SPOTTED: Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu, Ganso Gyukatsu Are Opening In Manila

(SPOT.ph) You might have seen it all over your FYP at some point: lightly breaded beef cutlets, grilled over a stone grill, with a perfectly pink center— ah yes, that's gyukatsu for you. Many a tourist has sought out gyukatsu joints when visiting Japan, and well, if its internet popularity is the measure, then it must be good. Starting this May, Filipino diners need not travel all the way to the Land of the Rising Sun to taste this beefy eat. 

Heads up, food fiends. Manila is getting two gyukatsu joints this year: Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu and Ganso Gyukatsu are opening at the SM Mall of Asia.

Also read: The SPOT.ph Guide to Japanese Food

Here's what we know about Manila's first taste of gyukatsu:

On separate social media posts, SM Mall of Asia announced the opening of two gyukatsu joints in their mall over the past week, much to excitement of our Japanese-food loving hearts.

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu is going to open on the second floor of SM Mall of Asia's Main Mall this July.

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu is the pioneer gyukatsu specialty shop in Japan. Established in 2014 in the Ponto-chō district in Kyoto—a historical district in the area which is notoriously competitive for restaurants. 

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu has three rules for melts-in-your-mouth gyukatsu. First is using only premium beef that would bring out the best taste. The second, is using extra refined panko to lock in the moisture and flavor. Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu uses panko that is 10 times thinner than regular panko. Lastly, all gyukatsu must be cooked to a perfect medium rare and this is done by frying in high temperatures for a short duration. Following these three pillars ensures maximum umami and juiciness for every serving.

Today, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu has branches in different countries outside Japan, including Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

Ganso Gyukatsu

If the uncertainty of Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu's opening has your craving gyukatsu stat? Well, you don't have to wait for too long, as Ganso Gyukatsu is opening this May. Located on the first floor of MOA Square, this new gyukatsu joint is an offshoot of the crowd-favorite Ganso Shabuway, which is a Japanese-style hot pot restaurant.

In the Mall of Asia, Ganso Gyukatsu is located right beside its sister restaurant, Ganso Shabuway. Diners looking for a taste of Japan's gyukatsu and a hearty bowl of shabu-shabu should hit up MOA Square in the coming weeks and get a load of this new concept.

What is Gyukatsu?

Although its relative the tonkatsu has long been in the Philippines, gyukatsu has only started gaining internet virality over the past year. Both Japanese dishes are lightly breaded cuts of meat, whereas the tonkatsu is often made from minced pork or pork cutlets, gyukatsu is made from beef cutlets. Another key difference between the two is their cook. As the tonkatsu is pork, it must be cooked all the way through the middle, but gyukatsu, on the other hand, is often left rare in the center, offering a crisp exterior and juicy, beefy, rare to medium rare middle. 

For more information, visit SM Mall of Asia-Official's Facebook page. 

Also read:
10 Standout New Japanese Spots for A+ Sushi, Drool-Worthy Donburi + More
10 Splurge-Worthy Japanese Spots for Omakase + Kaiseki in Manila

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