Gyusan in Arlington, VA: The Best-Value Way Into Chef Junzo Miyajima's Wagyu Menu, From $28 Lunch to Diamond A5 in Ballston

Gyusan is an IVEA restaurant. We publish this story to introduce our own restaurant; it is not an independent review.

Gyusan, signed Gyu San Japanese BBQ, is a premium all-you-can-eat Japanese barbecue and sushi restaurant at 4300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 150, in Ballston, Arlington, VA. It opened in late May 2023, ARLnow reported, and the restaurant calls it the first Gyusan location, with "abundant natural light and an elegant geisha-painted wall and bar." Yelp shows 4.6 stars from 329 reviews.

Chef Junzo Miyajima created the menu. Gyusan's own site introduces him as the corporate chef for IVEA, born in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, with over 20 years of experience, who "had produced three Japanese BBQ restaurants in DMV." The menu carries the heading 焼き肉の専門家, yakiniku specialist, and a section of Japanese Miyazaki Wagyu.

The best-value door: weekday lunch. Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except national holidays, all-you-can-eat lunch is $28 a person ($15 for kids under 140 cm, free for 3 and under). It covers appetizers, rolls and prime cuts such as Top Blade, Rib Finger, Brisket, Spicy Short Plate and Tenderloin Chain, plus chicken and pork belly. For a lighter lunch, the Sushi Lunch Platter is $18 and the Sashimi Lunch Platter $20, each with a California Roll.

Dinner: three tiers, 90 minutes. Silver is $58 ($48 for members), with American Wagyu Chuck Roll, Brisket, Top Blade, Rib Finger and more. Gold, $78 ($68 members), adds one each per person of A5 Japanese Wagyu Top Blade and Australian Wagyu Toro Kalbi. Diamond, $98 ($88 members), the most indulgent tier, adds A5 Japanese Wagyu Striploin, A5 Japanese Wagyu Toro Kalbi and a garlic Lobster Tail, one of each per person. The whole party orders the same tier, you can order up to 10 items per round, 10 minutes apart, and wasted food is charged at 10%.

Or go à la carte. Gyusan also sells its A5 by the cut: Top Blade 3 oz for $48, Toro Kalbi 3 oz for $38, Striploin Yakishabu Style 3 oz for $58, and the A5 Japanese Wagyu Ribeye at $128 for 8 oz or $188 for 12 oz, the most luxurious steak on the menu. Off the grill, try the A5 Wagyu Foie Gras Nigiri ($28 for two), Toro Nori Tacos ($22 for two), the Mayo Madness Roll ($22) and Wagyu Fried Rice ($29).

Which to choose. For the best value, come for the $28 weekday lunch. For a first dinner, Gold is the most balanced choice, because it adds a taste of A5 at $20 more than Silver. Choose Diamond only if the whole table wants the striploin and lobster. Reserve through the restaurant's site; walk-ins are welcome when there is space.