Strawberry Tapioca Pancakes Pile Their Way Into Osaka’s #702 CAFE&DINER

19.January.2019 | FOOD / Uncategorized

#702 CAFE&DINER in Namba Parks has introduced new tapioca pancakes to its menu which can now be ordered until February 28.

 

Towering four thick individual pancakes, each serving is topped with smooth and fluffy cream before being decorated with chewy and colourful tapioca. There are four tapioca flavours to choose from: strawberry, mango, matcha and tea.

To give an example of how delicious this pancakes really are, the milk tea versions come with tea flavoured tapioca balls, milk tea flavoured sauce, and cream. It’s like eating milk flavoured bubble tea. The toppings may look simple but they are sumptuous, vibrant and photo-worthy.

RECOMMENDED ENTRIES

  • Visiting Harajuku’s Newest Tapioca Drink Store KOI Thé

    30.November.2018 | FEATURES / FOOD

    Japan is going through an unprecedented tapioca boom right now, and Harajuku is no exception, with tapioca stores opening left, right and centre. With so many to choose from no matter which you go to on a weekend there will be a huge line. I visited KOI Thé, a new shop that just opened on November 25.

     

    It’s located right near the MOSHI MOSHI BOX Tourist Information Center where you’ll find us.

    Head through Takeshita Street from Harajuku Station and go down the path between New Balance and Murasaki Sports.

     

    Follow straight down and you’ll find KOI Thé on your left. Look for the big tapioca drink outside – you can’t miss it!

     

    It’s quite spacious instead and has simple decor rather than being stylish. Guys can line up without worry too.

     

    This is how the menu looks. You can adjust how much ice and sugar you want in your drink.

    I went with the classic tapioca milk tea!

    The tapioca balls here aren’t black but in fact golden. The reason they are gold is because they don’t use food colouring.

    Tapioca that is transparent like this is cute too. The balls are comparatively smaller and are chewy and taste delicious!

     

    I ordered the drink with the normal amount of sweetness and it tastes even more refreshing than at other stores. It’s a simple tapioca drink made for adults.

     

    If you’re a little embarrassed at lining up at a tapioca shop then I recommend getting it from one for grown-ups in Omotesando!

  • Review: Trying the New Cheese Tea at The Alley in Omotesando

    30.November.2018 | FEATURES / FOOD

    Hi, everyone. Midori here, editor at MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON.

     

    Have you heard about ‘cheese tea’? It’s a drink that’s getting a lot of attention right now. It’s tea topped with cheese foam which results in a perfect match of sweetness from the tea and sourness from the cream cheese.

     

    Related Article: Drink Tea in Style With FORTUNER tea-box’s Cheese Tea Tapioca in Harajuku

     

    I heard that The Alley, a well-known bubble tea cafe recognised by its deer logo, released its own cheese tea so I took a trip there straight away!

     

    I went to the branch in Omotesando. There are lots of other branches too so head to the closest one to you. The one in Omotesando sits right next to Gong Cha, another bubble tea store.

    Cross the intersection at Laforet towards ICE MONSTER and turn the corner at the flamingo (pictured above).

    You’ll come to a road with Cafe Ron Ron on the left and Gong Cha on the right.

     

    Turn right at the FamilyMart at the end of the street and you’ll find The Alley!

    The photo above was taken on a weekday before opening hours so there was no line,  but it was a different story in the afternoon on the weekend!

    Ta-da!

     

    The line is so long it’s hard to know where the end even is! It sure is popular. According to the staff working there, the line is constant on weekends from opening hours to when they close, so if you don’t want to line up they recommend visiting during the week.

    There’s also a stylish indoor section where you can enjoy your drink.

    Other menu items include the following:

    Bonsai bubble tea and aurora drinks are really popular on Instagram in Japan right now!

    When talking about The Alley you’ve got to mention the deer! There was a big one drawn on the wall inside.

    I went with the brown sugar tea from the cheese foam series.

    I recommend drinking cheese tea without the lid. If you drink it with the lid on it’s hard to get the cheese foam and tea at the same time. The Alley is best known for its tapioca bubble teas, but they have other ranges too like this one.

