If you travel to Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture, there’s one place both locals and tourists stop by at least once: Big Man, the brand considered the original Sasebo burger. Our family visited the main store on our Sasebo trip.
Opened in the early 1970s, Big Man is a symbol of the handmade burger culture that grew alongside the U.S. military presence in Sasebo.
The patties are thick, and the bacon is smoked over cherry wood for more than 120 hours for a deep aroma.
One bite and it feels less like a hamburger and more like tasting local history.
If you’re planning a trip to Sasebo, put Big Man on your itinerary.
Sasebo Burger at Big Man Kamikyomachi Main Store: Location and Basics
Big Man has several branches, but the one most people visit is the Kamikyomachi main store.
It’s in central Sasebo, easy to connect with your sightseeing route and close to the Yonkacho arcade.
- Address: 7-10 Kamikyomachi, Sasebo, Nagasaki
- Phone: 0956-24-6382
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (last order 7:30 p.m.)
- Closed: no regular holidays (occasional closures possible)
- Parking: none (use nearby paid parking)
- Payment tip: cash only, so check before you go
Getting there
It’s about a 10-minute walk from Sasebo Station.
It sits in the middle of the shopping street, so it’s an easy lunch or dinner stop, and you can keep exploring the area afterward.
Big Man Burger Menu and Prices
Every burger at Big Man is handmade and cooked to order.
Taiyo eggs from Nagasaki Prefecture, house-smoked bacon and fresh buns baked daily come together beautifully.
Popular menu
- Bacon egg burger, about 1,000 yen: the signature menu, a perfect combination of smoked bacon and a soft-cooked egg
- Special burger, about 1,100 yen: the bacon egg burger with cheddar cheese added, richer and more intense
Set meal
Adding fries and a drink for a set costs about 550 yen more.
It’s good value, so most customers order the set. The chicken is also cheap and tasty, so be sure to add some.
Prices are as of 2025 and may vary with timing and exchange rates, so check on site.
Honest Review: Special Burger vs Bacon Egg Burger
Both are excellent, but personally I recommend the special burger.
It’s richer than the bacon egg burger, and the melty cheddar wraps nicely around the smoky bacon.
The bun is crisp outside and soft inside, so the whole thing is well balanced.
What impressed me most was that it isn’t greasy. Even though it’s a burger, it tasted light enough to finish without feeling heavy.
I could see why the Sasebo burger is so famous.
Local Tips for Enjoying Big Man
- Avoid the wait: lines are long at the lunch peak (12 to 2 p.m.). 9 to 11 a.m. or 3 to 5 p.m. is relatively quiet. We arrived around 11 a.m. and got seats right away, but after 11:30 a crowd poured in.
- Takeout: the shop is small, so take your burger to go if there are no seats. Eating on a bench in a nearby park or by the harbor is lovely.
- Drink pairing: a soda is the best match for a rich burger.
Finish Your Sasebo Trip With a Big Man Burger
The Sasebo burger felt less like a local eatery and more like a symbol of Sasebo’s culture and spirit.
If you want a taste of the local food, be sure to try an original Sasebo burger at the Big Man main store in central Sasebo.
That one meal will make your Sasebo trip even more memorable.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in October 2025 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.