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Came here on a Friday evening for dinner. They were not busy when I arrived. But it seems you can make reservations here; I am guessing by calling them since there isn't anything on their website when I looked before coming here. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated, but functionally they can add more power to their A/C in the dining area, as it was kind of hot when I was there. It also doesn't help if people are ordering the Gyu-Katsu, as every person will have a small cooktop on the table. I ordered the Gyu-Katsu (New York Strip). The cut of meat was not as tender as I am used to when I had it in Japan. Also, they add a lot of butter to the cooktop, and I believe it is salted butter too, so it made the cut of meat much saltier than it needed to be. So I recommend taking a napkin and removing as much as possible. I do like that they changed the side item for this dish to cooked veggies instead of just shredded cabbage. The curry that comes with it is pretty close to what I had in Japan, which was nice. Overall, not too bad, just some minor setbacks to the dish. Also had the wagyu dumpling, and there wasn't much positive or negative; it was good but nothing to call out on the dish.
I was so excited to try this restaurant because I've never been to Japan before, and this seemed like such a unique dining experience to finally make its way to Houston. I made a reservation online, and I highly recommend doing the same. Parking was plentiful, and the service was good. My only suggestion would be to pre-buss tables more frequently. We were seated at a small table for two and ended up ordering quite a bit of food, so the table became crowded with empty plates and dishes throughout the meal. Overall, everything we ordered was delicious. I would recommend every dish except for the Truffle Fries. 1. Truffle Fries: These reminded me of McDonald's fries, but without the salt. Very plain, and the dipping sauce was the only thing that saved them. 2. Chili Oil Wagyu Dumplings: So good! They didn't taste like frozen dumplings at all. The chili oil had the perfect amount of flavor, and the dumplings were a generous size. 3. Chicken Wrap: My boyfriend's favorite. Super crispy and packed with flavor. 4. NY Strip Fried Beef Cutlet: Such a fun experience being able to cook the beef to your preferred doneness. The curry paired perfectly with it, and the meat was incredibly tender and flavorful. 5. Smoked Short Rib Spicy Miso Ramen: The broth was incredibly creamy and flavorful. I just wish there were a few more toppings, but other than that, it was excellent. 6. Golden Mango Matcha: I was genuinely surprised by how delicious this was. It was so creamy and definitely a 10/10 recommendation. Overall, the food here was absolutely delicious, and I can't wait to come back.
Tried out Ryori Lab and I was pretty impressed with it. When they first opened, they had multiple bad reviews due to their service and wait times but there were no such issues when I went. I got the Japanese fried chicken to start and it was perfectly crispy and juicy. That yum yum sauce is what takes it up a notch though. The table comes with this red sauce that adds a bit of zest, and we enjoyed mixing these two. I also tried the Japanese style fried beef cutlet. They have 3 options, I chose the New York strip. You cook it to your liking on the hot stone. They have a curry sauce, ponzu, wasabi, and tonkatsu sauce available. I found them all ok, the hack is to dip the beef in the yum yum sauce from the karaage. The sesame sauce salad was actually pretty good though. Every entree comes with saureed vegetables but these were cool by the time we ate them. I got the A5 wagyu truffle mushroom iron pot rice for my entree and I liked this one a lot more. The sauce you pour into the pot is so good. The beef is so tender and the truffle flavor is strong. Since it's an iron pot, there's crispy rice on the edges as well. I think if you come here, you can skip on the gyukatsu. I really want to try the miso cod iron pot rice if I ever come back, that one looks insane
Ryori Lab offers a unique dining experience in Houston, the first if its kind here despite the city's expansive food scene. It is located in a shopping complex on Westheimer, with ample parking shared with other businesses. When I came on a Saturday for lunch, there was lots of parking available. I made a reservation ahead of time, but the restaurant was not very full and we are seated immediately anyway. As our small plates, we ordered the truffle fries (crispy fries served with housemate truffle sauce) and Japanese fried chicken (marinated chicken, lightly battered and fried until golden, served with yum yum sauce). For our gyu-katsu's, we ordered the 8 ounce New York strip and 4 ounce A5 wagyu. Each gyu-katsu tray is served with the fried cutlet, shredded cabbage, curry sauce, tonkatsu sauce, wasabi, ponzu, seasonal sides, rice. As you cook your cutlet yourself, you get to fully customize how well-done versus rare you may experience your steak. As they use some ethanol-based crystals, your server will likely need to refill your stone plate's fuel frequently, maybe every 5 minutes. Despite the dedicated experience, everything was fairly reasonably priced. Entering the restaurant and just looking at its interior, menu layout, and the food itself, you would think that we would pay $100 per person, but it was less than 100 for both of us. Extremely worthwhile experience I would recommend to anyone in the Houston food scene or visiting!
