TIME:came here around 7:59 om was super busy when we came, had to wait for a few for our reservation which was at 8, was super hard to get but for some reason it is kind of always open on sundays ? EXTERIOR: street parking only, we took an uber INTERIOR: spacey, bar like, i would always go to places like this in japan because i love hamburg lol and the ambiance is it SERVICE: great service, flips up to know when you need your next hamburg, server is phenomenal and interacts well FOOD: hamburg set meal - super delicious, as always, and they are tiny but they are pretty much the best portion, you can ask for more miso, rice, or another hamburg if it isn't filling enough APPETIZER - forgot the name, filled with noodles and was super good matcha ice cream - love the wafers and the matcha didn't taste artificial OVERALL: loveeee it if you are going for the experience food is great too read more

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EVERYONE has been hyping this spot up, and let me tell y'all it's overhyped. We tried everything on their food menu and got a glass of the Domaine Les Garcons Red. ASK FOR A SIDE OF SALT FOR THE HAMBURG STEAKS!! Don't get the domaine les garcons red. It had no body and was way too sweet. If you like Stella Rosa get this. The hamburg steak itself was really juicy and tender, and the rice is so good here (it's unlimited by the way), super moist, chewy and sticky! You get three pieces, the first piece is meant to be enjoyed alone with just rice, the second piece with the sauces and seasonings and the last with the poached egg. You can watch them grill the steaks right in front of you. They monitor the speed at which you eat your steaks, and they place the next one whenever you're done with your previous, BUT YOU CAN REFUSE if you're not ready yet! Our server did not tell us this in the beginning, but the chefs ended up telling us because we asked for our steaks to be reheated since they had gotten cold. I like to take my time and you're allowed to tell them you're not ready yet too! Definitely an elevated open-kitchen experience, but the chefs don't really interact with you other than placing your steak at your table, which was kind of a bummer. The sauces and seasonings are split between sweet and spicy, but genuinely all of them were very flat and one dimensional. I didn't feel like they were anything special. The marinated shiitake mushrooms had a nice bite but it was missing umami. The yuzu tamari ponzu was actually really refreshing and bright but I didn't like it paired with the hamburg steak. Maybe it's because I'm southeast asian and the flavors I prefer are more robust, but none of the sauces or seasonings did it for me. The only one I kept using was the green chili olive oil, it had a nice kick but I wasn't in love with it either. Halfway through our second steak we asked for a side of salt which made the steaks way better. The miso soup also needed salt too. Just ask for the salt! We tried all of the sides, and concluded none of them are worth getting again, except maybe the gamja jeon because of the truffle aioli. Gamja Jeon: basically mini hashbrowns, really crispy and the truffle aioli was really good. We used it on the hamburg steaks too Doobu Kimchi: fried tofu block with kimchi. It's what you'd expect, kimchi also was a bit limp Gim-Mari: a japchae filled eggroll wrapped with seaweed and fried. It was good but also nothing special Cucumber salad: basic, but it crunchy! We really liked the soy vinegar dressing too What was actually awful was the matcha ice cream. Apparently they make the ice cream in-house, and while it was really smooth, creamy and the matcha flavor came through, the monaka shell tasted like cardboard, and not in the good cardboard way that cake cones taste, in the way that it actually tasted like stale, thin cardboard. PASS!!!!! I almost gave them a 2/5 just for not only having one single dessert on their menu, but the fact that their only dessert is not good! Overall Twinflame was a decent experience, but I think it's a one and done for me. The steaks are really juicy and tender though, just make sure you ask for salt. read more

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Solid food, but not as good as Hikiniku to Come in Japan. The appetizer, Gamja Jeon, was tasty and it reminded me of hash browns. I thought their hamburg steak could be juicer. I did enjoy the sauces you can pair with the burger, and my favorite one was the lemon one. read more

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Heard about Twinflame on TikTok and had to try it out, my husband made reservations for two at 8:15pm on a Friday night. We found street parking a block away, it was meter parking. The restaurant has a minimalistic feel, very simple ambiance. Checked in for our reservation and was excited to order! Service was great, the staff was nice and helpful, they went through the menu with us. We ordered the Hamburg Steak, Gamja Jeon and Cucumber Salad. I would order every single item again, we left so fulfilled. The Hamburg Steak is an experience they take you through by trying each Hamburg with different accompaniments. First Hamburg is by itself with rice, second Hamburg is with sides and seasonings the staff walks you through, and third Hamburg is with a poached egg. Also included is miso soup and unlimited rice. The Cucumber Salad was fresh and flavorful! Gamja Jeon was nice and crispy, you have to dip it in the truffle aioli. Would come back again! read more

Twinflame - Gamja Jeon, Cucumber Salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Oakland, California

