Yōshoku (Western-inspired Japanese cuisine) has evolved to a status where it can now be considered its own distinct genre of Japanese food.
Asakusa is lined with famous yoshoku restaurants, and “Restaurant Omiya Asakusa,” which has been in business for over 40 years, is one of them.
While every dish could be considered a signature menu item, the “Hamburger Steak Demi-Glace Sauce” has been a customer favorite since the restaurant’s founding.
“ハンバーグステーキデミグラスソース,” Hamburger Steak Demi-Glace Sauce 2,600 JPY (tax included)
Restaurant Omiya puts the “steak” in “hamburger steak”
One notable feature of Restaurant Omiya Asakusa’s hamburger steak is its shape. It is flattened and formed into a thin yet wide patty reminiscent of a traditional steak. This size and shape serve two purposes. First, forming it thin and flat allows for quick cooking. Second, the shortened cooking time prevents meaty juices from escaping, resulting in a unique texture.
The minced meat is carefully kneaded in a bowl set over ice water, preventing the fat from melting due to the warmth of the hands—a crucial step in ensuring juiciness.
The result is a hamburger patty with a bold, meaty flavor, akin to eating a steak. Freshly cracked black pepper, added just before cooking, enhances the aroma and adds a flavorful kick.
The dish is complemented by Lyonnaise potatoes, a simple yet flavorful French side dish. It’s a simple preparation of quickly sautéing onions, bacon, and boiled potatoes, then sprinkling cheese and finishing in the oven.
Lyonnaise potatoes
Once the hamburger steak and Lyonnaise potatoes are plated, the dish is completed with a drizzle of the restaurant’s special demi-glace sauce.
The demi-glace sauce, prepared over two weeks, has a particularly rich umami due to its slow simmering.
But that’s not all. Restaurant Omiya Asakusa’s demi-glace sauce has a subtle bitterness within its umami and richness. This bitterness enhances the hamburger steak’s juicy flavor, adding depth and character.
Yoshoku that pairs perfectly with rice
The hamburger steak served during lunch can be paired with your choice of rice or bread. They deliberately cook rice in a copper pot to make it slightly firm and use homemade bread, highlighting their attention to detail.
While both are excellent choices, given the restaurant’s motto of making “yoshoku that pairs with rice”, rice seems to be the go-to option.
The rice is made with Aizu Keisho Mai Ujisato, a premium brand known for its sweet aroma and rich flavor. This adds a subtle sweetness that complements rather than overpowers the hamburger steak, enhancing its richness.
Melt-in-your mouth wagyu beef curry
Another highly recommended dish at Restaurant Omiya Asakusa is the “Japanese Beef Curry.”
“黒毛和牛ビーフカレー,” Japanese Beef Curry 2,980 JPY (tax included)
Curry is also highly popular in yoshoku cuisine, with its deliciousness appreciated not just in Japan but internationally.
The restaurant’s curry boasts generous chunks of wagyu beef sirloin.
They sauté garlic and ginger in herb-infused oil before grilling the sirloin, highlighting its distinct flavor. To preserve the wagyu’s taste and texture, they deliberately avoid simmering the meat along with the curry roux.
The roux, made from a chicken stock base, offers a deep umami rather than spiciness. This umami is carefully extracted by simmering chicken bones for 6-8 hours, which adds another layer of flavor to the roux’s overall taste.
Paired with tender wagyu sirloin, added later in the cooking process, it becomes even more exquisite!
Each spoonful, combining the mildly spiced roux, the sweetness and tanginess of vegetables, and the richness of the sirloin, delivers an exceptional culinary experience.
Abundant appetizers at night
Beyond the dishes mentioned, Restaurant Omiya Asakusa offers course meals during dinner. They also have an extensive wine selection to enjoy alongside the food.
Interior of Restaurant Omiya Asakusa
Located just a three-minute walk from Kaminarimon gate and with windows overlooking Asakusa’s bustling streets, it offers a great atmosphere.
For those wanting to enjoy cuisine with the street scene as a backdrop, May is a recommended time to visit. During the annual Sanja Matsuri, one of Tokyo’s three great festivals, the restaurant’s second-floor window becomes an ideal viewing spot.
Why not create unforgettable memories of your Asakusa visit with an exceptional meal at Restaurant Omiya Asakusa?
Information
| Store name | レストラン大宮 浅草本店 Restaurant Omiya Asakusa |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-1-3 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
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| Access |
Asakusa Station 2-minute walk from Exit 6
Asakusa Station 5-minute walk from Exit A1
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| Phone number | 03-3844−0038 |
| Reservations | Accepted only during lunchtime on weekdays, and dinnertime on weekends Phone |
| Payment |
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| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | Tue-Sat. 11:30-14:00, 17:30-20:30 Sun. & nat’l holidays 11:30-14:30, 17:00-20:00 |
| Closed | Monday Unscheduled holidays |
| Seating | 25 seats 16 table seats, 9 counter seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://0038.info/asakusa |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of November 2024.