I orders the Smoked Short Rib Spicy Miso Ramen and it was extraordinary ! I really enjoyed the creamy cheese texture and the bowl came out to me fresh! I also tried their mango matcha which was also well above average! This place is a hidden gem.
Checked them out for lunch in my old hood. I barely recognize Westchase these days, it's changed so much! The restaurant was decently busy the whole time we were there. The host stand caused some confusion - I noticed everyone coming in (including us) tended to walk to the right, opposite the stand on the left. Then stand aimlessly waiting for someone to notice. Service was good and food came out fast. There was one mis-delivery which was taken off the bill. There are 2 unisex restrooms; parking is in a large shared lot. Faves: Wagyu gyu katsu curry Unagi bowl Crispy tofu with truffled mushrooms
My boyfriend and I walked in for Saturday lunch without a reservation. The restaurant was lively and busy, but luckily, we were seated immediately. We each ordered the New York strip gyukatsu set, and it was absolutely delicious. I loved how tender the meat was and how well it paired with the curry. The side salad and vegetables that came with the set were also so tasty and well seasoned. We also ordered the wagyu soup dumplings, but they were just okay. The service was great, and the staff was attentive. At one point during our meal, the fire under our stone grill started to weaken, and one of the staff members quickly noticed and replaced it right away. Overall, we had a satisfying meal and will definitely be back!
The vibe here is nice it's like a upscale modern place where it is cozy. It's not too small but not too big. The matcha taste good but is a little sandy/grainy taste so I'm not sure if the matcha is as fine or high quality but it was still a good matcha latte I will say it is a little more milk ratio then what I would prefer. Now to the food I really like the short rib fried rice the only thing I will say is that it needs a little bit more salt to really bring out the flavor from the brisket and rice better. The Gyu-Katsu was good we got the New York steak option where it was a good amount of steak served on a bed of rice with curry, veggie, and rice on the side. The curry by itself would taste lack of flavor but when dipped with the beef it was amazing. I also mixed some curry with the short rib rice and it was an excellent addition if they sell the curry by itself I would suggest getting one to mix with the short rib rice as a combo The waiter and waitress here gave excellent service also Ambiance 4/5 Service 5/5 Food 4/5 Overall 4/5
My kids brought me here. We were trying out this new place. I cant say I like it other than the a5 wagyu beef was tender, but everything we ordered lacked soooo much flavor. I like the concept and even the layout and inside of the restaurant is attractive, but the food just wasnt there for me. The chicken was dry and the dumplings did not impress me. Our server was OK. I think the pricing here is not too expensive for appetizers like truffle fries, but 31$ for just a few wagyu pieces is a bit too much. This reminds me of the prices at Japanese sando places. Flavor just wasnt there. When I ate here, all I thought the entire time was the bread from luke and the outdoors youtube channel and the honey butter. How savory would that be rather than what I had today. Lol!
I really liked the experience here!! There's no place in Houston that has a gyukatsu experience like this. The New York strip gyukatsu was tasty and well-priced for what it was and what it comes with. I particularly enjoyed eating it with the curry they provided. My boyfriend's came more gray colored than mine out of the kitchen (overcooked? or bad meat?), which he did not enjoy, but the few slices that were actually rare as intended tasted good. The unagi don I was a bit disappointed in. It tasted like frozen eel and was slimy at the bottom to the point where I couldn't cut it with my spoon into different sections to eat it because the imy skin kept sticking together. Such a shame because the non-slimy parts paired with the dashi broth tasted so good. My boyfriend also enjoyed the sunrise matcha drink. Service was very nice and respectful of our large party size. I hope the quality control improves, as I really like this concept and the potential is there for sure.
Officially been open for 2 months! They have had their soft openings, but not an official grand opening yet. Made resy ahead of time and was able to be seated right away. The servers were attentive and gave great suggestions! Started off with the recommended non-alcoholic drinks which were the Strawberry Sparkling and it was light/refreshing with good fruity sweetness. For apps, we got the Shrimp Kakiage (nice/crispy fritter with shrimp and veggies), Fried Chicken (crispy/juicy as well) and the Crispy Tofu with Truffled Mushrooms (really enjoyed this app and loved the flavors it had, MUST GET app). For the main, we got the New York Strip Fried Beef Cutlet. Included was some mixed steamed/sauteed veggies (mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, onions), Rice (great cookie on the sushi rice), salad and curry sauce (loved this flavor and went great with the cutlet). The Ponzu sauce + Salt combo dipping was really tasty! I even had to ask for more! I think the NY strip was the way to go because it still held its tenderness/fattiness and melted in your mouth, while still being meaty. We were also celebrating a birthday and they complimentary matcha icecream with honeycomb! Excellent sweet treat to end the meal. Parking - free within the plaza next to JAM Vietnamese Restaurant The ambiance was really modern and had some Japan influences. Its not 100% like Japan, but its pretty darn close and in the city to get your Gyu Katsu Fix! I would come back to try their Ramen and Bentos next time! Also, nice touch at the end of the meal they send you home with some barely tea to enjoy at home!
