Recent Reviews
This wagashi shop has been selected as one of the "Hyaku-meiten" (Top 100 Stores) and is located on the first floor of the Shinjuku HULIC. It's a street-level shop, accessible directly from outside, not within the HULIC itself. While it also has a cafe, this time I opted for takeout of their signature dorayaki. They have a sign inviting customers to purchase even just one, making it easy to stop by for a sweet treat. The small dorayaki starts at ¥220, and they even have seasonal chestnut-filled ones. Larger dorayaki require pre-orders. So, even though they're all dorayaki, there's a variety to choose from. This time, I took home a small dorayaki. The bean paste was cooked so that the grains were still noticeable, and the delicate dorayaki skin was moist and blended well with the filling. It had a good thickness, and even though it was a small dorayaki, it was still quite substantial. I was very satisfied.
A nostalgic, Showa-era-style Doraemon dorayaki (a Japanese pancake filled with sweet bean paste) ❤️ The filling is tsubuan (sweet bean paste made with whole beans). It's a Tabelog 2023 Top 100 restaurant. Located right next to the station in Odakyu Hakuh, it's not in the basement but on the first floor along the road outside. It's a shop with an eat-in option. I visited before lunch, so I got takeout. ◆ Small dorayaki 210 yen ◆ Chestnut dorayaki 360 yen The eat-in menu has dishes like ginger pork and hamburger for around 1000 yen. For this price, considering its location right next to Shinjuku Station, it seemed like a pretty cheap lunch compared to the surrounding area. Peeking through the glass door, I saw sofas that gave off a Showa-era coffee shop vibe. Of course, you can also enjoy sweets for eat-in. I wanted to eat inside, but unfortunately, I didn't have time before lunch, so I'll have to try it next time... I bought some to take home as a souvenir. The dorayaki was a bit too sweet for me. The dorayaki's bean paste is tsubuan. I'm not really a fan of tsubuan (laughs). The outer skin was moist and had a strong sweetness. It would be good for when you're tired. I was a little concerned that it had a longer shelf life than I expected. The chestnut dorayaki had two whole chestnuts inside. The chestnuts weren't sweet, so they balanced out the sweetness of the bean paste, making it feel less sweet than the regular small dorayaki. The affordable price is also a plus. They also have boxed options, which would be good for older people as a gift. Payment is not possible with PayPay, so I used Suica 😅 Thank you for the meal.
Hello! I'm Harapecchan, always hungry! ————Store Details———————————— Store Name: Tokiya Nearest Station: 4-minute walk from Shinjuku Station Address: 〒160-0023 1-5-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Business Hours: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Closed: None Budget: ¥~1000 ———————————————————— This time, I went to 'Tokiya,' a long-established specialty store that has been around since 1948, just a 4-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. They offer a variety of Japanese sweets, including dorayaki, anmitsu, and oji-ru-ko! The store's exterior exudes a nostalgic Showa era atmosphere. The large noren (curtain) and signboard at the front feature the word 'dorayaki,' which is quite distinctive. It's said that Fujiko F. Fujio, the creator of Doraemon, loved dorayaki, and the dorayaki in the manga is based on this one! As a lifelong fan of Doraemon, I was thrilled to find this special Japanese confectionery store. You can either take your treats to go or enjoy them in the store. The eat-in area offers a variety of tempting sweets, including dorayaki, anmitsu, mitsumame, shaved ice, and oji-ru-ko, all characteristic of a traditional Japanese sweets shop. Besides Japanese sweets, they also have savory dishes like o-zōni (New Year's soup) and Abekawa mochi, so you can enjoy a cafe experience or even have lunch there. Here's what I ordered: 【Chū dorayaki】 The dough was slightly sweet and moist. The filling was packed with azuki bean paste, making it incredibly satisfying! The azuki beans had a nice texture and a moderate sweetness. They were large and generous, but I devoured them in no time. The interior is clean and bright, not at all old-fashioned. The wood-based decor creates a warm and nostalgic atmosphere. The Japanese sweets and dishes you enjoy in this setting are sure to soothe your soul. It feels like stepping back in time to the Showa era! If you're ever in Shinjuku, be sure to stop by 'Tokiya' and indulge in their delicious sweets. Harapecchan is full and happy! Thank you for the meal.
Located just a 2-minute walk from Shinjuku West Exit, I was able to have a meeting at "Toki-ya." They have a table that seats 6, which was very convenient. I ordered the matcha (¥750). It had a slight bitterness and was delicious! I heard their dorayaki (Japanese sweet bean paste pastry) is amazing, but I didn't order it this time. The atmosphere of the shop was great, so I'll definitely go back to try the dorayaki next time. (๑>◡<๑)
I visited this place on a weekday afternoon around 3 PM, and it was relatively empty. I went there specifically to try the Doraemon dorayaki. There were mostly elderly people around 3 PM, but younger people started coming in around 5 PM. The air conditioning was like the 'weak cooling' setting on a train, so it might feel a bit warm if you come in from the hot outdoors. The dorayaki and coffee set cost 900 yen and was delicious. The matcha set was around 1000 yen.