Japan’s viral hamburg spot Hikiniku to Come comes to Singapore, opens tomorrow (May 30) at VivoCity
Here’s a sneak peek of what’s to come at Hikiniku to Come, which has finally come to Singapore.
Yeah, that sentence is a mouthful — just like the thicc and juicy charcoal-grilled hamburg patties the viral Japanese brand is renowned for.
Those who frequent Japan, or are planning to go, probably have their social media feed feeding them with countless clips of Hikiniku to Come.
Hikiniku to Come was first founded in 2020 in Tokyo’s hip Kichichoji neighbourhood and has experienced a meteoric rise to fame.
Its virality is so intense that you either have to book online a month or so beforehand, or join the long queues that spawn early in the morning, filled with people hoping to clinch a dining slot later in the day.
Naturally, we are happy that fellow Japanese-food enthusiasts will now finally have a chance to indulge in Hikiniku to Come’s offerings, not in Tokyo, but in Singapore at VivoCity.
That said, what we have learnt from history is that viral Japanese brands — Shin Udon is a great example — will still see snaking lines when they open locally.
Chonky charcoal-grilled hamburgs
Like many reputable Japanese F&B brands, Hikiniku to Come specialises in one signature dish only: Its charcoal-grilled Japanese hamburg.
In fact, there is only one main dish on the menu, and that is the Hikiniku to Come set (S$27.90), which comes with three pieces of hamburg, refillable rice, miso soup, and a raw Japanese egg.
If three aren’t enough for you, extra patties are available with a S$7.90 top-up.
Each hamburg patty is made with 100% Japanese beef and grilled a la minute in the open kitchen, which allows you a glimpse of all that glorious charcoal-grilling action.
Once done, the patty will be placed right in front of you, over a grill, still smoking and dripping with juices, ready for you to dig in.
Before you begin, however, remember to read the instructions Hikiniku to Come leaves at your seat — the brand actually gives diners three different ways to appreciate the three patties.
1. First method: As-is
The first way to eat the hamburg is…well, just eat it.
More specifically, Hikiniku to Come encourages customers to simply take a big bite of the patty, fresh off the grill and without condiments, to enjoy all that juicy goodness and smoky aroma.
The right way to judge a Japanese hamburg is based on its flavour and texture alone, and this was superb.
Not only does it gush juice and boasts the most tender and crumbly texture, it’s also nice and rich, and smothered with a kiss of sexy charcoal smoke.
On top of that, this is also the best way to enjoy the Japanese rice.
The rice is freshly cooked, and painstakingly prepared, being washed and soaked for 12 hours, before being rested in sake for an hour.
Naturally, with all that effort, the rice comes extra silky and fluffy, with a good fragrance and starchiness to it — the best companion to pair with Hikiniku to Come’s hamburgs.
Currently, the Singapore outlet is serving rice sourced from Aomori, but Hikiniku to Come doesn’t stick to just one region, as it will regularly rotate between sources, based on the taste!
2. Second method: With radish and vinegar
Compared to the first method, the second was quite different: Topping it with grated radish and ponzu vinegar.
While the first way lets you try the hamburg in its purest, most decadent form, these two ingredients instead add a sleek contrast to balance out the heft of flavours.
The staff will hand you a mound of grated radish and a bottle of Hikiniku to Come’s homemade ponzu vinegar, and you can choose however much you want to add.
You can pile on more fresh and light radish to introduce a refreshing kick to the fray, whereas the vinegar adds quite the moreish touch of acidity to cut through everything.
If the radish given isn’t enough, you can get extra radish for an extra S$1.90!
3. Third method: With egg
So, remember the raw Japanese egg we mentioned earlier?
It actually has a very important role to play in the Hikiniku to Come dining experience, as the essential finishing touch.
Just like with many barbecued meats, guests are instructed to dip their hamburgs into the beaten egg yolk, which enrobes the meat with a plush and velvety texture,
Alternatively, you can douse it into the rice, with a splash of soy sauce to create a bowl of tamago kake gohan (egg over rice).
Or you can do it both ways, if you’d like, by adding on S$1.90 for an extra egg.
The other stuff at Hikiniku to Come
Aside from the eponymous Hikiniku to Come set, the Singapore outlet also offers two different side dishes for those who aren’t satisfied with merely rice and meat: Raw kimchi (S$7.90) and potato salad with minced meat (S$7.90).
Of the two, we were most impressed by the latter.
This one is nicely refreshing, sporting a smooth and uniquely meaty texture, and also has a dose of umami that lets it stand out from the usual Japanese potato salad.
But ultimately, the chief reason to visit is still for the great Japanese hamburg — Hikiniku to Come easily makes it one of the best you can get in Singapore.
This was a hosted tasting.
For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on Singapore’s latest, chicest Korean-inspired cafe at Tanjong Pagar and a new fresh pasta spot we recently discovered in Thomson!
Tue 11am - 10pm
Wed 11am - 10pm
Thu 11am - 10pm
Fri 11am - 10pm
Sat 11am - 10pm
Sun 11am - 10pm
- HarbourFront
Evan started off writing about food on Instagram, before joining outlets such as Buro and Confirm Good to pursue his passion. His best work usually comes after his first whisky shot in the morning.
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