American Diner Andra

I had heard about American Diner Andra, and above all about their Touchdown Burger, a burger served on a sizzling cast-iron plate and given a proper bath in cheese sauce at the table. Honestly, I was a bit skeptical beforehand. It sounded like classic stunt food, meaning food that's mainly meant to look spectacular, be fun to film and look good on Instagram. Curiosity won out anyway, and I'm glad it did. American Diner Andra is a small burger restaurant in Higashi-Ueno in Taito, Tokyo, built around the American diner. The signature is the Touchdown Burger. The burger arrives on a hot cast-iron plate, the cheese sauce is poured over the sizzling surface at the table, and then the burger is pressed down into the middle of the cheese. The moment is made to be seen, but it's also a smart way to serve a burger, since the cheese stays warm and melted while you eat. The place is small and popular, so expect to wait a while. Here I was pleasantly surprised, because the Touchdown Burger really holds up on flavor too. The patty has a good crust, but what impressed me most was the cheese sauce. It's surprisingly well balanced, neither too mild nor too heavy, and it doesn't take over but complements the burger really well. A cheese sauce can easily drown everything else, but here you can tell someone has put thought into it. Eating the burger straight from the hot cast-iron plate with the melted cheese all around it also turns the meal into an experience, not just a burger. I queued for about 15 minutes before getting in. The space is quite small, and outside there's a list where you write your name. It keeps the queue orderly, so you know where you stand in the order. The cheese moment at the table then becomes a little show that gives the visit a playful feel even before you've taken the first bite. If you like burgers and you're in Tokyo, American Diner Andra is definitely worth a detour. The Touchdown Burger may look like a gimmick at first glance, but behind the show there's really good food. My tip is to put your name on the list outside as soon as you arrive, expect a short wait, and order the Touchdown Burger. It's what you come here for.