Last month, we spotted signs for Vancouver’s first gyukatsu specialty restaurant.
Well, now it has officially opened its doors!
Kuro Katsu made its grand debut on October 3, bringing Japan’s famous beef cutlet experience to downtown Vancouver.

It takes over the previous Kyochon Chicken unit beside Big Way Hot Pot.
We stopped by anonymously during its soft opening phase to check it out.
At the heart of the menu is the Gyu Katsu — a premium Japanese dish featuring moderately sliced, high-quality beef coated in panko breadcrumbs and lightly fried to a perfect golden brown.
The inside is intentionally left rare, so diners can finish it to their liking on a small tabletop grill plate.
The key difference between gyukatsu and tonkatsu comes down to the meat.
Gyukatsu uses beef, while tonkatsu uses pork.
The set comes with rice, miso soup, shredded cabbage, dipping sauces, and small sides, creating a complete and balanced meal.
Each piece of gyukatsu can be cooked from rare to well-done, depending on preference.
A small table card walks you through the steps for the best result, though the choice of doneness is up to you.
It would have been nice to have some more guidance as it did take us 3 trial and error attempts to get it right.
While the grill doesn’t create the loud sizzle one might expect, the quiet heat still seals in the meat’s tenderness.
Beyond gyukatsu, Kuro Katsu’s menu features a full range of katsu options.
Diners can enjoy pork tenderloin and loin katsu made with premium cuts, crispy chicken karaage, and a signature Kuro Special Set that combines multiple cuts of katsu with shrimp tempura on one plate.
The restaurant’s sleek black and gold branding contrasts softly against light wood accents and hanging bulbs.
It maintains much of the previous Kyochon Chicken layout with only minor design changes.
According to staff, the same owner behind Kyochon runs Kuro Katsu, which explains the quick and smooth transformation.
Kuro Katsu now joins other recently opened Vancouver food spots like Yunqueen Rice Noodle, Tatchan Noodle in Strathcona, and Sud Cafe.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 1471 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C1