     

    Now, onto tasting! Mixed in with The Alley’s famous fragrant tea is brown sugar. It has a smell that is sure to make you happy. The cheese doesn’t have that super sour taste, it’s a mellow flavour. The drink isn’t served hot but “mild hot” so you can get to drinking right away without burning yourself. It’s safe for those with sensitive tongues too. I have to let hot drinks cool down first before drinking them too so I was glad with my choice.

     

    Head to The Alley to try out their new cheese tea yourself!

RELATED ENTRIES

  • HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE, a Collaboration Between Hot Topic & Studio Ghibli, Gets Pop-Up Store at Shinsaibashi PARCO

    09.March.2023 | FASHION / SPOT

    Last year, the HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE collaboration appeared at AF Gallery in Harajuku from August 10 until August 28, garnering massive acclaim from fans. The collection is now being sold at Shinsaibashi PARCO until March 12, 2023.

     

    HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE is a Studio Ghibli-inspired apparel collection by the popular American counterculture chain Hot Topic. Bringing more Japanese culture to the ongoing Studio Ghibli collaboration launched in 2014, Hot Topic stores began selling original items produced by nine Japanese creators and brands, as well as some original American items produced by Hot Topic’s executive designers.

     

    The lineup of Japan-original items includes T-shirts, tote bags, and other items featuring exclusive artwork by up-and-coming creators. These items depict beloved characters from Studio Ghibli’s works, as well as logos created for the collaboration. Fans won’t want to miss grabbing these unique items!

     

     

    Details on the Previous HARAJUKU COLLECTIVE Pop-Up Store: https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/ja/625747

  • Atarashii Gakko! to Perform Solo at Zepp Venues in Tokyo and Osaka in Spring 2023

    16.January.2023 | MUSIC

    Atarashii Gakko! will hold solo concerts at Zepp venues in Tokyo and Osaka in April and May of 2023.

     

    These performances will be held almost a year after the girls held their solo concert at Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo last May. This year’s events will be held at Zepp Osaka Bayside on April 30 and Zepp Shinjuku in Tokyo on May 2.

     

    ATARASHII GAKKO! – HANAKO (Official Music Video)

    ATARASHII GAKKO! – Pineapple Kryptonite (Official Music Video)

  • Report: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s Tasty Time in Gastropolis Kobe – Sweets Edition

    03.December.2022 | FEATURES / FOOD / SPOT

    Kobe is filled with famous sightseeing spots like the nostalgic Ijinkan neighborhood and port. The city is packed with fashionable shops and restaurants and is highly regarded for its selection of tasty sweets!

    The port city, with over 150 years of history, has fostered a unique and diverse culinary culture.

     

    Recently, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began starring in a series of promotional videos for the Gastropolis Kobe project. The artist traveled to the city to partake in plenty of delicious treats, and MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON went along for the ride! Here are some of the singer’s favorite spots around town.

    Kobe, known as a city where East meets West, is lined with sweets shops that are unique to the area.

     

    The tea salon TOOTH TOOTH Dekoboko Sabo opened in 2019 in the Kobe City Museum and offers a menu that mixes Western food and sweets with tea and ingredients from traditional Japanese cuisine. Kyary ordered the Dekoboko Sabo Afternoon Tea Set, a collection of western sweets blended with the essence of traditional Japanese flavors. Guests are invited to enjoy their tea and sweets in a one-of-a-kind space filled with Meiji period flare and retro Western furniture. Those interested will need to make a reservation, so be sure to remember the next time you’re in Kobe.

     

    TOOTH TOOTH Decoboco Sabo

    Address: 24 Kyomachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe (Inside the Kobe City Museum)

    Hours: 9:30-17:30 (Last Order at 16:30) 

    Closed Mondays

    Official Site: https://toothtooth.com/restaurant/decoboco-sabo

    The next stop was Kobe Nankin-machi, one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan. Kobe MILK is known nationwide for its Apricot Pudding, which is made with local ingredients. The raw apricot pudding is mixed with milk brought from the foot of Mt. Rokko and other ingredients from Hyogo Prefecture. Of course, Kyary ordered some, and was amazed by its fluffy texture. You can only enjoy it in Kobe–also, the shop sells other puddings mixed with seasonal fruits, so don’t miss those either!

