Kid-friendly burger spot near Hoegi Station: 1986 Shibuya Burger

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, while looking for somewhere to eat near Kyung Hee University, 1986 Shibuya Burger caught my eye right away. I love a good handmade burger, but honestly the name alone — Shibuya Burger — sold me.

A little Shibuya in Hoegi: what 1986 Shibuya Burger looks like inside

1986 Shibuya Burger sits between Hoegi Station and Kyung Hee University. It's a Japanese-vibe handmade burger place. Once you step inside, the Japanese atmosphere is even stronger than it looked from outside — warm wood tones, teal tiles, and the walls packed with Japanese posters and photos.

So much city pop energy!

The tables aren't crammed together, so it also felt like a comfortable spot to eat alone — good news if you're looking for a solo lunch near Kyung Hee University. Handmade burgers come together quickly once you order, too, which makes it a pretty solid solo-dining option around here.

Ordering by kiosk: the menu and prices at 1986 Shibuya Burger

At 1986 Shibuya Burger, you order at a kiosk near the entrance. The menu was more varied than I expected — everything from a classic burger to a chipotle jambon burger, chili cheese fries, and an apple jambon salad. The prices were also reasonable for a handmade burger specialist.

What's at the self-serve bar: sauces, chips and barley tea

There's a self-serve bar tucked to one side. Lots of sauce options, plus water and other essentials you can grab yourself. I've never seen such a thoughtful, generous self-serve bar!

Drinks are always the tricky part of eating out with my daughter, but they had barley tea. Have you ever seen barley tea at a handmade burger place?

We came back with a well-loaded plate of chips, truffle mayo, honey mayo, and jalapeños.

Shibuya Skillet Cheese Burger: a patty buried in melted cheese

If you love cheese, the Shibuya Skillet Cheese Burger is a must-order. On a hot skillet, cheese is spread out thin, topped with a patty and a generous pile of sautéed onions.

The look of a burger dunked in cheese is delicious in itself. The sweetness of the sautéed onions, the rich saltiness of the beef patty, and then that heavy layer of cheese on top of it all.

I think they use the skillet so the cheese doesn't set too quickly. I worried this much cheese might feel greasy, but there's plenty of onion in there, so the combination worked better than I expected.

Shibuya Grilled Shrimp Burger: a hit even with a shrimp-averse husband

My husband doesn't usually like shrimp burgers, but he raved about the Shibuya Grilled Shrimp Burger at 1986 Shibuya Burger.

Plenty of handmade burger places pile on so many ingredients you can barely fit a bite in your mouth, but here the ratio of patty, vegetables, and sauce felt balanced, so it was easy to eat. There was a generous amount of lettuce, too, which was great alternating with the cheesy burger from before. For a side, we went with the (relatively) healthy ricotta cheese salad.

The shrimp were genuinely plump and springy. The juices practically burst out — really delicious.

I get handmade burgers regularly, and in Hoegi I used to only go to Hoegi Burger, but I think I've found a new go-to spot.

Is 1986 Shibuya Burger good with a 4-year-old?

We went with our 4-year-old daughter that day, and 1986 Shibuya Burger really wasn't uncomfortable to visit with a kid. It's easy to portion out bites of the burger for her, and the casual atmosphere meant we didn't feel out of place with a child in tow.

On top of that, they had barley tea, and the owner even handed over a Pororo drink — apparently they give one whenever a kid visits! She even snagged a piece of candy at the end, and my daughter was practically dancing with joy.

Where to eat lunch near Hoegi Station and Kyung Hee University

There are so many places to eat around Kyung Hee University and Hoegi Station that picking somewhere can actually be the hard part. If you're craving something other than the usual Korean food or noodles for lunch near Hoegi Station, a handmade burger is a solid choice. 1986 Shibuya Burger in particular is fun just for the atmosphere alone — a different feel from an ordinary franchise burger.

We left after enjoying a thick handmade burger and plenty of cheese in a space full of Japanese atmosphere. It felt like a quick trip to Shibuya from Hoegi — minus the plane ticket, just the price of a burger :)