Shabu Burger + shoe-string fries ($13 + $3)!
Gourmet burger lunch — shabu-style sliced beef burger in brioche bun, with a side of seasoned shoe-string fries. $13 + $3.
Burger lunch — Shabu Burger (single) + shoe-string fries. $16 total. The Japanese-fusion take on a gourmet burger. 😋
What was in the brown paper-wrapped delivery ($13 + $3):
- Shabu Burger (single, $13) — a soft golden brioche bun filled with shabu-style thinly sliced beef (the same paper-thin cut used in shabu-shabu hot pot), glazed in a sweet teriyaki-style sauce. Visible sliced onion underneath.
- Shoe-string fries ($3) in a kraft paper pouch — thin, crispy, generously seasoned with what looks like paprika and black pepper dust.
The shabu burger concept is the fusion play: instead of a chunky beef patty, you get layers of thin-sliced beef that mimics the gyudon-on-bread experience. The result is a burger that’s lighter to bite but rich in soya-sweet beef umami flavour.
Brioche bun was the right pick — softer + slightly sweet, complements the savoury beef. Shoestring fries are the crispier cousin to standard cut fries — more surface area = more seasoning per gram.
Total: $16 for the combo.
Overall: 4.4 / 5. Shabu-style beef worked surprisingly well in burger format — different mouthfeel from a patty, but the soya-sweet glaze made it cohesive. Fries were properly crispy. Will reorder. 😍👍🏼
