Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Introduce
For California residents who love a delicious meal that's also an engaging experience, **Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ** in San Diego offers a unique and highly enjoyable dining adventure. This isn't your typical sit-down restaurant; it's a "yakiniku" establishment where you become the chef, grilling premium cuts of meat, seafood, and vegetables right at your table. It's a fantastic way to enjoy expertly prepared ingredients, perfectly cooked to your liking, all while sharing laughter and conversation with your dining companions.
Gyu-Kaku has built a strong reputation across the nation, and their San Diego location upholds that standard. Patrons consistently praise the "great food and great service," highlighting the quality of every item, especially their delicately prepared meats. From succulent Toro beef to their best-selling Harami skirt steak, the variety and flavor profiles are designed to impress even the most discerning palates. The concept of Japanese BBQ, where thinly sliced, often unseasoned meats are grilled and then dipped in savory sauces, offers a fresh and interactive take on dining that's particularly appealing in California's vibrant food scene.
For those of us in San Diego, having a Gyu-Kaku nearby means access to a truly unique and memorable culinary outing. It's a place where the food quality is top-notch, the experience is engaging, and the atmosphere is always buzzing, especially during peak hours. Whether you're a seasoned Japanese BBQ enthusiast or new to the concept, Gyu-Kaku provides an opportunity to explore a delicious and interactive side of Japanese cuisine right here in our backyard.
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Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ is conveniently located at **9844 Hibert St #1, San Diego, CA 92131, USA**. This address places it within a lively strip mall in the Scripps Ranch neighborhood of San Diego. Hibert Street is well-connected within this area, making the restaurant easily accessible from various parts of San Diego, including Mira Mesa, Poway, and Carmel Valley.
The fact that it's located in a strip mall is a significant advantage for accessibility in California. Strip malls typically offer **ample parking**, which is a crucial convenience for diners. This means you can often find a spot without hassle, whether you're visiting for a midday lunch or a bustling evening meal. Its position within a hub of "lots of food options" also makes it a well-known and easy-to-find destination within the local dining landscape.
Being in Scripps Ranch, Gyu-Kaku is nestled in a pleasant and family-friendly community. The straightforward address and the likelihood of readily available parking contribute to a smooth and enjoyable experience even before you step inside. This accessibility makes it a practical choice for both spontaneous outings and planned gatherings, catering to the needs of busy Californians.
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- Japanese Yakiniku (Grilled BBQ): The core offering where diners grill premium meats, seafood, and vegetables right at their table over a smokeless grill, allowing for a personalized cooking experience.
- All-You-Can-Eat (AYCE) Options: Gyu-Kaku offers various AYCE courses, including "Premium" and "Ultimate" options, with a large selection of items to choose from (e.g., 45-52 items), allowing guests to try a wide variety of meats, appetizers, and sides.
- A La Carte Menu: For those who prefer to order specific items, a comprehensive a la carte menu is available featuring premium beef cuts (like Prime Kalbi Short Rib, Harami Skirt Steak, Toro Beef, Filet Mignon), poultry (Chicken Basil, Teriyaki Chicken, Duck Breast), pork (Pork Belly, Spicy Pork), seafood, vegetables, and small plates.
- Lunch and Dinner Service: Gyu-Kaku serves both lunch and dinner, accommodating different schedules and dining preferences. They can get busy, especially during peak hours and weekends.
- Happy Hour: A popular feature with specific timings (e.g., Daily: 11:30 AM–6:30 PM & 8:30 PM–10:00 PM; all day Monday), offering discounted prices on various items including select BBQ meats, appetizers, and drinks.
- Beverage Menu: Offers a selection of Japanese sake, shochu, frosty cold beers, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic options to complement the meal.
- Dessert: S'mores are a popular dessert, often included in AYCE courses, allowing guests to roast marshmallows at their table.
- Takeout and Delivery: Customers can order directly from the restaurant for pickup or delivery through platforms like Uber Eats, allowing for enjoyment of some Gyu-Kaku favorites at home.
- Private Party Facilities: The San Diego location can accommodate special events, from family celebrations to corporate outings.
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- Interactive Dining Experience: The main highlight is the "you are the chef" concept, where diners grill their own food at table-top smokeless grills, fostering a social and engaging meal.
- Premium Quality Meats: Praised for "delicately prepared" and "delicious" food, with specific call-outs for high-quality items like "Toro beef," "Prime Kalbi Short Rib," and "Harami Skirt Steak."
