Yen Burger — Restaurant in London

I was so excited for this opening but couldn’t have been more disappointed. Bad food aside, it’s very muddled- high end prices/menu/flavours, yet all tables have cheap Ketchup/Mayo... They offer gyoza but don’t have chopsticks (or any kind of condiments to dip them in). They came dry as a bone so we asked for some soy sauce. They said they didn’t have any -so had to go to the kitchen to get some from the chef, which took about 10 mins, by which time the gyoza were cold. We did however appreciate that the waitress tried- she was really nice.

I’ve never sent anything back in a restaurant before but I made an exception for my yen burger. The menu says all burgers are cooked “pink (medium)”. Our waitress asked us individually how we wanted them to be cooked- I asked for medium rare which is my preference. All our burgers arrived, and were so far beyond well done they were grey (and tasteless). It was also supposed to be wagyu beef which I’ve had before, but the texture was very tough and the burger flavourless (and for £13 you would at least expect it to be cooked to order). I politely (and discreetly) spoke to the waiter about it who was really lovely.

Then a few minutes later the manager (or FOH manager), came to our table and was unbelievably rude. We were all flabbergasted.

She basically said that we were lying because they never offer burgers medium rare- it’s simply not done. We asked why then, had the waitress asked us how we wanted them cooked and written our orders down individually? She claimed the waitress was wrong to do that.

My point was- if all burgers are served “pink (medium)” as standard, why were ours tough and grey? She had no response but then accused me of sending my food back too late, and eating too much of it (two bites). She then said because of this she refused to take it off the bill....

I then told her I wouldn’t be paying for it (I hate to do that but we were so frustrated and felt totally cheated). She then left us waiting for the bill for 30 mins (the restaurant was dead)... It arrived and they’d finally taken it off.

We couldn’t wait to get out the door (and won’t be back).

We had a family reservation at their main Yen restaurant on the Strand, which we...

I walked in around 8pm on Friday Night and the place had the same vibe as a funeral, near empty and frowns all around, should have booked it out of there but thought, ah why not. Well, £20 and an automatic gratuity later, I'm wishing I had.

I order a Tofu burger which from the menu looked appealing, and some chips (as no added extras for you!) Alongside a lemonade, which as I later find out had its own added extra.

The food arrives from the poor server who was stuck in a corner for most of my stay, looking wistfully in my direction while I look into my phone to avoid a 20 min staring contest.

The burger tasted okay to start, but I immediately find a really not nice crunch when biting through the inch of cheese on top... is Tofu meant to crunch? And is watery fluid meant to pop out the sides? These questions I have to sadly say, remain unanswered. The chips didn't fair much better, tasted hard and the spice on top didn't add much favour if any.

After a second hard crunch from the burger I knew something was up and called the server over; we exchanged a philosophical treatise on the nature of Tofu, a discussion into the Youngs Modulus of chips and after waiting for the inevitable discussion regarding refunding the order, I had no such success.

So I resigned my position of this verbal game of Chess to pay and never return, at which point I see a poor fly lying dead in my drink, I am afraid to say, that I didn't have the heart to sample that either.

The bill comes along with its added gratuity which I ask to be removed as I prefer to pay tips in cash, at which point the server played coy by saying that its better if I just pay in card with big sad eyes.

So that's the story of how I paid £20 to remain hungry and to never return to a japanese burger bar in Borough. Woe is me, should have spent it on two and a half beers...

I cannot praise Yen Burger enough for being an absolute delight! This little gem, discovered during our stroll around London Bridge, is a must-visit for Pan Asian Fusion food enthusiasts. From the moment we entered, we were greeted with warm smiles and exceptional service.

The Bao buns at Yen Burger were an absolute highlight. Soft, pillowy, and bursting with flavor, they truly melted in our mouths. The Yen Supreme, a wagyu beef Bao Bun Burger, was a true standout. The premium quality of the wagyu beef combined with the delightful fusion of Asian flavors made it a memorable culinary experience.

In addition to the mouthwatering burgers, we also savored the dashi chips, a unique twist on traditional fries, were wonderfully seasoned with “red-salt” or “Chip Spice” as it is known from where I am from.

Aside from the exceptional food, the front of house of Yen Burger deserve special recognition. Their kindness and welcoming nature elevated our dining experience. Their attention to detail and commitment to providing top-notch service left a lasting impression.

In conclusion, Yen Burger near Borough Market and London Bridge is an absolute treasure. From the delectable Bao buns to the perfectly executed burgers and sides, every bite is a celebration of Pan Asian flavors. Combine that with the warm hospitality of the owners, and you have a recipe for an unforgettable dining experience. I am already looking forward to my next trip to London, just to have another exceptional meal...