Burgers @ Y's Burger, Shimokyomachi, Sasebo, Nagasaki

 

As the humble burger is one of the main pillars of this blog, it was just a matter of time before I eventually end up at its adopted home in Japan. And that place is Sasebo. There are various theories as to how the dish that is made of meat between buns landed here. The most common one is that it was introduced in the 50s via the American soldiers stationed there. Which seems pretty plausible. And the rest is history. 

Welcome to Sasebo!

The burger is now stuck as a major feature of the local culinary environment, and you can find various Sasebo burger huts, bars, and restaurants everywhere! Which eventually lead me to Y's Burgers. Located near the entrance of Yokancho Shotengai, it is not that hard to miss. 

Lunch is ready!

As with my usual modus operandi with new burger places, I will opt for the standard cheeseburger first with a side of fries and a drink which stood for a modest 1050 yen. It is a simple take, but it is something that always satisfies and I was definitely satisfied. The burger definitely looked simple. And it tasted simple, but that is not a knock on the burger as it was pretty good. Yet despite this familiarity, it also had a special quality to it that I cannot pin down. Maybe it was the magic of Sasebo?

Such beauty

The meat was grilled to perfection and was very fresh. The crumbs of the mince can be felt in every bite and had a savoury quality to it. Well seasoned and juicy to the touch. An extra protein layer in the form of a fried egg added more depth of feel to the overall dish. The bun was great as well, lightly toasted but was able to hold everything down despite the weight of the insides. 

Munch!

The cheese was absolutely oozing out of the burger and made for a sloppy yet enjoyable mess. As it melts, I could actually feel my mouth being enveloped by a creamy sauce. It was quite decadent. The vegetables are on point and I actually liked that they folded the lettuce into a parcel, as it makes it easier to consume. After all, there are already lots of messy variables with the aforementioned cheese and meat. Yet, to contain it all, a paper pocket is provided so your hands are mess-free. Standard Japanese custom, but one I welcomed at any time of the day. 

Golden

The fries on the other hand were just alright. They were homemade and had a light touch. Although I would prefer them to be more crispy. Then again, maybe because the burger experience was too great, it overshadowed the fries. Yeah, that seems like a more plausible outcome.  

Nobody... yet. It became packed after 30 mins. 

We were pretty lucky that we were there right when they opened, and as such the crowd was not there. People did come once we were about to leave though. So coming in early is a good option to consider. Everyone has their own favourite spot, so finding the so-called "best" one is an anecdotal experience. But having said that, this means I have another reason to come here again! So if you would like to start your burger-spotting at Y's then the address is as follows:

1-1 1 Shimokyomachi, Sasebo, Nagasaki 857-0875

(p.s: do note that they share the same premises as Dreamer Grill & Cafe)

One floor above. You can't miss it.