Local Eats Japan

This is just one of those places you don’t want to share, and if I didn’t, I don’t know if anyone reading this would be able to find it – that’s how hidden it is lol. 

When using google maps, and it says you have arrived at the destination, you still have a few more steps, one of which being to walk through the somewhat sketchy looking pathway to the elevator, and then get in this sketchy elevator filled with graffiti and stickers to the 4th floor – you will have arrived! 

There are stairs, but they DO NOT go until the 4th floor so please take the elevator.

Oh, and one more thing to mention is that there is a night-club that operates seemingly 24 hours so there may be a big line up of people outside along the sidewalk, but don’t be alarmed as this is not for the restaurant. The restaurant may also shake a little bit from the sound waves of whatever music they are playing, but just look at it adding to the ambiance! 🙂

Now, for the food, Japan has both hamburgers and hamburger steaks, though they sound really similar in Japanese, gold rush however is the latter. 

It is essentially just beef patties laid on a hot skillet and have sauce poured over them at your table. 

It sounds simple, but it is amazing. Some of the best quality beef I have ever had.

You can order from 1 up to 4 burgers, and the 4 equates to about a pound, so each patty is 150 grams. 

You can also mix and match what you want on them, with cheese (mozzarella or cheddar), garlic, teriyaki, or just have them plain. The sauce that is poured on them however, remains the same. 

Regardless of the size, they all come with baked or mashed potatoes, beans, some mixed vegetables, and a side of rice (of course). 

How it works is when they place the skillet down on your table, position your napkin so that part of it is held down by the skillet and the rest you can hold in front of you to cover your clothes (the longer the better). 

This is because when they pour the sort of gravy sauce over and it splatters everywhere, but it will not seep through the napkin so no need to worry!

I don’t know, I guess I wasn’t cultured enough as a child to have anything other than the hamburger form, but there is something about eating it with just rice. But I have now taken inspiration and I am making it at home (google hambagu recipes). 

The culmination of the high quality beef and rich, amazing sauce that almost seeped into the patty and almost caramelised on the skillet paired with the plain white rice allowed for me to taste and savor each of the ingredients – something I don’t feel I am able to do with a hamburger. 

Oh, and drinks are self service! You get one complimentary juice or soda, and then the rest is just water.

They also have a “lady’s set” which comes with salad, your choice of hamburger, rice or bread, and a dessert! I also just learned that you don’t actually have to be a female to order it either!

This is a complete locals only, hidden gem spot, so if you are in Shibuya and feel you haven’t been getting enough protein during your time in Japan this is the place to go!

Thanks for reading – if you’d like to support and follow along: 

More about me

Different types of ordering systems in Japan explained

Purchasing an onigiri to keep me fuelled throughout my journey 🍙