Kyoto Gourmet Recommendation｜The Popular Minced Meat and Rice "挽肉と米"( Hikiniku to Come)

The Origin of " 挽肉と米 "

The name " 挽肉と米 " translates to "minced meat and rice." It was initially a part of the hamburger steak brand "Ore no Hamburger Yamamoto," founded by Shohei Yamamoto in 2005. After rebranding to "Yamamoto's Hamburger" in 2016, Yamamoto started developing a new concept in 2019, which led to the birth of " 挽肉と米 ." The restaurant specializes in 100% freshly minced beef, grilled over charcoal right in front of the customers, and served with rice and other side dishes—all at an affordable price, providing diners with a top-notch hamburger steak experience.

The restaurant specializes in 100% freshly minced beef, grilled over charcoal right in front of the customers.

The Queue at " 挽肉と米 "

When the first store in Kichijoji opened in June 2020, it caused quite a sensation. To manage the high demand, each location has its own system to avoid overly long queues. For example, the Shibuya branch offers online reservations. In Kyoto, the restaurant operates from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with numbered tickets handed out before 9:00 a.m. Customers must collect a ticket and register their seating time with the staff. For instance, if your seating time is 7:00 p.m., you can return at that time with your ticket to be seated. This system prevents customers from waiting outside in the heat or rain for long periods. However, it's worth noting that even before 9:00 a.m., there's often a long line waiting for these numbered tickets. So, the early bird really does get the hamburger steak!

" 挽肉と米 " Kyoto shop The numbered ticket of " 挽肉と米 "

How to Enjoy " 挽肉と米 "

Once inside, customers place their order at a self-service ticket machine, which offers only one meal option—**the hamburger steak set meal** (¥1,600)—with a limit of three steaks per person, along with a drink selection. The seating arrangement is a semi-circular counter with a large charcoal grill in the center. Each seat has a guide on how to enjoy the meal, and customers can help themselves to a raw egg. You don’t have to order all three steaks if you're not that hungry—one or two steaks are perfectly fine. If you decide you want more after finishing your set, an additional steak can be added for ¥450.

Customers place their order at a self-service ticket machine. The seating arrangement is a semi-circular counter with a large charcoal grill in the center. Each seat has a guide on how to enjoy the meal.

During the wait, you can watch the staff grill the hamburger steaks over the charcoal, with the mouth-watering aroma filling the air. Once ready, the first steak is placed on a small personal charcoal grill in front of you to keep it warm. It's recommended to try the first one as-is, without any condiments, to savour the pure, juicy flavour of the grilled beef. The second steak can be enjoyed with the raw egg for added richness. There are also condiments like grated radish, soy sauce, yuzu salt, and garlic to further enhance the flavours. The third steak can be mixed and matched with your preferred seasonings. Despite eating up to three steaks, the combination of side dishes and condiments makes the meal surprisingly light and satisfying, leaving you feeling far from overwhelmed.

At ¥1,600 for three charcoal-grilled steaks with rice (with refills), it’s a steal that’s hard to beat!

Customers have a raw egg. The first steak is placed on a small personal charcoal grill in front of you to keep it warm. The name of the shop " 挽肉と米 " means Minced Meat and Rice.

挽肉と米 (Hikiniku to Come)

Address: 363 Kiyomotocho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Telephone:+81-(0)75-708-2529 Opening Hours: 8am-10am(Saturday and Sunday) 11am-3pm, 5pm-9pm (Closed: Wednesdays ) Website: https://hikinikutocome.com/