MUSUBI: The Best Burgers in Tokyo... So Far

Sunny Diner is a small and cozy restaurant. Its décor is very much inspired by 1950’s diners in America. You’ll be thinking it’s the kind of place you’ve seen in the movies. I had a bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. It came with all the vegetables on the side. Some of you might really like that (it keeps them particularly cool and fresh); I piled them right onto my burger. The burger was big & juicy, and had a nice soft bun. When I went there I saw a long line of women waiting for the place to open. In fact, most of the burger shops I went to seem to have far more women eating there than men. One thing I should warn you about: the drinks are absolutely enormous. Well, it may not be a ‘warning’ if you’re visiting in the summertime!

Sunny Diner, 3-45 Senju, Adachi City, Tokyo 〒1120-0034

Burger Mania also has an 'old American' style to it. The dining room was very big and just full of patrons chowing down on huge hamburgers. When you see the classic and cozy atmosphere, you’ll know they put real effort into the design. While you’re eating here, you’ll get the feeling that you are far away from Tokyo.

The staff asked if we wanted to sit in the front of the shop, near the open windows or the back of the shop. I chose the back, because I was worried about the street noise. It was a mistake though because of how loud the music was blaring back there. It was so loud it was difficult to have any conversation. The staff were very kind and attentive from start to finish though. Maybe I should have asked if they could turn down the music. That being said, I did enjoy the tunes they were playing.

At Burger Mania I had a bacon cheese burger with a side of French fries. It had the softest, freshest-tasting bun ever, slathered with delicious sauce. They say everything is handmade as much as possible there; I’m prepared to believe they really do make those amazing hamburger buns in house. They also have many unusual menu items and monthly specials, so you have plenty of good reasons to come back here again and again.

Burger Mania, 4 Chome-9-5 Ebisu, Shibuya City, Tokyo 〒150-0013

Cafe NEWOLD’s dining room is very cozy. It’s rustic, wooden & minimal. It could use a bit of a sweep, dusting and light tidying up, but I was very comfortable there. What I really liked was they had a video projector that was playing classic Tom & Jerry cartoons on a cement wall. They had it on both times I visited. You can see right into the kitchen, so it's clear to see the cooks are not just heating up fast food. The grill can make the place a little smoky, but it adds to the charm and it didn't bother me at all.

Cafe NEWOLD serves what is quite possibly the best hamburger you can eat in Tokyo. I had a cheeseburger lunch set that came with Fench fries, coleslaw and tea. The burger was just cooked to perfection and the coleslaw was really good too. There is no way you will be disappointed with this place, unless you try to eat there on a Monday: that being, it’s closed on Mondays (so as to stay open on weekends, many smaller Japanese shops may pick a random weekday to be closed).

Cafe NEWOLD, 3 Chome-9-11 Tsurumaki, Setagaya City, Tokyo 〒154-0016

At The Burger Craft I had a cheeseburger with a side of thick potato wedge French fries. It had a lot of delicious sauce. It was a ¼ pound 100% beef patty. The meat was juicy and it had a tasty and very chewy bun that absorbed the meat juices and it became even yummier. At this place, cheeseburgers are their standard. Basically everything on the menu has cheese on it.

They use ½ Japanese beef and ½ Australian beef. There is only 1 chef who cooks the burgers, so if it’s really busy, it can take a little time. Also, their sauce is handmade.

The shop is very small. It’s minimal & clean, with a lot of wood textures. Definitely the smallest dining room of them all. A little bit more expensive, but I think you’ll forget all about that when you have a mouth full of their delicious burgers. This shop requires a drink order if you are dining in. If it's a nice day out the next time I stop by, I’ll probably take it to go and eat it in a nearby park.

The Burger Craft, 3 Chome−17−3 1F, Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 〒111-0032 

If you have a little more time & money, can appreciate an interesting and relaxing atmosphere and have an appetite for a unique take on something familiar, you should definitely make your way to each of these burger shops. And keep an eye out for new ones- you just may find one to add to the list!

Photo Credits:

Main image: toki100

Additional photos were provided by Raymond D, used with permission.

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