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I’m an eighties kid, and growing up, there were limited places offering Japanese hamburg in Singapore. One of the few spots I fondly remember is Ma Maison at Bugis Junction, which is still operating to this day. So when my colleague Esther suggested checking out the fairly new Yamamoto’s Hamburg at Lau Pa Sat, I agreed without hesitation, as it has been quite a while since I last had one (excited!).
Located on the outskirts of Lau Pa Sat, where Boon Tat Street and Shenton Way intersect, Yamamoto Hamburg is a 21-year-old Japanese brand originally known as Yamahan. Coincidentally, it has 21 branches as well, spread across Japan in places like Tokyo, Hokkaido, and Fukuoka. Each patty is known to be meticulously crafted to achieve an ideal balance of flavour, tenderness and juiciness.
We started off with the signature Yamamoto Hamburg (S$19.90) which arrived with half an onsen egg, potatoes, and a small portion of spaghetti.
The pattie was smooth and came apart effortlessly with a light tug. According to the menu, there’s supposed to be gorgonzola and mushroom cream sauce stuffed within. However, I soon came to realise that the torched ‘cream’ looking mound on top might’ve been it. It was slightly savoury and umami.
The brown demi-glace sauce is infused with miso and Japanese dashi, adding a depth of flavour that we noticed from the very first spoonful. However, subsequent mouthfuls felt a little overly savoury for us. So, for those who are interested to order this, we’d recommend to have it as a rice or salad set instead to balance the flavour out.
The Kimchi Cheese Hamburg (S$19.90) lets you have a choice between beef or chicken pattie. Yes, in order to cater to a wider audience, Yamamoto’s Hamburg in Singapore has intentionally added chicken as an option for some items.
The chicken pattie, topped with melted cheese, was bathed in a rich kimchi broth filled with mushrooms and kimchi. Similar to the beef, the chicken pattie was lusciously silky but had a peppery hint, which, when combined with the kimchi broth, made it more shiok.
The soup was hearty and even though this was a Japanese establishment, it still tasted authentically Korean.
The final dish we ordered was the Karashi Mayo Cheese Hamburg (S$18.90). It arrived with a small portion of Japanese potato salad, tomato spaghetti, and veggies.
Those who love creamy sauces will enjoy this dish, which is topped with rich Japanese mayo and melted cheese for a double dose of luxuriousness. Taste-wise, Esther and I felt that it was quite similar to the Yamamoto Hamburg, but the brown sauce tasted less savoury this time.
When the Anchovy Butter Potatoes (S$4.90) first arrived, we didn’t think much of it, but boy, we were fooled by its simple appearance. Each piece was crispy on the outside and phenomenally fluffy on the inside. That being said, had the anchovy flavour been more pronounced, it would have made for a much better experience.
For all the CBD peeps out there looking for a comfortable, air-conditioned spot to enjoy something a little more atas during lunch, why not swing by Yamamoto’s Hamburg at Lau Pa Sat?
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