went to try what gyukatsu was and honestly expected something a little different. i tried the ny strip gyukatsu, the meat itself was yummy but i was expecting more katsu breading as it felt like i was just eating steak. the curry that came with it was not authentic and was too acidic. the sauces that came with it were good but i would've wanted some tonkatsu sauce as well. i enjoyed the karaage and the beef udon. the matcha latte wasn't good as it didn't taste like matcha at all. the atmosphere is upscale and all the decorations were really nice.
Awesome. HIGHKY RECOMMEND!!! We tried one of everything . The steak was awesome. The staff and service were great and explained everything.
2 months ago
For those who have been to Japan and tried their famous gyukatsu, I think this is a great alternative. I will say the quality can't compare to Japan, but it's still very enjoyable. The price point is fair for the quantity and variety of food that comes with the gyukatsu set. The options were either an 8-ounce New York strip or a 4-ounce A5 Wagyu. I went with the New York strip because I felt like the price point was more reasonable. The staff were super nice and attentive and made sure to check on me often. The ambiance inside made me feel like I was eating in a food laboratory, which was pretty cool. I would definitely come back, and maybe next time I'll also try one of their matcha sets. read more
10 days ago
I got the signature dish with wagu. It was pretty pricey for ramen. The creaminess was there, the vegetables were good, the soy egg was good, but it's a very small portion size. This restaurant is pork free and uses no pork in any of there dishes . They call the chicken flavored ramen an infusion. Food 3 out of 5 stars. Service 5 out of 5 stars. Will try the spicy miso here next time. read more
Came here on a Friday evening for dinner. They were not busy when I arrived. But it seems you can make reservations here; I am guessing by calling them since there isn't anything on their website when I looked before coming here. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated, but functionally they can add more power to their A/C in the dining area, as it was kind of hot when I was there. It also doesn't help if people are ordering the Gyu-Katsu, as every person will have a small cooktop on the table. I ordered the Gyu-Katsu (New York Strip). The cut of meat was not as tender as I am used to when I had it in Japan. Also, they add a lot of butter to the cooktop, and I believe it is salted butter too, so it made the cut of meat much saltier than it needed to be. So I recommend taking a napkin and removing as much as possible. I do like that they changed the side item for this dish to cooked veggies instead of just shredded cabbage. The curry that comes with it is pretty close to what I had in Japan, which was nice. Overall, not too bad, just some minor setbacks to the dish. Also had the wagyu dumpling, and there wasn't much positive or negative; it was good but nothing to call out on the dish. read more
2 months ago
I was so excited to try this restaurant because I've never been to Japan before, and this seemed like such a unique dining experience to finally make its way to Houston. I made a reservation online, and I highly recommend doing the same. Parking was plentiful, and the service was good. My only suggestion would be to pre-buss tables more frequently. We were seated at a small table for two and ended up ordering quite a bit of food, so the table became crowded with empty plates and dishes throughout the meal. Overall, everything we ordered was delicious. I would recommend every dish except for the Truffle Fries. 1. Truffle Fries: These reminded me of McDonald's fries, but without the salt. Very plain, and the dipping sauce was the only thing that saved them. 2. Chili Oil Wagyu Dumplings: So good! They didn't taste like frozen dumplings at all. The chili oil had the perfect amount of flavor, and the dumplings were a generous size. 3. Chicken Wrap: My boyfriend's favorite. Super crispy and packed with flavor. 4. NY Strip Fried Beef Cutlet: Such a fun experience being able to cook the beef to your preferred doneness. The curry paired perfectly with it, and the meat was incredibly tender and flavorful. 5. Smoked Short Rib Spicy Miso Ramen: The broth was incredibly creamy and flavorful. I just wish there were a few more toppings, but other than that, it was excellent. 6. Golden Mango Matcha: I was genuinely surprised by how delicious this was. It was so creamy and definitely a 10/10 recommendation. Overall, the food here was absolutely delicious, and I can't wait to come back. read more
10 days ago
Tried out Ryori Lab and I was pretty impressed with it. When they first opened, they had multiple bad reviews due to their service and wait times but there were no such issues when I went. I got the Japanese fried chicken to start and it was perfectly crispy and juicy. That yum yum sauce is what takes it up a notch though. The table comes with this red sauce that adds a bit of zest, and we enjoyed mixing these two. I also tried the Japanese style fried beef cutlet. They have 3 options, I chose the New York strip. You cook it to your liking on the hot stone. They have a curry sauce, ponzu, wasabi, and tonkatsu sauce available. I found them all ok, the hack is to dip the beef in the yum yum sauce from the karaage. The sesame sauce salad was actually pretty good though. Every entree comes with saureed vegetables but these were cool by the time we ate them. I got the A5 wagyu truffle mushroom iron pot rice for my entree and I liked this one a lot more. The sauce you pour into the pot is so good. The beef is so tender and the truffle flavor is strong. Since it's an iron pot, there's crispy rice on the edges as well. I think if you come here, you can skip on the gyukatsu. I really want to try the miso cod iron pot rice if I ever come back, that one looks insane read more
