The Asakusa district of Tokyo has several long-established cafes that have been in business for many years.
For workers and residents in the area, these cafes that are open from morning to night serve as a place to relax and unwind, often feeling like a second kitchen.
Leading this category is “Cafe de Raak,” located in the Asakusa Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street.
Known for its reasonably priced, hearty dishes like omurice (omelet rice), the cafe offers unforgettable meals that will keep you coming back for more.
Exquisite omurice topped with curry
Climb the stairs to the second floor, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by the owners of the cafe, a husband-and-wife team.
Since opening in 1995, Kazuyo, the wife, has handled the cooking, while her husband Ryuji specializes in drinks and sweets. Together, they’ve run the cafe in perfect harmony.
Owner couple Ryuji (left) and Kazuyo (right)
The length of the cafe’s history is proof of its popularity. There are many reasons for its enduring popularity.
For Cafe de Raak, one of the key ingredients to success is undoubtedly Kazuyo’s hearty and exquisite cooking.
“カレー・ソース オムライス,” Curry Sauce Omurice 1,590 JPY (tax included)
One of their standout dishes is the “Curry Sauce Omurice,” a favorite not just among locals but also international tourists visiting this historic area.
The dish arrives at your table with an impressive size, large enough to share between two people!
Wrapped in a soft, fluffy omelette, the filling isn’t the usual ketchup-flavored chicken rice. Instead, it’s curry pilaf, offering a fragrant aroma and mild flavor that appeals to both kids and adults.
The rich, fruity, and slightly sweet curry sauce is the key to the dish. It’s packed with umami, leaving a deep, lingering flavor without relying on excessive spiciness.
Pairing the subtly sweet egg and mild curry pilaf enhances the overall taste, making it a delight to savor. The accompanying salad, dressed with tangy mayonnaise dressing, adds a refreshing balance that makes it easy to keep on eating.
When asked how she achieves such richness in the curry sauce, Kazuyo simply smiles and says, “Trade secret.”
She adds, “I make it to my own taste. If I want a spicy curry, I’ll make it spicy, and if I’m in the mood for something sweet, I’ll do that”—a wonderfully free-spirited approach.
Every visit might bring a slightly different taste, perhaps with more spiciness or emphasized sweetness. One constant is deliciousness, an element that captures the charm of Cafe de Raak.
Super thick pancakes with delicious toppings
The cafe’s “Double Pancakes,” which indulgently stacks two thick pancakes, highlights Ryuji’s creativity.
“ダブルパンケーキ,” Double Pancakes 1,100 JPY (tax included)
The cafe’s pancakes boast a crisp exterior and fluffy interior. This unique texture comes from a final touch: sprinkling brown sugar on top and caramelizing it with a blowtorch.
Toppings are plentiful: whipped cream, strawberry sauce, and maple syrup. Since the batter itself is not too sweet, adding plenty of toppings won’t make it overly rich.
Whether you add tartness with strawberry sauce or enjoy rich sweetness with cream and maple syrup, you’ll finish these pancakes in no time!
Eye-catching cream sodas topped with loads of ice cream
While the pancakes are best enjoyed with Ryuji’s coffee, the “Variety Cream Soda” is also highly recommended.
Available in five flavors, including matcha, mango, and strawberry, these vibrant drinks are a popular choice for those looking to snap some colorful photos. Some customers order all five flavors to create an eye-catching photo display.
“バラエティ・クリームソーダ（メロン）,” Variety Cream Soda (Melon) 930 JPY (tax included)
The sodas stand out not just for their vivid appearance but also for the generous scoops of ice cream on top. The ice cream nearly spills over the glass, making it a playful challenge to reach the soda beneath.
Once your straw finds the soda, you’ll be rewarded with a fizzy refreshing sensation.
As time passes and the ice cream mixes in, the richness and sweetness increase, making it even more delicious. Moreover, the smooth ice cream changes to a sorbet-like texture, unique to cream soda.
It’s like enjoying a totally different dessert, which makes you feel like you’ve gotten a bonus.
Ryuji humbly remarks, “Compared to other long-established stores, we still have a long way to go,” when speaking about the cafe’s history in Asakusa, where many old shops flourish.
Nevertheless, regular customers refer to the cafe as their “second kitchen,” a testament to its deep connection with the local community.
With the cozy atmosphere and consistently excellent food created by the owner couple, Cafe de Raak remains an indispensable part of life in Asakusa, offering a welcoming space for all who visit.
Exterior of Cafe de Raak
Information
| Store name | カフェ・ド・ラーク Cafe de Raak |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-20-12 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Asakusa Station 2-minute walk from Exit 3
Asakusa Station 6-minute walk from Exit A1
|
| Phone number | 03-3841-8772 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
|
| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 9:00-19:50（last order 19:30） |
| Closed | No fixed holidays Unscheduled holidays |
| Seating | 21 seats 15 table seats, 6 counter seats |
| Smoking | A separate smoking area is available Smoking is only allowed at counter seats |
| Official website | None |
| Other information |
|
※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of December 2024.