     

    Kobe MILK

    Address: Shin-Motomachi Building 1F (1 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe)

    Hours: Weekdays 9:30-19:00 / Weekends 9:30-19:30

    Official Site: https://kobe-milk.com

    For Kyary’s final stop, the singer visited the Moore House, a cafe located in a building with over 100 years of history. Guests are surrounded by greenery, and the Western-style building is incredibly elegant. The Strawberry Mille-feuille Kyary ordered was created by an expert patissier and based on the strawberry mille-feuille recipe from the legendary French restaurant Maxim’s de Paris in Ginza. A generous amount of custard cream complements the crispy pie crust and enhances the sweetness of the fresh strawberries. We’d recommend it with a glass of champagne–if you’re of age.

    Kitano Ijin-kan Moore House

    Address: 2-9-3 Kitanocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe

    Hours: 11:00-17:00

    Closed Tuesdays

    Official Site: https://www.kitanomoore.com/cafe/

     

    The streets of Kobe are packed with sweets that you can only enjoy if you visit. Why not come experience these incredible spots like Kyary did?

     

    Kobe Sweets Trailer: https://youtu.be/Sx9B1ZdAvlI

  • 13th BT21 Cafe to Open in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Sapporo

    29.October.2022 | FASHION / FOOD / SPOT

    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.

     

    Cafe Menu

    Magical Tea Time Set

    Food Plate

    Food Plate (7 varieties)

    Dessert Plate

    Dessert Plate (7 varieties)

     

    Drinks

    Magical Milk Tea

    Black Tea

    Iced Coffee / Hot Coffee

     

    Original Goods

    Acrylic Keychain (7 varieties, Random)

    Acrylic Clip (7 varieties, Random)

    Satin Sticker (7 varieties)

    Clear Folder (2 varieties)

    Handkerchief (7 varieties)

    Tote Bag

    Mug

    Masking Tape / Balloon on a Stick

    Dolomite Coaster (2 varieties) / Mirror (2 varieties)

    [Online Store Exclusive] Acrylic Keychain (7 varieties, Random)

     

    The cafe’s new menu includes afternoon tea, perfect for warming the body and soul during the cold winter months. The colorful food items and desserts are sure to be a hit on social media, and fans will enjoy the Magical Milk Tea and other dishes inspired by the popular BT21 characters.

     

    In addition to new merchandise and bonuses featuring newly-drawn art, a photo spot will welcome guests to the cafe and invite them to celebrate this five-year milestone. 


    Why not take a break from everyday life to enjoy a magical time with these cute characters?

     

    ©BT21

  • Grand Front Osaka to Hold Harry Potter Christmas Event

    28.October.2022 | MOVIE / SPOT

    The Grand Front Osaka mall has announced an incredible Christmas celebration in collaboration with the magical world of Harry Potter! Fans will want to visit the massive shopping center between November 10 and December 25 to take part in the festivities.

    Standard Decorations

    Showtime Decorations

    Harry Potter-Inspired Decorations

     

    The highlight of the event is the 13-meter-tall Christmas Tree, which will be set up on the first floor of the mall’s North Building. The tree will be decorated with Harry Potter-inspired ornaments like moving staircases and window frames, which will look as though they are floating in the air. At night, a light show will take place around the tree, complete with projections inspired by the four houses of Hogwarts. 

    Decorated Ted E. Bear

    Stamp Rally Card

    House Flag Decorations

    Tully’s Coffee and Harry Potter Collaboration Goods and Menu

     

    Special Harry Potter-themed decorations will be attached to many trees in the area around the nearby Umekita Plaza, and fans can also find a Harry Potter panel exhibition. An Instagram photo campaign will be held in which visitors can enter to win collab merch, so don’t miss out!

     

    Come make some magical memories at this Harry Potter event in Osaka this winter.

  • Luxury Brand Montblanc Announces Naruto Collaboration Collection

    15.October.2022 | ANIME&GAME / FASHION

    Today, luxury brand Montblanc launched a new collaboration collection with the popular anime and manga series Naruto. Items from the collection are available to purchase worldwide.