I love love love the layout. Super minimalistic, clean, and very Japanese in the sense that everything feels intentional and has a purpose. I really liked being able to watch the hamburger steaks being cooked right in front of us. Everyone was super attentive too, which I appreciated. It was clear that all the employees were trained in communication, attentiveness, and customer service. Before eating, the server gave a mini-orientation and the recommended way of eating the steaks. The food itself was good! Everything was well made and I enjoyed it, but was it the best hamburger steak I've ever had? No. For the price, I expected to be a little more impressed. I did really like all the sauces, though! It was fun mixing everything up, trying different combinations, and eating everything a little differently with each bite. The drinks were okay. Nothing wrong with them, but nothing I'd come back specifically for either. Overall, I'm glad I tried Twinflame! The experience and atmosphere stood out to me more than the actual food. It's definitely one of those places I wanted to try at least once, and now that I have, I'm good. :) Pretty mid for the price range, but still a good experience! read more

Twinflame - Egg, white rice, hamburger steak, and miso soup - Steakhouses Near Me - Oakland, California

I've tried Hikiniku To Come in Japan, Fukuoka so I was super excited to hear something similar coming to the bay called Twinflame. Twinflame is a Korean-Japanese Robata spot with counter seating where you can watch the chefs work the binchotan grill, and it makes for a really fun dinner. We ordered two hamburg steaks, which were the highlight. The Japanese-style hamburg steak made with Wagyu beef is grilled over binchotan charcoal and comes with Koshihikari rice, miso soup, and a poached egg. Smoky, juicy, and rich, and the sauces and seasonings at the counter (dried bonito tamari, marinated shitake mushrooms, lemon chili, green chilis in olive oil, toasted garlic flakes, furikake) let you customize every bite. Our server, Matthew said his favorite side dish is gim-mari: japchae and shiitake mushrooms with bechamel, wrapped in seaweed and fried until crispy, with a spicy tteokbokki-style dipping sauce. Super creative and addictive. My favorite is the cucumber salad which is simple and refreshing counterpoint, with thinly sliced cucumbers in a soy rice vinegar dressing, toasted sesame, and red pepper threads. For drinks, I had the Twinflame Old Fashioned highball and a glass of Tenbu Junmai Ginjo sake. Both were smooth. I asked Matthew to tell the manager to add a ginger highball to the menu so I hope to see that once I come back because that's all I ordered in Japan. Now to rate this compared to Japan I'd give it a 2.5/5. The hambug wasn't juicy and the flavor isn't up to par like the one in the Japan, but that wouldn't be fair. My real rating here is .... 3.5/5 (but I'll put it at 4 stars) still really good but I guess I hyped myself up too much. Service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is cozy and lively without being loud. The menu is short and focused, so everything feels intentional. Tips: save room for the matcha ice cream. Apparently not everyone gets to that point. We didn't either read more

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Twinflame is definitely worth the hype! I loved the small, focused menu, and even my kids had a great time. The beef was seasoned perfectly, incredibly tender, and packed with flavor. Cooking everything over charcoal added an amazing smoky flavor to the food. The service was excellent. The staff was friendly, attentive, and helpful throughout the entire experience. If you want a table with an up-close view of the charcoal grills, definitely make a reservation in advance. Otherwise, walk-ins may be able to find seating at the bar. You are definitely paying a premium for the stylish atmosphere and overall experience, but I thought it was worth it. Great food, fun vibes, excellent service, and kid-approved. An easy five stars from me. Highly recommend! read more

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One of the most memorable meals we had in Japan was hamburg steak, so it was exciting to finally dine here. Service was good, and the interior is beautiful. One thing I really appreciated was how easy it was to make a reservation. I tend to never get a seat at restaurants that are notoriously difficult to book, so that was definitely a plus. We got the set, which comes with 3 patties, and that was definitely enough. I was full after 2, and my husband was plenty full after 3, plus an extra bowl of rice. He mentioned that by the 3rd patty, it was starting to feel a little too fatty. The set also comes with miso soup, which was good but nothing different. The Gamja Jeon was good and something I would get again. The Gim Mari was nice to try, but I could pass on it next time. The matcha ice cream was good, but not a must have. The sparkling yuzu was a nice drink option. We personally felt that the dipping sauces were better when combined and mixed together rather than eaten individually. I liked the mushroom sauce, and the lemon was a nice touch. The onion sauce was good too. The poached egg was also nice to have. Overall, everything was simple and delicious. I personally thought the hamburg steak we had in Japan was really good, and I don't think this quite compares, but for what's available in the Bay Area, it's a solid option. read more

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Had to see what the hype was all about. Walked into a low dimmed, modern restaurant with 2 open grills in the center of a large communal circle of seating. To the left on the side of the restaurant was a low/high top bar with some seating for about 6-8 people. We stopped by on a Wednesday evening. No reservation but got put on the waitlist and thankfully someone cancelled their reservation so we were able to snag a seat at the bar. Menu is simple with the Hamburg Steak being the main star. A few sides. 1 dessert option. Hamburg steak (3 pieces brought out one at a time) comes with Koshihikari white rice, miso soup, and a poached egg. Hamburg steak is made of Wagyu beef and it was so tender, juicy, and flavorful. The miso soup broth seemed thinner than the usual, but the flavors were all there. The poached egg was perfectly poached and they also offer a semi-hard boiled egg with a jammy yolk. Our server did a great job at breaking down what everything was and the restaurant's suggested method of eating the Hamburg steak. They offer 7 sauces. Our favorite was the hottest sauce which was the green chili olive oil one. They also offer marinated shiitake mushroom, red chili garlic sauce, marinated onions, and Yuzu tamari ponzu (which was a great compliment on the rice!) among others. For the sides we went with all of them except the Doobu Kimchi which was fried tofu with kimchi. We were told they had just added the cucumber salad to the menu, which was a nice refreshing change to all the carbs and protein. The Gamja Jeon (crispy Korean potato pancakes) were golden crispy and the truffle aioli was perfection. We weren't big fans of the Gim-Mari (fried seaweed roll with japchae and mushrooms) because they were "fried" but they felt like they were steamed and something was missing in the taste department. They offer whiskey drinks, sake, beer, and non alcoholic options. Overall, a simple menu with a great and attentive experience. Looking forward to see what else they add to the menu and how they improve their sides. read more

