I’ve been seeing Ginza Gyu pop up on my feed quite often recently, and have had certain friends RAVE about their wagyu trays… So when I heard that they were giving away a 10% discount if you were part of the first 50 customers to order through their new website, I jumped at the chance. Honestly, the best way to get me to buy anything is to wave a discount in front of me… LOL Even if I KNOW it’s still expensive post-discount. Just knowing I’ve saved some money (at the expense of spending more) makes me happy. #ConsumerMentality

So, what did I end up ordering?

• Wagyu Gyudon G6 Tray
• Wagyu Skirt Holiday Tray

Don’t worry – I’ll give you the lowdown on both these dishes in a bit. But first, what’s the overall verdict?

Verdict: I recommend their Gyudon tray

Wagyu Gyudon G6 Tray

• What’s included: Grade 6 Kitayama Wagyu. Signature Gyudon sauce. Ajitsuke Tamago. House-made Gari. Steamed Sasanishiki Gohan.
• Good for: ~3-4 pax (They only provide 4 halves of ramen eggs. So if you’re more than 4, you may want to make your own to add.)
• Price:  PHP 1,360

What comes to mind when you think gyudon? For me, it brings to mind memories of rushed lunch and dinners at Yoshinoya when in Japan. Unlike its local counterpart in the Philippines, Yoshinoya gyudon is always excellent – both in terms of beef quality, value for money, and exceptionally fast service. It’s also wonderful just to be surrounded by Japanese locals as they scarf down their meal after a long day at work.

So whenever I think of gyudon, I don’t think of anything fancy, but something fulfilling and heartwarming.

Well, I had my doubts when I first ordered at Ginza Gyu. I found the price point rather steep, not counting the shipping fee. In my mind, I was thinking I should just try it once, put any doubts to rest, then continue looking for a nearer alternative (Ginza Gyu is located in Makati, which is ~15+ km away from where I live).

I am happy to say, my doubts have been put to rest indeed. The Wagyu Gyudon G6 Tray is EXCELLENT. The wagyu beef itself is soft, tender, incredibly flavorful. The gohan a delicate addition to the dish, and the gyudon sauce was just the right amount of sweet without being cloying. Highly recommend.

 

Wagyu Skirt Holiday Tray

• What’s included: Premium Japanese Wagyu Skirt Steak served on top of our special Japanese Steak Rice.
• Good for: ~5-6 pax. I think this is a bit optimistic. I’d say it’s good for ~4-5 pax max.
• Price: PHP 2,280

The Wagyu Skirt Steak beef quality was excellent. It had the perfect amount of fat and it’s tender without losing that crucial beef ‘bite’ that’s distinctive and what you really pay for. Even more importantly, the done-ness of the meat was just right!

Having said that, the reason why I’m not particularly raving about this dish is because the salt wasn’t integrated well with the meat. Certain areas were too salty, and there were instances when I bit down on a rock salt. Overall, it was good but the experience could be better.

 

Overall Verdict? I’d order from them again if/when I’m hit by yet another gyudon craving. The the tray packaging is sturdy and allows for quick dining set up. Plus the ordering and delivery process was pretty seamless. I’d say we can add this as yet another gem that came out of this COVID pandemic.