Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Diego, CA | Downtown Gaslamp Quarter

4.5

267 Reviews

$31 to $50

Japanese

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese, Barbecue, Tapas / Small Plates
Hours of Operation
Daily 11:30 am–9:45 pm Happy Hour Daily 11:30 am–6:30 pm Daily 8:30 pm–9:45 pm
Phone number
(619) 310-5782
Website
https://www.gyu-kaku.com/downtownsandiego/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
You are the Chef!

Location
801 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Area
Downtown / Gaslamp
Cross Street
5th Ave. and F street
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Gyu-Sushi
With premium roast beef, Japanese shoyu BBQ sauce, and kuki-wasabi on the side
- 4 PcsUS$12.45
- 2 PcsUS$6.45
- Happy Hour - 4 PcsUS$10.45
- Happy Hour - 2 PcsUS$5.45
Spicy Tuna Volcano*US$8.95
Spicy tuna on crispy fried rice, drizzled with Japanese shoyu BBQ sauce
- Happy HourUS$7.95
EdamameUS$5.00
- Happy HourUS$4.00
Garlic EdamameUS$6.00
Spicy Jalapeño EdamameUS$6.00
Napa KimchiUS$6.00
- Happy HourUS$5.00
Wakame Seaweed SaladUS$5.45
- Happy HourUS$4.45
Spicy Cold TofuUS$6.45
Soft tofu with crunchy chili garlic sauce and kimchi
- Happy HourUS$4.95
Shio Negi Cold TofuUS$5.95
Cold tofu topped with white soy sesame oil and green onions
- Happy HourUS$4.95
Spicy Cabbage SaladUS$5.95
- Happy HourUS$4.95
Garlic Shio CabbageUS$3.95
Spicy Addicting CucumberUS$5.95
Crunchy cucumbers in a slightly spicy crunchy chili garlic dressing
- Happy HourUS$4.95
Fried Pork Gyoza DumplingsUS$7.45
Juicy fried pork dumplings Served with citrus ponzu
- Happy HourUS$6.45
Steamed Chili DumplingsUS$8.00
Pork dumplings with crunchy chili garlic oil
Yuzu Shishito PeppersUS$7.95
Skillet fried peppers with Japanese yuzu citrus! Occasionally spicy!
- Happy HourUS$6.95
Tuna Poké Nachos*US$11.50
Fresh cubed tuna poké with diced avocado and seaweed salad. Served with sweet soy sauce, sesame oil, and crispy wonton chips
- Happy HourUS$10.50
Chili Mayo Fried ShrimpUS$9.45
Deep-Fried tail-on shrimp tossed in our crunchy garlic aioli sauce with fresh chopped green onions
Chili & Yuzu Roast BeefUS$10.00
Gyu-Kaku signature roast beef topped with crunchy chili garlic yuzu oil
Fried Bacon ChipsUS$7.95
Crunchy, deep-fried pork belly slices. Served with salt and lemon
- Happy HourUS$6.45
Japanese Chicken KaraageUS$7.45
Juicy Japanese fried chicken served with chili mayo sauce
TakoyakiUS$7.95
6 fried octopus fritters drizzled with takoyaki sauce and Japanese mayo, topped with crushed bonito flakes and green onions
- Happy HourUS$6.95
Vegetable Spring RollsUS$7.95
Mixed vegetables rolled in a light wonton wrapper and fried. Served with sweet chili sauce and a shishito pepper
- Happy HourUS$6.45
Cheese Corn ButterUS$6.45
Mix of melted butter, cheese, and corn served in a small cast iron skillet
- Happy HourUS$4.95
Fried CalamariUS$7.50
Served with yuzu basil aioli
Fried Cheese WontonsUS$6.45
Cream cheese and green onions in crispy wontons. Served with sweet chili sauce
- Happy HourUS$5.45
Miso Chili WingsUS$10.00
Chicken wings coated in our sweet and spicy miso chili sauce
Black Pepper WingsUS$9.45
Dangerously addicting! Fresh-fried wings tossed in a sweet soy and black pepper sauce
- Happy HourUS$7.95

Salad

Yuzu Dressing: This signature dressing is characterized by a refreshing spiciness infused with the aromatic Japanese citrus, Yuzu. It combines yuzu infused ponzu with an accent of spicy green jalapeños. Sesame Miso Dressing: Paired with sesame's strong aroma, vinegar and mustard make the taste refreshing. Please enjoy the hint of miso as the secret ingredient of this signature dressing. Enjoy at Home! Ask your server for more details

