In Japan, there are certain fruits that hold special value as presents as part of the country’s strong gift-giving culture. Unlike fruits commonly used as ingredients in everyday cooking, those chosen as presents are top-quality in taste, appearance, and everything else.
“Sembikiya-Sohonten,” founded in 1834, offers a menu that changes one’s image of fruits and shows why they can be so appreciated as gifts. This approach has made the store popular not only among Japanese but also international tourists.
The Umami bites editorial team recently visited the “Nihombashi Sembikiya Azabudai Hills” (hereafter referred to as Sembikiya) branch to try out their delicious fruit specialties.
The traditional “Sembikiya Special Parfait” highlights just how delicious fruits really are
The “Sembikiya Special Parfait” is a treat that embodies Sembikiya’s standing as a fruit specialty store.
It’s topped with seven kinds of fruits over purées and sherbets, making it an iconic dish at Sembikiya.
“千疋屋スペシャルパフェ,” Sembikiya Special Parfait 3,190 JPY (tax included)
The fruits adorning the top of the parfait are cut larger than bite-size to allow the flavors to be fully savored. Ripe with fruit juices, the parfait fills your mouth with the rich flavors of fruit.
Fruits featured in the Sembikiya Special Parfait change throughout the seasons
The seven fruits in the Sembikiya Special Parfait change by season, with melon being a particular store recommendation. The high-quality melons you can only find at a fruit specialty store like Sembikiya are juicy with high sugar content, with a flavor just like an actual juice drink.
The whipped cream used, which has a restrained sweetness, is essential in bringing out the presence of the fruits. This whipped cream achieves the ideal balance of accentuating the juiciness of the fruits without overpowering their sweetness and richness.
Layered beneath the fruits and whipped cream are mango sherbet, vanilla ice cream, and strawberry purée.
The sherbet has a rich, velvety mouthfeel with a refreshing flavor. You can taste the natural sweetness of mangoes, and the sticky texture allows you to fully savor the aftertaste.
Meanwhile, the purée retains the fibrous texture of the strawberry skins, offering a bursting, crunchy sensation. The slight tartness of strawberries combined with the sweet vanilla ice cream deepens the flavor.
Sembikiya’s “Fruit Sandwich” packs four kinds of fruits
The Sembikiya Special Parfait is not the only item on the menu that allows you to enjoy the restaurant’s meticulously selected fruits.
The “Fruit Sandwich” uses four kinds of fruits: strawberries, kiwis, pineapples, and papayas.
Because the sandwich features fruits that don’t release much moisture, you can enjoy the fluffy texture of the bread until the end.
“フルーツサンドイッチ,” Fruit Sandwich 2,090 JPY (tax included)
What makes Sembikiya’s Fruit Sandwich so special is the combination of the whipped cream’s understated sweetness and a hint of saltiness in the bread. The subtle saltiness creates an impressively unique flavor.
The “Fruit Salad Parfait”: an innovative dessert using vegetables
While cherishing tradition, Sembikiya also puts effort into developing inventive dishes suited for modern tastes.
An especially creative dish in that regard is their “Fruit Salad Parfait.”
“フルーツサラダパフェ,” Fruit Salad Parfait 1,870 JPY (tax included)
Combining seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables, the Fruit Salad Parfait is a particularly popular menu item among international diners.
Depending on the season, the ingredients used in the parfait vary. As of our visit in March 2024, over 10 kinds of fruits and vegetables such as avocados, strawberries, oranges, turnips, and broccoli were featured.
The flavor accent comes from a vinegar dressing made with calamansi, a type of citrus, which adds tartness to the sweetness of the fruits and vegetables.
In addition to using vegetables that pair well with the main fruits, Sembikiya pays very close attention to textural variety. Diced vegetables, avocado ice cream, tomato fries, and a sweet potato paste mixed with quinoa ensure that the same texture never continues for too long.
The reason is to provide a course meal-like sense of satisfaction in one glass after finishing the parfait.
While maintaining a dedication to fruits, this innovative parfait also pursues new flavors and high satisfaction for anyone who tries it.
An absolutely luxurious interior
The Sembikiya Azabu Hills location has interiors reminiscent of a hotel lounge, exuding a special ambience.
Nihombashi Sembikiya Azabudai Hills’s interior
As you enter the shop, you are greeted by a showcase displaying a colorful array of fruits. In front of the counter is an open kitchen where you can observe each dish being carefully crafted.
Nihombashi Sembikiya Azabudai Hills’s exterior
Fruits can sometimes be taken for granted as everyday ingredients. However, a visit to Sembikiya is sure to change that image.
With carefully selected fruits, sweets and dishes incorporating the latest trends, as well as seasonal limited menus, Sembikiya continues to provide fresh surprises!
Sembikiya delivers all that and more with a sense of trust their customers can take comfort in.
Information
| Store name | 日本橋 千疋屋総本店 麻布台ヒルズ店 Nihombashi Sembikiya Azabudai Hills |
|---|---|
| Address | Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B BF1, 5-9-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
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| Access |
Kamiyachō Station 2-minute walk from Exit 5
Roppongi-Itchome Station 17-minute walk from Exit 1
|
| Phone number | 03‐6809‐1192 |
| Reservations | Available Phone, TableCheck (only a portion of the menu) |
| Payment |
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| Hours | 11:00-20:00（last order 19:30） |
| Closed | No holidays excluding Azabudai Hills holidays |
| Seating | 21 seats 6 counter seats, 15 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://www.sembikiya.co.jp/azabudai-hills/ |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of April 2024.