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Juicy hamburgs, diverse set of sauces and condiments, a bit pricey but worth the eats. They have a very limited meal but they do what they focus on well. I got sat at the bar so it was a bit unfortunate I wasn't closer to the cooks over the grills and the servers were still getting used to serving meals at the bar. They messed up how many hamburgs I was on (you're supposed to get 3 but they only served me 2 before I corrected them). Definitely recommend getting a reservation, overall clean and aesthetic space. read more

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*3.5 We tried all three appetizers and + ice cream along with the hamburger steak. Out of the apps, my favorite is the Gamja Jeon(crispy potatoe pancakes that taste like hash brown!). I would personally skip Doobu Kimchi(tofu dish, wished they used egg tofu or soft tofu instead). The meat was very tender, ratio was quite fatty. You get three pieces per set unless you want to order extra. For me, I ate around 2 pieces, but couldn't finish the third one since it was too fatty for me. I like how there are lots of different seasoning to pair with it. Love that there is poached egg to pair with the steak and rice. -1.5*: I wish they offer salad or some types of greens. It seems like it's a lot of carbs and proteins( fatty hamburger steak with tofu/potato/fried appetizers.) It was good in the beginning, but by the 2nd piece, my taste palate got a bit tired from the fattiness and oiliness. Also idk if it happened to others, but I think the beef was so fatty that both my boyfriend and I's guts were not feeling good the next day lol. It was fun to try, but I wouldn't crave for this all the time. read more

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A friend suggested dinner at TwinFlame offering Japanese/Korean robata with the main event of Japanese-style hamburg steak made from Wagyu beef. To be honest I was a bit skeptical after looking at some Yelp pics "it's a burger"..."looks like an over glorified hash brown". Let's just say i was wrong AND kept the bottle of seasoning and ketchup packets in my purse! :D Ambiance is industrial-modern with high ceiling and more intimate. Seating is classic robata dining - guests sit around a central, open charcoal grill using traditional type of white charcoal called binchotan that produces less smoke than traditional grilling so you get the full flavor of the meat. FOOD - 4 stars The Hamburg steak was juicy, flavorful with a nice sear. I was afraid it may have meatloaf/ball texture but exceptionally soft, tender, and slight bouncy texture (wasn't bad as I'm texture sensitive!). Personally, I don't think the condiments were needed to enhance the meat but a great compliment to the rice and poached egg. Sides: Creative, flavorful and different from what I've had. Definitely try all the sides (3pcs to an order) to share (or not). I love a potato so my fave was the Japanese potato pancakes served with truffle aioli. The shreds of potato were smaller, more compacted (unlike an American hash brown) giving a nice crisp. Yum yum! Maybe if you've been to Japan you have something to compare to which may/may not affect your visit. For those who haven't , go with an open mind, you'll have an enjoyable and unique experience. SERVICE - added star! Audrey, the server and staff - very professional, attentive and efficient! Well trained and personable - checking on guests and replenishing that endless rice. Located on the corner of MacArthur and Piedmont. Metered street parking until 6pm. Price per person with 2 orders each of shared sides (no alcoholic beverages) $60/person if you get the Japanese set and their Matcha ice cream Reservations open 2 weeks out so if you want a specific date, plan ahead. Weeknight dining was steady and walk-in available if you're lucky. We were able to add 1 to our reservation of 3. Dining time: 1.5 hrs read more

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Was so excited to try this place cause I was never able to get a reservation at Hikiniku to Come in Japan. This is the only like kind in the Bay Area that I am aware of. The restaurant is nice and new. High ceilings, spacious, not at all smokey, and bathrooms were so clean! The service was friendly overall, but the waitlist process was unclear. Once the restaurant got busier, our server got a little overwhelmed. We were asked if we wanted the check without being asked if we wanted to order dessert or needed boxes for our leftovers. So I totally forgot to order the matcha ice cream :( The set meal contains 3 burger patties ($35), recommended to be eaten in 3 ways: (1) by itself or with rice, (2) with the accoutrements, and lastly (3) with a poached egg. Comes with 1 miso soup and unlimited rice. I didn't care for the flavors of the burger, nor the accoutrements, couldn't pin point a favorite one. The lemon one was interesting though. The egg was jammy which I loved but didn't really add to the burger as well. I did enjoy the fried potato appetizer ($10) and the accompanying white sauce. It was nice to try something new. read more

