A Must-See for Cat Lovers! Yanaka Ginza Best Street Food

Minced Meat cutlet　250 yen

Specializing in homemade meat dishes, Niku no Suzuki was first established in 1933 and has been loved by locals ever since. One of its most popular menu items is the Genki Menchikatsu (“Minced Meat cutlet”), which uses a combination of Japanese-grown beef shoulder with Australian-reared beef thigh. It costs just 250 yen (tax included) per piece and you can rest assured that the oil in which it’s cooked is fresh, with the staff changing it three times a day.

Niku no Suzuki

Niku no Suzuki

Niku no Suzuki

肉のすずき

4.0

20 Reviews

東京都荒川区西日暮里3-15-5

0338214526

Niku no Suzuki

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Minced meat cutlet 200 yen

This old-fashioned butcher offers high-quality beef, pork, and chicken that’s all sourced from Japanese farmers. It’s renowned for its Yanaka Menchi (200 yen including tax), which is believed to have sparked the minced meat cutlet boom in Japan. They also do delicious roast pork served with a special sauce that you can buy to take home. One quirk of this store is that it regularly plays the entrance song of the famed Japanese wrestler, Antonio Inoki!

Niku no Sato

Niku no Sato

Meat no Sato

3.5

17 Reviews

Tokyo Taito-ku Yanaka 3-chome 13-2

0338211764

Niku no Sato

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Honey Ginger (+ Mixed Berry)　500 yen

HAKKODO is a new addition to Yanaka Ginza, opening back in July 2019. They’re on a mission to make fermented foods more accessible to people, with their menu including grilled rice balls and delicious drinks that all involve some form of fermentation. Not to miss is their Honey Ginger (+ Mixed Berry), a soda that combines sweet and sour tastes. It costs 500 yen (tax included) and doesn’t have that vinegary hint of some fermented beverages.

HAKKODO

HAKKODO

HAKKODO

HAKKODO(ハッコウドウ) おいしい発酵と出会う店

東京都台東区谷中3-12-1

0358347737

https://hakkodo.tokyo/

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Miracle Banana and Milk 520 yen

Another new arrival is the Sweets & Juice Japanese Banana Institute, which prides itself on being Japan’s first banana specialty store. If you’re after a liquid meal, try their Kiseki no Banana Gyunyu Wari (“Miracle Banana and Milk”), which features Hokkaido Hamanaka-cho milk - the same that’s used to create Haagen-Dazs ice cream. It’s packed with nutrients and costs 520 yen for a small size. The shop also sells a variety of other drinks with different levels of sweetness and taste, so you’ll be able to find something to suit you.

Juice Japanese Banana Institute

スイーツ&ジュース国産バナナ研究所

東京都台東区谷中3-8-9

05031968216

スイーツ&ジュース 国産バナナ研究所

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Babahera Ice　350 yen

Chomageimo Tamaru specializes in Japanese sweets and gourmet foods, although it’s their gelato ice cream that we want to highlight here. The Babahera Ice (350 yen including tax) hails from Akita and is designed in the shape of a flower for a photogenic touch. They’re only available for takeaway, but there is a tarot fortune teller just outside the shop where you can have your future told (500 yen for five minutes) while you eat it!

Chonmageimo Tamaru

ちょんまげいも たまる

東京都台東区谷中3-11-15

0358143460

Chonmageimo Tamaru

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Nyanko Soft 　350 yen

If you’re a fan of soft-serve ice cream, then head to Yanaka Shippoya, which is located in the middle of Yanaka Ginza. Aside from their Nyanko Soft (350 yen), they also create grilled donuts in the shape of cattails using locally-sourced ingredients. They feature a crispy outside and a soft interior, with paw prints or cat faces decorating each. More than 10 different types are available at any one time, with a highlight being the black cocoa dough and white chocolate chip “Tora”.

Yanaka Shippoya

Yanaka Shippoya

やなか しっぽや

東京都台東区谷中3-11-12

0338229517

Yanaka Shippoya

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Fuku Nyan Yaki 200 yen

No trip to Yanaka Ginza is complete without stopping at Manekiya, which has become famous for its Fuku Nyan Yaki (200 yen including tax). These sweet treats are filled with red bean paste from Tokachi and depict the renowned cat character created by Kenichi Kitami. Other flavors include cream cheese pizza and beef stew, as well as a matcha flavor. They’re an easy snack to grab and eat on-the-go or take home as a souvenir.

