“Mogumogu Scarlet” is a special project by Scarlet, a girl from the UK who loves Japan, in which she goes to try various Japanese foods. From Japanese food that she hasn’t tried before to familiar Western dishes, she eats food that you can only find in Japan. The first restaurant she chose is “gram”. It is a stylish café that you can find by walking from Harajuku Station down Takeshita Street for about 5-minutes. When you reach the end, turn right and look for the green signboard.

The inside of the restaurant is cozy and crowded with female customers. The main food on the menu is pancakes. They are made with the best ingredients and made one-by-one after an order. Scarlet tried ordering the premium pancake (￥950), the most popular pancake on the menu.

The pancake was very soft. The waiter was wobbling as they brought it over to the table, and pancake itself too was wobbling. It looked as if it was going to collapse by just being placed on the tabletop.

It was either the first or second softest food she had ever seen, something she realized as she tucked into it. The rich butter taste and soft pancake texture was mouth-melting. This amazing pancake that is made to order is limited in quantity. The fluffiness of the pancake is something you could get hooked on. Scarlet’s eyes gleamed as she said, “It’s so tasty! I’ve never had such a soft pancake like this before! This would definitely be popular in England!”

In addition to the premium pancakes, there are tiramisu pancakes made with rich mascarpone, as well as ordinary meal pancakes for people who are hungry.

Harajuku is a hotspot for pancakes, so when you want to go and eat some soft and fluffy pancakes, you should try “gram”.

■Scarlet comment

Gram's signature pancake was completely different to anything I've ever eaten before. A total contrast to American diner style pancakes or UK crepe style pancakes. The fluffy tower of goodness was more like a merge between a pancake, a soft sponge and a traditionally made soft scone. It was so fluffy it only just stayed in its immaculate stack, as the waitor handled the plate with great precision and expertise. You get a helping of three gloriously soft pancakes, which you easily share out with your friends if you so wish. With a nice helping of maple syrup, fresh cream and butter to top it off, I can see why this is one of Gram's most famous creations. Absolutely delicious, and one of a kind.

For those with less of a sweet tooth, Gram also has an ample savoury menu. I opted for the scrambled egg and bacon - complete with diner style pancakes and other interesting surprises (Bacon Egg Oneplate pancake). Bacon, eggs and pancakes are always a winning combo! The warming cup of soup you get with it is not only yummy and packed with different flavours that they change up, but it is also great before facing Tokyo's chilly winter. With a nice fresh salad to cleanse the palette afterwards, I was fully satisfied by the 'just right' portion sizes at Gram.

It's winter special menu!

■Information

gram　HARAJUKU

Adress：1−9−30 Jingumae Shibuyaku Tokyo 〒150-0001　

TEL：+81 3-6804-3399

OPEN：11：00 – 21：00 

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■Related article：A recipe for photogenic food #1 “lollipop” sandwiches

■Related article：A recipe for photogenic food #2 Bruschetta for Christmas

Embracing a large number of fans in Tokyo is a café which loves the littlest pleasures. As time has passed in Omotesando, the flavours of this store have always remained the same. From parent to child, this old café is running through the generations and has something for everyone.

The stained glass window was created by the owner of the shop. It was painted using acrylic paints to give it an old texture to look like glass.  You can really see that the effort put into this piece. From the whole cosy atmosphere to the illustrated menu, you will be deeply amused by your surroundings and your heart will be stolen away.

The combination of furniture consists of not only tables, there are counter seats too. The antique atmosphere of the café is very soothing. If you’re on your own and looking to enjoy a nice relaxing coffee, this is the place for you!

Originally, this café provided catered meals, however approximately 20 years ago after hearing requests from customers, hotcakes joined menu (￥750 with tax). The contrast between the crispy surface of the pancake and the fluffiness that lies within is heavenly. This hotcake is different to a pancake ー overflowing with nostalgia, the hotcake is covered in maple syrup for a truly exquisite blend of flavours.

