Category Archives: Japanese

{  COBAKABA  }

COBAKABA
COBAKABA
COBAKABA

Found this cute cafe in the very traditional town of Kamakura. It’s usually hard to get seated right away at popular lunch spots in Kamakura but we got lucky and hardly had to wait. Perhaps it was because we got there towards the end of their lunch time service.

Cobakaba only serves 2 menu set options + a take away bento box per day. Of the 2 set meals that they serve, one changes daily and the other changes monthly. We tried their daily dish because their monthly dish was already sold out. We were very happy with their lunch overall: healthy, yummy, and all of that goodness for only 850yen? Love cafes like this.

If you’d like to check out some of my favorite spots in Kamakura, check it out here.

Address // 1-13-15, Komachi, Kamakura-shi, Kanagawa, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 0467-22-6131
Website // n/a

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{  Melonpan Factory  }

Melonpan Factory
Melonpan Factory

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DISCLAIMER: This location has closed. Here are their other locations that are open.
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Found a cute melon pan shop right outside/underneath the Gakugeidaigaku train station in an area called “Gakudai-Ichiba”. Apparently this place just opened on April 11th, 2012 and it’s one of melonpan factory’s ten locations. The place smells amazing when you pass by… you simply can’t walk by without buying one.

Their most popular flavor is the plain original (170yen), and it’s pretty good! Naturally, it’s best eaten right when you buy it. I’ve also tried their maple flavor but it’s not that much different than the plain so I would stick to the original. They also have some other more wacky flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, green tea, cinamon, caramel and orange if you’re feeling adventurous… If that’s not enough, they also sell croissants and apple pie. A good place to grab a snack!

Address // 3-3-2, Takaban, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-6766-0423
Website // http://melonpan.mymp.jp/

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{  Ginza Tatsutano  }

Ginza Tatsutano
Ginza Tatsutano

If you ever crave traditional Japanese sweets such as anmitsu, check out Ginza Tatsutano on chuo-street. Pictured above are the “Ogura Shiratama Anmitsu” (1100yen), “Yoyogimochi Anmitsu” (1000yen) with an extra topping of green tea ice cream (160yen) and the “Kuzumochi Kinako Anmitsu” (1000yen). They were all very authentic and perfectly satisfied our tea time craving :)

Address // 7-8-7, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3571-1400
Website // www.ginza-tatsutano.co.jp

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{  Soba Combo Watanabe – Ippudo  }

Soba Combo Watanabe (Ippudo)
Soba Combo Watanabe (Ippudo)

The famous Ippudo Ramen opened a Soba House in February (2012)!

It’s located inside of an Ippudo ramen house, but it’s separated into it’s own area once you walk in. They named it “Soba Combo Watanabe” and this Ippudo is actually the only one in world that serves soba at this point. It’s pretty interesting because they use their famous pork broth soup in one of their 4 menu options. The other 3 soba come with a katsuo (bonito)-based soup.

My friend and I both tried the “Spicy Tantanmen Soba” (790yen), and thought it was pretty good but it reminded us of the peanut sauce which is often used in Thai food. When you are about to finish your tantanmen, they give you some rice to eat is as “Zosui“, which i thought was fun. The other one pictured above is the “Imoten Soba” (730yen) and it felt like more of a traditional soba. Even though the soup was quite strong, I wish I had ordered that one! It comes with Sweet Potato Tempura and you eat one with the sauce, but they advise you to eat the second one with honey as a type of dessert.

Not sure how this new concept of Ippudo Soba will do here but it’s definitely is a fun idea. The employees were very nice and the ambiance was a traditional counter space with a modern twist.

Address // B1, 3-8-37, Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-5772-1521
Website // http://www.ippudo.com/index.html

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{  Brown Rice Cafe  }

Brown Rice Cafe
Brown Rice Cafe

Brown Rice Cafe serves basic vegetables that somehow taste so good. There is no fancy presentation or elaborate cooking technique. They just serve you normal veggies but they draw out the strong natural flavor of the organic vegetables and it tastes so sweet and fresh. You can really tell this cafe puts a lot of effort into choosing the best seasonal ingredients from local farmers. I would say this is a dream cafe for anyone who believes in sustainable and local supplies.

Their menu doesn’t really have proteins, but the dishes are so filling that you almost forget you’re only eating vegetables. We love their “specials” that go for 2100yen. Aside from your meal, it includes a small dessert and drink. I really wish more places like this existed because it not only tastes good, but also happens to be good for your body and for the environment.

Address // 5-1-17, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-5778-5416
Website // www.brown.co.jp

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