2 months ago
Ryori Lab offers a unique dining experience in Houston, the first if its kind here despite the city's expansive food scene. It is located in a shopping complex on Westheimer, with ample parking shared with other businesses. When I came on a Saturday for lunch, there was lots of parking available. I made a reservation ahead of time, but the restaurant was not very full and we are seated immediately anyway. As our small plates, we ordered the truffle fries (crispy fries served with housemate truffle sauce) and Japanese fried chicken (marinated chicken, lightly battered and fried until golden, served with yum yum sauce). For our gyu-katsu's, we ordered the 8 ounce New York strip and 4 ounce A5 wagyu. Each gyu-katsu tray is served with the fried cutlet, shredded cabbage, curry sauce, tonkatsu sauce, wasabi, ponzu, seasonal sides, rice. As you cook your cutlet yourself, you get to fully customize how well-done versus rare you may experience your steak. As they use some ethanol-based crystals, your server will likely need to refill your stone plate's fuel frequently, maybe every 5 minutes. Despite the dedicated experience, everything was fairly reasonably priced. Entering the restaurant and just looking at its interior, menu layout, and the food itself, you would think that we would pay $100 per person, but it was less than 100 for both of us. Extremely worthwhile experience I would recommend to anyone in the Houston food scene or visiting! read more
I orders the Smoked Short Rib Spicy Miso Ramen and it was extraordinary ! I really enjoyed the creamy cheese texture and the bowl came out to me fresh! I also tried their mango matcha which was also well above average! This place is a hidden gem. read more
3 months ago
Checked them out for lunch in my old hood. I barely recognize Westchase these days, it's changed so much! The restaurant was decently busy the whole time we were there. The host stand caused some confusion - I noticed everyone coming in (including us) tended to walk to the right, opposite the stand on the left. Then stand aimlessly waiting for someone to notice. Service was good and food came out fast. There was one mis-delivery which was taken off the bill. There are 2 unisex restrooms; parking is in a large shared lot. Faves: Wagyu gyu katsu curry Unagi bowl Crispy tofu with truffled mushrooms read more
My boyfriend and I walked in for Saturday lunch without a reservation. The restaurant was lively and busy, but luckily, we were seated immediately. We each ordered the New York strip gyukatsu set, and it was absolutely delicious. I loved how tender the meat was and how well it paired with the curry. The side salad and vegetables that came with the set were also so tasty and well seasoned. We also ordered the wagyu soup dumplings, but they were just okay. The service was great, and the staff was attentive. At one point during our meal, the fire under our stone grill started to weaken, and one of the staff members quickly noticed and replaced it right away. Overall, we had a satisfying meal and will definitely be back! read more
The vibe here is nice it's like a upscale modern place where it is cozy. It's not too small but not too big. The matcha taste good but is a little sandy/grainy taste so I'm not sure if the matcha is as fine or high quality but it was still a good matcha latte I will say it is a little more milk ratio then what I would prefer. Now to the food I really like the short rib fried rice the only thing I will say is that it needs a little bit more salt to really bring out the flavor from the brisket and rice better. The Gyu-Katsu was good we got the New York steak option where it was a good amount of steak served on a bed of rice with curry, veggie, and rice on the side. The curry by itself would taste lack of flavor but when dipped with the beef it was amazing. I also mixed some curry with the short rib rice and it was an excellent addition if they sell the curry by itself I would suggest getting one to mix with the short rib rice as a combo The waiter and waitress here gave excellent service also Ambiance 4/5 Service 5/5 Food 4/5 Overall 4/5 read more
My kids brought me here. We were trying out this new place. I cant say I like it other than the a5 wagyu beef was tender, but everything we ordered lacked soooo much flavor. I like the concept and even the layout and inside of the restaurant is attractive, but the food just wasnt there for me. The chicken was dry and the dumplings did not impress me. Our server was OK. I think the pricing here is not too expensive for appetizers like truffle fries, but 31$ for just a few wagyu pieces is a bit too much. This reminds me of the prices at Japanese sando places. Flavor just wasnt there. When I ate here, all I thought the entire time was the bread from luke and the outdoors youtube channel and the honey butter. How savory would that be rather than what I had today. Lol! read more
