Founded in 1979, “Monburan Asakusa” is one of the most popular restaurants in Asakusa’s competitive dining scene. Their specialty is juicy hamburger steaks made exclusively with Japanese beef.
Select from six nationally-themed sauces
One of the distinctive features of Monburan’s famous hamburger steaks is their selection of six sauces. Each sauce represents a different country: France, Netherlands, Russia, Mexico, Italy, and Japan.
The most popular is the “Dutch-style Hamburger Steak” with cheese sauce, inspired by the Netherlands, famous for its dairy products. It’s generously topped with a special sauce combining béchamel sauce, cheddar cheese, and aromatic, thick cheese.
“オランダ風ハンバーグ,” Dutch-style Hamburger Steak 1,320 JPY (tax included)
The cheese sauce, made from a recipe unchanged since the restaurant’s founding, is exquisite from its rich aroma alone.
Heated on a sizzling iron plate, it stimulates the appetite with its fragrance!
Its flavor is a perfect blend of richness, sweetness, tartness, and aroma. The four ingredients used in the cheese sauce complement each other, bringing out their unique flavors.
The other sauces are equally recommended. From the spicy tomato sauce of the “Mexican-style” to the “Japanese-style” with its soy-based sauce including grated onions, the variety of six sauces makes choosing part of the fun!
Thick hamburger steak inspired by Mont Blanc mountain
The hamburger steak’s second distinctive trait is its thickness, a nod to the Mont Blanc mountain, the restaurant’s namesake. With an impressive thickness of about 5 cm (2 inches), it’s crafted to reflect the peak’s 4,800-meter height.
They use Japanese chuck roll beef. The recipe for their hamburger steak is intentionally kept very simple—with just salt, pepper, a touch of egg, and breadcrumbs—so the distinctive sauces they’re paired with can truly shine.
The cooking method is special to enhance the juiciness. First, they sear the surface in a frying pan to create a barrier that keeps the meaty juices in.
Then it’s finished in the oven, allowing the juices to circulate. They remove it from the oven when it’s 90% cooked, allowing the residual heat to complete the cooking while maintaining a fresh-cooked texture until the last bite.
Hearty beef curry will definitely fill you up!
While famous for hamburgers, Monburan Asakusa also excels in other yōshoku (Western-inspired Japanese cuisine) dishes. Yoshoku, which evolved uniquely within Japan, has recently gained popularity among international tourists.
One highly recommended dish is their “Beef Curry.” With generous cuts of beef brisket, it’s a hearty, satisfying meal!
“ビーフカレー,” Beef Curry 1,188 JPY (tax included)
The dish features incredibly tender meat, even in large chunks, thanks to six hours of slow cooking the beef in a rich roux. With a mild spice that tingles your throat, it leaves a light sweat on your brow.
According to the owner, the key to the curry’s exceptional flavor is this roux, which costs more in labor than the ingredients themselves. The from-scratch preparation ensures thorough infusion of flavors and richness.
The rakkyō (pickled shallots) and fukujinzuke (Japanese pickles often served with curry) are essential accompaniments adding tanginess to the spicy, rich curry roux.
Their light tartness complements it perfectly, adding crunch and a satisfying finish.
(left) fukujinzuke, (right) rakkyo
Huge fried shrimp with exquisite homemade tartar sauce!
The “Fried Shrimp” offers excellent value and is a must-try dish at the restaurant.
“エビフライ,” Fried Shrimp 1,628 JPY (tax included)
Three large fried shrimp are luxuriously served on the plate! The crispy coating is thin, revealing generous portions of shrimp meat inside. There’s no attempt to make them appear larger with thick breading – these are genuinely special fried shrimp!
The shrimp’s bold presence allows you to fully enjoy the satisfying texture of its firm, succulent meat. It’s surprising that this dish is priced so reasonably at just 1,628 JPY (tax included).
The restaurant’s original tartar sauce, like the curry roux, is also homemade. Its main component is a handmade mayonnaise.
With reduced vinegar content, the mayonnaise is less tangy than usual. It’s mixed with traditional ingredients like onions, pickles, and eggs, then seasoned with salt, pepper, and lemon.
While the ingredients used are the same as in a typical tartar sauce, the homemade mayonnaise creates a memorable flavor.
The slightly sweet tartar sauce with restrained tanginess pairs perfectly with the fried shrimp.
Monburan Asakusa is popular throughout the day
Monburan Asakusa is a restaurant that has long been loved by local customers.
Its reputation has spread beyond Asakusa, attracting visitors from afar seeking out the restaurant’s cuisine.
Exterior of Monburan Asakusa
Why do so many people flock to Monburan Asakusa? One taste of their dishes will make it clear!
Their carefully crafted, uncompromising dishes continue to charm visitors to Asakusa.
Interior of Monburan Asakusa
Information
| Store name | モンブラン浅草店 Monburan Asakusa |
|---|---|
| Address | Famille Asakusa Building 1F, 1-8-6 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Asakusa Station 4-minute walk from Exit 2
Asakusa Station 4-minute walk from Exit A1
|
| Phone number | 03-5827-2771 |
| Reservations | Accepted Phone |
| Payment |
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| Hours | 11:00-21:30（last order: food 21:00, drinks 21:30） |
| Closed | Wednesday |
| Seating | 65 seats 9 counter seats, 56 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://monburan.co.jp/ |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of October 2024.
