Gyu-kaku Japanese Bbq - Canoga Park

We have been dining here for special occasions for years. The food is outstanding, and the service is consistently great. While there may be a wait at times, it is definitely worth it.

However, I do feel that the prices for weekday lunch combos and happy hour items can be a bit steep. On a weekend, we spent around $65 for two, plus tip, and everything is a la carte, so it adds up quickly. One of the main problems at this branch was the overall experience, especially since we visited on a busy Saturday afternoon. The area around the hostess stand was cramped and chaotic. The hostess didn’t greet guests properly and disappeared for a while without any explanation. Consequently, there was a crowd of people waiting and looking around, confused about what was happening. Thankfully, they have a texting system, allowing us to visit the Sanrio store in the mall while we waited, which was a relief. Once we were seated, the waitress took our order promptly, but the process felt rushed, which made us hesitant to ask for anything additional—similar to that awkward feeling you get in a drive-thru when you don’t want to bother a busy worker. It felt congested, with staff maneuvering around each other and guests in tight spaces; I even saw one waiter juggling five drinks and spilling some while trying to get through. Our waitress was managing at least five tables, one of which had six people. We requested forks but never received them, and we eventually gave up on asking for refills. They definitely need more staff, but it also seems they lack the space for additional employees. After finishing our meal, it took about 20 minutes for our check to arrive. I really wished they had one of those tablet-like devices for paying at the table, especially since my daughter was quite restless. I noticed other parents struggling to manage their kids in the confined space as well. I wouldn't recommend this place for someone with less than an hour for lunch or for families with restless children, particularly on weekends. There’s no kids’ menu or activities like coloring sheets to keep them entertained. Plus, stroller space is limited. Given that it’s located in a mall with many families, I think there’s a missed opportunity here. As others have mentioned, the decor is in need of updating, and the bathrooms could use some attention. Honestly, I believe an interior designer could help improve the restaurant's layout and function. Some parts felt overly cramped while others appeared underutilized. Perhaps relocating the bar area to the back instead of the front would provide more space for dining and waiting. In summary, while the food is satisfying, the general maintenance, service, and layout of the restaurant leave room for improvement. If you're looking to save money, I recommend visiting during the weekdays when prices are more reasonable than on weekends.

Mostly my rating is low because of service. Our first server was very unhappy. We needed to change a grill and he was passing us like we did not exist. We had to wait maybe for 10 min until we stopped him and asked for new grill. He did not asked even once if we needed a refill for our soft drinks. At the end new server took over, he was great. The first thing he asked was if we needed refills. But he served us only for the last 10 min of our dinner. We wish he would be our server from the beginning. Also, be aware if you order 2 of the same thing, ask for separate plates otherwise you would get 1.5 of what you ordered.

I always come here with family and my god is it one of my favorite spots. Rice, 4 plates of food, all for 24$ and i still had some leftovers.

Wandered in no reservations. No biggie wait was only 20 mins and we killed time in target. Tonight we went for appetizers, rice, and noodles. It was nice not sweating and cooking. Don't get me wrong that's fun from time to time. Not the vibe we were going for tonight. Manuel did a great job keeping our beverages full and the table clean. Always quality dishes. Obsessed with the spicy cabbage!