Another treat to highlight on the menu is the Custard Pudding, which is a perfect blend of sweetness and slightly bitter caramel (￥550 tax included). The founder of this store studied the art of French dessert making. The results of his fine work and particularity over the mix of flavours can still be tasted to this very day in each item on the menu.

32 years have passed since the founding of this café. It is much loved by its regular customers and has remained unchanged throughout the years as a place where customers can find the balance between their mind and spirit. Spend some quality time in this comforting atmosphere. Forget about Omotesando, and like a time capsule, Café Casa will take you back through a journey of nostalgia — a perfect spot to spend the winter!

Information

Café Casa (Café香咲)

Address: 3-41-1Jingu-mae Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel：03-3478-4281
Opening hours：9:00〜20:30　※Last orders: 20:00 （Saturday, Sunday & national holidays: 11:30〜18:00※ Last orders: 17:30）
Holidays：Monday（Except national holiday Mondays）

There must be many people who want to eat something sweet after enjoying shopping in the Ginza.

In this article, I will introduce to you some recommended pancake shops in Ginza.

Shiawase no Pancake Ginza Shop

This pancake shop located in Omotesando, Tokyo which always has long waiting lines, will open a new store in Ginza on the 23^rd of December 2017. The shop is located in front of the A5 Exit of Tokyo Metro Ginza Line’s Gina Station. The décor inside the shop has a relaxing atmosphere. They have an open kitchen in front of the shop so that customers can observe the cooking process. It will no doubt be exciting to seeing the making process of their pancakes.

凛津子さん(@mya22nya6v6)がシェアした投稿 - 12月 26, 2017 at 2:28午後 PST

Yukino Shita Ginza

Yukino Shita is a shop which uses strictly selected ingredients and makes hand-made pancakes. The sweet scent of the pancakes and the scent of coffee fills the natural-styled interior of the shop. Their popular pancake, “Yotsuba Cream Cheese Jikasei Rennyu (home-made condensed milk) Ice wo Soete” is a simple pancake without any topping so you can taste the rich texture of the dough. The coffees they offer goes well with their pancakes.

haru0229さん(@harumztn)がシェアした投稿 - 12月 26, 2017 at 4:11午前 PST

Eggs ‘n Things Ginza Shop

You can enjoy some “old-fashioned” pancakes topped with lots of raw cream inside this open-air, bright shop. Sitting on their terrace on a warm day is recommended. The pancake is not too sweet although it uses lots of raw cream and is recommended for women. You can enjoy eating at this shop since they sell a la carte breakfast/lunch menus and dinner menus (from 18:00).

裕美 Hiromiさん(@romihi0327)がシェアした投稿 - 5月 25, 2016 at 9:13午前 PDT

DAVID MYERS CAFÉ

This café introduces Californian-style, body/environment-friendly menu items. You can enjoy a dessert which uses wheat flour produced in Hokkaido with bananas and bitter caramel sauce put on top of a soft dough. It is a thick-flavored pancake using caramel sauce with the scent of bourbon and fresh bananas. This pancake is recommended for women.

@cafechocollaがシェアした投稿 - 1月 30, 2015 at 8:38午後 PST

MOKUOLA DexeeDinerUILANI

This shop has a Hawaiian atmosphere and their standard menu pancakes use lots of yoghurt inside the dough. Their crispy pancakes are created by pouring the dough into a frypan and then baking it in an oven for a long period of time.

Yuka hobby roomさん(@h_ymp)がシェアした投稿 - 1月 9, 2018 at 6:06午前 PST

café & books bibliotheque

They sell more than 10 kinds of home-made desserts and their most popular item is their pancakes which are very healthy since they use yoghurt. You can put lightly bitter coffee sauce on top of the pancake which has a topping of tiramisu cream made with mascarpone and cream cheese, so the product is recommended for those of you who are not familiar to sweet desserts.

ohanaさん(@ohanapancake)がシェアした投稿 - 1月 24, 2017 at 12:06午前 PST

Ginza Coffee Shop Ginza Sukiyabashi Shop

A coffee shop located on the second floor of the building where BIGECHO is located. The building is located at the Sukiyabashi Intersection. The interior of the shop is chic with stylish decorations so this shop is recommended for not only women but also men. Their original maple butter pancake is very soft although the dough is thin so that customers can enjoy a unique texture.