4 months ago
I really liked the experience here!! There's no place in Houston that has a gyukatsu experience like this. The New York strip gyukatsu was tasty and well-priced for what it was and what it comes with. I particularly enjoyed eating it with the curry they provided. My boyfriend's came more gray colored than mine out of the kitchen (overcooked? or bad meat?), which he did not enjoy, but the few slices that were actually rare as intended tasted good. The unagi don I was a bit disappointed in. It tasted like frozen eel and was slimy at the bottom to the point where I couldn't cut it with my spoon into different sections to eat it because the imy skin kept sticking together. Such a shame because the non-slimy parts paired with the dashi broth tasted so good. My boyfriend also enjoyed the sunrise matcha drink. Service was very nice and respectful of our large party size. I hope the quality control improves, as I really like this concept and the potential is there for sure. read more
Officially been open for 2 months! They have had their soft openings, but not an official grand opening yet. Made resy ahead of time and was able to be seated right away. The servers were attentive and gave great suggestions! Started off with the recommended non-alcoholic drinks which were the Strawberry Sparkling and it was light/refreshing with good fruity sweetness. For apps, we got the Shrimp Kakiage (nice/crispy fritter with shrimp and veggies), Fried Chicken (crispy/juicy as well) and the Crispy Tofu with Truffled Mushrooms (really enjoyed this app and loved the flavors it had, MUST GET app). For the main, we got the New York Strip Fried Beef Cutlet. Included was some mixed steamed/sauteed veggies (mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, onions), Rice (great cookie on the sushi rice), salad and curry sauce (loved this flavor and went great with the cutlet). The Ponzu sauce + Salt combo dipping was really tasty! I even had to ask for more! I think the NY strip was the way to go because it still held its tenderness/fattiness and melted in your mouth, while still being meaty. We were also celebrating a birthday and they complimentary matcha icecream with honeycomb! Excellent sweet treat to end the meal. Parking - free within the plaza next to JAM Vietnamese Restaurant The ambiance was really modern and had some Japan influences. Its not 100% like Japan, but its pretty darn close and in the city to get your Gyu Katsu Fix! I would come back to try their Ramen and Bentos next time! Also, nice touch at the end of the meal they send you home with some barely tea to enjoy at home! read more
went to try what gyukatsu was and honestly expected something a little different. i tried the ny strip gyukatsu, the meat itself was yummy but i was expecting more katsu breading as it felt like i was just eating steak. the curry that came with it was not authentic and was too acidic. the sauces that came with it were good but i would've wanted some tonkatsu sauce as well. i enjoyed the karaage and the beef udon. the matcha latte wasn't good as it didn't taste like matcha at all. the atmosphere is upscale and all the decorations were really nice. read more
4 months ago
This place is a "kitchen lab," that have unique creations. It does look like a kitchen lab with the decorations. The service was good. The waitress explained our dishes once they were delivered. The New York Strip Gyu-katsu was yummy & tender. It pairs great with the salt & yuzu sauce. The rice was a little dry, but a little better if you added the curry. I didn't like the zucchini side dish that much. The salad was good. The signature Tori Paiten was good as well. The broth was flavorful & creamy. The wagyu & chicken were soft & tender. Overall, the food was good, but a little expensive. It's good to try it once. read more
4 months ago
I didn't have high expectations due to some other reviews I've read but this place surprised me. When I first walked in I noticed the place had decor that matched its name and so it makes you feel like you're in a "kitchen lab." The place is definitely unique and the items on the menu were based off of a variety of Japanese food. I tried the Wagyu soup dumpling, which the waitress did notify me that it does take awhile to make. I did end up getting them last. I ordered the signature Tori paitan which was creamy and flavorful. It had peppery flavored chicken, beef, and wonton. It also included a half soft boiled egg. This is now probably my top favorite ramens in Houston. I would highly recommend you try this especially if you like creamy ramens. The other item I ordered was the NY strip katsu and they bring it out with a small bowl of rice and curry. The curry was flavorful and it was a nice little dipping sauce for the meat. The meat also has its own sauces in a tray too if that wasn't enough. The meat itself is ready to eat but if you want it cooked a bit more they give you tabletop burner. The service was excellent as well. The waitress explained everything well and if I had any questions she was knowledgeable over the menu. She also let me know about the hidden drawer spot on the table where it had napkins. read more
