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Top 10 Asakusa Snacks! An Endless Loop of Sweet and Salty Treats
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Ningyoyaki (doll cakes) may come to mind when thinking about famous Asakusa sweets. But there are many other types of delicious confectionery to find on your way toward Sensoji Temple. Here’s our list of top ten sweets and Japanese treats you can enjoy in Asakusa.
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Having left Taiwan for 17 years, I stumbled upon Tokyo and gradually fell in love with this rapidly changing metropolis that also holds onto its traditional culture. In between taking care of children, I enjoy finding solace in a place about a 15-minute walk from the station with a population density of about 30%. Although picky when it comes to food, I am passionate about seeking out delicious cuisine, love cooking, and enjoy feeding others. I also identify myself as a member of the Potato Chips Association.
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Asakusa’s Tasty Sweets and Snacks
Asakusa is a popular sightseeing destination home to innumerable dining places and confectionery shops.
The Ningyoyaki (doll-shaped cakes) sold at the shop near Kaminarimon Gate might be the most famous type of traditional Asakusa sweets. But there are plenty of other delicious snacks to enjoy in Asakusa, from salty items to sweet treats sold around Sensoji Temple.
In this article, we'll introduce our list of top alley sweets and snacks in Asakusa!
1. Asakusa Soratsuki’s Dorayaki: A Popular Strawberry Dessert
Asakusa Soratsuki is easily recognizable by the pop-art strawberry design on the shop's curtain. Their speciality product is strawberry dorayaki (bean-jam pancakes). It’s also the sister shop of Tsukiji Soratsuki.
The Strawberry Dango Sticks displayed at the storefront are almost too cute to eat!
The dorayaki from Asakusa Soratsuki has a soft exterior filled with sweet bean paste and whipped cream. The sweet treat comes in various flavors such as a Japanese-styled brown sugar matcha and Mont Blanc (chestnut puree pastry). We suggest tasting several different flavors!
2. Asakusa Silk Pudding: Refined Sweetness for a Mature Palate
Testa Rossa Café’s Asakusa Silk Pudding serves a simple custard pudding made with fresh eggs from Okukuji, Ibaraki Prefecture, and heavy cream from Hokkaido.
The faint scent of vanilla mixed into the eggs gives the custard a silky smooth texture. You’ll become hooked after one bite!
The slightly bitter caramel sauce and creamy milk pair well together. It’s less sweet than your typical custard pudding, making it a dessert for a mature palate. Those who aren't particularly fond of sweets should also give it a try.
3. Monjya Korokke: An Asakusa Specialty
Monjayaki is a famous specialty of Asakusa. Want a convenient place to order monjayaki? We recommend Monjya Korokke (Monkoro). After placing your order, it takes only four minutes to be served a piping hot dish right off the griddle.
Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) is a classic topping for monjayaki. The Mentaiko Loaded Monja is an excellent dish, combining the popping texture of mentaiko with a crispy crust. This salty snack will satisfy any appetite!
4. Yohei’s Soy Glazed Dango: A Rich Flavor Made with Soy Sauce
Yohei, located right by Sensoji Temple, is a well-established shop of 40 years that specializes in agemochi (deep-fried rice cakes).
The shop has a comfortable dine-in area where customers can rest their feet while snacking on tasty agemochi.
The Plain Soy Glazed Dango is seasoned only with soy sauce without any artificial seasonings or additives. You might become addicted to its delicious sweet and salty flavor.
5. Naruto Taiyaki’s Tennen Taiyaki: Loved by Asakusa Locals
Naruto Taiyaki Main Store specializes in tennen taiyaki (“natural” fish-shaped waffles filled with red bean paste). The shop is so popular that there are lines outside the door every day.
You may think it’s strange to call taiyaki “natural.” However, this term refers to taiyaki that is meticulously baked only one to two at a time. On the other hand, shops that bake multiple taiyaki at once in a single row are considered “farmed.”
Tennen Taiyaki is beloved by locals. It’s a charming baked dessert filled with sweet red bean paste. The outer shell is both crispy and fluffy. If you love wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), you should give it a try!
