Hollywood Burger, Daikanyama

[UPDATE: Sadly, this store has closed permanently.] The small shopping and café district of Daikanyama (between Ebisu and Nakameguro) had its first heyday in the IPO bubble of the early 2000s. Now, with the interest of Tsutaya group and the extremely popular shopping and dining area of T-Space, Daikanyama is back in the spotlight.

One nice thing about this neighborhood is that it is trendy without being a duplicate of the overly brand-centric areas like Ginza and Omotesando. Most shops and restaurants in the area are not big corporate chains, but smaller boutiques or a part of micro retail groups. It makes for a very nice change of pace. There are lots of sights to see -the area is a pleasure for café fans, foodies and shoppers alike.

One small, fairly recent addition to the neighborhood is Hollywood Burger. Real estate in this part of town is pricey, even by Tokyo standards. However, shops like this one have reduced their overhead by opening in very tiny place, making the most of their small size by packing in big, full and focused flavors.

Hollywood Burger makes—you guessed it—burgers! Small counter seating and an even smaller group of outside tables, plus a teeny tiny second floor keep the rent and prices low. This shop focuses on a small eat-in crowd and a lot of take out. All the things you would expect to find are on the menu, and cute atmospheric details make this a fun stop for all ages. The design features lots of 1950s Elvis posters, American flags, and vintage burger paraphernalia.

I recommend the Hollywood Burger—a good basic burger with a secret house-made sauce that has hints of BBQ and something distinctly Asian as well. All burgers are served with fries, and of course you can wash it down with a Coke, beer, or other favorite beverage.

Daikanyama has a wealth of places to wander about, so if there’s no space inside Hollywood Burger, take your meal on the road—you’re bound to find a small park or public bench eventually.

The Deets

Address: 15-10 Daikanyama-cho, Shibuya Ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3496-1231
Open: Daily, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.