Hello, readers of MMN! I’m Banako of the MOSHI MOSHI FRIENDS program.
Today, I’m here to show you a unique and stylish sandwich shop I visited in Shibuya called BUY ME STAND. Shibuya is home to countless restaurants and cafes, but if it’s sandwiches you’re looking for, this place is the one people are going to recommend. That’s how famous it is!
You can reach it in just a brisk 5-minute stroll from the New South Exit of Shibuya Station’s JR Line building. You’ll know it by the big windows and green and white stripes.
The store is managed by apparel brand SON OF THE CHEESE. The entire interior is coloured in mint green, and it has a vintage American vibe to it. Both the outside and inside are nothing short of stylish-looking. It has a second floor too which has table seats.
I ordered the shop’s most popular menu item: “Apple Cheeks.” The sandwiches are cooked to order in an open kitchen in full view of the customers.
BUY ME STAND typically serves hot sandwiches. Most of them are filled with cheese which is grilled until melted and oozing.
This is the Apple Cheeks, which costs ¥1,200. Take a look inside, what do you see?
That’s right. Just as the name of the sandwich suggests, is stuffed with apple slices. As well as apple, it also contains pork belly, onions, and Camembert cheese.
Apples and sandwiches are seemingly an unlikely combination, but by my first bite into the crunchy toast I was already hooked. The melted cheese coils itself delicious around the pork belly and onions while the apple adds a favourable sweetness to the combination of flavours. It was like happiness in my mouth.
It’s quite a hearty sandwich, but it comes with a crunchy coleslaw salad which is a great palate cleanser and changes up the flavour party on your tongue, so you can get through it all no problem
Since there’s a lot of ingredients packed inside their sandwiches, they are also served with a burger bag like when you eat a hamburger, so you can wrap it up to ensure nothing falls out.
Sandwiches are generally seen as a quick and light meal, but BUY ME STAND has redefined their image by making their sandwiches fat and filling.
BUY ME STAND is open from 8am, and breakfast is sold until 11am where they serve a range of food options in addition to sandwiches. I wanted to try everything.
The menus differ slightly for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
BUY ME STAND is in fact a chain sandwich shop and has branches not only in Shibuya, but Yokohama, Fukuoka, and even Okinawa too, and all of them are just as fancy as one another.
Pay a visit to BUY ME STAND yourself and find your sandwich of choice!
Information
BUY ME STAND
Address: 1-31-19 Higashi, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 8:00-21:00
No Fixed Holidays
Access: 5-minutes on foot from NR Shibuya Station’s New South Exit
McDonald's is bringing back its irresistible Uji Matcha drinks series this autumn and adding a brand new drink: The Choco Matcha Frappé, which will be sold from September 25 for a limited period. This drinks series is only available at McDonalds Restaurants which serve the McCafé by Barista menu. The overwhelmingly popular Uji Matcha Series is currently being served for a limited period. From a Strawberry Matcha Frappé to Uji Matcha Chocolate and even Oreo® Cookie toppings, this series is the perfect way to indulge in a fusion of Japanese and western flavours. The Choco Matcha Frappé is the latest drink to join this series. The base of the chocolate Matcha Frappé consists of chocolate whipped cream and a layer of high quality Belgian couverture chocolate sauce. The next layer is the frappé, which consists of matcha milk made from matcha sourced from Uji, Kyoto. This is topped with chocolate whipped cream and chocolate sauce and sprinkled with bitter cocoa Oreo® pieces. The faint green colour of the matcha is a wonderful contrast with the chocolate colour, creating the image of autumn. The mild flavour of the Uji matcha and chocolate is a matcha match made in heaven that you will want to taste again and again. The crunchy, bitter Oreo® cookie pieces create a texture adventure and enhances the flavours of the chocolate and matcha. This frappé is the perfect way of enjoying both the colours and flavours of autumn. The Matcha Frappé Latte, Matcha Latte and Iced Matcha Latte have been returning to the menu year after year since their first appearance in 2014. These drinks are also available this year. The entire drinks series is made using the slightly bitter Uji matcha sourced from Kyoto: the birthplace of matcha. The mellow flavour is perfectly balanced out by the milk. These matcha drinks are definitely worth trying.
Information
Choco Matcha Frappé
Price (After Tax): Regular ¥490 / Large ¥530
Selling: September 25 – Mid October 2019 (subject to change)
Matcha Frappé Latte
Price (After Tax): Regular ¥450 / Large ¥490
Selling: Until mid-October (subject to change)
Iced Matcha Latte
Price (After Tax): Regular ¥390 / Large ¥430
Selling: Until mid-October (subject to change)
Matcha Latte
Price (After Tax): Small ¥350 / Regular ¥390
Selling: Until mid October (subject to change)
Available only at McDonald’s branches in Japan with a McCafé by Barista area.
