Chino, Nagano, Japan｜フリーキン バーガー

The burgers are really tasty, big size and great cost performance. Shop has interesting decor and looks really cool from the outside, like a small hanger at an airbase - which is exactly what they were going for. Will definitely repeat when in the area!

I arrived a little after the restaurant opened. There is limited parking (picture included) but there is a lot of parking in Suwa Station Park with a bit of a walk to the restaurant. It is located to the left of the jewelry place, which is near the drug store. It is a bit hidden but the outside and inside of the building are interesting and unusual for a restaurant. The outside of the building kind of looks like a military bunker and is all silver metal (you can't miss it driving pass EDION and toward the jewelry store). There is also a fence on the side of the building next to the parking area with interesting signs that were obviously put there for effect (pictures included), like the things in the shop (picture included). There are oodles of things to look at in the restaurant, from McDonald's memorabilia to movies and Coca-Cola memorabilia. There isn't much seating inside but if you go there early like I did, this won't be a problem. They do have a takeout window, but I heard a customer come up to the window and the cook said (in Japanese) that they can only serve soft ice cream through the window. There is even a sign in English saying that they don't serve burgers for takeout. I paid 1375 yen for a Freakin Cheese Burger set. The set comes with a drink and French fries. I asked if I can use PayPay because the website said it is accepted, but they said I couldn't. I then asked after paying if that is usual, but the main dude responded in Japanese something about 5% and I couldn't understand. When I got my food, I saw that they gave me pumpkin soup served in a metal cup with a spoon. I am thinking now that the cook was saying that I could get a 5% discount anyways due to not having PayPay when I got there. I didn't get that and I believe instead of that they gave me pumpkin soup, which was delicious and a 250 yen value, as compensation. Really nice people!!! Anyways, I got my food in under 15 minutes (maybe 13 or 14 minutes). Usually, I put a lot of mustard on burgers, but I wanted to try it for the first time without anything added. It was so delicious. The big tomato slice and big amount of lettuce make it difficult to hold, but I expected that. Also, the burger was juicy and very well seasoned. The sauce added to the taste but the burger was very tasty itself!!! The cook/owner was very nice! He delivered my drink and came back to my table in a second to give me a straw for my drink (he opened a container and I chose one out of there). There is a place where you can get condiments, napkins and straws but again the cook brought those to my table. This was probably because I was the first customer of the day and they weren't busy (two women entered just before I got my food). One thing that is really not good are the front doors and cash register. When I was leaving, two more people were at the cash register ordering and it was difficult to get out with people standing right next to the inside door, then there is another door on the outside. When it gets busy, I think this would be a nightmare for people getting out if people are standing in line between the doors and at the cash register. There is a room next to the dining room (with windows so anyone can see inside and picture included) that is filled with various knick-knacks and a car! I saw the owner/cook come out of the room and lock the door. It has a feel of an old-fashioned diner in America and I really liked it.

Great Americana decor, delicious burger, friendly staff! Extremely clean inside.