The rice burger feels like one of those foods invented at 1am by someone staring into the fridge.

No bread? No worries.

Squash yesterday’s rice into two circles, chuck some meat between them and hope structural engineering takes care of the rest.

But its actual story is a little more respectable.

Who invented the rice burger?

The modern rice burger was introduced by Japanese fast-food chain MOS Burger in December 1987.

MOS had opened its first shop in Tokyo in 1972, selling American-style burgers adjusted for Japanese tastes.

That eventually raised an obvious question: if Japan loved rice so much, why was bread still running the burger department?

So MOS replaced the traditional bun with two compressed rice patties, lightly grilled so they developed a firmer, slightly crispy outside.

Its original version was the Tsukune Rice Burger, filled with a seasoned ground-chicken patty and daikon radish.

It was familiar enough to resemble a burger, but Japanese enough not to feel like America had simply arrived and parked itself in the kitchen.

The idea was new as a commercial burger, although Japan had been turning rice into portable meals for centuries.

Let’s go back in time a bit

Onigiri, the famous filled rice parcels, date back at least to the Heian period, while grilled rice balls known as yaki onigiri had already demonstrated that rice becomes even better once you introduce it to heat and soy sauce.

The rice burger was essentially their modern fast food cousin wearing a burger costume.

It worked. The rice burger became one of MOS Burger’s signature creations and followed the chain overseas as it expanded into Taiwan in 1989 and later across Asia.

Different fillings appeared, including yakiniku beef, seafood, vegetables and teriyaki chicken.

Taiwan’s McDonald’s later produced its own version with pan-seared rice buns, proving that in fast food, imitation is the sincerest form of nicking someone else’s lunch idea.

Where to find rice burgers in Bali?

The rice burger has since spread well beyond Japan.

Here in Bali, Dod’s Burger x MeatCraft Bali has joined the rice-bun movement with two of its own creations: the Spicy Chicken Rice Burger and the Fish Rice Burger.

The main challenge remains keeping the rice “bun” together long enough to reach your mouth. Rice, after all, never applied for this job.

Still, the rice burger makes perfect sense: take one of the world’s favourite foods, shape it like another of the world’s favourite foods, then put something delicious in the middle.

Humanity has built entire civilisations on less convincing ideas.