The long-awaited first Japanese restaurant "UMAMI BURGER" from Los Angeles, USA opened in Aoyama, Tokyo on March 24th. In addition to the menus offered in the US, hamburgers limited to Japan are also available.

I tried a typical menu, but what surprised me was that it tasted like Japanese food even though it was a hamburger! I got the impression that it is a hamburger that is a bit different from the American burger that has a strong impact, and that is deep and values the taste of the ingredients.

◆ Taste review

・ UMAMI BURGER 1,380 yen (excluding tax, the same applies below)


First of all, this. It is UMAMI BURGER which is a signboard menu. Roasted tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, crispy parmesan cheese, and caramel onion are layered on beef pate and sandwiched with "umami ketchup" in buns.

The crispy and fragrant buns are fluffy inside. It is slightly sweet and delicious. The putty is full of beef "umami", and the gravy is so juicy that you can chew it! The texture is medium rare and melts as you go inside (except for some menus, you can choose how to roast the putty).

The rich "Western umami" spreads from Parmesan, and the unique scent and "Japanese umami" spread from the plump and textured shiitake mushrooms. Refreshing with sweet and sour tomatoes.


・ SAMURAI BURGER 1,380 yen


Next is SAMURAI BURGER, the first menu limited to Japan. A putty entwined with sweet teriyaki sauce, lotus root frit, nameko, perilla, red onion, and cabbage are layered and sandwiched between buns. Wasabi sauce is combined with the secret flavor.

While saying that it is a secret ingredient, the wasabi is spicy and addictive! The spiciness enhances the taste of the meat, and the mouth is refreshing and very delicious. The teriyaki sauce is sweet, so the overall balance is just right. This is my push.

・ U-nami BURGER 1,280 yen


The last is U-nami BURGER, another Japanese-only menu. Fried white fish (Pacific cod) mixed with plenty of homemade tartar sauce with herbs and sandwiched with lettuce in buns. The curry aioli is combined.

The fried cod has a crispy batter and a plump body. The spicy curry sauce complements the light taste. With the slight sweetness of the buns and the acidity of the tartar sauce, the whole is well-balanced. Also, sesame seeds are studded in the batter of fried cod, which is fragrant and sober and delicious!

◆ The secret of "umami"

Personally, I thought that the buns and beef patties were really delicious, but it seems that the patties are baked with magic powder called "umami dust".

This is a blend of garlic, dried sardines, bonito and kelp powder. By sprinkling it on the meat and baking it, the umami and unique Japanese flavor spread in your mouth. It's a unique taste, so please try it!

◆ You can get a cute jar!

As an opening commemorative campaign, a limited novelty "UMAMI BURGER original drink jar" will be presented to the first 100 people each day for 3 days from March 24th to 26th.

The jar with the UMAMI BURGER logo contains the brand color orange sangria, and the clerk pours an orange sangria cocktail into it (people who can't drink, 20 years old). Less than is a non-alcoholic drink).


At UMAMI BURGER, I was supposed to be eating American food, but mysteriously, I was reminded of the charm of Japanese food. Be sure to check out the taste of the hamburger, which was selected as one of Time magazine's "17 Most Influential Burgers in History"!