Sometimes when you travel abroad, you miss things from home. For me, I miss my cats and I occasionally miss American food. (And I say occasionally because Japanese food is amazing.) But sometimes you just need a little reminder of home.
Few things say home like a nice, juicy hamburger. Luckily, Tokyo is full of great burger joints. So many in fact, that the real question is: Who serves the best hamburgers in Tokyo?
The Top 5 Burger Joints in Tokyo.
In case you get a craving for a taste of home (or you just want something different), here are the top 5 hamburger restaurants in Tokyo:
Fatz’s – This hidden gem is American-owned and managed and not surprisingly, serves incredible burgers. You essentially craft your own burger here. You select the bun, toppings, sauce and doneness, and then the owner makes it for you (and the personal touch is a nice addition). (Address: 21-19-3-chome Koenjikita, Lions Plaza Koenji E, Suginami, Tokyo; Open 7 days a week.)
Fellows – This spot is a local favorite and a fixture in Harajuku (and not surprisingly, being in Harajuku, the decor alone is worth a visit. Let’s just say it’s quirky.) The burgers are enormous, juicy, and charcoal-grilled, and be sure not to miss their onion rings (they’re much better than the fries in my opinion.) (Address: 3-8-11 Kita Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo; Closed Mondays and national holidays.)
Fire House – Known for thick, tasty burgers, Fire House’s buns are what make them really unique. They’re baked to perfection daily and perfectly complement the savory flavors of the meat. Fire House also has a huge range of burgers to choose from, including many you won’t find anywhere else (like the triple decker chili cheeseburger with an egg in the middle, and the Baked Apple Burger (my favorite here)). Oh, and by the way, they deliver! (Address: 4-5-10 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo; Open 7 days a week.)
Jiyugaoka – This trendy spot is the epitome of a gourmet burger restaurant. And while the menu has some inventive choices, Jiyugaoka delivers all the things you want in a burger: Thick, juicy meat and soft, fresh buns. The restaurant reminds me of a rebooted diner and has a very cool vibe. (Address: 1 Chome-3-15 Jiyugaoka, Meguro, Tokyo; Closed Mondays and national holidays.)
J.S. Burgers – This chain is owned by a Japanese clothing maker, but the burgers taste All-American. The ACME burger is a must-try, because the blend of sweet maple bourbon pecans and salty Applewood smoked bacon is amazing! The rest of the menu is worth the visit too – they offer incredible (and enormous!) milkshakes, with new flavors being added all the time, and the seasoned fries are delicious. (Address: Several locations in Harajuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya and Shinjuku; Open 7 days a week.)
So if you want a great burger while you’re in Japan, check out one of these burger joints (or, try them all!) and see for yourself why they’re the best in Tokyo.
Sources: Fellows , Fire House , J.S. Burgers , Rocket News