andrejthechef
USABurgerDinner

Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger

A beef burger glazed with homemade teriyaki and stacked with grilled pineapple on a Hawaiian sweet roll. Sweet, savory and charred.

prep
20 min
cook
12 min
total
32 min
serves
2
level
medium
Hawaiian teriyaki burger with a grilled pineapple ring and glazed beef patty on a sweet roll

This burger came out of Hawaii’s drive-ins in the 1960s. Teddy’s Bigger Burgers in Honolulu made it famous, and chef Roy Yamaguchi later brought it to fine dining. The idea holds up: a beefy patty, a sweet-savory teriyaki glaze and a ring of charred pineapple.

The glaze is the heart of it, so make it from scratch. It takes one small saucepan and comes together while the grill heats.

method

  1. Make the teriyaki glaze. Combine the soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, ginger and garlic in a small saucepan. Stir the cornstarch into the water, add it to the pan and simmer until the glaze thickens.

  2. Pat the pineapple rings dry and grill them for 2 to 3 minutes per side.

  3. Form two 8 oz patties and season them well with salt and pepper.

  4. Cook the patties for 4 to 5 minutes per side.

  5. Brush the patties with the teriyaki glaze during the last 2 minutes. Add the Swiss cheese if using.

  6. Stack the burgers on the buns with the grilled pineapple.

chef's tips

  • Pat the pineapple really dry before grilling. Wet fruit steams instead of charring.
  • Handle the beef lightly when shaping. Overworked patties turn dense.
  • Brush the glaze on late. The sugar in it burns if it goes on too early.