Hyperlocal Tokyo

This bakery is located on the first floor of a building that houses famous tempura and yakitori restaurants, just a one-minute walk from Exit B4 of Nihonbashi Station. It's a relatively new establishment that opened last year. Their main focus is on kinako (roasted soybean flour) sweets. I visited around 3 pm on a weekend. The shop only has a sales space for takeout, but there are benches outside where people can eat. I went there wanting to try their an-butter (red bean and butter) pastry, but it was sold out. However, they told me it would be available in about 20 minutes, so I browsed around Takashimaya Department Store and came back. It was indeed ready, just as they said. No lies! Their lineup included about six or seven different sweets, like anko pies and kinako churros. I felt a little guilty buying only the an-butter, considering their specialty is kinako sweets, but I couldn't resist. It's small but costs a hefty 380 yen. It's not just red bean and butter, but also includes mascarpone cheese, giving it an airy and light texture. The generous amount of butter adds a salty flavor, making it delicious. The soft white French bread is slightly crispy and chewy. I'll definitely try their nama churros next time.

I had the kinako (roasted soybean flour) raw churros! Churros are usually crispy, but these were fluffy and had a new texture. They were a delicious way to enjoy the full flavor of kinako.

I tried the "an-butter" bread, chocolate-covered "an-pie" (with white chocolate and matcha chocolate), and kinako churros. They were all incredibly delicious! While everything was great, the kinako churros were particularly memorable. The moment you take a bite, the aroma of kinako fills your mouth. They also accept various payment methods, including QUICPay. Looking at the menu, they seem to have parfaits as well. I'm definitely going to try them next time. It seems like there's a second location in Yaesu Midtown. (The menu might be slightly different.) Just popping in made me feel so happy. There are benches outside, so you can eat there right away, which is great. The staff were also very friendly. This is a highly recommended shop that will make you want to come back again.

## Kinako and Anko Parfait This specialty shop dedicated to kinako (roasted soybean flour) and anko (sweet red bean paste) opened on May 23, 2023, behind Nihonbashi Takashimaya. The shop only offers takeout, with no seating available. Customers order and then eat outside on benches, which can be quite warm. The 'Kinako and Anko Parfait' allows you to choose between churros or anko pie (1/4 cut) as a topping. While they use Hokkaido kinako and anko, the overall experience wasn't particularly special, but it was delicious. The kinako left me craving a drink afterwards. **'Kinako and Anko Parfait' Ingredients:** * Hokkaido milk soft serve ice cream * Anko pie (1/4 cut) * Whipped cream * Warabi mochi (Japanese jelly) * Tsubuan (sweet red bean paste) * Blended kinako * BEAN&NUTS crush * Black sesame paste

I stopped by this shop during a shopping trip to Nihonbashi. It was one of the stores I had found online and wanted to visit. It's a specialty shop using Hokkaido kinako (roasted soybean flour) called "Kina and Co." The store is really small, but it's simple and stylish. It's located behind Nihonbashi Takashimaya, so it's easy to find. I saw some delicious-looking bread (although I had already bought some bread at Mandarin), but I decided to get the fresh churros and eat them on the bench outside. I also bought a bag of mixed nuts to try. When I asked if I could eat them on the bench outside, they brought out a freshly made batch from the back! They were generously dusted with kinako, not overly sweet, and had a relatively strong cinnamon flavor. They were small, so I ate them quickly. I think they were made without frying because they were so light and delicious. The mixed nuts were also generously dusted with kinako and made with Hokkaido beet sugar, giving them a gentle sweetness. They had a soft texture. The small bag was gone quickly, but they were so delicious that I think they'd be perfect for a souvenir at just over 500 yen. The rice flour bread, kinako white bread, and parfait in the window also looked delicious. My child wanted to take home some ice cream, but it was 37 degrees Celsius that day, so we decided against it, haha. The female staff member was very friendly and easy to talk to. I definitely want to visit this shop again the next time I'm in Nihonbashi.