Japan’s original 'on-the-rice' hamburg concept opens first PH branch

Hikiniku To Come, the original “on-the-rice” hamburg concept from Japan, has officially expanded to the Philippines.

The Philippine branch, located at Uptown Mall in Taguig City,  marks the brand’s first location in the country and its largest in the world.

The menu centers around the Hikiniku To Come Set (P850), which includes three 90-gram freshly grilled burger patties (served one after another), unlimited rice, a single serving of miso soup, and a raw egg.

Each hamburg patty is freshly ground daily, shaped right in front of guests, and grilled over high heat using binchotan charcoal. Meanwhile, the Japanese rice is soaked in water and sake before being cooked in a high-pressure hagama pot.

The hamburg patties are seasoned based on Hikiniku To Come’s original recipe, but diners can customize the flavor with free in-house condiments available on each table, including lemon salt, marinated green chili, Xinjiang spice mix, Japanese pepper sauce, and garlic flakes.

For the ultimate umami experience, diners are encouraged to enjoy the first serving of hamburg on its own, the second with grated radish and ponzu vinegar, and the third with egg yolk and soy sauce over rice.

Each diner is required to order one set before adding any extras from the menu, which include an additional hamburg patty (P230), extra egg (P65), extra sauce (P35), and extra miso soup (P90).

Side dishes available are potato salad (P170) and fresh kimchi (P110).

For guests who wish to visit, take note that the restaurant is a cashless establishment and payments can only be made via credit or debit cards and e-wallets.

Hikiniku To Come was founded in Tokyo in 2020 and introduced the “on-the-rice” hamburg concept that quickly gained popularity in Japan and across Asia.

Aside from the Philippines and its four stores in Japan, it also has branches in Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok, South Korea, and China.

Hikiniku To Come is open from Monday to Thursday at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and on Friday to Sunday at 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

—Hermes Joy Tunac/CDC, GMA Integrated News