Tokyo Hamburg
Japanese restaurant · Koreatown ·
DIY smash burgers & $1 oysters w/ sake & beer
DIY smash burgers & $1 oysters w/ sake & beer
"This casual Japanese restaurant in Koreatown flies completely under the radar, but if you’re in the mood for a big group dinner that could potentially get a little wild, go immediately to Tokyo Hamburg. The thing to order here is the namesake Original Tokyo Hamburg, a DIY smashburger situation where everybody cooks their own patties on hot stones that they bring to the table. It’s fun, interactive, and one of our favorite burgers in LA, plus, it gets everybody in your group comfortable with the fact that they’re sitting next to someone they have nothing in common with. Make sure several bowls of udon and a plate of okonomiyaki hit the table as well." - brant cox
"Between the sizzling stone grills, Kpop music videos blaring from the speakers, and huge pitchers of beer on every table, this Japanese restaurant in Ktown isn’t just a good time. It’s the ideal place to hang with a couple friends, get just a little bit drunk, and let any residual social anxities just melt away, like a chocolate bar left in the car. The name of the game here is DIY smash burgers - softball-sized patties that arrive at the table covered in grilled onions that you break off in chunks and cook on a hot stone grill. The seared sashimi tartare is as fresh as anything you’d find at a sushi bar, plus there’s an all-day Happy Hour that includes sake, draft beer, and $1 oysters. And by the end of the night, someone’s bound to start singing along to the Blackpink in the background." - brant cox, kat hong
"Less of a restaurant, and more of an all-night party featuring individual stone grills and hamburgers, back when dining rooms were still open, this Ktown spot was one of the most fun places to spend a Tuesday night. And while their takeout situation is definitely not the same as eating there (no stone grills to-go, sadly), you can still bump pop music, chug cans of Sapporo, and eat their DIY smashburgers from the comfort of your own home. Which is probably better than whatever you were going to do, like stare at the ceiling for six hours, or pretend to read The Myth of Sisyphus. (Spoiler alert: the rock wins.) Tokyo Hamburg is available for takeout and delivery, call (213) 263-2668 or (213) 318-5299 or find them on the delivery platforms." - kat hong
"There is no shortage of fun group-dinner spots in Koreatown, but Tokyo Hamburg is one of our favorites - and certainly less known than the nearby KBBQ staples. This rowdy Japanese restaurant feels like a party from the moment you walk in - pop music blasting over the speakers, beer and sake being chugged at a Friday night pace (even if it’s Tuesday), and the smell of burger patties sizzling on individual stone grills. They’re basically a DIY smashburger situation, and though it seems a bit gimmicky, the meat itself is fantastic and exactly what you want to be putting into your body before a long night of drinking." - brant cox
"Though we miss grilling our own patties right at the table, we’ll still happily order takeout from Tokyo Hamburg, because the burgers (they come fully cooked) are simply that good. Throw in a few other delicious Japanese bar snacks, like okonomiyaki and curry udon, and you have an ideal Friday night meal on your hands. Takeout and delivery are available on most major platforms." - brant cox, kat hong