How did you like our introduction to some cafes and shops which sell wonderful pancakes. Why not relax and enjoy some pancakes in the Ginza area.

Hello, everyone. My name is Midori Blackmore and I am a staff person of MOSHI MOSHI BOX Harajuku Tourist Information Center.

Do you like strawberries? I love strawberries so, I feel happy during this spring season because many desserts using strawberries are released every year.

This time, I visited the very popular shaved ice specialized shop, “SULBING HARAJUKU” from Korea.

The shop is always crowded in summer, but you don’t have to wait to get into the shop during the winter season.

It might sound weird to eat ice cream during winter, but I think it is nice to eat something cold inside a warm room, for some reason.

Eating a shaved ice inside a warm shop is the same!

The shop is located on the 2^nd floor of the building where the sports store, SKECHERS is located, near the Takeshita Exit of Harajuku Station (make a right turn after getting out of the exit). The sign of the shop is small so be careful not to miss it.

The inside of the shop is spacious and warm. Many of the customers are women but I saw some groups of men as well. A wide generation of people visit the shop.

Secure a table first before making an order at the counter. The product I ordered was a winter-limited, “Nama Ichigo SULBIN”(fresh strawberry shaved ice)!

After ordering, take a buzzer and wait at your seat.

When the buzzer rings, go to the counter and receive your shaved ice.

“Nama Ichigo SULBIN”(fresh strawberry shaved ice) 1,400 yen (tax included)

Boom!

The product was bigger than I thought. Look at the size of it!

You will realize that it is not a normal shaved ice as soon as you put it into your mouth.

The ice is very fine and has a soft texture. Even when it is cold out, the ice will not result in a “rush to the head”and you will be able enjoy the fresh ice texture.

Also, the shaved ice of this shop has the flavor of milk! The combination of the milk-flavored shaved ice and lots of strawberries goes very well.

Red bean jam paste is inside the shaved ice so you will never get tired of eating this sweets item.

SULBIN HARAJUKU sells many kinds of menu items.

@chikatetsu0727がシェアした投稿 - 7月 30, 2016 at 8:04午前 PDT

One popular menu item is“Mango Cheese SULBIN” 1,500 yen (tax included)

ソルビン原宿店さん(@sulbingharajuku)がシェアした投稿 - 12月 27, 2017 at 3:13午後 PST

For those of you who do not have “a sweet tooth,”I recommend that you share an ice shaving dish with your friends or with your boyfriend.

“Nama Ichigo SULBIN” will be sold until February for sure but it might not be sold in March. Let’s go to the shop as soon as possible!!

Over at the MOSHI MOSHI BOX, Harajuku's tourist information center, we are always asked about ice cream and soft cream shops. These cute and Instagrammable shops are currently experiencing a huge boom with the younger generation!

Here are 7 popular ice cream and soft cream shops that you can visit during your trip to Harajuku.

Eddy’s Ice Cream

Located in Ura-Harajuku, Eddy's Ice Cream completely is pasted in pink and white. Wherever you turn to look, you're going to want to take a photo. The grand menu of Eddy's Ice Cream, where the toppings are already chosen, is super popular, but you can also customise to your liking - there are 10 cones and 3 soft creams to choose from as well as 13 different toppings. The most popular item on the menu is the "Unicorn" (￥1,200), a magical delight wrapped in pastel coloured cotton candy and milk soft cream. This one promises a new kind of sensation for the taste buds!

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/55526/2

Roll Ice Cream Factory

This unique rolled ice cream is mixed together with liquid ice cream and other ingredients on a cool plate. You can order from the regular menu or customise your own. The shop's recommendation is the "Cookie Monster"! Not only can you take great pictures of the finished ice cream piece itself, but also the process as it is made in front of you.

