Located in Akasaka, not far from Akasaka Station is a burger shop known as Authentic which many people in Tokyo consider as one of the best burger shops to eat at.
So popular that there is a line to get inside as it’s not a big location but there is limited seating.
My thoughts about Authentic and the waiting is that it was a bit tricky to find the location, searching for the slope and hoping Google Maps didn’t fail me (which it did). But fortunately, many people, seems to know about Authentic that they were quite awesome to help point me to the right direction and that was to follow a certain slope.
It’s a little hidden but how I was able to find it was via a line of people waiting to get inside for lunch.
You’ll see a red brick building with a sign that is outside on a corner.
Posted on the door is the weekend, dinner and lunch hours. So, do not go to Authentic on M-F between 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., as it’s closed in the afternoon. The restaurant opens from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., then 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The hours are Saturday/Sunday – 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Once you go inside, you are seated on the counter if alone or the limited seating if with a group.
The location has a cool western diner vibe. You have ketchup, tissues and the wax paper to hold your burger, so you don’t have the burger juices dripping around.
The menu offers everything from the Tokyo staple – avocado cheeseburger, but they also sell double cheeseburgers, chili cheeseburgers, a teriyaki burger and also a broccoli burger
I ordered an avocado cheeseburger with an egg add as extra.
It’s important to note that wait time is by queue, so there is a bit of a wait for the burger if there were a lot of people (especially a group) in front of you, so might as well chill, pick up a Metropolis Magazine on the side or read the news or peruse your smartphone as you wait for your food.
I found the prices quite reasonable and also cheaper than most premium burger shops in Tokyo. That’s important to know as I always say…Y1500 is the norm in terms of burger pricing, that is a burger and fries. Drink not included. And some places charge even more, some are more warranted than others.
The burger was delicious, even the sauce used and the bun. It’s important to note in Tokyo, there are few places that do a lot of black pepper, this is one of them. So, you may want to mention if you want a little black pepper (say – Black pepper o sukoshi kudasai) when you order.
But the owner wanted to create an authentic burger place in Japan and he has succeeded. Delicious burgers, no doubt one of the best in Tokyo, but because of it’s popularity and it’s only one man, the owner making the burgers (the waitresses will order and get the drinks and serve you), just know that in advance and things are all good.
I don’t know if this burger shop will tailor the meat for those who are selective on how the meat should be prepared. I know there are some people who are quite selective with that. But you may want to ask the waitresses (have your google translator app ready with the question, just in case) when ordering.
But overall, Authentic is always a burger place worth visiting if you are in Akasaka and again, one of the better burgers in Tokyo and is on my top 10 burger shops to visit!
