Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood welcome the Los Angeles-based burger institution.
At the same time that ramen and sushi are seeing their popularity skyrocket overseas, Japan is falling in love all over again with hamburgers. In addition to its indigenous burger providers, over the past few years Japan has seen a number of American hamburger chains set up locations within the country, including Shake Shack, Umami Burger, and Carl’s Jr.
This weekend, Tokyo welcomes the latest arrival from the States, as Los Angeles’ Fatburger hops across the Pacific to open its first-ever Japanese branch in the capital’s trendy Shibuya neighborhood. April 28 marks the grand opening of the restaurant, which is located inside the Magnet by Shibuya 109 shopping/dining complex (which was known as 109 Men’s until recently).
Fatburger has a reputation for extra-filling sandwiches even by American standards, and its sticking to that strategy for Japan, where its 115-gram (4.1-ounce) patties are roughly double the size of Japanese chains’ basic burgers, and the meat content tops out with the 690-grm US Triple Kingburger. The Japanese branch’s Australian beef is also said to have a 20-percent higher fat content than other varieties, which should match up well with Japan’s preference for marbled beef. Speaking of Japanese dining culture, Fatburger will also offer alcohol at its Japanese branches, something Carl’s Jr. and Burger King do as well.
Fatburger hopes to open 10 restaurants in Japan within the next three years, and we wish them the best of luck. We’re always happy to have another burger option here in Japan, and when we make our first trip to the Shibuya branch, we’ll make sure to arrive hungry.
Restaurant information
Fatburger (Shibuya branch)/ ファットバーガー（渋谷店）
Address: Tokyo-to, Shinuya-ku, Jinnan 1-23-10, Magnet by Shibuya 109 7th floor
東京都渋谷区神南1-23-10 MAGNET by SHIBUYA109７階
Sources: NHK News Web via Hachima Kiko, @Press, Yutori Channel
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