Homegrown American-style smashed burger joint Omakase Burger has opened a second outlet — in a Toa Payoh kopitiam. The quaint pop-up stall is called Omakase Burger Express, and will run for two months till September 31, 2020.

While the main Omakase Burger outlet within food enclave Picnic in Wisma Atria already offers islandwide delivery, the heartland pop-up has a “special menu with reduced prices”. For instance, the brand’s classic Omakase Burger with French Fries Set, which usually costs $17.90 at the Orchard eatery, is priced at $14.90 in Toa Payoh.

The Express outlet serves just two burger sets, the aforementioned Omakase Burger and a Chicken Sandwich Set ($14.90). But you can still order OB’s other offerings, like Applewood Smoked Bacon Cheeseburger, by sprucing up your basic burger set with add-ons like Applewood Smoked Bacon ($2) or Sautéed Onions and Mushrooms ($1 per portion). Other toppings include Extra Cheese ($1), Extra Beef Patty ($5.95), and you can top up $3 to change your meat patty to a meatless Impossible Patty ($8.95 as a separate add-on).

It’s a pretty good deal, considering that an Ultimate Burger (which is similar to a classic Omakase Burger, except with additional sautéed onions and mushrooms) from OB already costs $20.50 a la carte at Orchard Road, and you’d be paying around $16.90 for the same burger, plus fries, if you zhng your own burger at the express branch. If you don’t fancy the plain fries that come with the set, you can also get Truffle Fries (top up $2), Cheese Fries (top up $1.50) and Garlic Fries (top up $1), or swap the fries for a House Salad (top up $1.50).

You can amble to the kopitiam in your shorts and slippers to dine-in, or tapow the burgers. But if you’re ordering the food for delivery, note that the express outlet only delivers to addresses within Toa Payoh. The delivery fee costs a flat $5 for orders above $30 (free delivery for orders above $80).

For comparison, the delivery fee is between $12 to $20, depending on distance, if you order the burgers from the Wisma Atria outlet. Alternatively, you can also order the Express burgers via Deliveroo and Foodpanda if you’re within a 3km distance from the stall.

And rather confusingly, the delivery menu will be the same as Omakase Burger’s regular menu, including food items and prices (no heartland ‘discount’). Except you get to enjoy a lower delivery fee and shorter waiting time lah.

While the Toa Payoh stall is Omakase Burger’s first pop-up outlet, the brand is “in active discussions with a few locations for more possible pop-ups in the coming months”. Which means you might just get an Omakase Burger joint in your ’hood.

#01-01, 211 Toa Payoh Lor 8, S310211. Open daily 11am to 10pm. Click here to order burgers for delivery.

PHOTOS: PYRON TAN/ OMAKASE BURGER