The burgers are stacked high at McLean Old Burger Stand in central Tokyo. (Allen Onstott/Stars and Stripes)
The burgers are stacked high at McLean Old Burger Stand in central Tokyo. (Allen Onstott/Stars and Stripes)
The McLean Tempura Burger from McLean Old Burger Stand in Tokyo was perfectly presented on a wooden cutting board that doubled as a plate. However, the flavors didn't mesh well. (Allen Onstott/Stars and Stripes)
The Avocado Cheese Burger from McLean Old Burger Stand includes a big hunk of juicy, grilled meat and generous portions of avocado stacked between two delicious caramelized buns. (Allen Onstott/Stars and Stripes)
McLean Old Burger Stand opened about a year ago near the Sumida River in the Kuramae area of central Tokyo. This stylish eatery selling tasty burgers and fries is big on Americana, right down to its name, which was inspired by singer-songwriter Don McLean of “American Pie” fame. The décor includes America flags and old signs advertising beer for a nickel. There are 14 specialty burgers to choose from, including one for each day of the week. For example, Tuesday’s offering is the Ninja teriyaki burger. Come of a Saturday and you’ll be able to order Like a Volcano, a burger that includes hot chili beans. For lunch, my party tried the 1,280-yen (about $11.70) Avocado Cheese Burger and the 1,380-yen McLean Tempura Burger. Both came with fries. Recommended by the owner, the McLean Tempura Burger was expertly grilled, carefully wrapped and perfectly presented on a wooden cutting board that doubled as a plate. This hearty burger was topped with vegetable tempura drizzled with a sweet teriyaki sauce. Though the patty and tempura were tasty on their own, the tempura didn’t do much to enhance this burger. The flavors seemed to compete. I wouldn’t recommend it. However, the succulent Avocado Cheese Burger was a real winner. It included a big hunk of juicy, grilled meat and generous portions of avocado stacked between two delicious caramelized buns. Other toppings included onions, tomato and mayonnaise. The burger was so big, I had to open my mouth as wide as I could to take the first bite. I requested a to-go bag to hold all of the spilling ingredients. The tasty, thick-cut fries served with both burgers were freshly prepared and gobbled up in a flash. The restaurant also has a to-go window, giving customers the option of grabbing their food and eating outdoors along the banks of the nearby Sumida River.onstott.allen@stripes.com
McLean Old Burger StandLocation: 2-2-10 Komagata, Taito-ku, Tokyo. A 2-minute walk from Kuramae Station.Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday; Closed Mondays.Prices: Grilled burgers come with fries and cost between 980 (about $9) and 1,480 yen. You can pile on extra toppings, such as egg and sweet chili, for an extra 100-150 yen. An extra patty will cost you 450 yen. Add a soda or oolong tea to your meal for 200 yen. Root beer is 250 yen for some reason. Craft beer is available. Offerings include Pale Ale Classic (880 yen) and Old Rasputin Imperial Stout (1,200 yen).Dress: CasualInformation: 03-6802-8232; www.mclean.jp (in English)
