Gabutto Burger

1410 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Let me begin by talking about McDonald’s in Japan. Yes, you clicked on the post to Gabutto Burger. First, let me tell you how I got here, and then you will know how you got here.

Way back in the early 2000s, on a hot summer afternoon, my mother and I stumbled into a McDonald’s in Japan, weak with hunger and desperate for some tasty nourishment. Our bodies may have been shaky but our minds were firm. We wanted that thing on the poster covering the glass door to the place.

Ebi baga. Shrimp burger. Different. Interesting.

Futatsu, onegaishimasu (two, please)!

It was different, interesting and tasty. And it was a shrimp burger. That last part was a bit of a problem, we found out, when we returned home so far away from ebi baga.

A few years went by with my mom and I remembering the now mythical and legendary ebi baga. Until one day a new burger joint, Gabutto Burger, opened in the food court at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights. What an unusual name, we thought. But…

…A seasonal Shrimp Burger was on the menu!

A few years went by with many Gabutto Shrimp Burgers enjoyed by my family, friends and me. But…

…Gabutto Burger closed at Mitsuwa Marketplace.

Fast forward a few years later when…

…Gabutto Burger reopened in Rolling Meadows!

Well then, here we are.

Scroll down to see more photos and read more about Gabutto Burger.

“The Quattro Berries Smoothie tasted fresh, lively and smooth with a light body.”

My mother, Lisa and I decided to have lunch one day at Gabutto Burger. Nobody’s arm needed twisting. Nobody’s hand could be pried open to let loose their burger. Read on.

I often flip flop between Shrimp Burger and Crabby Burger as my favorite. Interestingly enough, both burgers were at one time offered only as seasonal menu items. Because they have been offered all the time for quite some time, I usually alternate between the two. The problem was I could not remember what I had last. If this was my biggest worry here and now, I never had it so good.

I decided to go with the Crabby Burger and a No Guilt Yogurt Smoothie, Quattro Berries. We would share a large order of fries. Yes, you read that right, one large order of Gabutto Burger Fries sufficiently feeds three hungry adults.

The smoothie was served up first. It was blended right after ordering. I thought that the Quattro Berries Smoothie tasted fresh, lively and smooth with a light body. This would not weigh me down on my way to finishing my Crabby Burger, up next.

“The Crabby Burger held a generous amount of tender, sweet meat inside the perfectly crisped soft-shell crab.”

The Crabby Burger, like the fries, became jumbo sized over the years. Not that I was complaining. The Crabby Burger held a generous amount of tender, sweet meat inside the perfectly crisped soft-shell crab. This was an entire soft-shell crab inside a light, fluffy bun. The ponzu sauce, tartar sauce and finely shredded tender cabbage completed the experience perfectly.

“The Shrimp Burger was nice and juicy, with tender Japanese-style cabbage.”

My mother’s weapon of choice choice of burger was unquestionably the Shrimp Burger. I would not dare chance a scratch on my arm or face to suggest she try something else. This Shrimp Burger had some history, as you now know.

The Shrimp Burger was nudged forward closer to my mother, like a hunk of meat on a pole to a great cat. All right, it was not quite like that. But I could see that she was hungry and only this would do. My mother immediately noted that “The Shrimp Burger was nice and juicy with tender Japanese-style cabbage.” I was relieved to retrieve this bit of information because there was much more chewing than talking. I knew the food was good when it was oh, so quiet.

Lisa would usually go for the Shrimp Burger. She was one of my converts. Once you go Shrimp, you never go back. Except this time Lisa did, to the Original Gabutto Burger, the one that she had years ago when perhaps the Shrimp Burger was not in season or she was not yet game enough to go Shrimpin’. The Original Gabutto Burger was the one that started it all for Lisa and Gabutto Burger.

I had not seen the Original Gabutto Burger in quite some time. It looked and smelled good. Lisa blocked me out with her elbows. After a few bites, Lisa remarked, “The Original Gabutto Burger was tender and juicy, and the demi-glace really elevated the flavor.” The Original Gabutto Burger might look simple, but really when you have perfected something, why mess with it just for the sake of messing with it?

“The Original Gabutto Burger was tender and juicy, and the demi-glace really elevated the flavor.”

As a side note, the Crabby Burger comes with a top bun, ponzu sauce, cabbage, a whole soft-shell crab, tartar sauce, and a bottom bun. The Shrimp Burger is made with a top bun, Worcestershire mayo, cabbage, a thick shrimp patty, tartar sauce, and a bottom bun. The Original Gabutto Burger comes with a top bun, mayo, lettuce, tomato, red onions, demi-glace, a 25% pork / 75% beef patty, and a bottom bun.

I will be revisiting Gabutto Burger many, many times. Can you guess what I will be eating next? Whichever, it will be behind door number Shrimp or door number Crabby!

You can have a great lunch and a fun experience at Gabutto Burger located at 1410 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008. The website for Gabutto Burger is Gabutto Burger

To see more photos, including the open burgers, visit my Instagram page at Instagram – The Simple Luxuries