Article By: Suraiya Fardous
- December 8, 2023 , Last updated on : December 10, 2023
Japan is known for manufacturing some of the most reliable products in the world, including knives. The best gyuto knives will ensure you will never have to buy another chef’s knife for your kitchen again in your lifetime. In this article, we’ll review some of the best Gyuto knives in the market.
What is a Gyuto knife?
The term Gyuto means ‘cow sword’ in Japanese. While it was originally meant for cutting beef, you can use it as a standard chef’s knife and get a better result. It lets you cut meats of various thicknesses very easily. Additionally, it lets you curve the meat in various styles to make gourmet meals easily.
Gyuto knives are a must-have for any professional and home chefs who want to level up their cooking game. Even though it is meant for meat, you can also use it to easily cut fish and vegetables as well.
Buying guide for the best gyuto knives
The requirements for buying the best Japanese gyuto knife will not be the same as the requirements for buying other types of knives. For example, if you want to get the best German knives for your kitchen, you need to buy knives that are manufactured using German steel. Here is how you can select the best gyuto knives on the market.
Blade Angle and Length
First and foremost, gyuto knives have blades that are usually between seven to nine inches long. Additionally, the edge has an angle of at least 70/30, depending on whether it is a left-handed or a right-handed knife. However, you can also get a 50/50 edge if you want an ambidextrous knife.
Blade and Handle
After you have ensured that you are getting an authentic gyuto knife, you need to check the build materials of the knife. The handle and the blade of a knife are usually made from two different materials. You need to check the blade material because that will determine the durability of the knife.
Size
Last but not least, you can check the size of the gyuto knife and get the one that matches your personal preference. While bigger and heavier knives cut more easily because of their weight, they are also more difficult to maneuver than lighter knives. If you have limited experience with knives, go for a smaller and lighter knife.
Best gyuto knives | Top 9 Picks
Since the gyuto knife’s rise to popularity in the international market, a lot of manufacturers have started making the knife. While competition forces all the brands to produce better quality knives, it also makes it harder for the consumers to select one for themselves. As a result, we have selected the best gyuto knives on the market and ranked them based on personal experience and user reviews.
List of the best gyuto knives
Yoshihiro 46 Layer Damascus Gyuto Knife
Miyabi Chef’s Knife
TOJIRO Japan Professional Gyutou
HEZHEN VG10 Gyuto Knife
Yoshihiro VG10 16 Layer Damascus Gyuto Knife
imarku Japanese Chef Knife
Simple Song Gyuto Kitchen Chef’s Knife
Misono Swedish Carbon Steel Gyuto
Sakai Takayuki Gyuto Chef Knife
Yoshihiro 46 Layer Damascus Gyuto Knife
Blade Material: VG-10 Stainless Steel
Blade Size: 8.25 inches
The Yoshihiro 46 Layer Damascus Gyuto Knife is the overall best Gyuto knife on the market because of its outstanding features and beautiful design. It has a Damascus steel build with 46 folds in total, which gives it a beautiful pattern on the blade while also making it very durable. Additionally, it has a beautiful Ambrosia handle to go with the patterned blade. The handle is welded to the blade to give an ergonomic feel.
Besides its beautiful design, the 46-layer Yoshihiro Damascus Gyuto knife is also sharp and durable. We especially loved the handle because it has an iconic and ergonomic Japanese design that lets you comfortably use the knife for long periods of time at once. Lastly, you can use the blade to cut a wide variety of ingredients without any issues.
Overall, this is one of the most versatile and essential knives that you can own as a chef. Every feature of this knife is carefully designed to tackle various requirements. For example, the extended tip of the knife allows you to chop vegetables, fish, and meat quickly.
Pros:
Durable and beautiful Damascus steel blade
Ergonomic Ambrosia handle
Versatile usage
Comes with an aesthetic Magnolia knife sheath Saya
Cons:
Nothing significant
Another reason we claim this knife to be the best Gyuto knife is that we found nothing significant to hold against it on our tests. One last big selling point is that the knife also comes with an aesthetic Magnolia knife sheath Saya that you can use to safely store the knife when you are not using it.
While the Yoshihiro 46 Layer Damascus Gyuto Knife might seem like the best one on the market, there is another solid contender, which is the Miyabi Chef’s Knife. The only reason this comes second on our list is because of its price point. However, its excellent features and gorgeous design make it worth every penny.