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/57051

Nanaya (Aoyama Branch)

Nanaya sells luxurious gelato made using matcha sourced from Fujieda in Shizuoka. It offers seven varying levels of matcha intensity – level 1 begins with a more moderately sweeter flavour, but as you progress up the scale to level 7 the flavour of the matcha becomes richer and deeper. The no. 7 gelato is the most popular item and claims to be the most matcha intense flavoured ice cream in the world. It uses matcha that received an award from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. It boasts a deeply rich and bitter matcha flavour inside which lies a hint of refreshing sweetness.

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/58538

Matcha Café Maiko

The same matcha - just imported from Hawaii! "MATCHA Stand MAIKO" has been in business in Hawaii since July 2016, and it has made its way to Omotesando in Japan. Matcha Café Maiko uses the highest quality matcha produced in "Harimaen," a tea brand from Uji in Kyoto, aka the birthplace of Japanese tea. The matcha-flavored soft served ice cream of Matcha Café Maiko extracts the umami and texture of matcha to the fullest, meaning you can enjoy a matcha soft ice cream unlike any other!

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/47577

"Milk" - Fresh Cream Specialty Shop

When "Milk" opened in Shibuya it was a roaring success, bringing in 30,000 people in the first month. Fresh cream usually plays the supporting role of sitting on top of something like pancake, but "Milk" promotes it to the lead role by drawing out its flavour to the fullest. "Milk" serves a range of sweets with the fresh cream as the main acts, including "Milky Cream Chiffon Cake" (￥780), "Milky Soft Cream" (￥540), "Milky Soft Parfait" (￥780), and more. The shop is only open for a limited period, so don't miss out.

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/54370

sorama

Affogato (￥550), a definite recommendation to those people who find normal ice cream a tad bit boring. It's made with rich wholesome ice cream that melts its way into strong coffee. Even people who aren't adjusted to coffee can enjoy this one. What's more is that "sorama" is a café situated away from the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of Harajuku where time flows calmer, allowing you to take a breather. It's a place where you can enjoy more "grown-up" ice cream.

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/32960

coisof（コイソフ）

Ice cream and dairy specialists "Morinaga Milk Industry" teamed up with "GOMAYA KUKI," a store specialising in sesame ice cream, to open the soft serve ice cream shop "coisof." Their sesame ice creams strive to stand superior to ice creams all over the world and are topped with colourful "oiri," a traditional candy from Kagawa prefecture that brings good luck. Once you have one you won't be able to stop!

Full Details: http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/54778

Harajuku - the home of the "kawaii" culture. Know you know some of its most photogenic ice cream shops. So what are you waiting for? Have your fill♡

ーーー

Writer: Ellie

Hi everyone, Midori Blackmore here. I’m a staff person at MOSHI MOSHI BOX.

It’s just too hot these days, isn’t it? This is summer in Japan for you.

Have you ever had the experience where you don’t want to eat anything other than ice cream during summer? All I want to eat is ice cream in summer but the problem is, it makes me fat.

But waistline aside, I went to the new ice cream shop, ROLL ICE CREAM FACTORY and I want to report about this.

Here is some information concerning the location of this ice cream shop. It takes 5 minutes by foot from Tokyo Metro, Meijiingumae Station. It takes 10 minutes by foot from Harajuku Station, Omotesando exit.

This “factory” is located near the No.1 elevator of Meijijingumae Station. After you get off the elevator go straight and then turn at Lawson. It is very near the pancake shop, “Eggs’n Things.”

First, I ordered at the cash register. You can order both from the basic menu or you can order a “custom item” yourself.

They mixed together both the liquid ice cream and some ingredients on a cool plate and stretched it out thinly.

This was very interesting to look at. I was so impressed, I tried to do this when I made Okonomiyaki that evening but I failed. It was very difficult. Maybe these young ladies have had vigorous training.

Yes, it’s very photogenic. I could even make an Instagram account only for this item. It makes for a wonderful photo.

The taste is very rich and it was very filling.It doesn’t melt as easily as other ice creams,So it doesn’t make your fingers sticky. Accordingly, it makes for a great take out item.

What a face I made.

The next time you visit Harajuku, you should try this!

Thank you for your kind attention, from Midori Blackmore.