Gyu-kaku Japanese Bbq - Oakland

The food was decent, but it felt overpriced for what we received. I was hoping to enjoy this restaurant since it is conveniently located nearby, but I probably won't be returning unless they improve their operations. There were some issues, such as unevenly cut meats, missing dishes from our combo, sticky sauce bottles (especially concerning during covid), and other small annoyances like flickering lights and dirty plates. Despite these issues, the food still tasted okay, as it's hard to make grilled meat taste bad. However, given the price, I expected better service and quality. Our server was attentive and overall good, though many of the problems seemed beyond his control.

My husband and I are big fans of Gyu Kaku, and it was our first time dining at the Oakland location. We had a reservation and were promptly seated. The portion sizes were a bit smaller compared to other branches we have visited in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Honolulu. However, the taste was still good. The toro beef appeared less fresh than what we are used to, with a brown color that the waiter explained was due to oxidation. Despite this, it did not look very appetizing. The grill was not replaced throughout our meal, even though it was burnt. They likely would have replaced it if we had asked, but in other Gyu Kaku restaurants we have visited, the staff always replaced it without us needing to request. Overall, we were not overly impressed with the customer service experience, but we will likely return because we enjoy the food.

Gyu Kaku has always been a regular choice for me when it comes to dining out. I began frequenting the San Mateo location a few years ago and visited so often that the staff knew me by name and my usual order. Recently, I discovered that the Oakland location had opened, so I had to give it a try. First impressions were great - the restaurant was impeccably clean. Our server, Xen, was friendly and accommodating as my girlfriend and I decided on appetizers and dishes from the a la carte menu. The food was just as delicious as it always is at the San Mateo location. I highly recommend trying the Chicken Karage and Yaki Shabu. Gyu Kaku is always a reliable choice for me, especially if you enjoy Korean BBQ.

Came here for lunch and had a great time. Our server Marcus regularly came by to check up on us. The food came quickly and the meat is definitely high quality compared to Korea. BBQ. Great place to get a quality meal in downtown Oakland!

It was my first experience at a Japanese BBQ spot and it was fun. The menu is large and the value is amazing because it's all you can eat in a 90 minute time-frame. I went with my best friend and we had a great time. Our server was so sweet and gave us recommendations on the different meats options and how they differ.