Hyperlocal Tokyo

Visited on September 11, 2024. This is a classic, old-fashioned Japanese coffee shop. It's very much a 'Showa era' experience, both good and bad. Reviews are mixed, and it's not for those seeking modern flavors. It's definitely a blast from the past! The Napolitan is a classic, with a strong tomato ketchup flavor. It comes with onions, green peppers, ham, and bacon. The yakisoba is different from the street food version, with a robust Worcestershire sauce flavor and firm, thin noodles. It's delicious! The ingredients are cabbage, green peppers, and pork. I didn't have time for pancakes this time. Two people are cooking, so expect a 15-20 minute wait from ordering to receiving your food. It's a place for those who want to take their time. There's no background music, so you'll need to chat, read, or browse your phone to pass the time. This is also a classic Showa era aspect, both good and bad. If you have the time and a relaxed mindset, I highly recommend it.

◾️July 2024 Visit The Sumida Ward area is known for its abundance of Showa-retro cafes, which can make it hard to come up with unique review titles, haha. This one is a long-established cafe and quite famous in the Kinshicho area. I tried to visit on a weekend once, but there was a long line, so I gave up. However, I was able to enter smoothly on a weekday evening. I was surprised when I went inside. It's so spacious and has so many seats! The interior is retro, with a mama-san (older woman who runs the cafe) and a pink phone, adding to the atmosphere. When I go to cafes, I tend to order Napolitan (a Japanese spaghetti dish) and hotcakes, and I did the same this time. The mama-san asked me, "Are you by yourself? That's a lot of food, are you sure you can handle it?" I told her I eat a lot, so it was fine. The Napolitan came on a silver plate. It was the kind of Napolitan you'd expect at a cafe, moist and flavorful. The hotcakes were thick and came with gum syrup (?). I didn't use the syrup because they were delicious on their own, but it's unusual to have gum syrup. I devoured everything in no time. It's true that the hotcakes are thick, so sharing is probably the best option, but both were so good that even someone who wants to eat it all by themselves could manage. But I still think maple syrup would be better... haha. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

The "Copper Plate Hotcake Set" for 900 yen. On my previous visit, I was told that the hotcake set would take 50 minutes, so this time I arrived early to allow for the wait. I was initially told it would be 30-40 minutes, but it arrived in about 30 minutes. **Food & Taste** I ordered the hotcake set for 900 yen (including tax). I asked for the coffee to be brought out first, and it arrived in about 15 minutes. I leisurely waited for the hotcakes, and they arrived in about 30 minutes. The hotcakes here are distinctive, with a crispy surface. However, the fluffy texture of the inside wasn't very noticeable, and unfortunately, I found myself getting tired of eating them after a while. The syrup could have been a bit more generous, as I ran out towards the end. The coffee was a bit strong and reminiscent of old-fashioned coffee. **Service & Atmosphere** The charm of this place lies in its unique, nostalgic, pure Japanese coffee shop atmosphere. The chairs are incredibly soft, and while this type of chair can be tiring to sit in for long periods, many customers seem to linger. This is likely due to the place being very popular, including with foreign tourists, and the kitchen seeming to be overwhelmed. The service is consistently polite and pleasant. For those who enjoy this type of coffee shop, I think it's a wonderful place.

I had tea at "Knit," which is about a 5-minute walk from the south exit of Kinshicho Station. The shop is bustling with people of all ages. It's been featured in numerous dramas, and the atmosphere is fantastic! The hotcakes are famous, but I highly recommend all the other sets as well. It's a steal at under ¥1,000 for a coffee and a set. Thank you for the meal!

This incredibly popular coffee shop in Kinshicho is almost always packed, so be prepared to wait unless you arrive right when it opens. I had the hotcake set and a cream soda this time. The cream soda felt special, served in the retro atmosphere of the shop, with its worn-out sofas and tables and aged furnishings. The hotcakes were classic, thick, and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, with sweet syrup. It's easy to see why they're so popular. They paired well with the strong coffee. It takes time to get a table and then even longer for the hotcakes to be cooked, so I recommend coming with plenty of time to spare.