6. Asakusa Menchi: Overflowing with Meat Juices!
When it comes to popular snack shops in Asakusa, Asakusa Menchi comes to mind! They serve juicy menchi katsu (minced meat cutlets) made with Koza pork raised in Kanagawa.
Appetizing meat juices will ooze out of the cutlet in a single bite. No extra seasonings are added to the dish, allowing the natural meaty flavors to shine.
The delicious flavor will be further enhanced when paired with mustard sauce. You can’t help but purchase another one!
7. Oimoyasan Koshin: A Must-Have for Sweet Potato Lovers
Oimoyasan Koshin is an established sweet potato confectionery shop that was founded in the early Meiji Period. They sell daigaku imo (deep-fried sweet potatoes candied in a sugar syrup).
Various sweet potato varieties are used, including Benikomachi, Satsuma, Anno Imo, Azuma, and Kamote. Seasonal sweet potatoes are also carefully selected. If you’re lucky, you might even receive a daigaku imo that’s fresh out of the fryer!
*The sweet potato varieties available are subject to change depending on the day.
This golden daigaku imo is dripping with a thick honey glaze. The savory exterior also has a crunchy texture. However, underneath the candied shell is soft, moist sweet potato.
Do you have a sweet tooth and love potatoes? Then this is a dessert you won’t be able to resist!
8. Izumiya’s Cat Senbei: The Best Snack for Cat Lovers
An Asakusa snack that is extremely popular among cat lovers and overseas visitors alike is Izumiya’s Cat Senbei!
The family operating Izumiya has lived with cats for generations. When a family cat passes, the family creates a senbei (rice cracker) in memory of their beloved and much-missed feline companions.
The Cat Senbei is made into adorable kitty shapes that have captivated countless cat lovers and fans. It’s too cute to eat!
The Cat Senbei comes in four different sizes: kids’ size, medium, large, and extra-large. There are over ten flavors, including soy sauce, sesame, strawberry, and matcha green tea.
Pictured above is the matcha senbei covered in aromatic matcha-flavored powdered sugar. The rice cracker is sweet and salty with a slight bitterness that unveils itself in bites.
9. UHEI’s Gold Leaf Soft Serve: A Kanazawa Specialty in Asakusa
Gold Leaf Soft Serve (750 yen with tax)
Surprisingly, you can find gold leaf soft serve ice cream—a famous specialty in Kanazawa—right here in Asakusa!
Kimpakuya UHEI is a long-established shop with over 150 years of history. The soft serve is slightly on the smaller side compared to what’s served in Kanazawa. But this variety has a light milky flavor that makes it easy to eat.
The store sells various gold leaf products. Our recommendation is the edible gold leaf, making celebratory meal at events like Hina Matsuri or a birthday magnificent!
10. FUGLEN’s Bread and Coffee: A Piece of Norway in Asakusa
FUGLEN is a popular cafe in Oslo, Norway. Although it was founded overseas, there are two locations in Tokyo. In addition to the Asakusa store, there is another one located in Shibuya.
FUGLEN uses light roast coffee beans. While retaining the bean's natural flavor, the light roast enhances the rich acidity, bitterness, and astringency.
At the cafe bakery, they sell bread made with a blend of flour from Norway and Hokkaido. They also sell Norwegian pancakes, a rarity in Japan, that are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
Enjoy Your Snacks but Please Don’t Eat While Walking
While it is possible to enjoy sweets and snacks in the Asakusa area, eating while walking is currently prohibited. The snacks and Japanese sweets we introduced in this article are all found at shops with seating or standing areas for eating.
Remember to observe good manners and get your fill of delicious food!
Having left Taiwan for 17 years, I stumbled upon Tokyo and gradually fell in love with this rapidly changing metropolis that also holds onto its traditional culture. In between taking care of children, I enjoy finding solace in a place about a 15-minute walk from the station with a population density of about 30%. Although picky when it comes to food, I am passionate about seeking out delicious cuisine, love cooking, and enjoy feeding others. I also identify myself as a member of the Potato Chips Association.
more
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