Yuzu Avocado SaladUS$9.95
Avocado, cucumber slices, tomatoes, and crunchy wonton croutons adorn a green leaf lettuce salad. Drizzled with our zesty and refreshing Yuzu Dressing
- W/ Roast BeefUS$11.95
- W/ Shrimp*US$12.95
- W/ SalmonUS$13.95
Gyu-Kaku Salad
Mixed vegetables, daikon radish, hardboiled egg slices in our sesame house dressing
- FullUS$8.95
- HalfUS$5.45
- Happy Hour - FullUS$7.95
- Happy Hour - HalfUS$4.95
Karaage Avocado SaladUS$10.45
Juicy Japanese Chicken Karaage, avocado, variety of salad, vegetables, and sliced hardboiled egg. Mixed in house special white soy sauce dressing and drizzled with chili mayo sauce

Soup

Super Hot! Spicy Jalapeño Miso (20 cal) (Gluten Free, Vegetarian) Add for +$1

Seaweed SoupUS$3.95
Egg SoupUS$4.95
Silken egg in vegetable broth
Miso SoupUS$3.95
Traditional Japanese soup
Spicy Tofu Chigae Soup* **US$9.95
Kimchi, ground chicken, tofu, sesame, egg, and green onions

Premium Beef

1/2 Lb of Special Skirt Steak!

Prime Kalbi Short Rib*US$16.45
Juicy marbled USDA prime beef that melts in your mouth. Served with premium dipping sauce. Marinade choices: Sweet Soy Tare / Salt & Pepper
Harami Skirt Steak*US$13.45
Our best-selling 21-day aged skirt steak. Marinade choices: Miso / Shio
Kobe Style Kalbi Short Rib*US$26.45
A must try for BBQ lovers! Intensely marbled beef short rib with a rich, mouthwatering texture. Served with premium dipping sauce. Marinade choices: Sweet Soy Tare / Salt & Pepper
Harami in Secret Pot*US$29.00
21 Day Aged. ½ lb of our best-selling meat in a special mild miso marinade! Great for sharing between 2 or more people. Special Mild Miso Marinade
Beef Tongue*US$15.45
A classic cut for Japanese BBQ. Try it with a squeeze of lemon juice! Try with Lemon
- W/ Scallion SauceUS$17.45

Beef

Premium Sirloin*US$10.45
Hearty and tender. Served with premium dipping sauce. Marinade choices: Sweet Soy Tare / Salt & Pepper
- Happy HourUS$9.45
Bistro Hanger Steak*US$9.95
21 Day Aged. Tender and lean hanger beef. Marinade choices: Miso / Garlic
- Happy HourUS$8.95
Kalbi Chuck Rib*US$9.95
Delicious, light marbled flavor. Marinade choices: Sweet Soy Tare / Garlic
- Happy HourUS$8.95
New York Steak*US$10.45
Lean and juicy. Marinade choices: Garlic / Miso
- Happy HourUS$8.95
Filet Mignon*US$10.95
Lean cuts of filet mignon. Salt & Pepper
- Happy HourUS$9.95
Angus Beef Rib*US$8.45
Cubed short rib meat. Marinade choices: Sweet Soy Tare / Miso
- Happy HourUS$7.45
Toro Beef*US$8.45
Thin-sliced beef belly, just like bacon! Marinade choices: Sweet Soy Tare / Shio
- Happy HourUS$6.95
Yaki-Shabu Beef*US$8.45
Thinly sliced beef that grills quickly! Marinade choices: Miso / Sweet Soy Tare
- Happy HourUS$6.95

Marinades

We serve our meat items with the best recommended marinades. Please let your servers know of your preference. We'll customize them for you!