     

    Since its release 20 years ago, Naruto has captured the hearts of fans around the world with its inspiring story and beloved characters. The designs featured in the new collection feature illustrations of the character printed in dynamic poses. The collection features everything from leather goods to writing instruments. 

     

    The new items highlight Naruto’s relationship with his mentor Jiraiya, stressing the importance of mentors and knowledge. The brushstroke-like curves on each piece emphasize the anime style, and all bags come in a refined black color with orange accents.

     

    To celebrate the launch of this collaboration, a special short anime was created to highlight the power of writing and communication. The brief animation shows Jiraiya reflecting on Naruto’s journey and the ample advice he passed down while focusing on what’s important in life. Meanwhile, Naruto uses a fountain pen to write down what it really means to be a ninja.

     

    The collection also features a new edition of Montblanc’s iconic Meisterstück. The special-edition fountain pen features a Hidden Leaf Village motif in gold with a matching nib and a ruthenium-coated embellishment.

     

    A special pop-up store is open on the first floor of Hankyu Men’s Osaka until October 18. By snapping a photo of the collaboration products and posting it on social media with the hashtag #MontblancXNaruto, fans can snag an original Montblanc x Naruto memory card game. Additionally, those making a purchase will get an original furoshiki!

     

    Whether you’re a fan of Naruto or a fan of Montblanc’s goods, this collaboration might be impossible to pass up.

  • ANNA’S by Landtmann in Shibuya Scramble Square Now Offering Halloween Sweets

    11.October.2022 | FOOD

    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 Blanc

     

    Halloween Poison Apple

    Guests 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?

  • Second Sylvanian Families Sweets Buffet to Open with a Christmas Theme

    11.October.2022 | FASHION

    Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo will hold a special Christmas-themed Sylvanian Families buffet starting November 1, 2022. This is the second Sylvanian Families event following the previous Halloween-themed buffet, which became extremely popular. Some guests even bring their own Sylvanian Families dolls!

     

    Starting in November, visitors can enjoy a full lineup of 20 scrumptious dishes inspired by the cake shop found in Sylvania Village. Some sweets are also inspired by the many beloved characters found in the series, and anyone wanting to get into the Christmas spirit won’t want to miss this exclusive event. For those without a sweet tooth, some light lunches will also be available.

     

    The restaurant will also erect a decorative display of Sylvanian Families enjoying a Christmas party and a sweet diorama made exclusively of desserts by the pasty chef. Guests can enjoy tea time while getting lost in this magical world, so get excited about the Christmas season!

     

    1. Sweets Inspired by the World of Sylvanian Families

     

    2. Become Enthralled by a Wonderful Winter World of Sweets

     

    3. Exclusive! Sweets Diorama and Sylvanian Families Photo Spot

     

    4. Light Meals Perfect for Winter and Burgers Featuring Original Illustrations

     

    5. A Special Plan to Enjoy the Buffet with Sylvanian Families Babies

  • The #KuromifyTheWorld Project Celebrates First Anniversary with Special Week of Events

    06.October.2022 | FASHION

    The #KuromifyTheWorld campaign is already one year old! Created to share the adorable Sanrio character Kuromi with the world, fans will be invited to celebrate this milestone from October 20 until October 31 with special events in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. 

     

    Kuromi’s Drink Stand will be open for a limited time in Tokyo and Osaka. Customers will be invited to choose the color of their drink according to their mood, and will also be able to customize it with tags, acrylic stands, and stickers! An original photo spot will also be set up beside each drink stand, and those wanting to attend can enter the lottery to win tickets now. 

    Sanrio’s first and largest Kuromi ad truck will also be driving through the streets of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka during the event week. 

     

    Kuromi will also be teaming up with (G)I-DLE, a popular five-member global idol group from South Korea. Campaigns are planned to appear in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Taiwan, Korea, North America, and Europe.

    Kuromi ranked in the top three in this year’s Sanrio Character Awards, and her popularity is steadily growing with Gen-Z. Keep an eye out for more Kuromi-inspired events in the future!