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The menu is simple but yet so flavorful. Love all the sauce options. I left thinking it was okay and probably wouldn't go out of the way for it again. However, Im already craving it after a few days. The waiter was super nice and knowledgable. Our appetizers came out within a minute or two of ordering. The place was very modern and clean. They truly time each reservation to be served at the same time so the next reservation goes next and gets served the same time. read more

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I recently went to Twin Flame and unfortunately, left feeling a bit underwhelmed. I arrived just a few minutes after my 7:30 reservation and was honestly surprised to see only about five people seated. Given how much I had heard about the restaurant, I expected it to be much busier. To be fair, it did gradually fill up over the course of the next hour, but the slow start definitely caught me off guard. There were also a few service details that took away from the experience. When we went to drink our water, we could actually smell soap on the glasses. Thankfully, they were able to replace them, but that is something I would have expected to be caught before the glasses reached the table. I also wish someone had explained how the meat portions are divided across multiple pieces. Had I known that beforehand, I would have ordered an additional piece. When the sauces were being explained, I asked the person helping us if I could order a drink. She explained that she was not our server, which was completely fine, but I assumed she would then let our server know. Instead, I ended up having to flag down our waiter myself. Overall, the service felt a little inexperienced and disjointed. I also expected the meat to be served hot and for more of the cooking to happen in front of us, since that seemed like such an important part of the experience. Unfortunately, the meat arrived more warm than hot, which was disappointing. The highlight for me was actually the rice and egg, which I really enjoyed. But by the end of the meal, I found myself thinking that I could make something similar at home and not have to make the trip here. read more

Twinflame - Steakhouses Near Me - Oakland, California

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We went to Twinflame in Oakland last week and tried the signature Wagyu Hamburg Steak Set, plus the tofu with kimchi side. We are Wagyu enjoyers, but the meat-to-fat ratio here was way off. The patties were so excessively fatty you could literally squeeze fat out of them. I felt sick after only two pieces; my partner ate three and later threw up, while I had stomach issues after we got home. We have never had a meal so absurdly heavy and poorly conceived that it actually made one of us vomit. Calling this "rich Wagyu" would be generous... the patties were overwhelmingly fatty after the first bite. The menu has dipping sauces, but there is not a single fresh vegetable or refreshing component to give you any relief from the grease. Even the kimchi from the tofu side dish was SAVORY. Hikiniku to Come, which this concept very obviously mimics, offers grated daikon with ponzu alongside its hamburg steaks, which is exactly the kind of counterbalance that is glaringly absent here. The egg was equally baffling. I understand raw egg may not be an option, but in place of the raw egg yolk, Twinflame slapped on a soft-poached egg with translucent runny whites hanging off of it. It was disgusting. If you can't serve raw yolk, fine, but replacing it with unset egg whites is not acceptable. Overall, this felt like a clownish mimicry of a concept that copied the gimmick while missing the point. Rich Wagyu isn't an excuse for a badly proportioned patty, and the few dipping sauces don't make up for a menu with zero freshness or balance. When two people eat only a few small patties, both feel sick, and one actually throws up afterward, that's not decadence--it's a badly designed meal. The praise honestly feel like diners are being gaslit into treating an excessive amount of fat as a feature simply because the word Wagyu is attached to it. Easily one of the most unpleasant restaurant experiences we've had in the Bay. read more

Twinflame - Steakhouses Near Me - Oakland, California

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Exceptional! We love bougie Bay Area Asian (joodooboo Iyasare etc) and this just became possibly our new favorite. Great service! Cool view! VERY CLEAN BATHROOMS, great Halloween decor, unlimited rice and sides. We ended up ordering two flights of sides. Hard to get a reservation but can do bar or it opens two weeks in advance at 3pm. Our server Matthew was super attentive and nice. My only request- a non caffeinated dessert! Would love to let my toddler have some/be able to order after dinner but at my age I can't do matcha after 3 LOL. read more

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Like many others, I've always wanted to try Hikuniku To Come in Japan, but never got the chance because of the long waits and booked out reservations. This place has almost the same format with three patties, a poached egg, unlimited rice, and miso soup for $35. The patties were extremely juicy and tender, but they lacked salt. I wish they could've had some kind of flavored salt as a side. I also tried the potato jeon appetizer which was really good, but expensive as its $10 for three small pieces of glorified hash browns. It's an amazing space inside with so much room and huge bar style seating. You are able to see the cooks making the patties in front of you no matter where you sit. read more

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Modern minimal chic interior, feels very intimate. Price: this is one of the cutest experiences I've had in a while that feels very wholesome, and the prices are affordable Gamja jeon: 10000/10 , think of a hash brown that s perfection. Perfect crunch and flavor I would get this over and over again Gim Mari: 6/10, tasted alright just japchae wrapped and fried in seaweed, the spicy spice cake sauce really made a difference to it! Doobu Mari: not our favorite, I don't really like tofu in general so I am quite biased but the pickled kimchi really caught our attention Hamburg steak: juicy and cooked perfectly, several toppings/sauces you can try or even mix around with, our favorite was the soy marinated onions dipped in the poached egg. This also comes with a bowl of miso and unlimited rice. read more

