Everyone skips these in Japan and that’s terrible

The traditional Japanese cafe is an underrated gem and they’re always skipped by travelers in favor of egg samies and McDonald’s mega muffins. And that’s a shame. I’m in Nagagoya visiting Moku, a small cafe that just exists unbothered. They allow stinking in here, but only those fancy electric stinks that don’t stink. As soon as I walked in, I was blasted with atmosphere. The smell of fresh coffee brewing, the ratchet and clank of plates coming from the small kitchen and the gleeful chatter of everyone around me. And it made me realize that human beings are kind of fascinating. Isn’t it kind of cute that we made a place just for us to sit around people we don’t know and drink coffee? We don’t talk to them, but their presence makes us feel relaxed. They’ve got an eclectic menu with everything from just plain milk to orange floats. But today, I’m here to try a Nago specialty with my iced coffee. Ogura toast. Simplicity perfected. A spread of red beans, sugar, and butter on a perfectly fluffy toasty toast. Some of you Australians are probably looking at this like, nah, this is Vegemite. But it’s not. I just told you what it was. Stop being so obstinate, you silly goose. The beans had a robust flavor, while the sugar and the butter calmed it down from robust to robust. It could have been the atmosphere, the friendly staff, or the happy people around me injecting all their energy into the toast. But this is the most healing breakfast I’ve had in months.

22 Comments

  1. I went do a cafe like this but a lot smaller in Nagoya a couple of years ago. Their local specialty was apparently heavily buttered super thick toast with whipped cream and anko, and it was one of the best things I've ever eaten. It came with a coffee and I think it was under 300 yen. Can't wait to go back.

  2. omg a place I know!! I only went to Moku once but it was a delight. hit up Fujiyama 55 for the best miso ramen of your life!

  3. Nah mate, don't look a lick like vegemite, vegemite is smooth and brown, not lumpy and vaguely purple.

  4. ghnawaur, as an australian, at first i thought those were anchovies and i was way more horrified than if i had thought it was vegemite, or what it actually was.

  5. I think the pro move would be slicing up the hard boiled egg, and putting it on the toast too. =)

  6. Some of the best places I ate at with my friends were random cafes. We went to this little corner cafe in shibuya area and they had a perfect omurice