comotan
Today, on my way back from an outing, I stopped by Arashiyama in Sagano and decided to check out a hamburger shop that I had visited before.
■ upit'sBurger (Apitz Burger)
This is the second branch of the popular hamburger shop "Craft Dining upit" in Kyoto. This shop specializes in cheeseburgers, and their menu is known for being Instagram-worthy. The first floor is the cooking area, and the second floor is for customers. You sit at the chairs in the back of the first floor to place your order. Since I had only gotten takeout on my previous visit, this time I decided to dine in for the first time.
Their specialty is the "Apitz Cheeseburger Plate" where you can create your own original burger by choosing your favorite toppings. They also have the "Lava Cheeseburger Plate" where they finish the burger in front of you with flames. This time, I decided to have them make me an original burger. The basic burger consists of buns, 100% beef patty, and watercress.
First, you choose the amount of cheese: Natural cheese, Cheddar cheese, Gorgonzola cheese, with options ranging from "none" to "a lot." Then, you can choose from a variety of toppings to customize your burger: Red onion, Mushroom, Fried onion, Pickles, Grilled pine, Shiso leaf, Avocado, Crispy bacon, Tomato, Jalapeno, with a total of 10 options.
Since I visited just before Christmas, I asked for a recommendation for a "Christmas-like topping," and the staff kindly accommodated my request. I also ordered a drink to go with my meal. After placing my order, I waited on the second floor for my burger to be ready. The walls on the second floor were decorated with pop-style illustrations, giving the place a lively atmosphere. They were playing cheerful music, adding to the fun ambiance.
There was a water server where you could freely serve yourself water. I also ordered a bottle of cola, which came with a glass filled with plenty of ice. I borrowed a Christmas tree and took a photo with it. When I tilted the cola bottle, the amount of ice was just right for the glass. While sipping on my cola, I waited for about 10 minutes until my burger plate arrived.
The "Apitz Cheeseburger Plate" came on a large wooden plate with a cheeseburger, fries, and salad. I chose the cheese amount as "a lot," so the cheese was overflowing from the buns. The ketchup for the fries was in a heart-shaped container, a cute touch. The main target customers of this restaurant seem to be young women, as indicated by the presentation.
The towering cheeseburger had a Christmas tree-like appearance. The staff's choice of toppings included red onion, avocado, pickles, grilled pine, tomato, shiso leaf, and bacon, all in Christmas colors. I dug into the burger and found the thick beef patty to be very juicy and flavorful. The combination of cheese and toppings created a burst of flavors in my mouth. The grilled sweet pineapple was also delicious. I chose the thin-cut fries, which were also quite filling.
I was worried if I could finish it all, but I managed to clean my plate. The satisfaction in my stomach was beyond words! This burger shop offers good value for money and a fun dining experience. I look forward to trying their other specialty, the "Lava Cheeseburger Plate," on my next visit!