Testimonials

Kyoto University is located in the Sakyo Ward of Kyoto City. Along the Higashioji Street, which runs right next to the university, there is a specialty hamburg steak restaurant, "James Kitchen," that is extremely popular among students. 
For over 20 years, it has held a special place in the hearts of Kyoto University students. The exterior of the shop is painted in a calming shade of vermilion.
At the side of the entrance, you'll often find tables filled with lunchboxes during lunchtime.
The interior is warm and inviting, with a cozy counter and extra seating upstairs, making it perfect for up to 25 people during busy times.
As you enter, the irresistible scent of sizzling Hamburg steak fills the space.

I spoke with Mrs. Kurata, who runs the restaurant with her husband. 
The staff includes part-time students and housewives from the neighborhood, and the restaurant is usually run by three to four people. 
As a hamburg steak specialty restaurant, the menu is quite diverse. The most popular item was asked about, and the reply was, "They're all equally popular."

Interior (left) and menu sign (right)

Serving Hamburg Steak Set Meals with Rice from Fuwarica

The restaurant serves about 50kg of rice a day. About 150 takeaway lunchboxes are prepared during the one-hour lunch rush.
Additionally, the restaurant serves about 150 people per day for dine-in meals. 
When dining in, the customers can choose from five different portion sizes for the rice: one bite (50g), small (250g), regular (300g), large (450g), and extra-large (500g). This variety is especially popular with hungry students.
In the past, they used to scoop the rice by hand. Part-time staff had to be trained to mix the rice before serving. With five different portion sizes, the amount served depended on each person’s judgment, leading to inconsistencies. This became a challenge.
That's when they were introduced to Fuwarica by a vendor.
After implementing it, the problem of uneven rice servings was easily solved.
Now, not only in the kitchen on the first floor but also on the second floor, they have two Fuwarica machines, handling 50kg of rice each day. 
"The best part is that it serves hot rice in consistent portions, no matter who’s serving. The machine also loosens the rice, making it nice and fluffy, and even shows how much is left. Plus, it’s so fast that serving time is much shorter, which really helps during the busy lunch rush," they shared.

Demiglace Sauce Hamburg Steak Set (Left)
Rice-Serving Machine Fuwarica GST-RRA (Right)

Not just on weekdays, but even on weekends, the restaurant sees an overwhelming number of student visitors. The biggest draw is undoubtedly the taste and generous portion of the Hamburg steak. A variety of sauces, including demiglace, cream sauce, curry sauce, garlic butter, and spicy mayo, add to its appeal.
Mrs. Kurata says, "Our Hamburg steaks aren’t made with fancy ingredients. We simply use everyday ingredients and prepare them with care, just like a homemade meal."
Students flock to the restaurant for its comforting home-style Hamburg steak. The irresistible combination of juicy patties and steaming hot rice keeps them coming back for more.
Fuwarica seems to support the restaurant’s daily operations while helping to satisfy the appetites of the students who regularly visit.

Mrs. Kurata and Fuwarica GST-RRA(Left)
Popular Demiglace Sauce Hamburg Steak (Upper Right)
Menu Panel (Lower Right)

The name of the restaurant, 'James Kitchen,' comes from their fondness for James Brown.