Category Archives: Japanese

{  Cafe Yokohamaya  }

Cafe Yokohamaya
Cafe Yokohamaya

You’d never think of going into this coffee shop if you were just passing by, but it’s the quintessential traditional Japanese coffee shop that you can imagine seeing in the movies. Nothing fancy, it’s just a small coffee shop but it serves the perfect cup of coffee. The best thing about this place is their master/owner and his wife. They have run the shop for over thirty years and they haven’t let the waves of different trends in Japan influence it. For thirty years they’ve kept their menu simple and only serve three items: Hayashi Rice, cheese cake, and Tarte Tatin (Apple Pie). They make them all from scratch fresh daily and it’s really an impressive dedication to their craft. Go for lunch, you can get Hayashi Rice, coffee, and a small dessert for only 900yen.

This kind of old school coffee shop is very rare in Japan nowadays with Starbucks taking over everywhere, but I hope it doesn’t disappear because it’s not just the food and coffee that makes it special, but the character and dedication to quality that the master and his wife bring to it. If you’re wondering why their coffee is so good, it’s partly because all of their coffee beans are sourced from local growers and he doesn’t serve any beans that are more than a week old.

PS: The owner named this place Yokohamaya because that’s his hometown :)

Address // B1F, 1-11-2, Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3586-7486
Website // n/a

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{  Udon Yamacho  }

Udon Yamacho
Udon Yamacho
Udon Yamacho

Although it’s hard to find, this udon place in Ebisu is a hidden gem. Yamacho is an awesome udon place that serves two types of thickness for your udon so you can choose between thin or fat noodles. Neither one is really “better”, it’s really just a matter of your preference (though the thick noodles are more traditional). The Ebi tempura yakumi udon was great, and it’s really a steal for just 1000yen. Their curry udon was also 1000yen and they even give you a bib so you don’t get your clothes dirty. love it. We especially liked their dashimaki tamago (the egg dish in the top photo) for 680yen. The Tempura udon for 1230 yen was also good. The restaurant is small but their ambiance, service, and food were all top notch. It’s easy to see why this place is always crowded.

Address // 1-1-5, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3443-1701
Website // www.foodgate.net/shop_yamacho.html

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{  Taiyaki Hiiragi  }

Taiyaki Hiiragi
Taiyaki Hiiragi

Taiyaki is an authentic and very distinct Japanese fish-shaped dessert. The most common filling is red bean paste that is made from sweetened azuki beans. Hiiragi is a small shop located in Ebisu that has Taiyaki with a subtle level of sweetness. If you eat it right when it’s freshly made, it’s perfectly crisp on the outside and the combination of the hot redbean filling with the cake surrounding it tastes so good. But remember, the key is to eat it when it’s freshly made since it’s crucial to have the beans be hot on the inside.

If you want to give Taiyaki a try, check this place out.

Address // 1-4-1, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-3473-7050
Website // www.taiyakihiiragi.com

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{  Muji Cafe  }

Muji Cafe
Muji Cafe

If you haven’t checked out Muji, you definitely should. It’s a great store that has everything from stationary and clothing to furniture and food. Some of the larger Muji stores also have a cafe attached, called Muji Cafe. The store that’s located in Yurakucho/Ginza is one of the largest Muji stores in Tokyo and it also contains the largest Cafe Muji i’ve ever seen. It’s a great place to have a light lunch or a tea/coffee break if you’re doing a shopping session in Ginza.

As you can see from the photos above, the cafe also includes a bakery section with a variety of delicious baked goods. If you’re going to buy something from the bakery, I would recommend their number 1 seller, the pretzel croissant with red bean.

Address // 3-8-3, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-5208-8241
Website // www.muji.net/shop/cafemeal.html

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{  Rinato Kitchen  }

Rinato Kitchen
Rinato Kitchen

Rinato Kitchen serves cafe style Japanese food that is created with natural ingredients that is good for your body. This cafe’s concept is simply to provide good healthy meals for your everyday lifestyle. The cafe is rather small and you will be sitting within inches of the next table over but the food is good and it’s a cute place to go to if you’re in Ebisu.

They also have a spa, beauty, studio (yoga, pilates, etc) service on the higher floors.

Address // B1, 5-10-1, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan (map)
Phone Number // 03-5459-3106
Website // http://www.rinato.net/kitchen

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