There is a long-established Western-style restaurant about a five-minute walk from Kitaoji Subway Station, where the lines are long. That is the "Grill Hasegawa," which we will introduce today. The wooden signboard with "HASEGAWA" written in large letters and showcases lined with food samples give the restaurant a charming appearance. The eye-catching retro exterior gives the impression of the dignity and history of a long-established restaurant that has been in business for more than 60 years.

The store's appearance makes you stop in your tracks, and at lunchtime there is always a line in front of the store, so even if you don't know where it is, if you follow the crowd, you will naturally find it.

The interior, decorated with lamps and paintings and lined with wooden tables and red leather sofas, is as retro as the exterior. As described on the website as having a "Southern European atmosphere," the classic structure of the restaurant is somewhat reminiscent of Europe. Although the restaurant is spacious, it is very popular, and the seats fill up quickly.

At the time of our visit, Christmas was near, and the restaurant was decorated with a tree and wreaths. The décor also emphasizes a sense of the season, and the restaurant's meticulous ingenuity can be felt in the decor.

The menu list includes a variety of items such as hamburgers, fried shrimp, fried scallops, steaks, and various cutlets including chicken, pork, beef, and hele. In addition to the regular menu, there is a lunch menu that changes daily. The menu includes children's lunch, omelette rice, curry rice, spaghetti, and other dishes that are popular with both adults and children, making it easy to bring the whole family. There is also a take-out counter in the corner of the restaurant, where you can purchase your lunch boxes. Reservations can also be made, and the same daily lunch specials can be enjoyed as at the eat-in counter. The menu can also be viewed on the official website, and it is nice to be able to check the menu in advance. (The menu in the photo has been revised in November 2024. For current prices, please visit the website.)

The specialty of such a restaurant is hamburgers. The hamburgers come in a wide variety of sauces and combinations. The hamburger steak on the menu is seasoned with the restaurant's special ketchup sauce. Those with the name of another sauce listed are other sauces. The original ketchup sauce is described on the website as "Hasegawa's special ketchup sauce with unforgettable taste.

The hamburgers are made with ingenuity in terms of ingredients and the process of making them. The hamburgers are made with thick, sweet onions from Awaji Island, carefully selected Wagyu beef, special breadcrumbs, salt, and other carefully selected ingredients, and are cooked by hand and made to order.

I was one of those who were so fascinated by the deliciousness of the hamburger steak that I frequented the restaurant. I still remember the first time I had a hamburger steak from the restaurant.
The most important thing to note is the tenderness of the meat. The hamburger steak is so tender that it can be cut with just a touch of chopsticks, and you can tell how tender it is even before you eat it. The juicy flavor of the meat is concentrated as it melts on the tongue. The juicy beef is complemented by the fragrant and sweet onions, which further accentuate the individual flavors of the beef. The sweetness of the beef is brought out without any cloying taste, which is due to the restaurant's cooking method in which the onions are slowly sauteed and left to soak overnight to remove their acridity. In this way, Grill Hasegawa spares no effort in the preparation of its hamburgers, and each and every ingredient is carefully examined.

In addition, one should not forget the "Hasegawa's special ketchup sauce" on the hamburger steak. The rich, concentrated tomato-flavored sauce is a perfect match. When served with the hamburger steak, you cannot help but smile at its deliciousness. The hamburger steak is a true masterpiece, made with the finest ingredients, including beef with a soft and fluffy texture, sweet onions that enhance the flavor, and a unique ketchup sauce that you won't find anywhere else.

What is surprising is that this hamburger was created from the owner's own recipe. Since the establishment of the restaurant, the owner has placed the utmost importance on the ingredients and cooking method. This is reflected in the way he changes the beef distribution daily depending on the texture, and in the way he cooks each hamburger by hand in a frying pan upon receiving an order. ［The flavor of Grill Hasegawa is truly a product of the owner's trial and error and tireless efforts since its establishment.

In addition to hamburgers, the author especially recommends the following menu items.

The first is fried prawns. The oversized fried prawns, which are deep-fried after opening the prawn meat, have a striking visual impact that will make you look twice when they are served. The breadcrumbs are carefully and finely coated and deep-fried so that the prawns are fragrant and you can enjoy the crunchy texture as you bite into them. The thick and juicy prawns are perfectly balanced, and the combination of the two brings out the best in each other. The accompanying homemade tartar sauce is also a perfect match. If you want to taste both the hamburger steak and the fried prawns, the A-mix combination is recommended. It is a set that includes a hamburger steak, fried prawns, salad, and spaghetti on a single plate.

The second is the fried scallops, which personally shocked me as much as the hamburger steak. The photo shows the hamburger steak and fried scallop set menu. Next to the hamburger steak are two large fried scallops that also make a big impact. The crispy batter and thick scallop fries are very chewy, and the natural sweetness and flavor of the scallops are concentrated in the batter, making them very tasty. The fried scallops are delicious on their own, but they are even better when served with a squeeze of lemon and homemade tartar sauce.

As well as hamburgers, dishes such as the fried prawns and fried scallops introduced here are varied, so if you have the opportunity, please try the various menu items.

［Grill Hasegawa has a carefully handmade flavor that has remained unchanged since its establishment. This is due in large part to the owner's persistence and tireless efforts in the preparation of his cuisine. The taste of the food is even more delicious when you taste it while feeling such enthusiasm and passion.