* Please visit McDonald’s official website to find out more information.
* Only available during “McCafé by Barista” opening hours. Opening hours vary from branch to branch.
The beautiful warmth of summer is slowly fading away, ready to let in the cool autumn weather and subsequent winter. What better way to warm yourself up than with a nice hot cosy drink? Mister Donut is lovingly pouring two new seasonal hot tapioca drinks this autumn from September 20, including the Hot Milk Tea and the Hot Matcha Milk.Mister Donut's "Hot Tapioca" beverages first hit back in the spring where they tantalised the taste buds of customers, with each sip becoming more delicious and addictive after the next. The Hot Milk Tea is a mix of royal milk tea made with uva tea leaves and tapioca while the Hot Matcha Milk combines matcha-flavoured tapioca with milk.It seems that even after these hot drinks have been released, Mister Donut's regular Tapioca Milk Tea and Tapioca Matcha Milk beverages are still enjoying big sales. It's always nice to have a choice to order what you like depending on your mood.
Tapioca Hot Milk Tea: ¥496 (Tax Included)
Indulge in this black tea filled with chewy tapioca and steeped in rich uva tea leaves to create a full-bodied royal milk tea.
Tapioca Hot Matcha Milk: ¥496 (Tax Included)
For something a little more Japanese-tasting, enjoy a cup of hot milk mixed with tapioca matcha.These drinks will be sold until mid-February 2020, so if you're in need of warming up this autumn and winter in Japan, head to Mister Donut.
Information
Hot Tapioca Drinks: Hot Milk Tea/Hot Matcha Milk
Running: September 20, 2019 – Mid February 2020 (Release dates may differ from branch to branch)
In line with the annual autumn event Ginchakai―which is held in Ginza and brings together multiple schools of tea in Japan for an open-air tea ceremony―Tokyu Plaza Ginza is hosting an event themed on the heart of the Japanese tea ceremony.This special event will serve Japanese omotenashi, or "hospitality," thorough various exhibits including a co-project with Tokyo University of the Arts, an exhibition by one of Japan's leading confectionery companies Toraya Confectionery, and more.The co-project with Tokyo University of the Arts will feature installations produced by the university that is centred on calligraphy drawn by Japanese calligrapher Shoko Kanazawa, who performs both in Japan and overseas, and the tea ceremony. There will also be several tokonoma alcoves around the event which will be like miniature gardens where one can enjoy the beauties of nature. There will even be covers of famous songs about autumn on October 27 at the KIRIKO TERRANCE on the roof.Up in the KIRIKO LOUNGE on the 6th floor, Toraya will serve up a selection of traditional Japanese confections, including those that had already been created by the end of the Edo period. You can order a set of two confections and a drink. Sweets include the Kiren Kaki, which is made to look like a Japanese permission, and the Kuri Goyomi, which is made with chestnuts, sugar, and agar-agar.Soak up the enchanting nostalgia of autumn while enjoying the Japanese tea ceremony at Tokyu Plaza Ginza.
Information
The Heart of the Tea Ceremony in Ginza (Japanese Title: 銀座で触れる、茶の湯の心)
Running: September 26, 2019 – October 27, 2019
Location: Various places around Tokyu Plaza Ginza
GINZA Tokonoma Alcoves: Admire the Season With Tokonoma Art
Running: September 26, 2019 – October 27, 2019
Time: 11:00-21:00 Locations: Floors 3, 4, and 6
Autumn Music Performances
Date: October 27, 2019
Time: 12:00-15:30
Location: KIRIKO TERRACE on the Tokyu Plaza Ginza rooftop
TOKYU PLAZA GINZA x Bunkamura SPECIAL PROGRAM ~ Toraya Confectionery~
Running: October 11, 2019 – October 27, 2019
Time: 11:00-23:00 (Until 21:00 on Sundays and public holidays)
Location: KIRIKO LOUNGE (Tokyu Plaza Ginza Floor 6F)
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Rilakkuma and his adorable friends, the Rilakkuma 20th Anniversary Cafe will open in Omotesando, Tokyo from March 9 until April 16, 2023. You’ll want to come and spend a peaceful time looking back at two decades of everyone’s favorite lazy bear!
The menu features colorful and festive dishes inspired by Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, Kiiroitori, and Chairoikoguma. The characters express their thanks for 20 successful years, and fans can enjoy floats topped with Rilakkuma and friends wearing ribbons and topped with ice cream, a jelly soda inspired by Chairoikoguma and his friends in the honey forest, and a hot drink inspired by Rilakkuma's favorite pudding.
