GAIENMAE: American Dining EAT... Salad bar in a bun... Shoulda had a BK Whopper... Kobe-beef Fail.

Passed by EAT on the way to Goro's Diner in Gaienmae and noticed an unusual offering at a very reasonable 1,050yen price point. Kobe Beef and Kuroge-Wagyu (Black Haired Japanese Beef)... really Kobe Beef!  Remember Kobe Beef is only available in Japan and Macao... so you normally find this only in high end spots like Oakdoor at the Grand Hyatt. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/04/12/foods-biggest-scam-the-great-kobe-beef-lie/

Anyways I couldn't find Goro's so had to give EAT a try!

The "Kobe Burger" starts at only 1,050yen... wow.  There are no wonderful lunch side dishes here... Just water and fries unless you are willing to pay 300yen for soft drinks and 500yen Wine/Beer.  

A little Miley Cyrus on the BGM.

And thus it arrived... visually it was nothing impressive.  Just a very plain burger with a rather big bun covered in a bit of flour.

French fries were very greasy... get those wet napkins ready.

And here it was.  The Kobe Beef patty was as thin as can be... The lettuce overwhelmed the burger and the tomato was almost as thick as the patty.

My first bite and impression was that the bread had a very solid texture and it never lost its shape thru the meal.  As for the beef it was dry as can be, the thinnest patty I've ever had in Tokyo (in the ranks of Burger King and McDonalds)... absolutely NO juiciness and I was thoroughly disappointed.  I suddenly began to crave the massive 200gram burgers at Martini Burger...  This was basically a Salad Burger with hint of a very dry beef that should be ashamed to be labeled "Kobe-Beef."

Lunch Drink Menu

Saw a little poodle so looks like the shop is pet friendly.  Interior is mostly counter seating with 2 tables in the front that can accommodate 6 people.

Don't let the word "Kobe Beef" Burger fool you into trying this spot... I would suggest just hitting up Burger King for a Whopper that will be lighter on the wallet and just as satisfying.  I was a bit harsh with this review but expectations ran high on their use of "Kobe Beef."

Ship: American Dining EAT

Shop Website: http://www.eat-burger.com/main/

CNN: http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/eat/best-new-restaurant-520119

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1306/A130603/13094589/

Address J:  東京都港区北青山2-12-27 ハレクラニ北青山1F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Kita Aoyama 2-12-27

MAP:

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KAGURAZAKA: Massive 200gram all beef patties grilled to perfection

I recently received an invite from Owner and New York native Eliot-san to visit his shop in Kagurazaka.  

http://martini-burger.com/about/  

Solid menu of things other than Burgers that I didn't expect...the Hummus spotting definitely caught my eye as I will hunt high and low for hummus...  Pita The Great is a must :)

6 different burger selections on buns then there is a signature 200 gram Martini "Toasted English Muffin" Burger.  First time to spot this bagel combination but images of having McD's bagel Egg McMuffin breakfast meals with my American relatives steered me away from the signature dish.  But I'll definitely have to give it a try one day soon.

A bit under the weather so settled for the Lemon-Aide (all non-alcoholic drinks are 300yen).  

Its hard to find great Quesadillas in Tokyo!  Tasty treat with Chili topping but lacked in consistency as some pieces were perfectly balanced with Chicken/Cheese while others seemed to be a bit lonely.

Beautiful interior with bar-like counter seating.  

And thus my owner recommended Brooklyn Burger arrived! Nicely balanced with mushrooms, gouda cheese and bearnaise sauce.

My mac and cheese side dish... 

I love burgers in Japan but never have I encountered 200grams of beef!  In a class of its own and an amazing value with quality in line with The Beacon in Omotesando and Grand Hyatt Oakdoor.

Solid and grilled to perfection by chef Aki-san.  There was a very nice consistent texture throughout the burger and the juiciness was under control as most other spots have me going thru multiple napkins and wet tissues~. 

