Hamburg steak is a very popular food in Japan, where you can eat throughout Japan.
It is a kind of meatball made from minced meat(beef, beef+pork), finely chopped onions, breadcrumbs, eggs flavored with various spices. It is made into flat, circular shape and pan fried.
Hamburg steaks are usually topped with various types of sauce or cheese. There is also hamburg steak called "cheese in hamburg" which melting cheese is inside the hamburg steak. Teriyaki sauce is one of the best sauce you should try in Japan.
Hamburg steak are main dish at family restaurants. Family restaurants are restaurant chains, located throughout Japan; residential area, downtown and suburbs, opened 24 hours or till late in the evening.
Not like at diners or other restaurants, it does not come automatically with a bowl of rice and miso soup. You can choose the side dishes on the spot. Family restaurants offer valuable combo; called "set"in Japan. For example, A drink set at Gusto includes rice, soup of the day and unlimited soft drinks, F set includes small mixed salad and soup of the day.
Therefore please watch out when you order hamburg steak at family restaurant. The price of the hamburg steak does not include rice or bread. The price is for the plate of the hamburg steak.