Gyu-Kaku, the yakiniku chain operated by REINS International Co., Ltd. of the Colowide Group, is bringing the feel of a Japanese summer festival to its restaurants from Wednesday, July 15 through Monday, August 31, 2026. The limited-time "Gyu-Kaku no Natsu Matsuri" (Gyu-Kaku's Summer Festival) fair blends the yatai (food stall) experience with yakiniku under the theme of making summer memories for kids and adults alike. Ahead of the launch, a media-only tasting event introducing the fair was held at the Gyu-Kaku Akasaka location on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
Behind the Menu
Wataru Otani, Menu Planning, Gyu-Kaku Menu Development Department, REINS International Co., Ltd.
Summer festivals held across Japan each year are a beloved part of the season, passed down across generations. For anyone who experienced a summer festival as a child, the lively rows of food stalls, the savory aromas drifting through the air, and the excitement of choosing a treat with pocket money in hand are memories that stay with them into adulthood.
At the same time, in recent years, population decline, labor shortages, and rising prices have made it harder for some regions to hold summer festivals at their usual scale, or at all. REINS International sees the places, experiences, and human connections built around food as just as much a part of food culture as the food itself. Wanting to carry the joy of summer festivals into the future, the company built this fair around the concept of "Gyu-Kaku becoming a summer festival venue."
The menu was built around two key ideas: the fun of preparing food yourself and the thrill of eating your way through a row of food stalls. The dishes are designed so guests take part in finishing each item themselves, capturing the excitement of a festival where people grab whatever catches their eye and dig in. Portions are also kept small and prices low so guests can enjoy several dishes as if hopping between stalls, and the fair menu is available on the all-you-can-eat course as well, making it easy to enjoy a casual, stall-hopping mood.
Media Tasting Event
At the tasting event, staff first explained the fair's concept, a yatai-style food experience unique to a yakiniku restaurant, along with the background behind its development. Guests then sampled eight yatai-style dishes from the fair, including the "Gyu-Karubi Koppe," "Shichirin de Yaki-Morokoshi," and "Yatai no Ikayaki," grilling meat, rolls, corn, and squid over a shichirin and finishing each dish themselves.
Many participants said the savory aroma rising from the shichirin felt just like a real festival food stall, and that the whole experience was enjoyable from start to finish. On individual dishes, comments included that grilling the roll for the "Gyu-Karubi Koppe" brought out a nice toasted flavor and that the size was just right, that the "Yatai no Ikayaki" was softer than expected and tasted just like a festival stall, and that the "Zakuzaku Candy Ice - Sakuma Drops" looked as pretty as jewels and had a fun, fizzy ramune flavor. Some guests also mixed grilled horumon (offal) into the "Chokotto Negi Shio Yakisoba" to create their own "horumon shio yakisoba."
Because the tasting event welcomed families with children, the venue was full of cheerful scenes: kids happily digging into the self-assembled "Gyu-Karubi Koppe" and "Frozen Bite-Size Choco Banana," rolling "Aburutte! Takoyaki" around on the shichirin to grill it, and smiling at the look and texture of the "Zakuzaku Candy Ice - Sakuma Drops." Adults, meanwhile, paired grilled horumon with draft beer, with each family enjoying "Gyu-Kaku no Natsu Matsuri" in its own way.
Participants also noted that the menu offers plenty of dishes kids can enjoy, calling it ideal for building summer memories as a family, making for a tasting event where guests could experience the energy of a festival while still at a yakiniku restaurant.
"Gyu-Kaku no Natsu Matsuri" Menu
Gyu-Karubi Koppe - ¥380 (¥418 tax included)
A one-handed yakiniku dish that captures the feel of a festival. Grilled beef karubi and shredded lettuce are tucked into a toasted koppe roll, finished with mayonnaise to taste. Toasting the roll on the grill brings out a savory aroma and light crispness. Part of the fun is dressing it up just the way you like, including going a little overboard with the mayonnaise, and adults can add the complimentary gochujang for a sweet-and-spicy twist.
Zakuzaku Candy Ice - Sakuma Drops - ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
A nostalgic summer dessert topped generously with crushed Sakuma Drops candy over ramune sherbet. The colorful candy pieces sparkle like jewels, and the crunchy texture and bright look add to the festival mood. The refreshing ramune flavor also pairs well after yakiniku, making it a fitting way to close out the meal.
Aburutte! Takoyaki - ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
A festival-stall staple, served in an easy-to-finish set of three. Lightly grilling the takoyaki on the shichirin gives it a crisp outside and gooey center, for the fresh-off-the-grill taste and festival feel of a food stall.
Shichirin de Yaki-Morokoshi (Grilled Corn) - ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
Modeled on the grilled corn found at festival stalls. Grilling it over the shichirin brings out the savory char of the soy sauce glaze and the flavor of freshly grilled corn. The kernels are loosened from the cob, making it easy to share with family or friends.
Chokotto Negi Shio Yakisoba - ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
A Gyu-Kaku original salt-flavored yakisoba made with the restaurant's secret salt sauce, served in a small portion that's easy to enjoy alongside yakiniku. Adding pork karubi on top turns it into a heartier salt yakisoba unique to a yakiniku restaurant.
Yatai no Ikayaki (Festival-Style Grilled Squid) - ¥500 (¥550 tax included)
A festival-stall classic, brushed with soy sauce and grilled to finish over the shichirin. Each pass of the grill sends up a savory soy sauce aroma, for a taste that feels just like a festival food stall.
Frozen Bite-Size Choco Banana - ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
A festival favorite, chocolate-covered banana, served in an easy-to-eat, bite-sized format. Guests can top it themselves with chocolate and colorful sprinkles, making for a fun, build-your-own treat.
Horumon MIX (Aoto MIX / White MIX / Black MIX) - ¥580 (¥638 tax included)
Asahi Super Dry Kin-Kin Tumbler - regularly ¥650 (¥715 tax included), special price ¥580 (¥638 tax included)
Three horumon (offal) varieties are available: "Black MIX," fragrant with a special soy-based sauce and roasted black shichimi; "White MIX," made appetizing with salt sauce and garlic; and "Aoto MIX," featuring the aroma of sesame oil and the refreshing heat of green chili peppers. The rich flavor of the horumon pairs perfectly with an ice-cold beer, and during the fair, the "Asahi Super Dry Kin-Kin Tumbler" is offered at a special price for a fitting summer combination.
"Gyu-Kaku no Natsu Matsuri" Overview
Sales period: Wednesday, July 15 to Monday, August 31, 2026
Participating locations: Gyu-Kaku and Gyu-Kaku all-you-can-eat specialty restaurants nationwide (not available at Gyu-Kaku Yakiniku Shokudo locations)
Menu:
- Gyu-Karubi Koppe: ¥380 (¥418 tax included)
- Aburutte! Takoyaki: ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
- Shichirin de Yaki-Morokoshi: ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
- Frozen Bite-Size Choco Banana: ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
- Chokotto Negi Shio Yakisoba: ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
- Yatai no Ikayaki: ¥500 (¥550 tax included)
- Zakuzaku Candy Ice - Sakuma Drops: ¥290 (¥319 tax included)
- Horumon MIX (Aoto MIX / White MIX / Black MIX): ¥580 (¥638 tax included)
- Asahi Super Dry Kin-Kin Tumbler: regularly ¥650 (¥715 tax included) → special price ¥580 (¥638 tax included)
*Also available on the all-you-can-eat "Yakiniku Tanno Course," "Gyu-Kaku Course," "Gyutan Course," and "Kuroge Wagyu Course."
*Course names for the all-you-can-eat menu may vary by location.