The Miyabi Chef’s Knife has a strong core thanks to its layered build. The layers also give the blade an aesthetic design. Additionally, it has an ergonomic and beautiful handle that also adds to its looks. Lastly, it has a thin and versatile blade that you can use to prepare and cook a wide variety of dishes with this single knife. We loved the G2 micro carbide powder steel used to make the knife, combined with the 5.39-inch handle.
A gyuto knife is basically a Japanese chef’s knife, which is why they named it the Miyabi Chef’s knife. As long as a chef’s knife has that iconic Japanese design and build, its naming does not matter. As with any authentic gyuto knife, it is extremely versatile.
Pros:
Strong layered blade core
Ergonomic and beautiful handle
Gorgeous blade design that you can proudly display
Thin and versatile blade profile
Cons:
Very expensive
While the Miyabi Chef’s Knife has a lot of desirable features that make it seem like the best gyuto knife on the market, it is also very expensive. However, its outstanding features, like the strong layered blade core and ergonomic handle, make it one of the best contenders if you can afford the price tag.
If you are left-handed and on the market for a gyuto knife, then the TOJIRO DP Gyutou is the one for you. It has even edges on both sides of the blade, which gives it an ambidextrous design. If you do not know what that means, both right and left-handed people can use this knife without any issues. This places it among the most versatile gyuto knives on the market.
Besides the ambidextrous design, the TOJIRO DP Gyutou has other functional features. For example, it has a stain-resistant blade that is very easy to clean. Additionally, its full tang build makes the knife very durable. Lastly, the weight and size of the blade are very well balanced to make the knife very comfortable to use.
While TOJIRO does not spend a lot of money on marketing its knives, it still manufactures some of the best knives on the market. The lack of marketing does not make them as flashy as their competitors. However, their knives still hold their own in the competition.
Pros:
Even-edged, ambidextrous design
Stain resistant blade
Durable full tang build
Well-balanced build
Cons:
Harder to resharpen
While the even-edged design of the TOJIRO DP Gyutou is a game changer for people looking for ambidextrous knives, it also makes the knife harder to resharpen. Other than that, the knife’s stain-resistant blade, combined with its durable full tang build, makes it the best gyuto knife that you can get.
The HEZHEN VG10 Gyuto Knife stands out from the crowd because of its ergonomic figured Sycamore wood handle, which is absolutely stunning. Besides the handle, it has an outstanding blade as well that can retain its sharpness for a long time. It can do this because it is both wear-resistant and rust-resistant.
Other than the aesthetic looks of the handle, it is ergonomic as well. We found it comfortable to hold, even with gloves. Besides being comfortable, the ergonomics of the handle make it easier to cut various ingredients as well. The textured blade is a cherry on top.
We loved the steel used to make the knife, which made it sharper than its competitors. We also loved how comfortable it was to use. You can use this knife to curve out different shapes of meat to complement the dish you are making.
Pros:
Retains sharpness
Ergonomic figured Sycamore wood handle
Rust-resistant and wear-resistant
Cons:
Not ideal for beginners
While the HEZHEN VG10 Gyuto Knife has some attractive features, it is not the ideal knife that we would suggest to beginners. However, if you are an intermediate user, you can get the knife. Other than that, its ability to retain its sharpness and ergonomic handle makes it one of the best gyuto knives.
The Yoshihiro VG1016 Layer Damascus Gyuto Knife is the ideal choice for those who cannot afford the 46-layered version. Even though it has fewer folds, it is still a Damascus steel knife with the iconic Damascus pattern. The blade on the knife has outstanding sharpness that can go through your everyday ingredients with ease.
If you love the Yoshihiro 46 Layer Damascus Gyuto knife but would love to spend a little less on a knife, you can go for this one. It performs just as well as the previous model. The only difference is that it lacks the number of folds used when making the blade.
If you use the knife to cut acidic ingredients, then we suggest that you immediately hand wash and dry the knife to increase its longevity. While this is true for any knife, we specifically mentioned this here because most people think Damascus steel is invulnerable.
