Hamburger Shop where people in them 70s come to eat

“They come to eat hamburgers that they ate when they were young.”

“Older people long for the hamburger”

Hamburger Shop before McDonald’s opened

It is located around the middle of Daiei-dori shopping street. There is a brick building and the words “coffee and hamburger” are written in large letters. I bet that many customers decide to come because of the retro look and aroma of coffee. The owner is Nobuyoshi Hagiwara. He opened “Coffee & Hamburger Hagi” 45 years ago. At first, he opened in front of Arashiyama Station. “McDonald’s was opened 3 years later after I started this shop. No one knew hamburger at that time, I think.”

It all started when his old sister went to Hawaii and went to a hamburger shop over. “I heard my sister went a hamburger shop where is a brick building like this shop. She ate a hamburger for the first time and she was amazed at the deliciousness. She told me that she wants to make the same one in Japan…” 45 years later, he owns 2 hamburger shops with his sister.

Special Order Buns and Patty; It is Hagi’s Secret

When people eat Hagi’s hamburger, they are amazed at the deliciousness of buns. It is rich in flavor and furthermore, it matches with the patty. “These are special orders. Since we opened, I ordered the same one. However, the size is different every day because these are hand-made. Sometimes it is too big, sometimes it is too small.” Buns are made from ingredients which are special blended to be moist. Because it is hand-made, the size is different one by one. The other secret of the deliciousness is the original patty. Every morning, he prepares ground beef and pork, onion and spices. After taking an order, he cooks it carefully on a greased iron plate. “Because it is a small iron plate, I can’t cook a lot at once. When we get a lot of orders, I have to ask customers to wait.” Although buns are irregular in size and customers need to wait for long time, only these buns and patties make Hagi’s hamburger.

Nostalgic taste, Memorable Hamburger

Speaking of hamburger shops, young people come to eat. However, this shop is a little bit different. “I cannot forgot the taste of the hamburger I ate in Arashiyama when I was young.” So saying, an old man ordered a hamburger happily. At lunch time, many young people and older people come. This is “Hagi” style. “Although taste might be changing with the times, I serve the same one.” Also today, there are many older people who enjoy home-roasted siphon coffee and fill their mouths with the hamburger.