- Variety of All-You-Can-Eat Options: The extensive selection within the AYCE courses (e.g., Ultimate option with 52 items) provides incredible variety and value for hungry diners.
- Lively and Busy Atmosphere: The restaurant is known to get "busy during lunch and dinner time and especially on weekends," indicating a popular and vibrant dining environment.
- Excellent Happy Hour Deals: Gyu-Kaku offers generous happy hour promotions on a wide range of menu items, making it a highly attractive option for value-conscious customers.
- Wide Menu Selection: Beyond BBQ items, they offer a diverse array of small plates, rice bowls (like Umakara Beef Rice Bowl, Beef Sukiyaki Fried Rice Bowl), noodles, salads, and soups.
- Consistent Taste and Preparation: Food items are consistently described as "delicious," with a focus on expertly marinated meats.
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Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ in San Diego is well-known for its excellent **Happy Hour** offerings, which provide substantial value to California diners. Their Happy Hour is quite extensive and runs at various times throughout the week:
- Monday: Happy Hour is available **all day long**.
- Tuesday–Thursday: Available during two windows: **11:30 AM–6:30 PM & 8:30 PM–10:00 PM**.
- Friday & Saturday: Available during two windows: **11:00 AM–6:30 PM & 8:30 PM–10:30 PM**.
- Sunday: Available during two windows: **11:00 AM–6:30 PM & 8:30 PM–10:00 PM**.
During Happy Hour, customers can expect discounted prices on a variety of popular items, including:
- Select BBQ Meats: Such as Premium Sirloin, Bistro Hanger Steak, Kalbi Chuck Rib, New York Steak, Filet Mignon, Angus Beef Rib, Toro Beef, Yaki-Shabu Beef, Chicken Basil, Chicken Teriyaki, Garlic Shoyu Chicken Thigh, Duck Breast, Pork Belly, Spicy Pork, and Japanese Pork Sausages.
- Appetizers: Including Gyu-Sushi, Spicy Tuna Volcano, Cheese Wontons, Fried Bacon Chips, Edamame, Spicy Addicting Cucumber, and more.
- Rice & Noodles: Deals on items like Beef Sukiyaki Bibimbap and Garlic Fried Rice.
- Drinks: Discounts on a selection of beers, sake, and cocktails (e.g., Lychee Martini, Tokyo Peach, draft beers).
In addition to Happy Hour, Gyu-Kaku is famous for its **All-You-Can-Eat (AYCE) courses**: "Premium" and "Ultimate." These courses offer a fixed price for an extensive selection of items over a 90-minute time limit, providing excellent value for those with hearty appetites. For instance, the Premium AYCE might cost around $35-$40 per person, while the Ultimate AYCE could be around $45-$50 per person, with slightly higher prices on weekends. They also offer "BBQ Courses" like the "Happy Hour Course" and "Party Course" for two or more people, designed as prix-fixe menus to offer a comprehensive sampling of their best items at a bundled price. It's always best to check their website or call directly for the most current pricing and specific offerings for these courses, as they can vary.
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Address: 9844 Hibert St #1, San Diego, CA 92131, USA
Phone: (858) 693-3790
Mobile Phone: +1 858-693-3790
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For California residents, particularly those in San Diego, **Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ** offers a highly suitable and compelling dining experience that stands out from typical restaurant offerings. Its interactive "yakiniku" style, where you grill premium meats right at your table, aligns perfectly with the adventurous and social spirit often found in our local dining culture. This hands-on approach makes it not just a meal, but a fun activity perfect for friends, family, or colleagues.
The restaurant’s commitment to **great food quality** is a significant draw. Californians appreciate fresh ingredients and expertly prepared dishes, and Gyu-Kaku consistently delivers with its "delicately prepared" meats like the highly recommended Toro beef and various cuts available on their comprehensive menu. The availability of diverse **all-you-can-eat options** further enhances its suitability for locals, offering excellent value for those looking to indulge and sample a wide variety of delicious items without limits.
Despite occasional notes on service speed, the overall positive feedback regarding the **friendly staff** and the "great vibe" indicates a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere that makes patrons eager to return. Its location in a strip mall with **ample parking** in Scripps Ranch adds a layer of convenience crucial for San Diego diners. Furthermore, the extensive and well-timed **Happy Hour specials** provide an accessible entry point to experience their premium offerings at a more budget-friendly price, making it a versatile option for any occasion.