Manekiya

Manekiya

Manekiya

Manekiya

4.0

8 Reviews

Tokyo Met. Taitou-ku Yanaka 3-9-15

0358348139

http://www.manekiya-gurume.com/

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Cafe Nekoemon

Want to paint your own manekineko doll? Visit Cafe Nekoemon where you can decorate a “beckoning cat” while relaxing over a cup of tea. It costs 1,620 yen (including tax) for the experience (with tea and cake) or you can just enjoy one of their cat-themed cakes for 440 yen (770 yen if served with tea).

Cafe Nekoemon

Cafe Necoemon

4.0

11 Reviews

Tokyo Taito-ku Yanaka 5-4-3

0338222297

10:30-17:30

https://yanakado.com/c_nekoemon.html

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Plain donuts　180 yen

Manten Donuts delivers fluffy donuts that are grilled rather than fried, with all of their products made at the shop. There are always at least 10 different types of donuts available at the first-floor store, which you can enjoy in the second-floor dining space. Plain donuts cost just 180 yen (including tax) per piece (flavored donuts start at 200 yen) and are individually wrapped so you can take them home as a souvenir or gift to a friend with a sweet tooth.

Flavored donuts 200 yen

Manten Donuts

Manten Donuts

谷中満天ドーナツ

東京都台東区谷中3-8-12

0338247624

http://yanakamanten-donuts.com/

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Panda Coppe　150 yen

If you’ve got children, they’ll love the cute bread rolls that are produced at this store, which are both firm and delicious. Their Panda Coppe is a particular favorite and costs just 150 yen (including tax) each. When you visit Bonjour mojo2, there’s always something new and adorable to discover, including turtle-shaped melon bread (which resembles a melon) and elephant-shaped bacon and cheese bread.

Bonjour mojo2

Bonjour mojo2

Bonjourmojo2

東京都文京区根津2-33-2 七弥ハウス101

03-5834-8278

Bonjourmojo2

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Mammies an sourire

There’s often a line leading out of this ever-popular apple pie store, which has been featured in countless media outlets. Their Apple Pie (500 yen including tax) is made without any artificial colorings or preservations, which allows the natural flavor of the apples to shine through.

Mammies an sourire

Mammies an sourire

マミーズ・アン・スリール 谷中店

東京都台東区谷中3-8-7

03-3822-8166

http://mammies.co.jp/

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Waguriya

Premium Japanese chestnuts are the focus of this confectionary store, with their chestnuts sourced from Kasama City in Ibaraki Prefecture. They pride themselves on using raw ingredients (no artificial colors, fragrances or stabilizers) to create their sweets, which include the popular Kurikaoru Soft Cream (500 yen including tax). This soft serve is made by combining a rich chestnut paste with fresh milk for a luxurious taste that can only be experienced in Yanaka Ginza.

Waguri Ya Tokyo (Yanaka)

Tokyo Taito-ku Yanaka 3-9-14

0358342243

https://www.waguriya.com/

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Flat White　430 yen

Just five minutes’ walk from the Yanaka Shopping Street is CIBI, a concept cafe that was born in Australia. It features a minimalist concrete interior accented by the warmth of wood where high-quality espresso coffee is served. Experience Australia’s renowned cafe culture while sipping on a Flat White (430 yen including tax), with takeout options available if you’re on the go or if the cafe is already full to the brim (which is often the case on weekends and holidays!)

CIBI

CIBI

CIBI corner store Kitasando

4.5

22 Reviews

Tokyo Bunkyo-ku Sendagi 3-37-11

0358348045

https://www.cibi.jp/

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As there is no parking available in Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street, it is recommended that you go by train. It’s just five minutes’ walk from Nippori Station, which is served by the JR Yamanote Line, the Joban Line, the Toei Toneri Line, and the Keisei Line. It’s also just five minutes from Sendagi Station, which is served by the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.

Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street

谷中銀座商店街

東京都台東区谷中3

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