Coming up on its 30th anniversary, Fire House has been ruling the burger roost in Hongo Sanchome since the days of the Tamagotchi. The temple of massively meaty patties and leftfield toppings has become such an institution that it’s spawned a cadre of imitators and, with the November 2024 opening of Apple Burger, an officially sanctioned offshoot in the norenwake tradition usually associated with soba shops.
Apple Burger is run by long-time Fire House burger boss Hiromichi Endo, who despite going indie hasn’t fallen far from the tree: his restaurant is housed directly above Fire House’s takeout and delivery location. It’s a fairly dainty operation – an open kitchen surrounded by an eight-seat counter plus two booths seating four each – but there’s nothing bashful about Endo’s creations.
The obvious headliner is the Apple Burger (¥2,002), an elevated take on the Fire House favourite topped with a sweet apple compote. This version combines a lean, thick slab of beef – cooked to perfection, as you’d expect from a chef whose resume includes a stint at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse in NYC – with fresh, only lightly seasoned apple slices whose acidity help bring out the umami in the patty. Romaine lettuce, tomato and onion are served on the side for you to mix and match as you please.
Even elite burgers crave the company of a solid serving of fries, and Apple Burger’s satisfyingly texturous and crispy bites are cut and fried to order from domestic spuds, without a frozen tater in sight.
Besides the eponymous favourite, popular burgers include the bacon cheeseburger and the double cheeseburger. Also on the menu are a fancy-pants hot dog (¥1,342) and a standard line-up of soda and juice; the drinks can be topped with a dollop of vanilla gelato for an extra ¥330.