At SethLui.com, we are always on the hunt for value-for-money restaurants where we can enjoy affordable yet sumptuous meals.
I have definitely struck gold with this Japanese restaurant, Hamburg Steak Keisuke. $20++ here will get you oozy molten cheese hamburg steak, free-flow eggs and salad, and so much more!
Located at Tanjong Pagar, Hamburg Steak Keisuke is another successful venture from the giant Keisuke brand. The restaurant only entertains walk-ins, so do come early at opening time to beat the long queue.
As you can guess from the name, Hamburg Steak Keisuke’s concept comes from the latest trend that took Japan by storm — Japanese hamburg steak. Now, you no longer have to fly to Japan to get your hands on these juicy treats!
At Hamburg Steak Keisuke, the menu here is surprisingly simple — there are only two dishes, Keisuke Prime Beef Hamburg Steak Set ($18.80++) or Triple Cheese Prime Hamburg Steak Set ($20.80++), which comes with a larger Prime US beef patty and glorious, oozing cheese.
With only two choices, no wonder the waiter takes your order the second you reach your seat!
One of the most impressive things at Hamburg Steak Keisuke is their precision. Imagine grilling steak patty after steak patty during lunch and dinner rush hours!
Thankfully, due to the clockwork system in the kitchen, your steak should get to you in no more than 10-15 minutes, even when the restaurant is fully packed.
Even the doneness of the steak is timed to the very second. Go check the tables, I’ll bet that everyone’s steak comes out the same colour.
Hamburg Steak Keisuke only uses Prime US Beef for the steak, and the quality is apparent in its strong, full-bodied flavour. The seared patty itself had a lovely charred, but was still very tender and juicy in each bite.
While there are only two options on the menu, I think the choice is clear. Just look at the luscious molten cheese oozing out of the Triple Cheese Prime Hamburg Steak! For just an additional $2, not only do you get 20% more beef, but also a sumptuous, savoury cheese that enhanced the flavour of the meat.
Made from a trio of parmesan, mozzarella and cheddar, the cheese had a thick, creamy consistency. While the texture was a little grainy, I really enjoyed the mildly pungent and buttery flavours that were quite addictive.
Each hamburg steak set also comes with a speciality sauce. With four sauces to choose from, this is perhaps the hardest choice you will have to make during the meal.
They are (from left to right) Teriyaki Mayonnaise Sauce, Keisuke Original Sauce, Oroshi Ponzu Sauce and Demi-Glace Sauce.Â
My favourite was the Teriyaki Mayonnaise Sauce. You eat it by first dipping the steak into the teriyaki sauce before topping it off with a dollop of mayonnaise.
This dynamic duo of sauces lent sweetness and tanginess that complemented the umami flavour of the meat well.
As if hamburg steak wasn’t good enough, Hamburg Steak Keisuke throws more goodies on the plate. Each set comes with Tofu with Bonito Flakes as well as some Aburaage (fried beancurd) for lighter flavours alongside the richer steak dish.
The plate even came with ebi fry! Their ebi furai was oh-so-crisp and even came with a light mayo sauce for a hint of refreshing sourness.
If you’re starving while waiting for your hamburg steak, head over to the salad bar. You can get full access to the vibrant salad bar, at no additional cost!
There are over 20 items at the bar so you are guaranteed to be spoiled for choice. My recommendation is to just get it all. After all, everything on the spread is free-flow. Sugoi!
If you thought that the salad bar would be all vegetables, you would be mistaken. You can load up on carbs with their appetising Tan Tan Men Salad and Cha Soba Salad that’s almost like Japanese versions of pasta salad.
Garnished with a light, citrusy dressing, these noodles are just the thing to whet your appetite for the heavier steak.
If free-flow salad still doesn’t impress you, what about free-flow eggs? You heard it right, FREE-FLOW.
With a ridiculous variety of eggs in any style imaginable, your wish is their command — omelette, scrambled, soft-boiled, tamagoyaki, okonomiyaki, the list goes on. Drooling yet?
The popular choice is the Tamago Yaki, which is made by rolling together several layers of cooked omelette into dainty bite-sizes. The fluffy texture of this egg treat made it very appetising.
The Tamago Yaki is so popular that each fresh batch is gone in seconds!
Finish off your meal with Coffee Jelly at the salad table. It’s rather bitter, so pair the jelly with coffee cream to balance it out. Nonetheless, if you’re a coffee-lover like me, you might actually like its strong bitterness.
Hamburg Steak Keisuke is the perfect place to bring all your friends for a filling yet affordable meal. For a restaurant that churns out hamburg steak faster than the Japanese produce weird inventions, their emphasis on quality really cannot be overstated.
While hamburg steak may be the main dish, some customers actually come here just for the unlimited eggs and salad feast. Losing out on this amazing $20++ deal would most certainly be a mis-steak!
Expected Damage: $22 – $25 per pax
