The Godburger — Restaurant in Kanazawa

Tourist trap. I have never written a review but this experience compelled me to write my first one. I really REALLY wanted to like this place. I live in Japan and love a good burger.They DO exist. This was a disappointment in every way except for the chips. They were genuinely good, but I didn't`t go there for the chips and you have to order them as there is no a la carte option. One of the many issues I had with this place. It starts with the queue outside. Regardless of weather, everyone waits on the stairs outside. We all stood directly in the hot sun for 30 minutes. There was a shady spot along the wall of the restaurant, but they would not let us stand there because of the shop next door. Understandable, but the shop was closed that day, so it made no sense. No sign-up sheet, or buzzer system so that you can go somewhere comfortable while you wait. I asked could we order take out? Nope. Can we order (and pay) in advance so that our food is ready when we sit? Nope. We finally enter after 30 minutes. No one around us has their food yet. Weird. We order. It then takes another 30 minutes for our burgers to arrive. The place is small, the grill is large. All they do is burgers and chips. The grill cook/owner did not appear to be doing anything other than manning the grill (and looking surly), so I can't understand how it takes 30 minutes to fill an order. When the food does arrive, it certainly looks good. Definitely picture-worthy. But the burger itself? Mediocre at best. Not juicy at all. Dense. Definitely well-done. They don't let you order how you would like it cooked either, so you get what you get. Now, I love the Omakase leave-it- to- the- chef system in Japan as much as the next person, because 99.9% of the time I am thrilled with what I get. Not this time. Burger? Weak. Bun? Airy and empty. Bacon? Soggy.

In addition to the mediocre burger and long wait, I noticed that the people seated at the counter (all foreign) were requested TWICE to move over to make room for other customers coming in. This is a big no-no in Japan, unless you know your customers well enough to ask them to do that, and especially after already having been made to wait outside. NOT cool. Oh, and I have to mention the embarrassingly large tip jar on the counter, written in English. 100% for foreign tourists who think they should tip. Offensive. Had I seen that first, I would have gone elsewhere. If you're a tourist, craving a mediocre burger that you can photograph, and you don't mind waiting an hour, overspending AND tipping, then enjoy. Otherwise, try attitude-free Shogun at Crossgate by the station , or even McDonalds up the street where at least you know what you're getting and it's 1/3 the price with impeccable service. And if you're in Tokyo, you can't go wrong...

Have been in Japan for two weeks, have been dominating the ramen and sushi train station scene for two weeks. Felt like some western food and I content saw peasant attempts at burgers in big areas like Shinjuku, shibuya, dotonburi and every other big name area in a big name city. My travels took me to Kanazawa, furtherly they took me to the samurai house to follow up my bloodline history. After discovering my blood lined heroic samurais I felt like conquering some local food dens. Su'ch a hungry quest took me to 'the godburger'. I scoffed at the name but was very impressed at the outside view, I then walked in and immediately loved the atmosphere inside. It was cosy and comf I looked at the menu and had the choice of either ordering the 8 burgers from a choice of 12 that I wanted or bite the the bullet and get one burger to decide my opinion on the whole shop. I got one burger. It was an understatement to say that the burger revolutionised my life. I wanted to be a part of this burger shop. It took over my life, I wanted to work, eat and live this place. Brilliant selection of foreign beers, amazing avocado rations per burger, in talking a full Avo to one burger. Thick as my thumb bacon per burger. Meat pattie filled with flavour and finely chopped onion. Upon the burger sat beautifully thick and cooked onion as well as fresh and wet pickles. I would sell one of my children for one of this burgers again. I love it and...

Fantastic burgers. Believe the hype. This is a simple concept restaurant. Brilliantly executed burgers and that's it. A scant, almost derisory amount of admittedly very good chips. No salads. No extras (unless they can be put in a burger) and no desserts (as far as we could see). A very good selection of beers.

The burgers themselves are truly impressive. The avocado, bacon and cheese is the big favourite but all have amazing buns, great vegetable additions (onions, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles) and fantastic beef patties.

A special shout out for the veggie burger. This actually has no burger but rather simply lots of great grilled vegetables, fried egg and cheese. My veggie daughter said this was somehow more authentic than a fake burger.

It's a really small place but a stylish and modern building with great staff. You will NOT be disappointed.

PLEASE NOTE that google maps is kinda inaccurate in how and where it shows this restaurant. I have tried to amend the map but they did not accept my edit. The building is correctly shown to the east of the little stream but access is only from the street across the stream (by a little footbridge). In other words cross over the stream by using the small streets to the immediate north or south of the restaurant and then you enter the restaurant from the western side. In the second photo you can see what I am describing. It's a shop a few doors along from the restaurant...