Best bun-less burgers in Tokyo

Lately, Tokyoites have begun jumping on the Western hamburger bandwagon at breakneck speed – ask anyone who lives here and they'll have an opinion on where to find the city's best burger. But just in case you're bored with the run-of-the-mill bun, patty, lettuce and tomato, we now have a host of 'specialty' versions cropping up too. We're not sure if you can technically call a burger without a bun a hamburger, but hey, it's good for cutting down on wheat and kilojoules if you're that way inclined. Here are ten of our favourite bun-less burger meals to get you started.

Gotanda: Meat Yazawa

Meat Yazawa is a wagyu beef specialist, using premium A5 grade kuroge-wagyu for their hamburgers and steaks. The quality of the meat is exceptional and the meals are incredibly satisfying. There is also an excellent selection of sophisticated side dishes on the menu. You can expect to pay a little more than other restaurants (lunch menu ¥1,050), but it's worth it. The kuroge-wagyu fresh hamburger is seasoned perfectly and tastes delicious just as it is. Map and contact

Ginza: Tsubameya

Run by the folks behind Tsubameya Grill, one of Ginza's classic meat eateries, Tsubameya offers superb kuroge-wagyu beef at surprisingly reasonable prices. All their steaks are juicy, low-fat cuts served with a selection of condiments – we enjoyed the thick veal sauce, which made for a nice combo with the perfectly cooked meat. Their spicy wagyu hamburg steaks are also well worth sampling, perhaps with a draft of Erdinger weissbier or a glass of fine red wine. Map and contact

Ginza: Teppanyaki Miyachi

Reasonable prices, brand meat and a relaxed atmosphere – teppanyaki joint Miyachi is not your typical uptight Ginza restaurant. Made with matsunaga beef from Shimane and kita-satsuma beef from Kagoshima, both aged for up to two months, the hamburger steaks here are a true highlight. Head over for lunch, when even the best stuff is available from ¥1,000, sit back and watch the juicy treats get cooked right in front of you. Lunch sets come with miso soup, rice and vegetables, as well as a choice of sauce (tip: try the fruit-flavoured demi-glace). Map and contact

Ichigaya: Raimuraito

Most customers stop by for lunch here and order the Raimuraito cheese hamburger (¥1,380), which features a delicious garlic-butter-flavoured patty and a rich, creamy cheese sauce. We also like their specialty citrus-based ponzu sauce, which complements a dish of wagyu beef and tempura. Map and contact

Ebisu: Kuroge Shichirin

A charcoal grill ensures that the top-quality A5 rank Japanese beef is cooked to crispy perfection. Drenched in a rich red wine sauce, this patty serves as a meal in itself (¥1,100). Map and contact

Sasazuka: Restaurant ASA

You have to admit, this papillote of wagyu beef burger (¥1,944) looks tantalising. Wrapped in its little foil nest, it's more like a veg and beef stew than a hamburger but, still, there is a patty in there. It's steamed rather than grilled, which means the meat is extra tender, and the homemade bacon on top rounds off the dish with a solid salty kick. Map and contact

Shinjuku: Hamburg Will

Instead of beef, Hamburg Will moulds its soft and juicy patties out of 100% pork from Iwate Prefecture. You can choose from three sauces to go with your meal: demi-glace, mustard cream or yuzu pepper. There are a variety of burger dishes on the menu, but even the plain hamburger (¥1,000) makes a satisfying lunchtime eat (last order 2pm). Map and contact

Ikebukuro: Miyazaki-tei

As its name suggests, Miyazaki-tei uses Miyazaki Beef in all its dishes. They eschew spices such as nutmeg or pepper, preferring to let the natural flavour of this top quality meat to come through. The patties are gently kneaded and served with a tasty gravy. Munch on garlic chips (¥120) as a side dish. Map and contact

Asakusa: Monburan

This popular restaurant is a good option if you're visiting the nearby Sensoji Temple. It's well-known for using 100% domestic beef and serving piping hot hamburgers in six different varieties including French-style with demi-glace, Japanese-style with soy sauce, and Mexican-style with spicy tomato sauce. We recommned the Dutch-style hamburger (¥918) for its rich and sizzling cheese sauce. Map and contact

Sendagi: Ryu

The main attraction at this rustic spot is the Russian-style 'burger' (¥1,300), which is big enough to account for more than half the plate. The patty is buried in a rich and creamy demi-glace sauce, balanced with vegetables such as pumpkin, potatoes, carrots and green soybeans – all topped off with an egg. Add a squeeze of lemon before eating, to make the flavours last longer. Map and contact