Event Report: Burger Baka Vol. 11

Last Sunday was Ibaraki’s biggest burger event, Burger Baka. This year marked its 11th edition. It’s hard to believe that this small burger event, which started in a little park in front of Naka City Hall, has grown into a huge gathering at Kasama Geijutsu no Mori, featuring many well-known burger spots from around Ibaraki. It’s always a great time and a perfect opportunity to try burgers from different restaurants across the region.

The Ibaraki Eats duo attends this event every year. Our rule is to share at least four burgers between Mrs. Ibaraki Eats and myself, and to try at least one new place. I’m happy to report that we met that goal this year. Today, I’ll be talking about the delicious burgers we had at Burger Baka.

33 Diner

Our first burger was from a new entry to Burger Baka, though not new to the blog. I’ve visited 33 Diner before and have written about their burgers and shakes. The diner is a lot of fun and the shakes were excellent. 33 Diner doesn't make regular style burgers, they are a smash burger place.
My wife lined up to grab one of their smash burgers. I’ve always had some reservations about smash burgers, mainly because flattening the patty can push out the juices, sometimes leaving it dry and a bit tastless. That often means the condiments must do the heavy lifting in terms of flavor.
That being said, 33 Diner does a great job. They manage to retain some juiciness while giving the patty a delicious crispy exterior. The cheese was excellent and created a rich, savory blend with the beef patty. It was a strong start to the day—but we still had plenty more to try.

Chronic Burger

This was a nostalgic pick for Mrs. Ibaraki Eats. It had been quite a while since she saw that familiar blue and white food truck. Chronic Burger originated in Ibaraki and even had a shop in Kandatsu many years ago. These days, their food truck appears around Tokyo and at special events in Ibaraki.
Chronic keeps things simple—no vegetables. Just a beef patty, ketchup, melted cheese, a bit of mustard, and toasted buns. Despite the simplicity, it’s an incredible burger. The beef is top quality, and the melted cheese completely envelops the patty, creating a rich, indulgent cheese dome around the patty for extra enjoyment. The buns taste incredibly fresh, like they just came out of the oven. They hold the burger well and keep everything in its place. We were both very happy to find that Chronic Burger still exceeds our burger expectations.
Chronic also does fries exceptionally well. I’m not sure what oil they use, but the fries are crispy on the outside and soft and hot on the inside. If you ever see Chronic Burger, definitely order the cheeseburger and fries set—you won’t be disappointed.

Nice Burger

Another new entry to Burger Baka—and to Ibaraki Eats—was Nice Burger, a shop that opened in Mito City last year. The Ibaraki Eats duo have not been able to visit due to their hours, so I was glad to finally try them at Burger Baka.
We went with their chili cheeseburger, which seemed to be a unique menu item at the event. Not many other burger places at the event were doing chilly, so it was a nice change of pace. My wife took the first bite and thought it was pretty good—I agreed. The chili had great flavor, and the patty was delicious.
My only complaint is that the chili could have been warmer. Cold chili doesn’t really work for burgers or hot dogs. Still, it was a solid burger overall. I hope we can visit their shop soon when we can make it for lunch.

Agopakan

This is one of Mrs. Ibaraki Eats’ favorite burger spots. “Ago” means chin, and “pakan” is the sound of it breaking—implying burgers so big they could break your jaw (not literally, of course).
I got in line first, and my wife joined me shortly after. Agopakan had a solid crowd of fans. The line was pretty long and it took around 20 minutes to order and grab a burger. Mrs. Ibaraki Eats wanted to try their limited-time blueberry mozzarella burger. I’ve had blueberry pizza before, but never a burger like this, so I was curious.
After a bit of a wait, we got our burger. My wife took the first bite and gave her signature approving nod. When I tried it, I found it both tasty and interesting. The patty was solid, and the mozzarella was excellent. The cheese was coated with blueberry jam, including small pieces of blueberry in and around the burger.
That said, the mozzarella was so strong that it often overpowered the blueberry flavor. However, when I got a bite with the beef and blueberry together, it was fantastic—the sweet and salty combination worked beautifully. I’d definitely try a blueberry burger again, maybe just with a bit less mozzarella.

Jiji to Baba

One of my favorite food trucks, Jiji to Baba, was also at Burger Baka this year. “Jiji” means grandpa and “Baba” means grandma—though the owners don’t look that old. That’s just the name they’ve gone with.
At the event, they were serving taco burgers. I always enjoy chatting with them—they’re a fun and interesting couple—and their food never disappoints.
We grabbed a taco burger and were glad we did. The tortilla had a perfect texture: crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. The beef patty was flavorful, the vegetables were fresh, and the sauce tied everything together nicely. It was a great break from the usual bun-based burgers.

Cafe Arco-Iris

By this point, we were completely full—but it had been so long since I’d had a burger from Café Arco-Iris, five years to be exact, that I couldn’t pass it up.
When we reached their tent, it was great to see the owner working his magic. And I mean that literally—he’s both a burger chef and a magician, performing magic shows at his café in Mito City.
I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and was not disappointed. The bacon wasn’t quite as crispy as this American guy prefers, but it was still very tasty. The highlight, as always, is the patty. It’s packed with spices and onions, which reduces the juiciness slightly but creates a refined, elegant flavor that pairs wonderfully with the rest of the burger. I was happy to see that it hasn’t changed, it’s still fantastic.

After sharing five burgers and one taco burger, we were lucky to still be able to move. I was so full that I ended up taking a 15-minute “meat nap” on our picnic blanket.
We left Burger Baka with full stomachs and great memories.

Until next year, Burger Baka! And to all you fellow burger bakas, keep enjoying those delicious Ibaraki burgers.

If you would like more information on Burger Baka, check out their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/burger_baka_vol.11/