Hyperlocal Tokyo

I visited the GRANNY SMITH APPLE PIE & COFFEE Ginza store! This shop is famous for its apple pie, which is inspired by grandma's cooking. I've bought it in Shinjuku before, but unfortunately, the Shinjuku store is now closed. This time, I went because I was thirsty! They use apples from contracted farms in Aomori and Nagano to bake their pies. It was so hot and I was so thirsty. I wanted apple pie, but I also wanted to cool down. I got the Kiwi Pineapple smoothie for 900 yen and the Ginza-exclusive Green Apple Soda for 850 yen. The smoothie was, of course, ice-cold. It made my head feel tingly as I drank it. We both felt revived after having the cold drinks. But I still wanted to eat the hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream! I definitely want to try it next time. With a cup of Ogawa Coffee's special blend, of course. Ultimately, GRANNY SMITH APPLE PIE & COFFEE is best enjoyed with apple pie and ice cream, paired with coffee or tea!

My favorite apple pie specialty store, "GRANNY SMITH APPLE PIE & COFFEE," has opened its first location in the Ginza area. Their apple pies are inspired by "Grandma's taste." The store is located on the first basement floor of Tokyu Plaza Ginza. I love their apple pies and often buy them to take home. I also enjoy visiting the cafe. In addition to their regular menu, they offer seasonal apple pies made with fresh ingredients, as well as Ginza-exclusive varieties. This time, I ordered the following apple pies: * Dutch Crumble (¥820): A crumble top with molasses flavor, a hint of bourbon, and cinnamon. * French Almond (¥820): The most standard apple pie with a rich almond cream and a strong cinnamon aroma. I also ordered coffee and masala chai. The masala chai was very sweet.

【May 2024】 I've ordered their apple pie online a few times and absolutely loved it, so this time I decided to visit their actual store in Ginza. I ordered the England Custard (with ice cream) and my companion got the Dutch Crumble (also with ice cream). Both were pleasantly not too sweet, with a generous amount of apples, making them incredibly delicious. However, while the online version was served cold and tasted amazing, the store version felt like it had been warmed up after being cooled down. This was a bit of a letdown for me, as I would have preferred it served as is. The reheating process seemed to amplify the sweetness and made it feel like I was eating a warm cake, which wasn't quite my preference. This is just my personal opinion, of course. It would be great if customers could choose whether they want their pie warmed up or not when ordering. However, since the ordering system uses a QR code and requires you to order through your phone, it's a bit disappointing that I couldn't convey my personal preference.

I stopped by for a quick break after shopping at Tokyu Plaza. Their apple pie is a bit different from the usual, it's quite substantial. It's definitely a satisfying treat. This time I chose the limited-edition apple pie and paired it with a royal milk tea. They offer toppings like sauce, but caramel sauce is free. It was a relaxing and enjoyable experience. It would be nice if it were a bit cheaper, but the taste is good, the tea is delicious, so I guess it's worth the price. I'd definitely like to try it again.

I visited on Sunday afternoon (around 4 PM). There were 3-4 groups waiting outside the shop, but I was able to get in surprisingly quickly. I ordered the following: Apple Pie with Rum Raisins - ¥820 Apple Pie with Custard - ¥820 Iced Coffee - ¥570 Blend Coffee - ¥550 The apple pie came on a large plate, with an eighth of a slice and vanilla ice cream. The crispy apple pie was packed with apples and dough. Both the rum raisin and custard were delicious. I felt the price was a bit high. Thank you for the meal.