Friend ordered the Fifth Avenue with Gouda and Chedder cheese with mustard aioli. On the way to the station he commented this burger was excellent.

Home made desserts.

We were incredibly stuffed by the end of the meal but had to give the "Chef Jason's Cheesecake" a try... very rich in texture and would go perfectly with a cup of tea.

Friendly host, beautiful interior and satisfying burgers... A must if you are in the Kagurazaka area.  AND! If you want to know anything about New York definitely chat up bilingual Eliot-san.... he knows everything!

4.18.2013 Congrats to Martini Burger! Featured on a great foodie ranking program "Onegai-Ranking"

http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/onegai/up_rank/130418/index.html#project01

Shop: Martini Burger

Shop Website: http://martini-burger.com/

Foodie Webiste: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13117569/

Japan Times: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fg20110304rs.html

Trip Advisor:  http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066457-d2638530-Reviews-Martini_Burger-Shinjuku_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Address J: 東京都新宿区中里町31

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Nakazotocho 31

MAP:

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AKASAKA: Burger King tricked me with their amazing food photographer!

If you are in search of a restaurant in Tokyo and are attempt by an easy Burger King burger don't do it!  There are soooo many great places in Tokyo to eat!

... but what caught my eye was the "NEW" BK RiNGO burger...  perfectly stacked with fresh lettuce, grilled tomato, what appears to be a patty with lovely melted cheese and with the 490yen set you get a choice of small drink, french fries or onion rings!  Against my better judgement this mouth watering photograph lured me in!

Oh yeah... I'm #24!  I can't wait!!

Hmm... the wrapper for the burger looked awefully small... much like the 100yen burger at McDonalds.

What!?  This thing was honestly smaller than a McDonalds 100yen hamburger... and if you decide to order it alone its 240yen (without drink and onion rings).  It did not look like the picture!  Ugh... and when I bit into it the yellow stuff wasn't cheese but a sweet yellow mustard dressing!  And do you see that lovely grilled tomato?  I sure didn't... ugh...

But honestly this place has great onion rings~

I left about 1/3 of my burger... I just kinda couldn't justify adding extra calories with all the mayonnaise hidden inside the burger.  Its a very comfy BK and located right next to Akasaka Station but... there are just too many choices in that 500yen range.  Anyways... I guess grilled BK flame broiled burger are a better option to McD's grilled burgers.

Shop: Burger King Akasaka Branch

BK Website: http://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/

COUPONS: http://www.burgerkingjapan.co.jp/coupon/index.html

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130801/13111818/

Address J: 東京都港区赤坂2-14-28 鳳月堂ビル 1Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Akasaka 2-14-28

MAP:

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AKASAKA/TAMEIKE-SANNO: AUTHENTIC... no budget lunch specials but you won't be disappointed.

Finally gave nicely ranked Authentic Burger a try!  The attraction was all the foodie pics of their home made original Broccoli Cheese Burger~...

Its a bit hidden away but with a map you'll have no problem.

Prices were a bit higher than most burger lunch menu's in Tokyo... 

Counter seating that faces the chef at work if you decide... might be a more interesting view.

And there it is...  Was torn between the chili-cheese burger but waiter suggested the shop original Broccoli Cheese Burger.

Overall a very satisfying burger... broccoli nicely boiled and patty very juicy.

Lunch drinks are +200yen.

Lunch burger with a drink was 1,.470yen... there are definitely alot of other choices for perhaps less than this in Tokyo.  Check out the Tokyo Hamburger ranking HERE.   Don't think I'll be back when I could get an amazing burger at The Great Burger in Harajuku for much less~. 

SHOP: AUTHENTIC

Location: Near Akasaka or Tameike-Sanno Stations.

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130802/13030795/

Address J: 東京都港区赤坂2-18-19 赤坂シャレー １Ｆ

Address E:  Tokyo, Minato-ku, Akasaka 2-18-19

MAP:

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