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Of course it was an instagram collab that got us! But no, we've always wanted to try Hikiniku when we were in Asia, but couldn't find the time. So when I saw that a place opened up near home doing a similar thing, I made the effort to snag a reservation for the hubs and I. Location is great, located at the end of the strip of Piedmont Ave in Oakland. A COZY lovely spot to stroll and eat and window shop. We did the first seating. The servers were all super nice and helpful. The pace was well set. The food: the wagyu hamburg steak - juicy yes, but I thought it was lacking something and my husband said salt. and I think I agree. it was juicy but also bland. Maybe the air vents were too good, but you also don't really get that aroma of beef, and go MMMM. but maybe you're not supposed to lol. They had 6 different condiments that were really the star. Some pickled things, yuzu, mushroom....chilies.... So you had to play scientist and mix the condiments to see what fit your taste with the patty. For someone who is picky or unsure, it felt like a game the whole dinner time. Not quite finding my palette. I only ended up eating 2 out of the 3 patties since I was getting full. My husband ate my other piece lol. The miso soup was good. The bathroom is fancy with Aesop soap. My husband enjoyed the meal and said he liked it. I was left confused on whether I liked it or not. It was fine is my final thought. I have nothing to compare it to but one and done. read more

Twinflame - Steakhouses Near Me - Oakland, California

I have seen Twinflame on Tiktok (but before that, the inspiration in Japan, Hikiniku to Come) and wanted to try it, so I booked myself a solo reservation. The reservation system on Opentable opens only 2 weeks in advance each day - in my experience, the whole two weeks were completely booked until I checked at refresh. If you come early when they open, you have more likelihood of getting seated (when I arrived around 5:10PM, the hostess was speaking to someone on the phone and told them she could accommodate them now but not in an hour). Service was very attentive - I was seated next to a group of 2, and a group of 4+ that was around a corner. I would hesitate to bring a large group here, as it doesn't seem very conducive for conversation unless you're at a corner. I was greeted and was informed about the menu - others seem to have covered that but it's really only one thing on the menu, with the option to add sides. I chose to add the Gamja Jeon, which was crispy and tasty. Overall I like the food - rice was perfectly cooked and each of the wagyu patties was juicy and rich. I got a nice view of the grill (I think every seat has a decent view). I really like all the sauce options, especially the lemon shio. This set and gamja jeon was the perfect amount for me, but I did hear the person next to me add on one additional piece. There is unlimited rice and the waitress checked in multiple times through the meal if anyone wanted extra. Miso soup was savory and umami. Overall I would go again, although the set + gamja jeon + beer and tax/tip was about $70. I found street parking easily in the area at 5PM (paid) but definitely was in shorter supply an hour later. read more

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This restaurant has been all over IG, so we decided to stop by without a reservation on a Friday 10 minutes before 7pm. The host initially told us that they were completely booked, so we ended up leaving, but then he came outside running to let us know that two seats opened up because someone no showed. It was meant to be, and I was so excited to be able to dine here. I really like the modern decor. Seating is limited for such a big restaurant, but I do like the set up. There is also a bar on the side that you can have a drink if you arrive early. They are known for their hamburger steak, which is a Japanese style hamburger steak made with Wagyu beef and it's grilled over binchotan charcoal. Three pieces comes out to $35 and each piece is grilled perfectly. You also get unlimited rice to eat with the steak. I also enjoyed all the sauces on the side to mix everything together. Gamja Jeon (potato pancakes) was crispy and reminded me of hash browns. The Gim-Mari (japchae and perilla leaf wrapped fried nori roll) was very unique and crispy. Loved the sauces that came with each of the sides. Highly recommend stopping by and you're a fan of hamburger steak. The ambience of this place was the highlight for me and food second. Not sure how easy it is to make a reservation, so hopefully you get lucky with just a walk in. read more

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This review is strictly for food and vibes. Twinflame just opened and you knooow I had to try it! I was able to snatch a last minute RSVP on OpenTable during their Grand Opening. Twinflame is a Japanese-style robata grill, featuring hamburg steaks and korean sides, very similar to Hikiniku To Come in Japan. The vibes are very similar with it's own style. The space is very large and high-ceiling, a very modern industrial style. They have two charcoal grills with multiple chefs and cooks handling the hamburg steaks. 10/10 vibes for sure. It's mainly street parking - and I didn't have trouble finding one at 5PM but I can see how it can get tough during prime dinner time. I recommend arriving early! Now let's get into it. 5/5 - Hamburg Steak ($35) - comes with three steaks, and IMO they are more flavorful than the ones in Japan! The sauces and seasoning on the side was okay, definitely prefer the ones in Japan cause they had a very refreshing radish side since the meal is pretty heavy. 5/5 - Gamja Jeon ($10) - crispy potato pancakes with truffle aioli sauce was super tasty. big fan! 4/5 - Matcha Ice Cream ($8) - great matcha flavor! not a huge fan of the wafers around it though, as it wasn't really crispy and was lowkey giving styrofoam haha. I was a bit surprised they didn't include how to eat each hamburg steaks in the menu and solely relied on the server to inform guests... because my server didn't inform me and I had to ask how to eat each one (just because I've been to Hikiniku To Come in Japan). And it took awhile for my server to take my order, come check up on me, and give me the check. As someone who used to serve in high-pace restaurants, I was just confused on why the service was so slow, especially with limited seating areas and items on the menu. As for the flow, customers who came after me received their order first but I ordered before them... and I then I received my order before another customer who came before me (cause we were chatting about that). I get that it is grand opening but there really wasn't that many seats... and since my server barely checked up on me, I actually had to flag down other workers with questions, but it felt like they didn't really know the menu either haha... Overall, the experience was still good, and would definitely recommend friends to give it a try. I really do feel like they need to tighten up their staff. I highly recommend making an RSVP on OpenTable, as their walk-ins are very limited and they don't have many seats. Shoutout to James though - he's an amazing and sweet host! read more