Menu
Rilakkuma’s Honey Mustard Hamburger
コリラックマのクリームパスタ
Korilakkuma’s Cream Pasta
Kiiroitori’s Egg Burger
Chairoikoguma’s Cheese Curry
Rilakkuma and Friend’s Celebratory Cake
Congratulatory Flower Parfait
You Can Choose♪ Rilakkuma and Friends Mini Ice Cream
You Can Choose♪ Rilakkuma and Friends Floats
Honey Forest Jelly Soda
Relaxing Pudding Drink
Take-Out Drink Bottle
Original Merch
Acrylic Clip (7 varieties, random)
Acrylic Keychain (5 varieties, random)
Mini-Bottle / Muddler with Charm (4 varieties)
Lunch Tote / Drawstring Bag
Acrylic Stand with Clip / Cork Coaster
Stuffed Animal
In addition, the cafe will offer original goods, special offers, and a Twitter campaign to celebrate Rilakkuma's 20th anniversary.
Come enjoy the elaborate original menu and goods while sharing memories at this limited time themed cafe!
RILAKKUMA 20th Anniversary Cafe
Venue: BOX cafe&space Omotesando
Running: March 9 – April 16, 2023
Address: Pine Under Flat B1F (5-13-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
Reservation Fee: ¥715 (Tax included) *Reservations include bonuses.
*Reservations can be made for up to four guests per application.
The Kirby Cafe has announced a warm and tasty new winter menu! New items will be available from November 17, 2022 until February 28, 2023, and are sure to warm up fans of the beloved video game series.
Menu
Winter Kirby Burger & Pasta with Powdered Snow Cheese (30th Anniversary Version)
Winter Waddle Dee Burger & Pasta with Powdered Snow Cheese
Waddle Dee's Dreamy White Stew
Chef Kawasaki's Winter Hors d'oeuvres with Roast Beef
Available: November 17, 2022 – February 28, 2023 Venues: Kirby Cafe TOKYO, Kirby Cafe HAKATA, Kirby Cafe NAGOYA *The Nagoya location’s winter menu will be available until February 5, 2022. Kirby Café THE STORE: https://kirbycafe.jp/thestore/
Mika Pikazo is an illustrator and character designer. The artist has designed characters for many popular titles including Fire Emblem Engage, the latest in Nintendo's Fire Emblem series, as well as book covers and CD jackets.Starting December 10, the artist will hold his second solo exhibition in three years at the Hz event space in Shibuya.According to a press release, the exhibition is being held to show a number of creations Pikazo has made recently, and aims to show off new animation and past illustrations to merge his past and future selves. The creator hopes to challenge himself more going forward.The first main visual, REVENGE, can be seen on the exhibition’s official website. A total of three visuals have been newly drawn for the event and will be released sequentially. In addition, a number of collaborative works with other creators will be on display, so art fans won’t want to miss out.Limited-edition merchandise featuring new illustrations will be on sale at the venue, and autograph sessions are planned to be held. For more details, check the official Twitter page!Be sure to come to see Mika Pikazo’s colorful pieces in person!
The 13th iteration of the BT21 Cafe will open at six venues in five cities around Japan. Fans in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Sapporo will want to visit this exclusive event titled ~MAGICAL TIME~. The first cafe opens in Shibuya on November 3. In celebration of BT21’s 5th anniversary, this special cafe is filled with joy and excitement and aims to give fans the best possible experience.
ANNA’S by Landtmann, a cafe located inside +Q Beauty on the 6th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, has begun selling two Halloween cakes! These spooky sweets will be available until October 31, 2022.Halloween Mont BlancHalloween Poison AppleGuests will be able to snag the Halloween Mont Blanc and Halloween Poison Apple cakes, available for ¥580 each including tax. The Mont Blanc is filled with pumpkin custard and Chantilly cream. The Poison Apple is a sweet and sour cake featuring a blend of chocolate mousse covered in red glaze and applesauce with apple pulp. Which of these two adorable cakes would you like to enjoy this autumn?
Fans of Yowamushi Pedal won’t want to miss this special collaboration! Chugai Grace Cafe, located on the seventh floor of Shibuya MODI, will be running the Yowamushi Pedal LIMIT BREAK cafe from September 22 until October 17, 2022.
Collaboration Menu
Sakamichi Onoda and Sangaku Manami's Udon & Onigiri Plate
Yasutomo Arikita and Kuroda Yukinari's Hamburger & Salad Plate
Hayato Shinkai's Chocolate & Banana Mini Parfait
Sohoku High School Mango Whipped Cream & Calpis Drink
Hakone Academy Mint Whipped Cream & Calpis Drink
Goods
Pin (Random Holographic included, 9 varieties)
Acrylic Figure Stand (9 varieties)
Pin, Mini Character Ver. (Random Holographic included, 16 varieties)
Acrylic Stand (16 varieties)
Table Plate (9 varieties)
Shoulder Bag
Menu Order Bonus / Online Preorder Bonus
Coaster (1st Half): September 22 - October 4, 2022