Homework's Hiroo — Restaurant in Tokyo

THE PREMISE: I was expecting the best a gourmet burger could offer based on the premise on the first page of the menu. This place always had long lines. I thought it was for great flavor!

ON SECOND THOUGHT: I think the long lines are combination of slow service and having only a few tables in an area with lots of visitors from abroad. Not many options at lunchtime around here if you are craving western style food. Best way to sell substandard food at high prices is to sell to a starving crowd with no knowledge and no other obvious options.

The GOOD: The avocado burger had a whole avocado sliced. Nice!!

The BAD: The burger tasted like it was meat mixed with cardboard to help stretch the ingredients. It crumbled and was super dry. The bread was of the same consistency of cardboard. Usually, a great burger does not need any ketchup, mustard, or anything else. It just tastes great. This burger needed mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard to make it edible. The bread I had to leave uneaten because it was so dry.

WINE?: There are only two options for wine Red or White. The white was a 500 yen bottle of wine sold for 500 yen a glass. (Brisa Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 from Chile. Vivino shows 539yen a bottle). It was not a great wine. The red was slightly better.

MY THOUGHTS: I came for the burger. I will never go back. It felt like they were using their status of longevity from 1985 as the reason to be cheap on the ingredients.

UGH: The tomatoes were stored in the wine case along with the avocados. The bread was sitting on top of a box next to the register.

HELP: I am certain the chefs could cook a better burger if they had better ingredients.

SUGGESTIONS: I wanted to talk to the owner and suggest changes to keep customers coming back…but decided I was too upset at the moment to be polite. Now, a couple days later and I dont’ have the time to hunt down the info or visit again. So here I am making my first negative review on Google. Sorry…..

TALK: Owner, if you would like to hear more from me on my visit, reach out with a reply. I would gladly come in and share my thoughts.

I left this place feeling like a McDonald’s burger would do me better. And I don’t like McDonalds.

BETTER BURGER OPTIONS: MosBurger, Freshness Burger and a dozen or more small burger shops all over Tokyo are far better, with better ingredients and wonderful flavor.

WHO IS THIS PLACE FOR: If you like dry American burgers that taste like cardboard, this is the only place in Japan you will find them. Come on down. I saw lots of positive reviews that praised their integrity at making real American Burgers. Okay. This is your place. Weird that you prefer cardboard soaked in ketchup to taste good, but they will serve this up the way you like it! : )

SUMMARY: If you like food that tastes like real good food that you want to tell all your friends about…this is not...

Institution, that’s the best way to describe this quaint sandwich/burger joint that has been in operation since 1985.

As of 2025, none of the issues from the other reviews were apparent during my visit, there were no loose ingredients placed anywhere, food was served quickly, with a high standard and the staff were responsive. Prices are fair and the set completes most choices quite nicely with a small serving of soup which hits the spot in cold weather.

The restaurant itself is picturesque and the facilities are clean (if that is a consideration for you).

Having tried a few of their sandwiches, I’d recommend them in the following order: Reuben (rye untoasted) BLT (rye toasted) club...

I used to eat at the roppongi hills location a few years back and remember it being good. Unfortunately, today's veggie burger was uninspiring. Kind of flabby and seemed heated up in a warmer or microwave rather than a grill. One small lonely slice of pickle. Pale undercooked fries. I'm glad they have veg options, but overpriced for what it is. I didn't finish my food. Better veggie burgers down the street...