Hyperlocal Tokyo

As this was a souvenir, I can't really give an overall opinion, but it was delicious. When you think of dorayaki, it's usually two dorayaki skins with anko filling in between. However, this product uses a single dorayaki skin folded over to enclose the anko. The skin was chewy, and the anko had a slightly bland flavor. As a long-established and famous store, I am impressed by their commitment to maintaining the same quality as they have for years. Thank you for the delicious treat today.

My 1708th visit to an old-established shop! This is a long-standing Japanese confectionery store founded in 1922. I purchased a dorayaki (a Japanese pancake filled with sweet bean paste). On my previous visit, they were only accepting reservations, so I couldn't buy one. But this time, I was lucky enough to get the last dorayaki! The store was filled with boxes of dorayaki, likely for reservations, which shows how popular they are. The dorayaki was delicious, with a gentle sweetness of the bean paste and a fluffy texture. This famous shop is tucked away in a quiet alley behind the Kabuki-za Theatre. The alley itself feels like a step back in time to Showa-era Ginza. No parking available. Cash only.

I called to reserve some dorayaki on December 29th and visited the shop. Google Maps showed it was open for regular business hours, but they were actually closing early at 3 pm… Oh no! So I went at 11 am. The owner, an older gentleman, answered the phone. He spoke very directly, saying things like, "We only sell in sets of 5! Oh, we're closed at that time!" which made me a little nervous. People who had made reservations kept coming in to pick up their orders. The dorayaki were very small, with the filling wrapped in half of the dough. The dough was thin but had a fluffy and chewy texture. The red bean paste was very subtly sweet, almost barely noticeable. The dough itself also seemed to have almost no sweetness. With its size and sweetness, you could easily eat many of them, so be careful! (laughs) It was nice to see the calorie and nutritional information displayed on the packaging. Thank you for kindly accommodating my walk-in reservation during the busy end-of-year season.

My visit was a while back, but it left such a strong impression that I felt compelled to write a review. It was still a hot summer day, and after a long walk from Tsukishima to Tsukiji Outer Market, I was exhausted. Since we were near Kabuki-za Theatre and I was craving something sweet, I decided to try this place for the first time. Luckily, there was a table available. I ordered the shiratama (glutinous rice balls) with azuki bean ice cream, and my companion had the cream anmitsu (a traditional Japanese dessert). While we waited, the tea they served was so delicious that I ended up having several cups (laughs). The women at the table next to us were excitedly discussing Kabuki-za Theatre. A gentleman at another table was enjoying his shaved ice, and his lively conversation with the owner revealed that he was a dedicated ice dessert enthusiast. We were told that the shiratama would take a bit longer because they were made fresh, kneaded by hand. But that just made us even more eager to wait! When it finally arrived, it was a visual feast. And of course, it tasted just as good as it looked! The shiratama were fresh, with a delightful texture that wasn't sticky or mushy. The anko (sweet red bean paste) was generous and not overly sweet. The vanilla ice cream melted into the anko, creating a delicious combination. But the real star was the black honey syrup! It was so good that I couldn't resist pouring it all over. My companion raved about her anmitsu, too. Next time I go, I'll have to try it myself. This is a highly recommended sweet shop!

A favorite among celebrities, this shop is located in a quiet corner just two alleys behind the glamorous Kabuki-za Theatre, preserving the old-world charm of the area. The owner, always cheerful and with a kind smile, meticulously hand-bakes each dorayaki with care. The dorayaki, like its maker, is gentle, deep, and refined, with a touch of nostalgia. The dough is moist and smooth, perfectly complementing the fluffy, subtly sweet filling. This time, I purchased some as a backstage gift for a friend's stage performance. The filling is the perfect energy boost, and the dorayaki's size and shape are ideal, ensuring clean hands and lips. Made with no additives and delicious, it's sure to please everyone. They sell out quickly, so reservations are highly recommended.