Miso
Sweet, rich, flavorful, Gyu-Kaku original white miso marinade
Sweet Soy Tare
Soy sauce, pear juice, and ginger
Shio
Garlic, salt, soy sauce, and sesame oil
Basil
Italian pesto (contains pine nuts), and sesame oil
Garlic
Garlic paste with sesame oil, and shio marinade
Teriyaki
Rich soy sauce flavor and sweet glaze
Spicy Jalapeño Miso
Super spicy with a jalapeño kick and a miso twist

Poultry

Chicken Basil*US$6.45
- Happy HourUS$5.45
Chicken Teriyaki*US$6.45
- Happy HourUS$5.45
Garlic Shoyu Chicken Thigh*US$7.45
Juicy chicken thigh pre-marinated with sweet garlic soy sauce
- Happy HourUS$6.45
Duck Breast*US$9.95
Marinade choices: Shio / Miso
- Happy HourUS$8.95

Pork

Pork Belly*US$7.45
Juicy pork belly slices. Marinade choices: Shio / Sweet Soy Tare
- Happy HourUS$6.45
Spicy Pork*US$6.95
Marinade: Spicy Jalapeño Miso
- Happy HourUS$5.45
Japanese Pork Sausages*US$6.95
Pork sausages with a hint of smoke
- Happy HourUS$5.95

BBQ Booster

Enhance the flavors!

Scallion Sauce
Great with Beef Tongue*, Kobe Style Kalbi Short Rib*, & more!
- AddUS$2.00
Cheese Fondue
Great with Chicken*, Broccoli, & more!
- AddUS$3.45
Original Garlic ButterUS$2.95
Never too much garlic! Fan favorite for garlic lovers
Herb Garlic ButterUS$2.95
Combines the herbal aroma of parsley with umami packed garlic
Spicy Miso Garlic ButterUS$2.95
Our signature Miso marinade is even better with garlic
Kuki WasabiUS$2.00
The king of Japanese condiments. This condiment goes well with simple flavors such as salt and pepper or ponzu sauce
Crunchy Chili Garlic SauceUS$2.50
A Japanese magical topping that harmonize garlic and spiciness with miso. It pairs well with noodles and rice too!
Premium Dipping SauceUS$0.00
This sauce is tailored to pair with high quality premium meats such as our Japanese Wagyu and Prime Kalbi to complement the rich umami flavor. This special recipe is a recreation of our original Gyu-Kaku dipping sauce in Japan. (cal per serving)
PonzuUS$0.00
A traditional Japanese condiment that combines the fragrance of citrus fruits with soy sauce. It pairs well with meats and other items. This sauce makes everything refreshing. (cal per serving)
Sweet SoyUS$0.00
Gyu-Kaku original sweet soy sauce. A magical sauce that goes well with anything. (cal per serving)
SpicyUS$0.00
Gyu-Kaku original hot & spicy sauce. It carries a good amount of bold Umami flavor. (cal per serving)

Bbq Booster - Umakara Sauce

Umami (Savory) + Amami (Sweet) + Karami (Spicy)

Umakara Ribeye*US$8.95
- Happy HourUS$7.45
Umakara Yaki Beef*US$8.45
- Happy HourUS$6.95
Umakara Pork*US$6.95
- Happy HourUS$5.45

Seafood

Shrimp Garlic*US$8.45
- Happy HourUS$7.45
Spicy Shrimp*US$8.45
Marinade: Spicy Jalapeño Miso
- Happy HourUS$7.45
Miso Butter Salmon*US$9.50
Salmon filets served in a foil packet
BBQ Calamari Miso*US$6.95
- Happy HourUS$5.95
Shrimp & Mushroom Ahijo*US$9.45
4 pieces of shrimp with mushrooms in olive oil, garlic, and basil
- Happy HourUS$8.45

Vegetables

To Grill

Assorted VegetablesUS$8.95
- Happy HourUS$7.95
ZucchiniUS$4.95
Drizzled with Shio
- Happy HourUS$3.95
Shishito PeppersUS$5.45
Drizzled with soy sauce and sprinkled with sesame
- Happy HourUS$4.45

To Steam

All foiled vegetables for steaming contain butter sauce

Spinach GarlicUS$5.45
- Happy HourUS$4.45
Garlic MushroomUS$5.50
- Happy HourUS$4.50
AsparagusUS$5.95
- Happy HourUS$4.95
BroccoliUS$4.95
- Happy HourUS$3.95
Mushroom MedleyUS$6.95
Assorted seasonal mushrooms
- Happy HourUS$6.45

Rice

Upgrade Any Bibimbap to Brown Rice Add for +$1 (Gluten Free, Vegetarian). Super Hot! Spicy Jalapeño Miso (20 cal) Add For +$1 (Gluten Free, Vegetarian)

