Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ – Burlington

At Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ in Burlington, dinner is something guests cook themselves. The restaurant specializes in yakiniku, Japanese-style barbecue, where premium meats arrive raw at the table and diners grill them to order over a flaming smokeless grill. Japanese sake and shochu share the drink list with frosty beers, and the whole experience is meant to bring friends and family together around the grill for laughter and conversation.

Gyu-Kaku started in Tokyo in 1996 and has since expanded into an international chain with hundreds of restaurants. Beef is the main focus, especially marinated cuts like short rib and skirt steak, but the menu also offers pork, chicken, seafood and vegetables for grilling, along with rice and noodle sides. Because portions come in small, shareable plates, larger parties can sample widely and keep the grill busy.

What to Know

• The Burlington restaurant is listed as a special event venue, suited to group celebrations.
• The chain’s name translates from Japanese as bull’s horn.
• S’mores grilled at the table appear on the chain’s dessert menu.