Gyu San Japanese Restaurant Review
You’ve probably heard of Korean BBQ — table-side grilling, sizzling meats, and delicious create-your-own sauces. But have you heard of Japanese BBQ? Both dining styles may look similar at first, but they’re quite different in flavor and preparation.
Last week, we headed back to one of our favorite restaurants, Gyu San Japanese BBQ, located at 4300 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, Virginia. The restaurant has dim lighting, a welcoming atmosphere, and separate booths to enjoy the cooking experience. They also have a beautiful bar serving up refreshing cocktails.
For BBQ, they have a wide selection of Yakiniku, or grilled meat, seafood, and vegetables. They also have delicious appetizers, rice/noodle dishes, and sushi. Gyu San offers three premium all-you-can-eat deals: Silver for $58, Gold for $78, and Diamond for $98. They all include appetizers, sides, sushi, grilled meat, vegetables, and dessert. This is a great option if you want to try out a bunch of dishes. You can also order a la carte if you already know what your favorites are, like we did. The menu has pictures of everything, which makes ordering a lot easier.
I decided to start with the crystal gyoza appetizer. It’s paired with a tasty sauce that’s sweet and tangy at first, then shifts to a savory umami flavor as you keep chewing. They give you three dipping sauces, including spicy miso, sweet soy, and garlic, which is my favorite. I also ordered a fruity cocktail called the Gyu San Froth.
Then your waiter or waitress oils up the grill, and the meat comes out pretty quickly. We ordered the spicy miso pork belly and harami which is outside skirt beef. We also typically get top blade beef, which is extremely thin and melts in your mouth, depending on how you cook it. Your waiter or waitress will tell you exactly how to cook the different types of meat you order. We also requested a side of white rice, which pairs perfectly with each bite of meat. You want to make sure the meat is flat on the grill so it cooks evenly.
We, of course, had to finish off our dinner with dessert, so we ordered Taiyaki, which is a traditional fish-shaped cake with sweet red bean paste in the middle. It was served with some of the creamiest vanilla ice cream I’ve ever had. This restaurant got me into Japanese BBQ, and I’ve never looked back. If you’re new to the cuisine or already a big fan, you will not be disappointed by what Gyu San has to offer!
📍 Gyu San Japanese BBQ, located at 4300 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, Virginia