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My wife and I stopped by today for Twinflame's grand opening. Since it was their grand opening, they had a special offer where you could get either a beer -- Sapporo or Asahi Super Dry ($8.00), or a glass of their house red wine -- 2024 Domaine La Roche ($15.00), for free with your meal. The menu here is simple: everyone orders the $35 hamburger steak set which comes with three ground Wagyu patties, rice, miso soup, and a poached egg. The Wagyu patties are served one by one, and the recommendation is that you enjoy the first one on its own, the second one with the variety of sauces on the table, and the third with the egg. While this is a recommendation, it's not prescriptive and you're of course to eat the burgers however you want. In addition to the meal set, my wife and I also shared an order of their gim-mari, japchae noodles rolled up in a sheet of seaweed and deep fried. I've never had this dish, before but I really enjoyed the contrast of the soft noodles with the crispy exterior. This side comes with two sauces -- a red tteokbokki sauce that's mildly spicy, and a soy marinated onion sauce. The latter was my preferred of the two, as the sourness from the vinegar helped cut through the oiliness. Moving on to the star of the show, the Wagyu patties here are simply spectacular. The patties are lightly seasoned with salt before they're seared over a charcoal grill. The meat picks up the smokey flavor of the charcoal without being overwhelming. In the restaurant, there are two grilling stations, with two staff members at each grill. These two individuals meticulously tend to the grill to ensure every piece of meat is cooked to perfection. Every bite of the Wagyu patty was juicy and tender. Of the different sauces that were offered, my favorites were the lemon shio, the spicy garlic flakes, and the schichimi. The lemon shio was my wife's favorite because like the vinegar sauce with the gim mari, the sourness from the lemon helped cut through the richness of the patty. In front of each diner is a metal block enumerating what patty number you're currently enjoying. With each patty that's brought over, the block is rotated so the remaining number of patty decrements until the block shows the Twinflame logo. I thought this was a clever system to help the staff keep track of orders. Overall, I had a fantastic meal at Twinflame. At this price point, I could see myself coming here regularly for date nights without having to break the bank. Despite coming on grand opening day, I thought everything in the restaurant ran fairly smoothly during our meal. If I had to nitpick, the only improvement that could've been made was I wish our check was brought over sooner at the end of our meal. That said, I would definitely recommend checking out Twinflame before it blows up on social media. Sometimes simplicity is best, and the Wagyu patties here do not disappoint. read more

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Was excited to try Twinflame after hearing about the Japanese hamburger concept coming to the Bay! The restaurant is extremely modern and spacious. We made a reservation about two weeks ahead, but it wasn't too crowded for a Wednesday night. We ordered the 3 hamburger meat set, and each patty was super juicy. The sauces were all delicious, but by the end it did feel a little too meat heavy for me. Next time I'd probably just get 1-2 patties instead of the full set. The crispy potatoes with truffle aioli were my favorite and I'd order them again. We also got the matcha ice cream, which was good, but I'd probably skip it next time since the wafer tasted a little stale. Overall, a fun spot and I'm glad to see this style of Japanese hamburger make its way to the Bay! read more

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Delicious wagyu hamburger steak cooked over open charcoal. While they do save a small number of seats for walkins, definitely get a reservation in advance if you don't want to wait. Their hamburger set is well priced with 3 patties - I personally find that's more than enough since the meat is extremely fatty and gets to be a bit much after the first two. You can always order à la carte and add on additional patties as you go. read more

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We've never had the chance to try this in Japan, so was happy to know there was a restaurant with this concept here. The korean pancake was good and tasted like hash browns. We ordered the hamburg steak set which came with three patties, miso soup, poached egg, and unlimited rice. There were about six different sauce options to complement your patties but I recommend trying a patty by itself before using any of the sauces. Overall, the food was good and the patty was juicy, but I don't know if I'd crave this enough to go back again. The service was okay as it seemed there was only one waiter for the restaurant. read more

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I've been to place like this in Japan so seeing one pop-up close to home is exciting. The food is reasonably priced for the amount that you get in the quality of the meat is great. It is a little bit of an upscale ambience, but I doubt people would blink twice if you just came in casual clothing service was great as well. I love the concept of being able to have your meat freshly cooked as you eat instead of your whole meal getting cold before you finish. I hope more places like this pop-up! read more

