Gyusan in Columbia, MD: Chef Junzo Miyajima's Most Impressive Japanese BBQ Room, With a 360-Degree Sushi Bar and A5 Wagyu

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

Gyusan Japanese BBQ and Sushi is a premium all-you-can-eat yakiniku and sushi restaurant at 6200 Valencia Lane, Space C110, in the Merriweather District of Columbia, MD. It opened on October 7, 2025, the Baltimore Business Journal reported. Google shows 4.6 stars from 485 reviews. It is an easy drive from Montgomery County up Route 29.

Chef Junzo Miyajima created the menu. Gyusan's site introduces him as IVEA's corporate chef, born in Saitama Prefecture with over 20 years of experience, and the Baltimore Business Journal called him "Gyusan's chef and co-owner." Columbia is the second Gyusan, after Ballston in Arlington, and it is the most impressive room of the two.

The room is the reason to drive. The restaurant describes it in its own words: "Our 360° sushi-making bar puts you front and center for every slice, roll, and flame-kissed finish," and "every detail of our space is inspired by Japan, down to the handcrafted wood elements, thoughtfully sourced and transported from Japan." Resy takes separate bookings for the dining room and for sushi-bar seats, so ask for the bar if you want to watch the chefs.

Three tiers, 90 minutes. Prestige is $58 ($48 for members), with prime cuts such as top blade, hanger steak, toro kalbi, AU Wagyu shoulder and US Wagyu beef tongue, plus chicken, pork, shrimp and vegetables. Master, $78 ($68 members), adds a Wagyu Special section with Wagyu Meatball, Wagyu Burger, Gyusan Ramen, Spicy Gyusan Ramen, Wagyu Fried Rice and Seafood Tartare, plus premium seafood. Legend, $98 ($88 members), is the most special tier: one-time starters of Toro Taku Cocktail, Handmade Flat Udon, Salmon Carpaccio, A5 Wagyu Uni Sushi and Seared Tuna Steak, and a Special Meat section with A5 Wagyu.

The rules. Everyone at the table orders the same tier. You can order up to 10 items per round, 10 minutes apart, wasted food is charged at 10%, and parties of five or more add a 20% gratuity. Resy takes reservations for parties of four or more; smaller groups walk in.

At lunch. The Columbia menu also lists lunch sets: a BBQ Lunch with five meats and a vegetable for $25, a Deluxe Sushi Lunch or Deluxe Sashimi Lunch with uni and toro for $28, a Special Roll Lunch for $20 and a Gyusan Ramen Set for $18.

Our pick. Master is the best tier for a first visit, because it unlocks the ramen, the Wagyu Fried Rice and the seafood. Book Legend for a celebration, mainly for the A5 Wagyu Uni Sushi. At the bar, the Kyoto Derby ($17) and Kami Tiki ($18) are the house cocktails, and the menu describes its Watari Bune Junmai Daiginjo, $310 a bottle, as made from "revived heirloom rice from extinction."