Tokyo’s Best Burgers

Feb 27, 2023

Tokyo’s Best Burgers

Burgers have been having a moment, haven’t they? I’ve been all over the world, and even outside of the US of A, burgers seem to be having a sort of renaissance. What was once a staple of the value menu has suddenly become upscale and gourmet. Tokyo is no exception to this trend. And in a city with such a long and storied culinary tradition as Tokyo, the offerings will not fail to impress. Let’s get into our list of some of the best burgers in town. 

Blacows

Sure, the list is in alphabetical order, but I see no reason why Blacows wouldn’t be at the top had we arranged it any other way. Blacows takes its name, a portmanteau, from the A5 Japanese Black Wagyu beef from which these burgers are made. While this is an American-style burger joint, you’ll find that the meat is flavored with a touch of ‘yakiniku’ sauce, which gives it a hint of Japan. The portion sizes are definitely not Japanese. Seriously, these burgers are huge. The meat is the real draw, though, as it is carved and ground by hand, in-house, and considered by many to be the best burger in the city.

Where: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu, 2-11-9 (map)

Website: https://valuet.co.jp/brands/en/blacows/ 

The Great Burger

This one is my personal favorite, but other minds could reasonably differ. Styled as a southern Californian diner with a shiny, sophisticated decor, the queue you will likely meet as you arrive at The Great Burger speaks for its prime location, excellent service, and the high quality of the burgers. Everything is cooked to order and made with the finest ingredients. The menu comprises a combination of the classic and some fantastic original burgers. The more adventurous may want to try the mango burger or the Japanese beef burger served with wasabi sauce and fresh avocado. This restaurant is by no means just a clever name.

Where: 6 Chome-12-5 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo (map)

Website: the-great-burger.com

Martiniburger

The name may conjure up high-rise cocktail bars, glitz, and glamor, with James Bond sipping on his incorrectly monikered drink of choice (a shaken Martini is actually called a Bradford, fact fans), and the sleek and chic interior of Martiniburger does not disappoint. Owned and operated by New Yorker Eliot Bergman, it is a venue that caters to the upmarket lunch or post-work crowd, serving top-of-the-range premium burgers. Their original burgers are named after well-known New York districts such as the Brooklyn Burger, the Fifth Avenue, and the Little Italy, the latter of which is appropriately; ‘piccante.’

Where: 31 Nakazatocho, Shinjuku, Tokyo (map)

Website: https://www.martiniburger.com 

Munch’s Burger Shack

Great things often begin some something small. From the eponymous shack (well, a van) in just a few years to increasingly larger shops, Munch’s Burger Shack deserves its popularity. With 100% premium American beef, the meat patty is carved in-house, chopped, and pounded with hammers before being minced. The result is multi-layered multi-flavor patties that are something out of this world.

Where: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Shiba, 2-26-1 (map)

Website: munchs.jp

Shogun Burger

Last but not least is Shogun Burger. This is one of my favorite places on the list. They consider themselves pros at offering “the finest junk food” using the skills and techniques of a yakiniku restaurant. The result is something that people will line up in the rain for. I’ve personally witnessed this. I also may have gotten in line. The patties are the finest Japanese wagyu, the buns are made from domestic wheat, and the house sauce is unique to the restaurant. Probably best of all, they have plenty of locations, so there is always a reasonably close option. 

Where:  Multiple locations (See website)

Website: https://shogun-burger.com

Eliot Bergmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons