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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
1 month ago
2 days ago
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
3 days ago
3 days ago
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
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
10 days ago
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
5 days ago
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
17 days ago
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
23 days ago
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
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
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
1 month ago
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
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
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
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
1 month ago
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
1 month ago
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
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
20 days ago
I enjoyed this restaurant. The hamburg steak was super juicy, the sauces were good, and the decor/cutlery was very nice. I enjoyed my experience here. It's hard to get a reservation though, I heard the host say that reservations open around 3pm so that's when you should check OpenTable! read more
2 months ago
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
13 days ago
Loved the sleek modern design of the restaurant space. Food and the sides/banchan were excellent. The burgers were flavorful and juicy, didn't think I'd get full but I was. Sarah, our server, was amazing, attentive and kind. read more
We had a great time at Twinflame! Food was great, service was excellent, no complaints. We even got a free dessert for my wife's birthday! The vibe of this place is pretty relaxed, not much noise once you're inside. I would think it would be a good first date spot. The meat is very accurate to Hakiniku to Come in Kyoto, so if you're looking for that experience, you can definitely get it in the bay without the need for an airline! All of the sauces they offer are very good, but I'd recommend the lemon paste thing (can't remember the name) most of all. I would also recommend trying the tofu side and their matcha ice cream for dessert (though i do not remember the price for the dessert). I will say, it is hard to get a reservation, you really need to plan out two weeks ahead for the spots to open, but it's worth doing! Overall high marks, we would definitely go back! read more
16 days ago
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
5 days ago
Very cool Japanese hamburger steak restaurant in Oakland. The interior decor is very modern and has great ambiance. The waiter was very tentative and explained in detail about the different sauces to use for the hamburger. I personally just like to eat the hamburger with the soft boiled egg over rice along with my Asahi draft beer. The Matcha ice cream was delicious and very refreshing after a big meal. read more
Service and ambience was great. Offers one dinner entree, 3 hamburger pattie meat set, 3 apps, and matchs for dessert. Service was quick - char on pattie was good and the meat was juicy. My only this is I don't like "sweet" meats and the pattie had some sweetness that I wasn't a fan of (just my preference). It helped to have the sauces (favs were the mushroom and the lemon sauce to dampen the sweetness). Loved the fried potato jeon with the truffle sauced. read more
27 days ago
My buddy and I had a Guy's Night Out and decided to check out Twinflame to see if the hype was real... Entering this huge modern space, you can tell that this place was about the "show", but could it live up to the hype? The service staff are very attentive and always checking in to see how things are going. They also do a good job in explaining what the sauces are and how you should enjoy the meal. As for the food, the Hamburg patties are delicious! Cooked perfectly over coals adding a nice char to the outside while the inside is packed with juices and flavor. The miso soup that comes with the meal was also delicious. We also ordered all three of the starters that were available... I would say that 1 of the 3 were really good, which was the Gamja Jeon, while two (Doobu Kim and Gim-Mari) of them were marginal. To finish off, we tried the Matcha Ice Cream, which was excellent! Overall, we really enjoyed the experience of the meal. I'm giving it 5 stars for the Hamburg Steak and the service, but adding the appetizers, I'd give this restaurant a 4.5. Don't take this as a negative, but I just wouldn't order the two appetizers next time and would still be very full and very content with the meal. read more
I love how the place was so open and the seating arrangement was very unique. You get to watch the chefs shape the meat and place it on the grill. The staff was attentive and our needs and the price of everything was worth it. The meat was soft and cooked to perfection! The potato pancakes is also a must!They were crispy and it paired well with their sauces. Lastly, we got the matcha ice cream and it was perfectly sweet! read more
27 days ago
