Hamburg Steak: Japan’s Popular Fusion Dish!

Looking for a new favorite fusion dish? Try a hambāgu! This patty has been a staple of Japanese cooking for 60 years, and it is loved for its convenience and customizable recipe. Join us as we share the history, secrets, and restaurants behind Japan’s hamburg steak. Warning: You’ll get hungry reading this blog!

What is Hamburg steak?

This patty is eaten as a main dish with sauces, toppings, and sides. While Western versions are usually ground beef, Japan’s are made of minced beef and pork called Aibiki Niku. (Restaurants will indicate if they’re serving exclusively beef hambāgu.) However, both recipes use breadcrumbs, eggs, and milk, while Japanese recipes add sautéed onions.

Once all ingredients are combined, knead the mixture and form the patties, tossing them a few times to prevent cracking. Refrigerate for half an hour. When cooking the hambāgu, indent the centers using two fingers, since they’ll rise with the heat. Fry or grill both sides of the meat for three minutes. Add cooking wine or stock (chicken or beef); lower the heat and steam for seven minutes until the patties are fully cooked.

Where did it come from?

While Japanese people call this patty “hambāgu,” they’re not the same thing! It’s based on several dishes, including France’s steak tartare. The patties we know and love came from Hamburg, Germany, where they were called Frikadelle or Bulette. German immigrants brought this dish to America in the 19th century. A few decades later, someone put a patty between two slices of bread, giving birth to the American hamburger.

Meanwhile, the Hamburg steak first appeared in Yokohama during the Meiji period (1868-1912) along with other yōshoku (Western-style Japanese cuisine) dishes. But it became more popular during the 1960s, when meat was expensive. By combining pork and beef, households could save money while still cooking hearty meals. In the 1980s, vacuum-packed patties became a go-to for folks looking for easy-to-prepare food. 

How do you eat Japanese Hamburg steak?

You can eat hambāgu with rice, miso soup, potatoes, or Japanese curry. You can choose from several sauces, including demi-glace, tomato (for an Italian hambāgu), or a mixture of ketchup, soy, and Worcestershire. Other popular toppings include fried eggs and cheese (for a chīzuhambāgu). They also pair well with red wine, whether included in the recipe or drunk on the side!

Then there are the Japanese twists topped with ponzu sauce (soy sauce and ponzu juice), grated daikon radish, or enoki mushrooms. If you don’t fancy Aibiki Niku, try the Marushin Hamburg Steak, made with tuna and whale meat, or hambāgu made with tofu or chicken and tofu. Finally, try tamago kake gohan (egg over rice): use the egg as a dip for the meat, or mix it with soy sauce and pour over the rice.

Are you looking for great snacks for the summer? Check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat delivers limited-edition Japanese noodles, snacks, drinks, and sweets right to your door so you can enjoy the latest treats directly from Japan!

Where should I eat Hamburg steak in Tokyo?

Hikiniku to Come 

Priding itself on freshness, Hikiniku to Come offers a simple yet filling set: three patties, endless refills of rice, miso soup, and various condiments. Reservations are recommended. Hikiniku to Come can be found outside Tokyo in Kyoto, Chuo, and soon, five other countries. 

Locations: Kichijoji and Shibuya  

Hours: Closed Wednesdays; 11am to 3pm (lunch) and 5 to 9pm (dinner)

Hamburg Will

Serving patties made with Iwate Prefecture pork, Hamburg Will offers gourmet options like Pancetta Bacon Hamburg Steak and Mozzarella Cheese Hamburg Steak (both with an Onsen Egg). You can enjoy with red wine and chocolate cake.

Location: Shinjuku

Hours: 11:30am to 3pm Monday to Thursday and 11am to 3pm Saturdays and Sundays (lunch); 5:30 to 10pm every day (dinner)

Tsubame Grill

Since 1930, this Tokyo yōshoku restaurant serves Akaushi beef grilled in aluminum foil. Other signature dishes include tomato farci salad and scallop cream croquettes. In addition to the Grills, Tsubame also has KITCHEN, GRILL 1930, DELI, and Wagyu Grill locations.

Locations: 10 in Tokyo, three in Kanagawa Prefecture (including two in Yokohama) 

Hours: Varies depending on the location

Why should I try Hamburg steak?

This recipe is simple to cook and easy to dress up. It uses only a few ingredients, which can be swapped out or added to depending on your mood. It can also be doubled or divided up and saved for later.

The patties can be served with anything, from leftover rice and veggies to a quick sauce and an egg cracked over top. Depending on the toppings, they’re as nutritious as they are delicious. Whether you’re a student, stay-at-home parent, or restaurant cook, you can rely on the Hamburg steak to keep you fed and happy!

Hambāgu has come a long way from its simple origins. Once an easy way to conserve meat, it’s a popular meal, eaten at restaurants and from the comfort of home. Japan has added its spin with variations like chīzuhambāgu and toppings like the ponzu sauce. The Hamburg steak is there if you’re in a pinch or hoping to save time cooking. Have you eaten a hambāgu before? Share your favorite recipe in the comments.

Cited Sources

• The Asahi Shimbun. “EVERY BENTO TELLS A STORY/ Hamburger steak bento: A favorite treat for a lunch box especially when juicy and fluffy“.
• Chowhound. “Hambagu Is Japan’s Flavorful Take On Classic Salisbury Steak“.
• Japan National Tourism Organization. “The art of yoshoku: Six popular western dishes reinvented in Japan“.