In essence, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ is more than just a place to eat; it's a social hub where you can enjoy high-quality Japanese cuisine in a dynamic and engaging way. For San Diegans seeking delicious food, a unique experience, and a lively atmosphere, Gyu-Kaku provides an excellent choice that consistently delivers on its promise of a memorable Japanese BBQ adventure.
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Photos










Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Location
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
9844 Hibert St #1, San Diego, CA 92131, USA
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Reviews
Great food and great service.Located in a strip mall with lots of food options and they are one of the best.Food here is great. We tried the Ultimate option and every single food item was delicious.It is Japanese BBQ so the food are all delicately prepared.Loved the Toro beef.Highly recommended. Come early and come hungry. It gets busy during lunch and dinner time and especially on weekends.
Feb 14, 2025 · Taniyyus SyedI recently visited Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ with my colleagues for lunch, opting for the all-you-can-eat premium option with 45 items to choose from. The food was enjoyable, and the variety was impressive. However, I encountered some issues with the service.Unfortunately, the service was quite slow, with our meat orders often taking 10-15 minutes to arrive after we placed them. As an Asian myself, I was disappointed to see that the Asian staff weren’t busy at all but didn’t pay much attention to our table, despite it being the only one in that area. We found ourselves waving them over frequently just to place our orders.Towards the end of our meal, one staff member (who appeared to be Mexican) made a significant difference. He was attentive, served the meats quickly, and checked in with us several times to see if we needed to order more.Overall, while the food was good, the slow service was disappointing. I think I might explore other BBQ options in Convoy Street next time!!!
Mar 08, 2025 · Rotphannee RoseAbsolutely amazing. I have been coming to this restaurant consistently for over 10 years now. This is my favorite japanese bbq place. I love the spicy jalapeno miso marinade they have for their meats and is it unparalleled. The cuts of meat are fairly decent quality. The toro beef is by far my favorite cut of beef. The appetizers and side dishes are also quite plentiful for non bbq lovers as well. The food can be fairly oily but thats about par for the course at a bbq place.The parking can be fairly hit or miss at times but usually it's fine. The wait times however can be quite bad. They no longer take reservations online and only through phone if you have a large party. For a normal small group you have to walk in and expect to wait at least 20-30minutes depending on what time you come.
Mar 30, 2025 · Krystal DangWas in the mood for some good japanese bbq and decided to stop into Gyu-Kaku since we were in the neighborhood after my daughters martial arts. Parking in the center while free, is a bit difficult especially with popular shops like Trader Joes and Chucky Cheese.Totally forgot it was San Diego Resturant week. Wait wasn't too long at noon. It was about 30 minutes. Sat down and realized it was resturant week. Ordered the lunch special for all three of us. Received three miso soups, rice, salad plus our choice of three appatizers (gyozu, chicken karage, and spicy cucumber salad). After just the salad and appitizers we were starting go get full. All of them was delicious. Although the spicy cucumber salad was not that spicy. Then our three orders of hanger steak, one chicken teriyaki, one spicy pork, and one garlic chicken thigh came. Veggies including brocolli, zuchinni, and shisito peppers also arrived. After grilling everything and sharing one bowl of rice between the three of us, we called it done. Packing up the majority of the meat (beef, chicken, and pork), some veggies, plus the two bowls of rice, we received our desert. My husband grabbed the smores, and my daughter and myself had the green tea ice cream. All was wonderful. Green tea ice cream was flavorful and my husband loved the smore my daughter put together for him after burning the mashmellow in the fire.That night with the leftovers I made fried rice with all the leftovers. Great value for two meals for threr people for $75.00 + tip.Thank yoy Gyu-Kaku. We will be back.
Feb 02, 2025 · Jen LCame here for lunch during restaurant week. The lunch deal includes salad/soup/rice, choice appetizer, one of three set meats (beef w/ chicken or pork), choice vegetable, and choice dessert. We were able to get seated promptly, but could tell our table was a bit dirty. Food came out at randon times, with appetizers coming last. Quality wise, the food is delicious and worth the deal.Not sure what is going on, but I can never make a reservations on either website or app and assume it's been turned off. So best to go early if it gets busy later.
Sep 28, 2024 · Janice Y
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