Cafe Aaliya | Time Out Tokyo — Photo by Yasuhisa ShimboFrench toast perfection at Shinjuku's Cafe Aaliya

Finest French toast in Tokyo

Move over pancakes – the next dessert trend is here

Written by

Friday 7 March 2014

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp

Advertising

Although the pancake boom that gripped Tokyo last year is showing no signs of dying away, the next breakfast staple is already making room for itself. Simple but oh-so-delicious, the French toast has already attracted the attention of trend-setting 20-something ladies – a development that can only mean massive media coverage, bloody competition among eateries in areas like Harajuku and Shibuya, and two-hour queues to the hottest toast spots. Ranging from hotel restaurants to neighbourhood bakeries, here's your quick guide to 10 of the best places to enjoy an eggy and sweet mouthful.

Best French toast in Tokyo

Haru and Haru

Restaurants
Cafés
Ookayama
price 1 of 4

Staffed by a real Frenchman, this Midorigaoka café makes baguette-style versions of the standard French toast and tops them with decadent amounts of cream. The calorie content here is still lower than at most competitors, and you can also combine your dish with fresh seasonal fruits.

Tiaras Cafe & Shop

Shopping
Yoyogi-Uehara

Start with the standard version before upgrading to choices like the caramel banana or 'orange musette' (pictured) at this Yoyogi-Uehara stalwart. All of their creations are strongly flavoured, melt-in-your-mouth delicacies that'll have you going back for more.

Advertising

パンとエスプレッソと

Bread, Espresso & ?

Restaurants
Cafés
Harajuku
price 1 of 4

Both the coffee and the bread are excellent in themselves here, but the French toast is really what makes your mouth water. The thick bread is doused in egg until completely soaked, given a quick trip on the frying pan, and served burning hot. Add some honey for best results.

Crisscross

Restaurants
Cafés
Aoyama
price 2 of 4

Served until 11am every morning, the French toast with cinnamon, walnuts and raisins (¥600) is the way to go here. The bread itself is slightly dry, letting the cinnamon do most of the work. The result is a crispy, almost light version of the traditional dish.

Advertising

Photo by Yasuhisa Shimbo

Sarabeth’s

Restaurants
Shinjuku
price 2 of 4

Breakfast champions Sarabeth's charge toward the top with their classic 'fat and fluffy' French toast (¥1,200), a creation well worth its name. This is an orthodox version that can be topped with butter, maple syrup or jam for extra taste.

カフェアリヤ

Cafe Aaliya

Restaurants
Cafés
Shinjuku-Sanchome
price 1 of 4

The signature dish (¥750) at this underground café is so popular that customers line up for it even on weekdays. The crustless bread is sliced thick and toasted in butter until golden and simply irresistible. Add some jam or extra ice cream to top it all off.

Advertising

Photo: Yasuhisa Shimbo

Mercer Brunch

Restaurants
Contemporary European
Roppongi

Brunch kings Mercer's daily sets (from ¥1,600) include dishes like sirloin steak and egg or salmon tartar, avocado and poached egg, each accompanied by a couple of slices of plump, melt-in-the-mouth brioche French toast. Not lacking in butter, to say the least, these guys are best enjoyed in moderation.

Orchid Room at Hotel Okura

Restaurants
Kamiyacho

Any listing of Tokyo French toast would be incomplete without the Okura Hotel's time-honoured version. Appropriately crispy on the outside and satisfyingly soft and eggy on the inside, the dish gets even better when combined with a liberal serving of butter and maple syrup.

Advertising

Mijinco Coffee

Restaurants
Cafés
Yushima
price 1 of 4

Yushima coffee house Mijinco's honey and mascarpone French toast (¥600) is a surprise inclusion on this list. Eaten straight off a cast-iron pan, the thick bread is soft like pudding while the marriage of Italian cheese and caramelised nuts is something that truly shouldn't be missed.

One More

Restaurants
Cafés
Hirai
price 1 of 4

This retro Hirai café breaks with the high-carb trend and serves up a thin, lemon-flavoured French toast (¥530) that's not overly sweet, even after adding some of One More's excellent maple syrup. Recommended especially for experienced breakfast fiends looking for a new fix.