Beef Sukiyaki Bibimbap
Sukiyaki-marinated beef, rice topped with white onions, green onions, and sesame. Served in a sizzling hot stone bowl
- W/ BeefUS$10.45
- W/ Double BeefUS$12.45
- Happy Hour - W/ BeefUS$9.45
- Happy Hour - W/ Double BeefUS$11.45
Beyond BibimbapUS$12.45
100% plant-based Beyond Beef marinated in our secret Sukiyaki sauce, stir fried mushrooms, red bell peppers, and white onions. Flavored in butter and sesame oil, with green onions and sesame seeds served over rice
- W/ Double Beyond BeefUS$15.45
- Happy HourUS$11.45
- Happy Hour - W/ Double Beyond BeefUS$14.45
Vegetable Sukiyaki BibimbapUS$10.45
Rice, button mushrooms, broccoli, asparagus, green and white onions, red bell peppers, butter, sesame, and shoyu BBQ sauce
Garlic Fried Rice*US$8.45
Garlic rice with green onions, white onions, egg yolk, sesame, and garlic chips
Spicy Beef BibimbapUS$11.95
Beef rib meat and rice doused in our signature Umakara Sauce and garnished with an assortment of bell pepper, shishito pepper, corn, sesame, green onions, and chili flakes
White Rice
- RegularUS$4.00
- LargeUS$5.50
Organic Brown RiceUS$4.50

Noodle

Experience Spicy with Umami Flavor! Spicy Umami Chili (17 cal) Add For +$1

Garlic Noodles
Thick, chewy garlic noodles served in a sizzling stone bowl with choice of:
- W/ ChickenUS$10.95
- Happy Hour - W/ ChickenUS$9.45
- W/ Vegetables (Vegetarian)US$11.95
- W/ ShrimpUS$13.45
Spicy Beef Ramen**US$10.95
Kalbi soup broth, thin-sliced beef, egg, green onions, vegetables, sesame, and sesame oil
Spicy Chigae Ramen* **US$11.45
Rich and spicy soup, topped with kimchi, ground chicken, tofu, green onions, and sesame seeds. Finished with a poached egg dropped in the center
Goma Negi Shio Ramen**US$10.95
Oxtail based house broth, kakuni chashu, egg, green onions, sesame, and sesame oil
Tonkotsu Ramen**US$10.95
Rich pork bone broth, topped with kakuni chashu, boiled egg, chopped green onions and red bell peppers, and a dash of sesame seeds

What 267 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.4Service
4.1Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter offers a delightful experience with "great food" and "amazing service." Guests love the interactive dining of cooking their meats, and standout servers like Kale and Madison enhance the experience. Perfect for celebrations or casual dining, it's a "must try" for Japanese BBQ enthusiasts.

268 Reviews

C
Claudia
San Diego2 reviews
1.0
Dined on 1 January 2025
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
THIS LOCATION IS CLOSED!!!!!! Open table needs to remove it
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l
lucy
San Diego11 reviews
3.0
Dined on 23 November 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
Unfortunately this lunch to celebrate a birthday was not special. The servers were not trained properly. The place was quite empty. The host was not available to greet us although I had a reservation. The quality of the meats were not at Gyu Kaku experience I had before. Very disappointing...
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A
Abdul
San Diego2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 23 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing please don’t close the vibes are immaculate
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J
John VIP
San Diego127 reviews
1.0
Dined on 23 November 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Usually we can find something good to say about most any dining experience. This one, not so much. When we walked in we were greeted by an odd smell that brought thoughts of a dirty taco shop. We were seated immediately. However it took a while for a server to come by. We placed our order right away. We ordered drinks, soup, salad, vegetables, and a variety of meats. It took quite a long time for items to start coming out. We received the salad followed by some meat. However our drinks were not served. We ultimately had to ask our server for all of our remaining items and we still did not receive everything. Ultimately when the bill came everything we ordered and even the items that we did not receive were included. After asking, the missing items were removed. All in all the quality of the food was pretty bad. The meat was all greasy and tough. Everything seemed a bit overly salty. The cleanliness was pretty suspect. Our glassware had lipstick from a previous guest. The table next to us was left uncleared for over an hour. All in all a bad dining experience. We will not return and definitely cannot recommend this restaurant.
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C
Cristina VIP
San Diego30 reviews
4.0
Dined on 20 November 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Enjoyed a dinner cooking our meats and having a set course to introduce us to Japanese bbq. Really good quality food and fun
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M
Marla VIP
San Diego3 reviews
4.0
Dined on 18 November 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
The service was slow. The food was tasty but not enough vegetables.
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R
Rebecca VIP
San Diego5 reviews
5.0
Dined on 3 October 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
It was delicious and a good deal for the lunch menu.
Is this helpful?
J
Jessica VIP
San Diego1 review
5.0
Dined on 28 September 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always a great choice. It was a great deal too and the food had great quality
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G
Gloria VIP
San Diego34 reviews
5.0
Dined on 26 September 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The $25 lunch was filling and delicious. We loved the nice salad and dressing, the appetizer-fried and steamed chili dumplings, the spinach, and the level A with nicely seasoned beef and tasty basil chicken. The s’more was a nice sweet finish.
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T
Tiana
Orange County1 review
5.0
Dined on 15 September 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
live laugh love such a grand time, highly recommend.
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FAQs

