Chef Keisuke Takeda, of Keisuke Ramen fame, brings to Singapore another of Japan’s beloved comfort food, the modest hamburg steak. Opening on 13 March 2017, Teppanyaki Hamburg Nihonbashi Keisuke Bettei will be serving up sweet, juicy prime US beef patties straight from the grill. There will be only be two items to choose from, the Keisuke Prime Beef Hamburg Set (s$18.80++) or the Triple Cheese Prime Beef Hamburg Set (S$20.80++). While there is no bun, the sets will come with rice, miso soup and access to the free flow salad bar.
While the chefs fire up the hamburg steaks, diners can fill up on the salad bar. Besides Keisuke Ramen’s famous bucket of marinated beansprouts, there are fresh vegetables, soba salads, homely Japanese side dishes and – the best part – endless eggs. I am not just talking about the hard boiled variety you get complimentary on the table from his usual ramen spots. They have everything from the sweet tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette), sunny side-ups, scrambled or soft-boiled. Diners can even request for their favourite style of egg, made to order from the salad bar itself.
Not to be missed are the Japanese side dishes. There are simmered pumpkins, boiled sweet potatoes, pickled cabbages and so much more. The sweet yet savoury flavours go along with everything else in the bar. Those who want a health kick needs to load up on the seaweed salad at the start of the bar. For extra flavour, there are also six dressings to choose from. A popular one appears to be the Honey Miso.
It won’t take too long before the hamburgs arrive at your table, sizzling hot on a hot plate with some tofu and an ebi furai (fried shrimp). Each will come with a choice of four sauces. There is the Keisuke original sweet and spicy sauce, demi-glace, rishi ponzu (radish with vinegar) and teriyaki. To savour the rich, beefy flavours of the Keisuke Prime Beef Hamburg, the demi-glace is a no brainer. For those who prefer the light, subtle tastes of Japanese cuisine will adore the oroshi ponzu. It also works well to cut through the fat, and is amazing with a piping hot bowl of rice.
Tip: Slide on a sunny side up atop the patty!
While I prefer the savour the prime US beef in all its glory, those who love a decadent surprise inside their burgers will go crazy for the Triple Cheese Prime Beef Hamburg. It is stuffed with a medley of cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan, melting into a glorious mess. No sauce is needed for this patty, but I would suggest the Keisuke original sweet and spicy sauce or the demi-glace.
Refresh between bites with their special Sakura Cola, or, go for a sweet treat back at the salad bar. There is a fresh fruits and dessert section right at the end. Almost stealing the show from the hamburg is the coffee jelly. Served with a sweet cream, it is a latte in a bite.
Chef Keisuke Takeda has done it again. From ramen to tendons, he has brought another of Japan’s beloved comfort food at an affordable price. The free flow salad bar (which includes dessert) is more than enough to fill you up before the juicy patties even arrive. But, if you still have space for more, his other outlets are just within walking distance from each other!
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