The food here is surprisingly pretty good, especially for a new place that opened not long ago. I especially like the gyukatsu and matcha latte. The signature ramen is pretty good too. We also got egg fried rice which was a bit bland so I recommend getting the other dishes. We had to wait 50 mins, but it wasn't bad because we had to run errands nearby. You can go grocery shopping while waiting. The place is decorated pretty well, but one down side is that the restaurant is quite warm compared to other restaurants we've been to. It would be nice if the place is cooler. read more
Great food & very reasonable price! We loveee their small dishes especially the brussel sprouts! We tried both 8oz New York Strip ($22) and 4oz Wagyu ($33) Gyukatsu options. The wagyu was undeniably tasty and buttery, but the NY Strip surprised us with its tenderness too. We ended up enjoying the NY Strip more as the wagyu became too fatty for us at the end of the meal even though it was only 4oz. I wish they would have some side soup such as miso soup or house soup to subside the greasiness of the gyukatsu though. This place will still be our new favorite place from now on! read more
4 months ago
Ryori Lab is a Japanese restaurant on Westheimer and is especially known for their gyukatsu, or stone-grilled, flash-fried beef. I had gyukatsu a few times during my visit to Japan and absolutely love it, especially the Motomura Gyukatsu chain, and was looking for something similar. There has not been a gyukatsu place in Houston, and I think this is the first in Texas! I got the wagyu gyukatsu set while my friend got the New York strip one. They both came with the same sides consisting of rice, curry, miso soup, and salad. I kind of wished there were more sides, like grated yam or sweet smashed potatoes like the other places I had, but it was still very filling. Both of the meat were good quality. The New York one was pretty tender, but the wagyu melted in your mouth! The For the wagyu, they put butter on the stone grill, but since the meat was fattier, the oil splashed a lot. I think they should put butter only for the New York strip and not the wagyu for this reason. In previous times where I had gyukatsu, they did not put butter on the grill itself, and there was no splashing of oil. The server was abrupt and got frustrated when we asked for more flame for the grill, as the flame had ran out mid-meal. Because it was busy, I can understandably see that she was stressed, but she was quite rude and made the experience awkward, dampening the mood. We went during their soft opening, so there was a bit of a wait. You can put your name down, and come back when you are called. We just walked to the local cafe, La Plume, in the the same plaza and ate dessert in reverse before our dinner. There is also a Teso and Trader Joe's nearby to kill time. The interior is nice and gives Japanese-Scandinavian vibes. Although there were some hiccups and a long wait, I will think I will definitely be back when the hype dies down and less of a wait! read more
4 months ago
We were very excited to try this place for the gyukatsu. It was easy to get a reservation for 9 pm on Friday and the restaurant wasn't full. The yuzu sparkling drink was good and refreshing! We ordered takoyaki and crispy tofu for apps. One of the takoyaki balls was actually cold inside and the rest were just warm, not piping hot like we usually expect. We told one of the waiters who said they would let the chef know. The cripsy tofu on the other hand was delicious, super crispy and flavorful with the mushrooms, would get this again! For the entree, we were reminiscing of gyukatsu from Japan so we had high expectations. We tried the NY strip and it was not bad but still not like the ones in Japan. The breading itself was a little salty and didn't like how there was butter on the cooking stone already. The diping sauces were good especially the yuzu one and it was definitely a filling meal but I wouldn't go out of my way to come for it. My friend got the A5 wagyu truffle mushroom iron pot rice and that was absolutely delicious! It was super flavorful, umami and a dish I would come back to order myself! All in all, there were definitely some hits but also some misses. I would come back and perhaps try some other stuff off the menu but probably wouldn't get the gyukatsu again unless I was craving it. read more
Tried this place on a weekday lunch and it was pretty good. The restaurant was nicely decorated and they had the cutest serving ware. I had the crispy truffle tofu, wagyu dumplings, and unagi set. Wasn't a fan of the wagyu dumplings but loved the other two dishes. The eel was good quality. Would def come back to try some other dishes. read more
I went for lunch after seeing this place online and I loved the vibes. The interior is really well decorated and looks very modern yet simple. The service was quick and friendly. They were very patient when going through the menu and giving my table recommendations which I appreciated. We settled on the new york strip gyu katsu, the crispy tofu with truffled mushrooms, the Japanese stuffed jalapeno peppers, the brussels sprouts, the waygu soup dumplings, and the uji matcha ice cream with warabi mochi. The new york strip gyu katsu was SO good. They give you a hot plate to cook it to your liking and the butter on the hot skittle really enhanced the flavor of the beef. It was very tender and also came with a curry sauce to dip in. I also enjoyed the braised vegetables it came with and the fresh side salad. I would definitely come back for this! (9/10) The crispy tofu with truffle mushrooms was okay. The