Recent Reviews
Maison Landemaine Monge, located inside Isetan. I've been wanting to visit a Japanese branch ever since I went to the MARTYRS store in France. It's a small space, so I got a little lost. It's between Citteria Tiara and Ritual. It was Saturday, before 4 pm. It's a small store with counter service, but they had a decent variety of bread. Their popular item is the croissant, but I don't usually eat them, so I skipped it in both France and Japan, lol. *The plate used for the photos is 16cm in diameter. ● Tortillon ¥259 The baguette dough is hand-shaped. It's denser than a baguette and has a soft texture like bread. It's heavy when you hold it, and I was excited to eat it because I love moist bread. It's soft, chewy, and dense, and it's super delicious! It has a slight saltiness, so I think it would be perfect for sandwiches! This bread is way too cheap for ¥259. ● Half Tradition ¥157 I bought Tradition in France too. Looking back at the reviews, it says: > "A fragrant crust with a chewy crumb. > It's a slightly sour type." But this one has a weaker sourness and is easier for Japanese people to eat. It has a firm crust and a moist, chewy crumb. It has a good bite! ● Alveole Nature Half ¥280 When I asked how much they would cut from, they said half, with 100g for ¥140. It's a high-hydration bread made with 50% dough and 50% water, using the same dough as the baguette tradition. It's really moist, and you can tell it has a lot of water. It's also chewy, but it has a slight sourness. All the bread I bought this time was delicious, and the price was amazing! I was thinking of giving it 5 stars, but I'll think about it after trying their bread and other breads next time. I think people who like moist, chewy, dense bread will love it. I'm definitely going to be a regular. I wish they would open a branch in Ikebukuro, lol.
One of the bakeries in the basement food court of Isetan Shinjuku. The Kugelhopf (¥305) has a rich, dense dough that's a cross between a Danish pastry and a castella cake, generously soaked in maple syrup. The Croissant Jean (¥620) had bacon and I think cheese, but the flavor was just average. The price was a bit shocking, though. They accept credit cards and cash.
A croissant for over 500 yen. It's delicious and I can tell they use high-quality ingredients, but it's expensive. It's crispy, large, and very satisfying in terms of volume. It's so crispy and big that it's hard to eat, so I'll ask my friend for tips on how to eat a croissant properly.
While their croissants and canelé are on the pricier side, their baguettes and sourdough are quite affordable and delicious. I especially love their chewy sourdough and always come back for more. Their kouign amann is also very tasty, though it's a bit pricey at ¥500. This is my favorite bakery in Isetan.
Cinnamon roll for 329 yen. It has a distinct bread flavor and is quite filling. The cinnamon flavor is a bit weak.