Gyubee Japanese Grill (Dundas) – 157 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5E 1B4
Country: Japan    
Seating: Indoor seating only. 
Dinner guests: Dancing Queen, Fitness Freak & Pornstar Sam  
Must-try dish: Red meat 
The high: Each diner gets their own tongs to participate in barbecuing, for this all-you-can-eat BBQ experience
The low: The reservation process is a little confusing but you get a table in the end. We recommend calling in advance and putting your name on the waiting list.

At a Japanese barbecue restaurant, each table is built with a grill in the middle so that diners can cook their own raw meat, fish, and vegetables. The staff regularly replace the grills for fresh ones and every table can control how hot the fire gets. Going with a large appetite is key because it’s all-you-can-eat over two hours, and the staff are quick to bring any raw ingredients to the table. 

Gyubee Japanese Grill has two outposts in the city (with a couple more on the outskirts) – one is on Dundas Street West and one on Bloor Street West. All of which are busy with lineups outside the door on any given night. There’s a possibility to make a reservation for a table of six or more, or there’s an option to add yourself to a virtual waitlist, which is highly recommended. They are pretty consistent with timing so long waits in anticipation of grilling are unlikely. 

As far as the ordering goes, it’s a “make your own adventure” scenario where you order the cuts and types of meat that you like, alongside whichever fish and seafood you enjoy, and any preferred vegetable options. Mixing it up for variation is the recommended tactic with a heavy focus on the red meat options. But the beauty of Japanese barbecue is that it’s up to you! 

On our adventure, we did a first round of beef, lamb, chicken, salmon, squid, shrimp, clams, zucchini, and mushrooms. The second round was a little more conservative with a selection of cuts of beef, lamb, and corn. With the momentum slowing down and the clock ticking for the two-hour  window closing in, the final round was simply beef. No regrets there – the entire gang agreed that the red meat, specifically the beef was the favourite. It’s easy to manage on the grill, and it was by far the tastiest. 

The unique element of Japanese barbecue is that unlike its Korean counterpart, fish and seafood are available. There are also Japanese flavours involved rather than Korean, despite a couple dishes on the menu hailing from Korea like Kimchi and Bibimbap. These are both strongly recommended as starters before the grilling kicks off. 

It’s appreciated that Gyubee Japanese Grill sets the table up in a manner that each person has a side plate, a spoon, chopsticks, and tongs. The individual tongs are a game-changer since everyone at the table can be involved rather than assigning one grill-master. It’s a lot more efficient, but it also allows each person to enjoy the interactive experience as much or as little as they wish. 

The drink list is also fun if it’s that kind of night. The majority of the cocktails are available in small pitchers with exotic flavours such as lychee and yuzu, with additional 1oz shot for only $2. But if a sweet treat is your thing without the alcohol, then hold off for the last chapter because a small creme brûlée and popsicle are included on your way out of the restaurant. 

This won’t be the last time that Japanese barbecue will be on our roster. 

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)