Do you know about the dish called “hamburg steak”? If you didn’t, are you familiar with hamburgers? Just like how McDonald’s is present worldwide, I believe many people know about hamburgers. In a hamburger, there’s a patty sandwiched between buns, but in Japan, this meat part is eaten separately as “hamburg steak.”
“Hamburg steak” has the same meaning as hamburger, so let’s stick with “hamburg” here. Hamburg is served thicker and hotter than a “patty.” It contains ingredients like onions and breadcrumbs, adding both juiciness from the meat and sweetness from the onions.
For Japanese people, hamburg is a very familiar food and is commonly eaten both dining out and at home. When eaten at a restaurant, it’s sometimes served on a heated iron plate, ensuring it stays piping hot until the moment you eat it.
Hamburg is often made from various types of meat, such as pork, beef, or a mix of both, depending on the restaurant. Some places even offer hamburg made from Wagyu beef, which is considered a premium delicacy.
There are variations of hamburg, like plain hamburg topped with cheese or cooked in Demi-glaze sauce or tomato sauce.
Furthermore, there is a wide variety of sauces available, such as grated daikon radish with ponzu sauce, garlic mayonnaise, wasabi mayonnaise, and mushroom sauce, among others.
Hamburg steak can be found in convenience stores and supermarkets all over Japan. Additionally, it is served in most nationwide family restaurants. If you’re looking for a slightly more upscale experience, it’s also worth seeking out specialty shops!
One of the well-known family restaurants for hamburg steak is Bikkuri Donkey. It’s very popular among Japanese people and has stores all over Japan.
Whether at Bikkuri Donkey or other family restaurants, the price range is typically between 1,000 to 2,000 yen. Since hamburg steak often comes with rice, salad, and soup, please give Japanese hamburg steak a try!