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Diego, CA | Downtown Gaslamp Quarter offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 310-5782.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Diego, CA | Downtown Gaslamp Quarter is rated 4.5 stars by 267 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Diego, CA | Downtown Gaslamp Quarter

801 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

Cross Street
5th Ave. and F street
Area
Downtown / Gaslamp
Hours of Operation
Daily 11:30 am–9:45 pm Happy Hour Daily 11:30 am–6:30 pm Daily 8:30 pm–9:45 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Japanese, Barbecue, Tapas / Small Plates
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
You are the Chef!
Additional
Gluten-free Options

Website
https://www.gyu-kaku.com/downtownsandiego/
Phone number
(619) 310-5782

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Diego, CA | Downtown Gaslamp Quarter

Permanently Closed

Order delivery or takeout

There’s more to explore

Additional information

Small Plates

Gyu-Sushi

Spicy Tuna Volcano*US$8.95

EdamameUS$5.00

Garlic EdamameUS$6.00

Spicy Jalapeño EdamameUS$6.00

Napa KimchiUS$6.00

Wakame Seaweed SaladUS$5.45

Spicy Cold TofuUS$6.45

Shio Negi Cold TofuUS$5.95

Spicy Cabbage SaladUS$5.95

Garlic Shio CabbageUS$3.95

Spicy Addicting CucumberUS$5.95

Fried Pork Gyoza DumplingsUS$7.45

Steamed Chili DumplingsUS$8.00

Yuzu Shishito PeppersUS$7.95

Tuna Poké Nachos*US$11.50

Chili Mayo Fried ShrimpUS$9.45

Chili & Yuzu Roast BeefUS$10.00

Fried Bacon ChipsUS$7.95

Japanese Chicken KaraageUS$7.45

TakoyakiUS$7.95

Vegetable Spring RollsUS$7.95

Cheese Corn ButterUS$6.45

Fried CalamariUS$7.50

Fried Cheese WontonsUS$6.45

Miso Chili WingsUS$10.00

Black Pepper WingsUS$9.45

Salad

Yuzu Avocado SaladUS$9.95

Gyu-Kaku Salad

Karaage Avocado SaladUS$10.45

Soup

Seaweed SoupUS$3.95

Egg SoupUS$4.95

Miso SoupUS$3.95

Spicy Tofu Chigae Soup* **US$9.95

Premium Beef

Prime Kalbi Short Rib*US$16.45

Harami Skirt Steak*US$13.45

Kobe Style Kalbi Short Rib*US$26.45

Harami in Secret Pot*US$29.00

Beef Tongue*US$15.45

Beef

Premium Sirloin*US$10.45

Bistro Hanger Steak*US$9.95

Kalbi Chuck Rib*US$9.95

New York Steak*US$10.45

Filet Mignon*US$10.95

Angus Beef Rib*US$8.45

Toro Beef*US$8.45

Yaki-Shabu Beef*US$8.45

Marinades

Miso

Sweet Soy Tare

Shio

Basil

Garlic

Teriyaki

Spicy Jalapeño Miso

Poultry

Chicken Basil*US$6.45

Chicken Teriyaki*US$6.45

Garlic Shoyu Chicken Thigh*US$7.45

Duck Breast*US$9.95

Pork

Pork Belly*US$7.45

Spicy Pork*US$6.95

Japanese Pork Sausages*US$6.95

BBQ Booster

Scallion Sauce

Cheese Fondue

Original Garlic ButterUS$2.95

Herb Garlic ButterUS$2.95

Spicy Miso Garlic ButterUS$2.95