りえ姫
When you mention Fire House, it is a well-known old-fashioned burger shop in Hongo-Sanchome! Despite being established in 1996, it is considered a long-standing establishment in the world of gourmet burgers. The owner of CRUZ BURGERS & CRAFT BEERS, who trained at Fire House for 6 years, runs this shop. I had been looking forward to visiting this place, which is ranked quite high among the top 100 burger shops, but due to my unfamiliarity with Yotsuya Station, I kept postponing it. Finally, I visited on a Saturday at 2 pm and was able to be seated quickly. The burgers are available throughout the day, so even at highly-rated places, you can get in without waiting in line, which is a great advantage. There are special burgers with chili marks, but I was intimidated by them, so I opted for the classic Bacon Cheeseburger for 1780 yen with a cola. It may look ordinary, but the patty, grilled on a lava stone and finished with a hand chop, has a steak-like meatiness to it! While Fire House tends to balance the meat with other elements, this burger has a rough and wild side, which I think is good! The meat takes the lead and brings out the umami flavor, which is essential for a satisfying burger. The buns are made of 100% natural yeast, fluffy and complementing the meat perfectly. The cheese is rich and tasty too! On the other hand, the lattice-cut fried potatoes may look fancy, but I personally prefer the regular ones. They are delicious, but having tried various burgers, I find it hard to rate this one in the 4-point range. In the end, I realize that I may have grown tired of meaty patties and 100% yeast buns. The world of burgers is all about how you can bring out originality as you explore different options. If someone were to say that choosing the classic option was wrong, then so be it, but I personally prefer folk burgers&beers, another Fire House alum, for its uniqueness.