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I was lucky enough to get a reservation and this place was so worth it! The meat was juicy and slightly smoked from the charcoal. The gamja jeon was crispy and a great pairing with the hamburg steak so I actually got two orders! The chefs are very attentive to when you finish the last steak so they can give you the next one, which I appreciate. We did not feel rushed and our waiter was also nice and funny! The dark ambience really added to the experience as well. I noticed people tend to cancel reservations randomly so I would recommend checking Opentable often or turning on notifs. They also have a waitlist on there! There's limited street parking, but there is a parking lot a few blocks down. read more

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3.5/5 We were excited to give this place a try after seeing many influencers promoting it lately. We arrived right on time for our reservation but 10 ppl were already waiting and all tables were full. We had to wait 15min to be seated... really not a big deal but then when our waiter brought the check after only 35min while we still had food/drinks on the table... we were a bit surprised. Other than that service was great, decor was great, wine/bear were great and food was just OK (not very high meat quality as many others said). It was pretty pricey for a 35min meal, $140+ for 2 people with 2 drinks, 2 sides and no dessert. I understand you are rather paying for the experience than the actual food there but still... not really worth coming back at this price IMHO. read more

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This isn't your childhood comfort food; it's a masterpiece forged in smoke. Step inside this hyper-slick, minimalist Shokudo, and you're immediately hit with the primal aroma of binchotan Japanese charcoal. They are grilling the classic hamburg steak made from American Wagyu beef over that white-hot, pure-carbon fire, infusing the meat with a deep smokiness that lingers like a good memory. It arrives flanked by the essentials: a bowl of Koshihikari rice, a rich miso soup, and a ohhhh so delicate poached egg just waiting to be punctured so its golden, velvety yolk can ooooze all over the meat. But it's the entourage of accouterments that steal the show. You get a fiery kick of spicy garlic flakes, the earthy funk of marinated Shitake mushrooms, and a bright, out of left field surprise from the lemon shio (try it)! It is high-design meeting traditional old school sensory satisfaction. It's brilliant, it's delicious, and it's exactly what you want to eat when the world gets to be too much. 楽しむ Tanoshimu! read more

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Coming back from Tokyo a few months ago, we went to Tokyo's "Hikiniku" hamburger patty, probably one of our most favorite meals. Saw this on IG and a good buddy went and said it was "FIRE" Happen to be in the area and walked in without Resy and the kind waiter said let me see. She sat me down and I got the same vibes as Tokyo! Granted it's not Japanese Wagyu but American Wagyu but let me tell you the patty coming off the hot charcoal grill was incredible. The quality of rice and patty was so good! They also give you a pouched egg versus the raw egg dip you get in Japan (but still very good) highly recommend and great condiments as well read more

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We were really excited to try Twin Flame because we've been to Hikiniku to Come in Japan and Twinflame looked just like it. At first glance, Twin Flame gives a similar impression even down to the sauce containers but that's unfortunately where the similarities ended for us. The restaurant felt very quiet, empty, sterile and lacked the lively atmosphere we saw on their promo videos and expected. We ordered the hamburg steak set of 3, which came with rice, a poached egg, a "miso" soup, and sauces on the side to share. Unfortunately, everything was pretty underwhelming. The burgers weren't cooked properly, were quite bland, and even with the sauces, the meal lacked the rich, savory flavor we were hoping for. For the price, we expected something much more memorable. Service was fine. Nothing stood out enough to make us want to come back, especially considering there are better food options at a similar price point in Oakland. We really wanted to love this place because is practically a dupe for Hikiniku, but it just didn't deliver the flavor or experience we were looking for. read more

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Fantastic, new Japanese/Korean restaurant in Oakland. Our server Matthew was professional, kind and attentive. He was conversational and knowledgeable about the menu. My favorite appetizer was the crispy potato with truffle, so savory and SO GOOD! The food was delicious, everything was incredibly fresh and tasty. The Wagyu was tender, warm and tasted amazing with all of the sauce options (there is a lot!), my favorite being the Chinichurri. The rice was soft and paired well with the egg. The macha ice cream was an amazing end to the meal, it was creamy, earthy and refreshing. Overall an amazing experience. The atmosphere is upscale and suave, without being stuffy or uptight. read more

