Gyukatsu Motomura in Osaka

Continuing the Japan diaries!

This photo post will be entirely about our dinner date at Gyukatsu Motomura in Osaka! I’m really torturing myself by doing up this post at this time because everything is making me so hungry. 

Actually they have several branches in Tokyo as well (Precisely in Shinjuku and Shibuya area) , but we found it first in Osaka at Dotonbori. It was 4.30 pm in the afternoon but we already hungry so we went down here, by the time we arrive there's no queueing line at front so we're not sure if this really the place. But after going down the stairs and see their menu we're absolutely sure this the one we're searching.

Look at the raw beef cutlet

Cook the beef until it medium or medium well, you choose!

Basically it's a raw beef cutlet that covered with crunchy and crispy skin. You can cook it yourself based on your desired, We recommend to cook it medium to keep the meat tender and juicy. It served with barley rice, miso soup, pile of cabbage, and potato salad. 

The beef cutlet itself tastes heavenly! Extremely tender and juicy, we usually sizzle it for only 3-4 seconds on each side to keep the meat juicy. This place only served Gyukatsu menu with several grams options - 100 g (¥ 1,200 with yam, ¥1,100 without yam), 130 g (¥1,400 with yam and ¥1,300 without yam), and 260 g (¥2,200 with yam and ¥2,100 without yam).

How to eat Gyukatsu
For the beef cutlet, you can season it based on your liking, wasabi,  soysauce or horseradish sauce or just simple rock salt and then sizzle it for a few seconds on the mini stone grill then enjoy it with rice.

This place rank as my first favorite Gyukatsu Restaurant in Japan. Somehow we'd feel very lucky that we don't have to queue after all at our first and second attempt here (YES! we're coming back to this place again tomorrow)

Gyukatsu Motomura Osaka

Address: 3 Chome-3-1 Nanba, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0076, Japan

Opening time : 11 AM- 11 PM

Read another Japan diary here

It's Cherry Blossom Season - UPDATED 2018 Forecast

When you go to Japan on spring season, Cherry Blossom or known as Sakura is one of the top bucket list to see. The flower which has white and pink petals only bloom for about TWO weeks. Every place has its own Sakura calendar that you must check before going there, to ensure the flower is on its peak. In Tokyo, Sakura usually fully blooms around late March until Mid April.

2018 CHERRY BLOSSOMS FORECAST

In 5 Major Cities of Japan

This the average blooming date for the Cherry Blossoms I got from Japan Guide website, and it's subject to change due to the weather conditions. Please note that

In Kyushu, Shikoku, and Chogoku

In Kansai

In Kanto and Chubu

In Tohoku and Hokkaido

TOKYO CHERRY BLOSSOMS SPOTS

Japan is known for it's 4 season, but the most epic season for me is the SPRING season when the cherry blossoms paint the town white and pink. The temperature during Spring sometimes around 2 to 15 Celsius degrees, so make sure you bring the light jacket and scarf to heat you up. Actually on the full bloom period, you can easily find Cherry Blossom trees everywhere, some even along the street. Several spots serve the best viewing like; Chidori-ga-fuchi Park, Shinjuku Gyoen National Park, Ueno Park, Koishikawa Korakuen, Yoyogi Park, Meguro River.

In Tokyo I went to 2 places famous for it's Cherry Blossoms and spend almost entire day there.

SHINJUKU GYOEN NATIONAL PARK

Shinjuku Gyoen is a city park which has all kind of four seasons trees. So almost all season, you can enjoy beautiful view here, including spring. To reach this place, it is recommended to come from Northern Gate, If using Subway Line, approach from Shinjuku Gyoen mae Station (Marunochi Line). If you do come from Northern Gate, you will not miss it.

Shinjuku Gyoen has all kind of cherry blossom from the white-ish to the pink-ish ones. It is one of popular spot in Tokyo to do Hanami. However, you may still find some clean photo spots because there are many Cherry Blossom trees there.

Take note that as like other park, on Spring, the park should be cleared out started on 5pm

CHIDORI-GA-FUCHI PARK

Chidori Ga Fuchi is located in front of United Kingdom's Embassy in Tokyo. This is also one popular place to see Cherry Blossom. The park is a lot smaller than Shinjuku Gyoen, so there are less people here. But when we went here, some people do smoked here. So if you really cannot stand smokes, we recommend avoid this park.

Near this park, if you head south to National Theater, there are two Cherry Blossom Trees in front of it. The trees here is also beautiful and make it a good photo spot location.