City’s first Japanese hamburg steak restaurant just opened in Toronto

A brand new spot that claims to be Toronto’s first authentic Japanese hamburg steak restaurant has just opened its doors, and even though it’s only in its soft opening phase, the place has already got people talking.

Boru is now specializing in Japanese hamburg steaks, also known as hambagu. The hamburg steaks in Japanese cooking are typically beef patties smothered in a kind of savoury sauce.

The new Toronto restaurant Boru is taking the hamburg steak traditions of Japan to the next level by serving them in what they call the “authentic Japanese” way. Sets of three hamburg steaks are served with unlimited free refills of rice for your bowl, and sets come with a gooey onsen egg, plus miso soup and radish on the side.

The beef patties are made with Canadian beef and are charcoal grilled, and the idea is that you place the onsen egg on top to create a sort of saucy effect, and from there you can add extra toppings to your hamburg steak rice bowl like salt and pepper, and sauces such as chili oil and ponzu.

The side dishes available at Boru are fresh kimchi, shiso cucumber and sansho pepper cabbage, and you can also add an extra fresh ground hamburger patty, free range egg and miso soup to your meal. Boru also serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

All the hamburg steaks are grilled to order right before the very eyes of diners eating their dinner, and the space makes it easy to get a good look at the cooking process. Each hamburg steak is served individually, one at a time, so that your next bite is always as fresh as it can possibly be.

The interior of Boru is dimly lit, with lots of bold black and rustic textures like brick, stone and wood. All seating at the restaurant, which isn’t too much, is solely focused around the cooking station that takes centre stage in the space. The design of the spot is minimal, with all seating at a curved bar facing the cooking station. Focused lighting keeps attention where it should be, on the food, and also creates a cool sophisticated atmosphere.

Currently, Boru is operating on a walk-in only basis, and seating is limited so take note that it’s suggested you show up early to grab a seat at the restaurant.

Boru is now soft open at 495 Adelaide St. W.