breading on the tofu was crispy and the mushrooms were well cooked but the tofu itself had no flavor. It made the dish as a whole taste bland. (4/10) The Japanese stuffed jalapeno peppers were better. I think the pepper was nicely grilled and I liked the sauce it came with. I think the sauce was a bit over powering though but it had good flavor. (6/10) The brussels sprouts were good as well. The sauce it came with was tasty and the portion was generous. I just wish the brussels sprouts were crispier. (6.5/10) The waygu soup dumplings were just okay as well. They tasted like any other xiao long bao. I wish they had more soup in them as well. Overall pretty standard. (6/10) The uji matcha ice cream with mochi was yummy! The matcha ice cream had a great matcha taste and the mochi dusted in matcha powder added a nice texture. It was not too sweet which I liked. (7/10) Overall, I did enjoy my experience there as a whole. The food did take a bit to come out, but the service made up for it. The staff gave us a welcome in pink lemonade and potato salad which was nice. Also, as a to go gift they gave out barely tea packets which was such a cute touch. I would be open to coming back and trying more dishes. read more
I went for lunch after they had to close for a few days to tidy up their staff. They said they expanded their cooks from like 3 folks to 7 From my experience, really enjoyed the service, the time was no wait to be seated, and food came out in less than 10 minutes. The gyu-katsu was very tasty. Maybe a little gimmicky with the hot stone to cook the meat longer, I felt it was perfectly cooked as-is, and just cooked it for a little longer just to get that extra butter flavor For drinks, they have a nice matcha menu. Ended up ordering the mango one. Very good Ambiance had a very classy vibe to it. They were playing classical music throughout and you can tell they wanted to have a very nice modern chic vibe inside read more
came to ryori lab on a friday and we got seated right away (no rsvp) - i'd recommend to rsvp tho service was pretty fast very clean + neat environment (reminds me of japan) we ordered their signature: - the NY strip gyukatsu: that comes w rice, curry, salads, veggies and 3 way sauces (you can eat right away or cook it for a little more, which i prefer) - Tori paitan ramen: v creamy soup, comes with chicken, wontons and boiled egg cute little restaurant, maybe perfect for first date, date nights :) read more
2 months ago
Overall, the gyukatsu was decent. Definitely not as good as the gyukatsu in Japan, and the beef could've been more tender. Probably better than most places in Houston/TX though. read more
I had the chance to check out Ryori Lab during their soft opening, and the space itself is absolutely stunning. The design feels very intentional and cozy, making it a great spot for a relaxed meal. We were welcomed with a complimentary lemon drink and egg salad, which was a thoughtful start. We ordered the takoyaki and tori paitan ramen first--both were solid. The takoyaki stood out with a slight wasabi note in the octopus, which added a unique twist. The ramen was rich and creamy, exactly what you'd expect from a good tori paitan. The mapo tofu, however, was a bit more experimental. The soy milk is poured tableside into a donabe and allowed to set before adding the meat. The result was an extremely silky texture--so soft that it felt a bit unusual compared to typical silken tofu. The ground meat was quite heavily seasoned, and while I understand the intention to balance the mild soy base, the combination didn't fully come together for me. I ended up relying on rice to offset the saltiness, but there wasn't quite enough provided. Timing was also a small issue, as the meat cooled down during the wait. The miso soup that came with the set didn't quite taste like traditional miso soup, and I even had to double-check with the server. That said, this was during their soft opening, so there's definitely room for improvement . I'd be interested in coming back after their grand opening to see how things evolve and to try more dishes. read more
Honestly, what a great find! The restaurant itself is decorated beautifully with a whole wall of ceramic bowls and beautiful drapes. We came for a late weekday lunch and were able to get spots without a wait. The service was super attentive and explained everything so well. The food was also amazing - who doesn't love a good unagi don with all the fixings?? Also the fact you could cook the Gyukatsu to your liking was perfect. Will def be back for more! read more
Service was good at this new spot in Houston! The ambiance is aesthetic and very clean, definitely get vibes of Japan with lots of wood fixtures and surfaces all around. The food unfortunately was not Japan quality. The A5 wagyu was not very tender, despite being Wagyu it was fairly stringy and difficult to eat. The portions of the Gyu Katsu set was pretty small especially the amount of rice that was given. The ramen tasted good but the beef short rib and Wagyu in it also had similar texture that made it difficult to eat. I think the quality of the meat could have been better especially since they only offer beef as the protein choice, there was no pork option. Definitely would have been more enjoyable with better quality beef and bigger rice portions read more
1 month ago
