Taste of Japan: Surrender to the garlic with juicy hamburger steak meal in Yokosuka

(Takahiro Takiguchi)

Thanks to its surroundings, Yokosuka is a treasure box of restaurants serving up delicious meals using local produce and fresh fish. Among the many options, my family and I often visit Family Garden, a steak restaurant perfect for a celebratory meal.

Family Garden is less than 10 minutes away from Yokosuka Naval Base and is very close to nearby attractions like Sarushima (monkey island), the memorial ship Mikasa, Verny Park or Yokosuka Museum of Art.

This tasty spot is popular, so you may have to wait about 10 to 15 minutes to be seated.

My family and I always order the same dish at Family Garden: the signature “Garden Hanbaagu,” or hamburger steak, for 1,250 yen (or about $8 for 200 grams) or 2,400 yen (400 grams). For 520 yen more, the steak will come with a side of rice and salad.

After placing the order, we wait another 10 to 15 minutes as Family Garden serves up the steaks hot and fresh. The waiting time sure will be rewarded when nice, sizzling dishes are placed in front of you.

The fist-shaped, the hamburger steak is cut in two with a generous pour of steak sauce tableside by the server. While demiglace, onion and garlic sauce are available for your hamburger steak, I definitely recommend the garlic sauce. Family Garden’s garlic and soy-based sauce is a flavor explosion that will elevate the charbroiled juicy hamburger meat sizzling before you.

The flavorful meat is only made better by the generous servings of rice. In fact, my daughter and I have never finished the dish without asking for a refill of rice. Fortunately, the restaurant generously gives refills of rice and coffee free of charge!

A dinner with the garden hanbaagu always makes us very full and very satisfied. For the price and flavor, you’ll definitely want to make a stop at Family Garden for a tasty hamburger steak!