Hyperlocal Tokyo

A place in Ningyocho where you can enjoy authentic hamburgers. I visited for lunch on a weekend. There was a queue of about 15 people, but the turnover was fast and I was able to be seated in about 20 minutes. I ordered the Lot Burger with BBQ sauce. The flavors of the various ingredients blended together beautifully. However, personally, I would like to enjoy it a little more simply, so next time I will order with fewer toppings. The sauce, meat, and buns were all delicious, so I was satisfied. There was an operational mistake where they forgot to hand out menus while waiting outside, but there were efforts to improve the turnover, and I felt it was a very impressive place. It's one of the places I want to go back to.

I received terrible customer service. I was intrigued by the restaurant after seeing it featured on a hamburger special on Matsuko's show on the airplane TV. When I entered the restaurant, I was shown to a seat and after a while, a server came over with a fork and a wet towel, asking if I had decided on my order. I said, "I'll have the bacon burger." My wife was also considering the bacon burger, so I said, "We'll have two bacon burgers." The server just stared blankly for five seconds. When I asked again, "Two bacon burgers!" the server looked confused. While waiting, I noticed that the menus were greasy, as if they hadn't been wiped down. The bags used to wrap the burgers were covered in oil and sesame seeds, and the table was wiped down so poorly that it was still dirty. I was already feeling discouraged when the food was placed on the table without a word, no "sorry for the wait" or anything. It was unbelievable. The food itself was honestly just average, nothing special. While we were eating, I could hear the sound of the floor being cleaned, and the kitchen staff walked through the dining area in their soapy shoes, leaving the floor wet and bubbly. Was it because it was close to closing time? Honestly, the food at a major chain restaurant is cheaper and much tastier. The quality of the meat is probably not that different, given the shape of the patties. The Kobe beef burger I had in Hawaii was much better, and the service, while American, was decent. But what is this place? It was just unpleasant. And for two bacon burgers, it cost over 3,000 yen. They need to seriously improve their efforts, or this place won't be around in three years. I will never go back, and this restaurant is in my top three for places where I wish I could get my time, money, and memories back. Maybe other items on the menu are good, but the service and the dining environment were the worst.

Visited on: Mid-May 2024 Rating: 4.5 Review: I revisited this place after two years, remembering how delicious it was. The bright red exterior is a landmark. It's still popular, with about 10 groups waiting. There were benches on the greenway in front of the store, so this time I decided to get takeout. It took about 10-15 minutes after ordering (if I had waited inside, it would have taken 30-40 minutes). The bun looked crispy at first glance, but it was soft and had a slight brioche feel, with a hint of sweetness. The lettuce had a great crunchy texture. The tomato was juicy. I realized this is a hamburger with delicious vegetables. The barbecue sauce was slightly sweet, and it blended perfectly with the slightly tangy mayonnaise tucked under the lettuce. The egg was a good addition, as it helped absorb the sauce. The patty wasn't overly meaty, and it seemed to harmonize with the bun. It's a well-made hamburger. Even the juice that collected in the paper bag was delicious. The fries were thick, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The onion rings were sweet and enjoyable. I had been hesitant to wait in line, but it's worth enjoying takeout on a nice day. It's a bit pricey, but it's delicious, so I'll definitely go back. It's no wonder it's listed as one of the top 100 restaurants on Tabelog. (I'm also including a picture of the interior from two years ago) - Order: Egg Cheese Burger - Price: 1890 yen (slightly cheaper for takeout due to lower consumption tax) - Location: 5 minutes walk from Ningyocho Station - Wait: 10 groups (Saturday, around 1:00 PM) - Food: Delicious vegetables. Well-balanced sauce, patty, vegetables, and bun. - Service: Good. - Ambiance: The interior has counter and table seating. Takeout is available.

I visited for lunch on a weekday. It was past 12:30, so maybe the peak had passed? I ordered a regular hamburger. It seems like fries are included in the set. You can also add a drink for a lunch discount of 250 yen. The daily burger was impressive. 👍 Electronic money is accepted. Personally, I liked the large, crispy, chewy fries. 🍟

【May 2024 Visit】 During the Golden Week holiday, I decided to venture to Ningyocho in search of delicious food. It's a bit of a distance from my home, but that also means there are many unknown shops, making it an exciting place to explore. My first stop on this day was this place. As far as I remember, a few years ago, it was ranked among the top burger joints in Tokyo. I had bookmarked it after seeing its mouthwatering appearance. I arrived around 10:35 am, just before the 11:00 am opening. There was no wait at that time, and even at opening, there wasn't a line yet. It was good that it was easy to get in. It didn't get completely full when I started eating, but there was a steady stream of customers. A sign outside mentioned that they were only serving the "Grand Menu" throughout Golden Week. This meant no special lunch deals, but I guess it was unavoidable. I looked over the menu and was interested in several items, but since I wanted to try other things later, I ordered: - Cheeseburger ¥1,760 - Iced Coffee ¥517 Ten years ago, over ¥2,000 would have seemed expensive, but now it's pretty standard, isn't it? It seems like good places are able to raise their prices effectively. While sipping my iced coffee, I waited a while, and then the cheeseburger arrived. Not only did the cheeseburger look impressive, but the fries, onion rings, and pickles also looked delicious. First, I drizzled some ketchup from the table onto the plate and started with the fries and onion rings. The thickness of the fries, the way they were fried, and the flavor were perfect as a side for a burger. As instructed, I ate the cheeseburger from a paper bag. The first bite was an explosion of savory meat sauce. It was so good. On top of a white mayonnaise-like sauce were layers of lettuce, then the patty, cheese, and finally a red sauce. The overall harmony of the bun, patty, and toppings was achieved through the sauces, and the white mayonnaise-like sauce felt like the key to this cheeseburger. Balance is everything in a burger. Even with luxurious ingredients, some burgers can leave you feeling underwhelmed, but this one was truly exceptional in its cohesiveness and perfection. I left feeling incredibly happy and satisfied. It was definitely worth the trip. Thank you for the meal.