I was hopeful for the gyukatsu but it was not as great for me. The cooking on the stone was nice but it did not clinch the katsu flavor I enjoy. I think tonkatsu (pork) reigns supreme and has the best flavor which I don't think they serve there. The chicken katsu was ok. Mapo tofu was good. In my opinion it was more of the Chinese style which is a good flavor but I also prefer a milder Japanese version. The karaage was ok, nothing to write home about. It was cooked nicely but was hoping for more of the bolder ginger and marinaded flavors. The fried rice was very good. There's a distinct flavor I look for in a fried rice and this had it. The steak in it was good but the fried rice carried its own weight and I would probably do without the steak next time. The concept and ambiance of the restaurant was neat. Great service. Overall this place was 4 stars but I wanted to give the place 3 stars because I would have expected the flavor of the gyukatsu to shine. I would go back to try other dishes for sure. read more
1 month ago
Dined here for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The interior was nicely decorated and the service was good. We ordered the NY strip gyukatsu and the Tori Paiten ramen. I took off one star because the strip I had was a little grisly but the flavor was good. It would be nice if the gyukatsu had a little more breading on the outside. The dipping sauces that came with it was good. The Tori Paiten was the highlight of our lunch date. The broth was creamy and the meat and dumplings provided nice contrast in texture and flavor. We added a little togarashi for a subtle kick. The strawberry matcha was also tasty. Overall the food is pretty good and we will definitely be back. read more
1 month ago
5 months ago
A few friends and I wanted to try this place out after seeing it on social. It was super exciting for me since the last time I had this was actually back in Japan so I had an idea of how this works. The staff were super friendly and very kind. The sake was sweet and subtle and I really like the contraption that they used to serve it. The chamber of it kept the drink cold the whole time we were there. I was slightly disappointed on the food. It started with high expectation with the mashed potato and the pink lemonade. (Amazing potatoes). The chicken Ramen was average to me. I did not like the Waygu soup dumplings. The Waygu meatballs were good and would order again. I had the Waygu steak and my friend had a New York strip steak.. I actually like the New York strip steak better, as weird as that sounds. Maybe I've started outgrowing the Waygu taste? I did like the side components that came with a set. There was a nice salad, a curry, dipping sauce, a small dish stew in a few dipping choices. I really like to yuzu sauce, but the curry one was a miss. I think that one needs more work. On the men, there was a few other dishes that looked really intriguing so those are the ones I want to try next time with my husband. Also, I really like the decoration here. They had like lab like specimens and jars and maps of random miscellaneous things. I just really enjoyed that it felt like you were a part of a museum. If it was allowed, I would've loved just to look around at all the items in the restaurant, but I would probably be bothering other customers. Overall, it was a fun experience that you can't find elsewhere in Houston. This is definitely really cute for a date night or besties catching up or one on one to spend some quality time with someone close to you. Right now is RSVP only due to soft opening so make sure you book before you go. read more
2 months ago
We found this restaunt while looking for new eatery spot and decided to try it out. The clean, minimalist and modern design give a very warm, inviting vibe. We ordered the New York Strip Gyu-Katsu set and the A5 Wagyu Truffle Mushroom Iron Pot Rice, and both were outstanding. The flavors tasted amazingly authentic. The table-side cooking gives guests the choice to cook the steak to their preferred level of doneness. We cooked the New York strip to rare/medium-rare and it was incredibly tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The iron pot rice was richly aromatic, with the buttery A5 wagyu and earthy truffle mushroom creating a brilliant combination. On top of the incredible food, the service was attentive and friendly throughout the night. Combined with the warm, relaxing ambiance, it made for a truly wonderful evening. Highly recommended--we will definitely be back next time to try out their ramen! read more
5 months ago
Food was delicious! Service was great even though they were very busy. Ambiance was very nice. read more
2 months ago
Really enjoyed the Tori Paitan ramen! The beef gyu katsu was a little tough, but it's still worth ordering for the price. I'd probably skip the matcha beer and latte next time since the matcha flavor was pretty weak. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and the staff was super friendly and helpful. read more
5 months ago
We came for dinner and really enjoyed the Wagyu gyu Katsu. The staff was very friendly and even welcomed us with pink lemonade shots--our kids especially loved that. I'd recommend coming with an open mind. It's still a soft opening, so they're working out a few things, but with a little patience, you'll have a great experience! Love the interior. Beautifully designed and curated. read more
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