Pros:
Can be used to size up a wide variety of ingredients easily
Outstanding sharpness
Food does not stick to the knife when cutting
Cons:
Could be more comfortable to use
The only issue we have with the Yoshihiro 16 Layer Damascus Gyuto Knife is with its handle, which makes the knife uncomfortable to use for a long time at once. Other than that, its ability to not let food stick to the sides, combined with its outstanding sharpness, makes it one of the best gyuto knives that you can buy.
The imarku Japanese Chef Knife is another outstanding gyuto knife that has a durable and tough blade. If you cut tougher ingredients like nuts on a daily basis, you can get this knife. Besides being tough, the blade also has an ultra-sharp edge, which lets you use the knife to get through any ingredients easily. Lastly, the blade is corrosion-resistant.
We think that this knife is perfect for professionals because of how reliably it performed well when we were cutting various types of meat. Since it is very affordable, any ordinary home cook can get it as well.
Pros:
Durable and tough blade
Ultra-sharp edge
Corrosion resistant
Cons:
Design could have been better
While most Japanese knives stand out from knives from other countries because of their flashy design, the imarku Japanese Chef Knife has a basic design that will fit the taste of people who like the simple things in life. Other than that, the blade’s ultra-sharp edge and corrosion resistance make it one of the best gyuto knives.
Knives with a full tang build usually do not come with the most aesthetic handles. However, the Simple Song Gyuto Kitchen Chef’s Knife has a durable full tang build and also comes with a beautiful wooden handle. Besides that, the knife also has a sharp edge that lets you precisely cut your ingredients just like you want them.
When testing this knife, we noticed that the handle polished Rosewood handle was not only beautiful but comfortable to use as well. Besides that, the blade did not collect any stains from the meat, even when cutting meat that was not completely dry.
Pros:
Beautiful wooden handle
Precise and sharp edge
Durable full-tang construction
Cons:
Sharpness retention could be better
While the Simple Song Gyuto Kitchen Chef’s Knife has a sharp edge, the blade does not hold the sharpness for long. However, you can easily resharpen the knife before using it. Other than that, its durable full tang build, combined with its beautiful wooden handle, makes it one of the best gyuto knives on the market.
The Misono Swedish Carbon Steel Gyuto is a multipurpose knife that you can use to cut a wide variety of ingredients for your meals. Additionally, it has a razor-sharp blade that lets you easily cut those ingredients without breaking a sweat. Lastly, the blade has a versatile double-sided edge that lets you use the knife with either hand.
While this knife is excellent, we ranked this near the end because you need to know the proper technique when using it. As a result, any beginner cook might not be able to use it optimally. Since it is unforgivingly sharp, we suggest you use it with caution, even if you are experienced with knives.
Pros:
Multipurpose knife
Razor sharp blade
Versatile double-edged blade
Cons:
Can rust if not maintained
The only drawback of the Misono Swedish Carbon Steel Gyuto is that it is not rust-resistant. As a result, you cannot use it in a dishwasher, and you need to dry it before storing it, or else it will rust. Other than that, its razor-sharp and versatile double-edged blade makes it one of the best gyuto knives that you can get.
The Sakai Takayuki Gyuto Chef Knife has a durable hammered Damascus steel build. However, it does not have the traditional Damascus pattern because of the hammering. It gives the knife a unique design while also ensuring that food does not stick to the sides of the knife thanks to the dimples. Lastly, it has an ergonomic wooden handle.
We loved the weight balance of this knife. That is why we think that even beginners can use it comfortably to cut meat and other ingredients with ease. Even though we placed it at the end of our list, it still outperforms standard chef’s knives on the market.
Pros:
Durable hammered Damascus steel build
Dimples ensure food does not stick
Ergonomic wooden handle
Cons:
Harder to clean
The only problem you might have with the Sakai Takayuki Gyuto Chef Knife is caused by the dimple from the hammered patterns. Seasonings and other micro food particles can get stuck in the dimples, which makes the blade harder to clean. Other than that, its ergonomic wooden handle makes it one of the best gyuto knives.
The best gyuto knife for you will be the one that meets your specific requirements. For example, if you are left-handed or want an ambidextrous knife, you can go for the TOJIRO DP Gyuto or the Misono Swedish Carbon Steel Gyuto. Alternatively, if you want the overall best Gyuto knife on the market, you can go for the Yoshihiro 46 Layer Damascus Gyuto Knife.
If you liked our top picks, check out our other choices:
