Japan: Food crawl and cafes in Tokyo

Japan: Food crawl and cafes in Tokyo

Travel Date: May 2025

Komeda Coffee

Location: Japan, 〒171-0022 Tokyo, Toshima City, Minamiikebukuro, 1 Chome−19−6 オリックス池袋ビル 2F

Personal preference: 9 out of 10

It's hard to find a restaurant in Ikebukuro during lunch time.  This is the 3rd restaurant we have visited during that time and we had to queue for a long time until we got seated.  We'll definitely revisit Komeda next time to try their morning set but in a more serene setting.

The Premium Malt's House

Location: Japan, 〒103-0028 Tokyo, Chuo City, Yaesu, 1 Chome−5−17 香川ビルディング 1F

Food: red spaghetti napolitan 950yen,  tomato & mozzarella salad 520yen, oolong tea 520yen,

Personal preference: 9 out of 10

Napolitan tastes perfect. The salad is too small, but I did love the tomato with a pinch of salt. It was our first night upon arrival in Tokyo, and having alcohol may be too early for the trip.  Thus, we ordered oolong tea.

Tully’s Coffee & Tea KITTE Marunouchi

Location: Japan, 〒100-7001 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi, 2 Chome, KITTE
Personal preference: 8 out of 10

May get crowded as well. What we did was just buy the drinks and roam around Marunouchi Square.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo

Location: 2 Chome-19-23 Aobadai, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0042, Japan https://www.starbucks.co.jp/reserve/roastery/ 

Food: banana pie 880y, sandwich 980y

Personal preference: 10 out of 10

View more photos on visits on 2019 and 2025. 

We headed to 3F to stay in Arriviamo bar.  First time I visited this reserve roastery was in 2017, I had alcohol for breakfast.  As I learned my lesson not to drink and guide, this time, I'm keeping away from having rum on my hot cinema cappuccino.

Cinema Cappuccino - A cappuccino-style spirit-free cocktail made with caramel popcorn and craft caramel sauce. Enjoy it while watching the bartender's performance, just like watching a movie with popcorn in hand.

White Soy Latte - This soy latte is made with espresso extracted using two-thirds the amount of water as usual. The smoother espresso brings out the flavor of the soy milk even more.

Mr. Farmer Komazawa Park

Location: 1 Chome-1-2 Komazawakoen, Setagaya City, Tokyo 154-0013, Japan

https://mr-farmer.jp/  | https://www.instagram.com/mr.farmer_/ 

Personal preference: 10 out of 10

I like going to nature themed restaurants when I'm travelling. 

Yoshinoya

Location: 1 Chome-4-7 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0021, Japan

Food: beef bowl with onion and egg, cheese beef bowl

Personal preference: 8 out of 10

My sister loved her cheese beef bowl. 

Pronto

Location: 1 Chome-22-8 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0022, Japan

Food: morning set with egg and yoghurt

Personal preference: 7 out of 10

I made the wrong choice to go to 2F where it is mostly a smoking area.  I like to try Pronto once more, but in a better setting apart from Ikebukuro.   

Musashino Abura Gakkai Waseda Head Shop

Location: 1 Chome-18-12 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0051, Japan

Food: Musashino Abura soba with ramen egg

Personal preference: 9 out of 10

On the menu, the Musashino-style is a basic abura soba, made with garlic infused oil.  Flavor of garlic and spring onion enhance the abura soba sauce.

We just randomly picked this place, surprisingly tasty to us.  Food is rich in flavor and very affordable.  Free soup and drinks are self-service. 

A small, traditional tatami-floor seating restaurant, lucky they were able to accommodate us upon arrival.  In just a few minutes, there is already a long queue waiting outside.

Chibo Seibu Ikebukuro: Seafood Yakisoba Noodles

Location: Japan, 〒171-0022 Tokyo, Toshima City, Minamiikebukuro, 1 Chome−28−1 ヨドバシHD池袋ビル 8F

Food: seafood yakisoba noodles

Personal preference: 9 out of 10

Thankfully we visited this place early, and we had a good dinner.

Narita Airport

Food: sandwiches, coffee, snacks, pastries, drinks

Also bought snack haul from the cafe and shops we seen along the way to the departure gate.

 

Itinerary: Places to go, Things to see, What to do?

Travel Date: 14-21 May 2025

Day	Places to see	Food and Restaurants	Accommodation
1	Narita Terminal 2	The Premium Malt's	Hotel Monte Hermana Tokyo
2	Fuji Shibazakura Festival Herb Garden Tabinikki Fuji-Kawaguchiko Garden	Herb Garden Café	Plaza Inn Kawaguchiko
3	Oshino Hakkai Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine	Starbucks Fujiyoshida Mo's Burger Hidakaya	Kawagoe Tobu Hotel
4	Kawagoe station Kawagoe Kanetsuki-dori Street	Beck's Coffee Starbucks	same
5	Jinbocho Tokyo station Marunouchi Square Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building	Kurashiki Coffee Lumine Komeda Coffee Tully's coffee	DEL style Ikebukuro Higashiguchi
6	Gotokuji Temple Himonya Catholic Church With Harajuku	Reserve Roastery Tokyo Mr. Farmer Yoshinoya	same
7	Hachiko - Agricultural Museum, Tokyo University Nezu Shrine Azalea Garden Waseda International House of Literature	Pronto Musashino Abura Gakkai Waseda Head Shop Orange cat café Chibo Seibu Ikebukuro	same
8	Narita Terminal 2		n/a