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Comfort hamburg meals in a modern setting. Japanese inspired Hamburg cooked on a charcoal grill right in front of you. 3 set: 1st patty eat on its own, 2nd patty with the seasonings as a DIY, & 3rd with the poached egg (recommend dipping versus pouring on top of your rice). You get miso soup and unlimited rice. What's the hype you ask? It's the meaty, juicy, & tender hamburg steak. It's like a comfort meal - simple but flavorful. It's so moist, but not overly greasy at all ! This is where you appreciate the grill technique and flavors put into preparing the patty. I liked the mushroom and lemon chili seasoning the best. The green chilis also, but just a touch for me as it added a good heat ! Their appetizer the potato cakes aka gamma jeon $10 I recommend. It's a perfectly cut and crispy hash brown. Miso soup is flavorful with delicious carrots to dip in between the steaks. I read a comment saying there are no vegetables, which I agree. We need the fiber. It would be nice if they added a cabbage salad to the set as that's what most Japan restaurants in Japan do or a side of kimchi. We did try hamburg steaks in Japan & did the Hiki Niki to Come experience in the Philippines. I didn't know what to expect at both locations so it was a delicious experience. After comparing the 3 set hamburg style locations both were good. I would say and my bf also agreed that Twinflame was not greasy, which is a good thing. We left satisfied and not overly stuffed. I was full off of three patties, but you have option to order extra. I liked how nicely timed the cooks were. I wasn't waiting in between and they came at a good pace for me. The place is so clean and sleek. It's one giant island. Location is in a nice area with street parking. Wasn't an issue for us since our reservations were at 9 pm but from working at the Kaiser in the past it can get crowded during busy hours so may have to park a street away. read more

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Dinner review. Wagyu beef balls. Very close to Hikiniku to kome. Main Hamburg Steak $35 Japanese-style hamburg steak made with Wagyu beef. Grilled over binchotan charcoal. Served with Koshihikari white rice, miso soup, and poached egg +Extra patty +Extra egg Sauces and Seasonings dried bonito tamari, marinated shitake mushrooms, lemon chili, green chilis in olive oil, toasted garlic flakes, furikake Sides Gamja Jeon $10 cripsy potato pancakes served with truffle aioli sauce and tamari marinated onions gluten free, vegetarian Doobu Kimchi $13 organic tofu, sauteed kimchi and kimchi puree, crispy nori, scallions gluten free, vegan gim-mari $11 Japchae wrapped fried nori roll served with tteokbokki dipping sauce vegetarian Dessert Matcha Ice Cream $8 Overall, love that we have one of these now. "As good as it gets." read more

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If you've had Hikiniku to Come in Japan, or even if you haven't... this place comes pretty damn close! My boyfriend went on a side quest to it in Japan and said it was the best meal he's had out there so he is my person to compare the two, while I haven't had it before and I loved it. You get 3 hamburg steaks charcoal grilled, a miso soup which was realllly good, and unlimited rice for $35! We came on their grand opening weekend, so we had the choice of a free glass of their red wine, Sapporo or asahi beers. The hamburgers were very soft & tender, very flavorful and juicy. Recommended to try the first one without anything so you can enjoy the flavors of the meat, second with sauces they have on the table, and third with the poached egg mixed with the rice. In comparison to Japan (per my bf), everything is pretty similar. It is really good still, but Japan is takes the crown for taste and instructions. We also ordered the Gamja Jeon which is a crispy potato pancake with truffle aioli & tamari marinated onions. This to me tasted like a hashbrown, so if you're looking for "fries" with your burger, add this! The sides are the Korean part of their Japanese Korean Fusion. Our little hack, dip the Hamburg in the truffle aioli o_o so so good... Parking is street parking so be sure to check the signs, pay your meters, and don't leave anything valuable inside! read more

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New opening in Oakland. Love the place. Simple menu, great quality, professional service. Very roomy space, every thing kept very neat and clean. Grilled the burger in the middle of the restaurant, pair with unlimited rice. The rice is Koshihikari rice which is my favorite. Miso soup is the homemade kind not the package add with hot water type. Will be back often. read more

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Outstanding service. We visited on a Sunday night and we were warmly greeted and quickly seated. Our server was so sweet and thorough, explaining the theme and different pieces of the menu. The menu is short and does not appear vegetarian friendly. She told us not to hesitate if we needed refills of water, rice, or the sauces. She also asked if we wanted a break between appetizer and the entree (which I appreciated). We tried all the appetizers, and they're good, but the star really are the patties. They are so flavorful and rich. The rice was bouncy and soaked up all the patty fat. They are prompt with food and we never had to wait long for our next item. Best service by far in this price point. read more

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Twinflame on a Friday night is a study in contrasts--high-energy atmosphere, top-tier food, and a service model that hasn't quite found its footing. With a reservation, we walked right into a vibrant, packed house. The dining room carries a cool, minimalist aesthetic, and the pacing of the meal is built around a fun concept: you order a "set," and the kitchen grills your three patties sequentially, timed to your pace. You can immediately tell that the focus on a smaller, curated menu pays off. The food quality is high, and the ingredients shine. However, the hospitality side of the experience suffered from noticeable disconnects. The restaurant relies on self-service elements--like water pitchers and condiments provided at the counter or table--yet the staff missed the basic upkeep needed to support that system. When we sat down, our assigned station was unprepared: the water pitchers were practically empty, and the condiment caddies were depleted. Compounding the lack of table maintenance, the flow of the meal got tangled early on. Our appetizers arrived before our drinks (sodas and highballs), meaning we started eating our first courses with bone-dry pitchers and no beverages in sight. While our individual server were genuinely nice, the overall execution and attentiveness fell short of what the meal's price point and concept demand. Twinflame is clearly serving great food, but they need to tighten up floor operations and table maintenance to match the quality coming out of the kitchen. read more

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