Happy birthday to our favorite guy. He gets a new special burger every year and this one has an Asian twist with a few Japanese flavors like soy, sesame, furikake, and kewpie mayo. Spoiler – the kiddos loved the mayo.

Japanese Burger
Ingredients: (serves 4)
1 pound ground pork
4 burger buns
1 tablespoon minced ginger
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 package coleslaw mix
3 green onions
3/4 cup mayo – kewpie mayo, optional
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
furikake

Directions:
Add garlic and soy sauce to the ground pork and mix gently. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before forming, while mixing together the slaw.
In a large bowl, combine slaw, green onions, mayo, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and sugar.

Mix well and refrigerate until serving.
Preheat the grill.

Form the burgers and cook until 160-degrees in the center.
Assemble the burgers on the rolls with mayo, burger, slaw, and furitake shaken on top.
Enjoy!

This one packed lots of flavor. It was salty from the soy, and the sesame in the slaw really shines. Kewpie mayo is the creamy element since there isn’t any cheese. The furikake is crunchy and doesn’t come off as fishy – just umami.
The Historical Timeline of the Birthday Burgers:
2025 was a Patty Melt on Texas toast
2024 was a Hawaiian Burger with pineapple slaw
2023 was a Chicken Caesar Salad Burger with our beloved flavors
2022 was a Bacon Jam and Parmesan Peppercorn burger was all about the toppings.
2021 was a Waffle Breakfast Burger with ground sausage in the patty, maple aoli, and melted gouda.
2020 was a BLT burger with ground bacon IN the burger and tomato jam
2019 was a Manchego Burger with manchego, quince jam, and arugula
2018 was a Garlic Lovers Burger with garlic butter, chips, garlic aoli and white cheddar.
2017 was an Ultimate Mexican Burger with queso, guac, and beans.
2016 was a Mac & Cheese Stuffed Burger topped with bacon, onions, and tomato.
2015 was a Picnic Burger with slaw & potato sticks
2014 was a German Burger with horseradish, caramelized onions, pickles and a pretzel roll
2013 was a Vermont Burger with maple mayo, cheddar, bacon, and spinach
2012 was a Bacon Wrapped Burger – enough said
2011 was a Stuffed Burger stuffed with bacon & cheddar or bacon & blue cheese