  • Japan’s Largest Fireworks Show Opens with 800 Drones and 45,000 Fireworks

    01.October.2022 | SPOT

    To promote the 2025 Osaka Expo, hundreds of drones and thousands of fireworks lit up the sky at the planned site for the event. SKYMAGIC LIVE PTE. LTD., known for creating original shows using drones, put on the show on Yumeshima, a man-made island in Osaka’s Konohana Ward on September 25, 2022. The event was the first large-scale outdoor drone show in the Kansai region, with 800 LED-equipped drones flying through the night sky. 

     

    Nearly 15,000 visitors were in attendance at this spectacular event. The event aims to promote a hopeful future in which Japan thrives after the impact of the pandemic, and also aims to promote the upcoming Expo to people around the world. 45,000 fireworks were set off, marking one of the largest fireworks displays in Japan. Launched to rid the area of bad luck, guests will likely never forget the unique display of futuristic technology and traditional fireworks. 

     

    As the fireworks show began, countless drones took off one after another into the sky. As many would expect, Myak Myak, the official character of the Osaka/Kansai Expo, appeared above the crowd, standing 135 meters tall and 80 meters wide. A countdown to the Expo appeared after, with the Let’s Go Expo 2025 logo shining in the sky, made entirely by synchronized drones.

     

    Archived live footage of the event is also available. 

    Ryota Shirahama, chairman of the event’s organizing committee, made a comment regarding the impressive event. “Japan’s resurgence is about to begin,” he said. “The world has been looking down, and we want it to look up. We want people to look towards the future–that’s the goal of this project. Yes, there was a pandemic. But like the phoenix seen during the drone show, we can start over. I hope that those who saw the show will be inspired to take a new step forward.” 

  • NAKED to Open DANDELION PROJECT for Peace in Umeda, Osaka

    26.September.2022 | SPOT

    NAKED and Ryotaro Muramatsu’s interactive art installation, the DANDELION PROJECT, is coming to Umeda, Osaka. The project aims to connect people around the world, stressing the importance of world peace. Those wanting to participate may do so from October 7 until October 9 at Umekita Sotoniwa Square. 

     

    In July 2020, Umekita Sotoniwa SQUARE opened under a unique premise–it would be open for 1,000 days only. The outdoor area was inspired by cities of the future, featuring plenty of green space. The DANDELION PROJECT fits in perfectly with this concept, using modern technology and networking to create art that also serves as a universal prayer for peace. This is the second time the work has been exhibited in Osaka–it was shown in Nakanoshima during the Osaka Hikari no Renaissance 2021 event last December.

     

    The DANDELION PROJECT is inspired by the idea of world peace and hopes to help transcend barriers and connect people in an increasingly divided world. So far, it has appeared in 25 locations–19 in Japan and six abroad. In Japan, it has popped up at Tokyo Tower, Nijo Castle, and other historical sites. Abroad, it has been shown in Paris, Singapore, San Francisco, and Shanghai. The piece aims to bring about change by planting (or installing) dandelion-inspired art around the world, while it invites people visiting these dandelion exhibits to send their prayers for peace as a digital flower in real-time. 

     

    The exhibition will also be a satellite venue for NAKED GARDEN ONE KYOTO, a next-gen art project allowing guests to experience Kyoto virtually from September 15 until December 25, 2022.

  • Abeno Q’s Mall Announces Collaboration with Street Fighter II Starting October 1

    25.September.2022 | ANIME&GAME / SPOT

    Street Fighter II will collaborate with a commercial facility for the first time in history! The beloved fighting game will take over Abeno Q’s Mall in Osaka from October 1 until October 31, 2022. Popular characters from the game will appear all over the premises, and visitors will be able to take part in unique games to win exclusive prizes. 

     

    There are also a number of interesting challenges that will pop up around Abeno Q’s Mall. At the entrance, visitors will be greeted by Ryu and Ken, the main characters from Street Fighter II, as they unleash their Hadouken. Guests will be able to take pictures with Ryu with a special AR Photo Spot, and characters and stages from the title will appear around the mall. A participatory game event, Street Fighter Challenge, will be available for customers spending ¥3,000 or more (including tax). These customers will actually be able to test their Street Fighter skills, with winners winning a ¥500 yen mall gift card if they are victorious. Fans of the fighting game won’t want to miss this unique event!

     

    © CAPCOM CO., LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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