eat in Kobe…

Here’s what the cross-section of this beef cutlet looks like. The restaurant describes it as “medium-rare,” but to me, it feels closer to “rare.” I’d say it’s about 1 cm thick… You can eat this beef cutlet just as it is…

Or you can cook it a bit more on the hot plate before eating. Being able to customize it to your own taste is a major appeal of this beef cutlet—something you don’t find with Kobe-style beef cutlets…

At Gyukatsu Motomura, they provide three types of condiments: a special mountain wasabi sauce, soy sauce, and rock salt, so even with just one slice of beef cutlet, you can truly enjoy a wide variety of flavors.

Well then, let’s dive right in… The batter on this beef cutlet is extremely thin, and the breadcrumbs are incredibly fine. Without exaggeration, it feels like “a single thin layer of skin.” And the fat oozing out from the beef inside is incredible… After taking one bite, I thought, “Did they secretly upgrade the meat quality as a grand opening special?” They served it fresh out of the fryer—it looked rare on the outside but was cooked all the way through to the center. The beef’s umami was stronger than I expected, and I savored every bite, relishing this unexpected delight. I was such an idiot this time that I forgot to try the rock salt, but while the mountain wasabi sauce was surprisingly mild, the combination of soy sauce and wasabi was a divine flavor pairing.

What’s more, at Gyukatsu Motomura, you can get one free refill of barley rice. For my second bowl, I opted for grated yam rice and enjoyed it alongside the beef cutlet. The service was truly top-notch, and while this is strictly based on my personal experience, I couldn’t help but think that, as of now, Kyoto Katsugyu Pontocho Main Store is completely outclassed… I left the restaurant hoping that the quality of this meat will continue to be maintained, but as someone who supports Kyoto, I really hope Kyoto Katsugyu will step up its game even more…

If I had to nitpick, I’d love to see some other food options on the menu… Access to Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto Porta Branch is a 3-minute walk from the nearest station, JR Kyoto Station.

If I had to find a flaw with Gyukatsu Motomura Kyoto Porta Branch, it would be that, as of now, there are no menu items other than gyukatsu. That said, the official Gyukatsu Motomura website lists several other menu items, so it might just be a matter of time before the menu expands. That aside, I’m honestly overjoyed to have a new option for beef cutlet in the JR Kyoto Station area… To be honest, I can’t see myself doing anything but returning here—including to their other branches in Kyoto—in the near future.

Now, here are the restaurant details…