Kristin N.

Outstanding service. We visited on a Sunday night and we were warmly greeted and quickly seated. Our server was so sweet and thorough, explaining the theme and different pieces of the menu. The menu is short and does not appear vegetarian friendly. She told us not to hesitate if we needed refills of water, rice, or the sauces. She also asked if we wanted a break between appetizer and the entree (which I appreciated). We tried all the appetizers, and they're good, but the star really are the patties. They are so flavorful and rich. The rice was bouncy and soaked up all the patty fat. They are prompt with food and we never had to wait long for our next item. Best service by far in this price point.

Cheryl M.

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

Isabel M.

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.

Claudia S.

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.

Iris F.

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.

Melissa N.

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.

Crystal L.

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.

Christine M.

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.

Elodie T.

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.

Sue L.

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.

Catherine H.

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.

Jenn N.

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!

Austin W.

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.