Japanese Hamburg Chain Opens First SG Outlet In CBD—Here’s Our Review

Yamamoto’s Hamburg is a new Japanese restaurant in Lau Pa Sat

Ever since I tried the viral Hikiniku To Come in Japan, hamburgs have become my go-to whenever I am craving Japanese food. To me, they’re also a hallmark of a good Japanese restaurant, so when Japanese chain Yamamoto’s Hamburg finally landed at Lau Pa Sat, with mains under $20, I knew I had to pop by.

When we arrived, our waitress introduced us to the history of Yamamoto’s Hamburg. Originally opened as Yamahan in Japan, the restaurant’s concept is heavily rooted in wholesome, homemade meals. The founder believes a good meal should feel just as comforting, delicious, and heartfelt as one made at home.

Food at Yamamoto’s Hamburg

For appetisers, we started with their Anchovy Butter Potatoes ($4.90++). Imagine skin-on Yukon Gold potatoes roasted till golden-brown and tossed in anchovy-flavoured butter.

They were crispy on the outside, yet soft and fluffy on the inside. The butter sauce was well-seasoned, with prominent garlic flavour and umami from the anchovies, coating the potatoes well without feeling too cloying. It was a perfect start to the meal.

We ordered their signature Yamamoto Hamburg ($19.90++): a grilled beef patty stuffed with gorgonzola, slathered with demi-glace and flame-torched mushroom cream sauce, and served with the same crispy roasted potatoes, pasta, soft-boiled eggs, and bell peppers.

The beef patty was very juicy, and so tender that I could easily cut through it with my spoon. Surprisingly, I liked the blue cheese as well, which added even more savouriness without being overpowering. The mushroom cream sauce was light and foamy, and while it did not contribute much in terms of flavour, it helped mellow the richness of the brown sauce. The side dishes were nothing to shout about on their own, though they paired amazingly with the rich sauce.

To accompany the dish, we also ordered their Salad Set ($4.90++), which comes with a bowl of salad tossed in a tangy vinaigrette, a bowl of fluffy Japanese rice, and miso soup. If your rice is tasting too plain, you can zhng it up with a scoop of their complimentary bean sauce. It is salty, umami, and slightly spicy, pairing well with the rice. 

Image credit: Yamamoto Hamburg

For every Salad Set or Rice Set ($3.90++), which comes with the same bowl of rice and miso soup, you’ll get a complimentary tasting portion of Yamahan’s House-made Vegetable Juice. You can also top up $2.50++ for a full serving on the side. The vegetables are seasonal, and on our visit, the spread comprised lemon, dragonfruit, cucumber, carrot, and pears. It was not too sweet and tasted very refreshing, though it was quite grainy.

Given the recent rainy weather, their fan favourite Kimchi Cheese Hamburg with Beef Patty ($19.90++) was a comforting dish. It features a grilled beef patty topped with melted mozzarella cheese, served in a spicy kimchi broth reminiscent of kimchi-jjigae. The soup was packed with enoki and shimeji mushrooms, kimchi, and bean sprouts, all served in a clay pot.

Though the beef did not have the same gorgonzola stuffing, it was still equally tender and juicy, having soaked up all the flavours of the spicy kimchi broth.

The kimchi broth was hearty and full of flavour, with the perfect amount of heat. Usually, I expect the vegetables in kimchi-jjigae to be soft and mushy; however, they were still crunchy and contrasted well with the soft beef patty.

Next up, we tried their Jikasei Hamburg ($17.90++), featuring a Singapore-exclusive chicken patty. This was hands down the best dish, slathered in the same rich demi-glace and served with a side of potato pasta salad, tomato-sauce pasta, and roasted broccoli and eggplant. Though it was a fairly simple dish, all elements were executed well.

The star of the dish was definitely their chicken patty: juicy yet light and clean-tasting, almost akin to a chicken meatball. It complemented the richer demi-glace sauce, while still retaining its natural sweetness.

The roasted vegetables were also delicious, roasted till golden brown and so crispy they almost resembled lok-lok.

To wash everything down, we got their Craft Ginger Soda ($3.90++). Initially, I assumed it would resemble ginger ale, so I was caught off guard by the pungent ginger spice. However, after a few sips, I quite enjoyed the strong spice, though my only gripe was the grittiness from the blended ginger that settled at the bottom.

Ambience at Yamamoto’s Hamburg

The interior was decked out in industrial fixtures and wooden furniture for a clean, contemporary look. There was also an abundance of windows, which allowed natural light to stream in. Despite the open-concept kitchen, the restaurant was well-ventilated with no smoke or odour; instead, it was clean and cool.  

Yamamoto’s Hamburg is located in Lau Pa Sat, a four-minute walk from Shenton Way MRT Station.

Yamamoto’s Hamburg—Eatbook Review

Yamamoto’s Hamburg is definitely, in my books, one of the best restaurants for a weekday meal, especially if you work in the area. It’s rare to find such high-quality meals for less than $20++ in the CBD, which makes it an even better steal.

If you’re looking for more cheap weekday lunches in the CBD for your days in the office, explore our guide to affordable lunch sets in the CBD. Alternatively, check out Dolpan Hwajoo, a new Korean restaurant in Tanjong Pagar specialising in hotstone dishes and ube makgeolli.

Address: 18 Raffles Quay, Stall 96-103, Lau Pa Sat, Singapore 048582
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Website
Yamamoto’s Hamburg is not halal-certified.

Photos taken by Nivian Chiang.
This was a media tasting at Yamamoto’s Hamburg.