J.S Burger Cafe Shinjuku

 Today I want to introduce a good burger spot in Shinjuku. J.S Burger Cafe is a small chain with a few locations around the city. In 2020 they celebrated their 20 year anniversary. 

There are so many great burgers places in Tokyo, and I’m still searching for the best one. Whilst the burger I ate at J.S was satisfying, I feel there’s something extra out there. 

First of all the location. Opposite the Shinjuku southern terrace exit, there are a row of shops and the cafe is located on the 3rd floor above a clothes shop. After walking up the stairs you are greeted by a neon burger light at the entrance. You can eat in or take out. The staff will guide you to your seat should you choose to eat in. Then you go up to the counter to place your order. The menu is quite extensive, with a lot of interesting toppings. From the standard cheeseburger, hot chicken burger and bbq burger there is something for everyone. For those feeling adventurous you could try the Quattro cheese Honey burger or the Yuzu Teriyaki Egg burger. I opted for the California Bacon cheese burger which included the standard patty, bacon, lettuce but with the unusual additions of cream cheese and orange slices. It was the first time I’d ever even seen orange on a burger. 

At the first bite it was immediately sweet. The cream cheese was certainly lacking and a little more wouldn’t have got amiss. The texture of the orange with the burger was a little odd, but the flavour worked well. The bacon was thick and really great, and the patty was thin but had a good flavour. It wasn’t the best patty but with the toppings made a decent burger. 

The highlight for me was sitting on the terrace, it’s always nice when there’s a good atmosphere to the restaurant, and sitting outside underneath the heated lamps was certainly a nice experience. There are also inside seats, tables and counter options. 

All in all, this a decent burger. The menu has a choice that everyone could enjoy, even sandwiches or hot dogs if you’re not a burger fan. And the typical sides of onion rings, loaded fries and fried chicken. You can order just a burger or for an additional cost you can have a set including French fries and a drink. In my opinion the price is pretty standard for a ‘gourmet burger’. More expensive than a fast food joint, but cheaper than a Michelin star establishment.