Its not bad as I didn't know what to expect. I just wanted to try the restaurant in Oakland. We had no reservation but the guy at the door sat us anyway but also told us that we would have to move to bar if his 8pm reservation showed up(rude). Audrey was great! She explained the concept and all the sauces very well! The space is kinda blah! No artwork or decor. It really just grey in there! The food is really delicious! However it really just feels like deconstructed hamburger with rice substituted for a bun. I liked the fact that they had a bunch of sauces which made better but they give you the poached egg 1st then suggest to eat it with the 2nd burger. By that time it's over cooked and cold. The bar is not really a full bar. Do not expect a mixed drink, it's either highball, neat, sake or beer. Maybe I'll be back, maybe I won't! read more
28 days ago
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
2 months ago
Twin Flame has an amazing ambiance and a great vibe! If you can snag a seat near the grill, it's worth it, you get to watch the grill masters cook the Wagyu hamburg steak right in front of you, which is such a fun experience. The Wagyu hamburg was incredibly juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. Everything we ordered was delicious, and the quality of the food was outstanding. The only reason I'm mentioning this is because it would've made an already great experience even better: I wish our server had explained how to properly eat the Wagyu hamburg before it was served. We ended up figuring it out afterward, and knowing that beforehand would've helped us appreciate the dish even more. Overall, we had a fantastic meal and will definitely be back. Highly recommend! read more
1 month ago
Girlfriend and I went to twin flame. We did not have reservation so we waited in line starting at 4:50. Already a line had started to form. They stated they would only be able to accept 6 people over the course of a couple hours, with pairs of 2 every hour or so for walk in so if you want to walk in make sure you come at 4:30 pm and wait in line to make sure ur the first one...also try to keep it to a party of 2 if possible. We were able to eat at 6:30 and the experience was worth the wait! I never experience the version in Japan but the meat was so tender and juicy, the rice tasted great, the service was great, nice to see the meat being cooked right in front of you. As mentioned in other reviews, the recommendation is to eat the first one alone, second one with sauces and third with an egg. My favorite sauces were the green chili (very spicy!) and the lemon yuzu (great sour taste!) 10/10 would recommend this place! Modern ambiance. read more
19 days ago
The course was subpar, I would say the gamja jeon that was separately ordered was the best dish of the night. Otherwise, the wagyu patty had great texture, however the flavor was underwhelming, nothing to really write home about. I didn't feel the sauces on the side helped with the patty. I do like the modern ambiance and Audrey, our server was great and very attentive. read more
25 days ago
Missed out on Hikiniku to come in Japan, so I was very excited when I saw this place opened. The food was so good. The burger was tender, juicy, and well seasoned. They served 3 burgers and all 3 were cooked through, very consistent. Restaurant has a very nice ambient and modern feel with the open kitchen concept. The chef was attentive, checked to make sure you finish a patty before serving the next one. The person next to us couldn't finish in time and i saw the chef offered to switch to a new patty, very good service. I would definitely come back again. read more
29 days ago
I've been seeing so much content about this place over the past week, I had to try it. You're greeted with a comfortable, low lit ambiance that, which adds to how intimate the seating arrangement is. The entire dining area is a long counter with a front facing view of staff grilling the hamburgers while you dine. Matthew took care of me very well, I didn't have to fumble around asking questions on how the sets worked, he already had everything laid out plain and simple. I thought watching the set grilled in front of you just adds that extra splash of flavor. The intended way of eating was to have the first steak on its own, second accompanied with their selection of different sauces, and finishing off the last with the poached egg. All in all, the food was great, ambiance very appropriate, and service immaculate. Return visits are in the cards for sure. read more
1 month ago
Closest you can get to Japan's Hikiniku to come. Everything was absolutely delicious from the appetizers to the hamburgers to the condiments. The matcha ice cream was also pretty good, nice cereal like exterior. The hamburgers were cooked to perfection with a nice char on the outside but juicy and well seasoned inside. Looking forward to coming back already. Hoping they will extend and open for lunch in the future. read more
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More info about Twinflame
230 W MacArthur Blvd
Oakland, CA 94611
Piedmont Ave, North Oakland
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Do they do walk-ins?
They do. However, there is no guarantee that you'll be seated as it is dependent on reservations no-shows.
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Twinflame - steak - Updated August 2026
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