[2024] Kawagoe Food Tour Map: 15 Shops. A trip to try the latest sweets and popular long-established shops.

*Please refrain from eating while walking in crowded areas. Please enjoy sightseeing and gourmet food while observing good manners.
*Prices include tax.
*Prices, offerings, and business hours are current as of October 2024.

Kawagoe Food Walking Gourmet Map

Only in Kawagoe! A wide selection of Japanese and photogenic sweets

Kawagoe is home to a wide variety of Japanese sweet shops that fit the Little Edo atmosphere, and is home to a long-established sweet specialty street called "Kashiya Yokocho." Of course, there are also photogenic Western sweet shops, and we will introduce some of these popular Japanese and Western sweet shops.

[Sweet potato chips] Enjoy crispy sweet potatoes with sauce at "Koedo Osatsuan"

One of Kawagoe's specialties is sweet potatoes. There are many restaurants in the city that specialize in sweet potato delicacies, but one of the most popular is Koedo Osatsuan, a shop that specializes in sweet potato chips.

It is located on the same street as the city's symbol, Toki no Kane, just a few seconds' walk away.

The main dish is "Sweet Potato Chip" (600 yen). There is also a limited edition "MIX Chip" (600 yen) which adds vegetables, as well as sweet treats such as " Ice Cream with Sweet Potato Chip" (350 yen) and "Sweet Potato Chip Sundae" (600 yen).

The "Sweet Potato Chip" and "MIX Chip" come with a choice of four sauces. The sauces change depending on the season, but this time I ordered a set that lets you compare the three sauces: mentaiko, salted butter, and caramel cream.

When I received it, it was bigger than I imagined, the longest one is about 24cm! First, I ate it as it was, without any toppings. It was crispier than I expected, and the sweetness and richness of the sweet potato gradually spread throughout my mouth.

The sauce can also be added to make it richer or sweeter and saltier, making it even more delicious. The easy-to-carry version without sauce costs 550 yen, so it's great for home or as a souvenir.

Koedo Osatsuan

[Warabimochi] A must-see for matcha lovers! "Sawawa Kawagoe Branch" - the specialty is its rich flavor

Matcha is a Japanese sweet that suits Little Edo well.

Sawawa is a matcha sweets shop run by TELACOYA Co., Ltd., a Kyoto-based company that operates rice cracker shops and other businesses. Located in Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Arcade, lined with traditional storehouses, the shop serves up menu items including Kawagoe matcha, a local specialty, ground in a stone mill right in front of the store.

Among the most popular items are the "Kawagoe Matcha Warabi Mochi" (from 389 yen) which is only available at this store and the "Okoicha Warabi Ice Cream" (takeout 710 yen, in-store 723 yen), which combines with rich matcha ice cream. Made with freshly ground young shoots from the most delicious season in Kyoto, the highly fragrant flavor is appealing.

The matcha ice cream, made with Kyoto's Uji matcha, is rich and sticky, just as the name suggests. The astringency of the matcha adds to the bittersweet flavor. The warabimochi is moist and chewy, with a refined sweetness. You'll be amazed by the clear contrast between Japanese and Western flavors.

Sawawa Kawagoe store

[Matcha pudding] A Japanese-Western mix of pudding and monaka "Annko no Kimochi"

Next up is a must-try when you come to Kawagoe! It's a popular Japanese-style pudding with an impressive appearance. A relatively new gourmet facility in Kawagoe is the food court "Enmusubi Yokocho" on the first floor of the hotel "Hatago COEDOYA" on Tatsumonzen-dori. There are several restaurants lined up here, one of which is "Annko no Kimochi".

The menu is filled with photogenic Japanese sweets, such as colorful dango and matcha drinks in stylish packaging. The one we picked out is a matcha pudding called "Enmusubi Pudding" (600 yen) that has been gaining attention on social media.

It looks quite surreal, with a sea bream monaka stuck on top of the matcha pudding. You can choose the shape of the shell (skin) from sea bream or heart, and this time I chose sea bream. The visual of the head stuck in, is a must-take photo.

It consists of matcha pudding topped with cream, which is then coated with matcha powder. The firm pudding, fluffy cream, and the bitterness of the matcha mixed in with the sweetness create an exquisite balance. You can also dip the Monaka into the pudding and eat it, making this an original dessert that allows you to experience a combination of Japanese and Western flavors that has never been seen before.

Annko no Kimochi

[Fondant au Chocolat] The blissful taste of melting chocolate at "Kawagoe Chocolat Bromagee"

Recommended for chocolate lovers is "Kawagoe Chocolat Bromagee." The parent company is a chocolate factory founded in 1981, and their signature products are "Crunch Chocolate" (540 yen each) and "Freshly Baked Fondant Chocolat" (300 yen).

The former has a wide variety of flavors and is perfect as a souvenir, while the latter is a popular snack to eat while walking around, and is also popular because of its rich flavor made with high-quality couverture chocolate and its reasonable price.

When you scoop up this "freshly baked fondant au chocolat" with a spoon, rich chocolate oozes out from within the crispy brownie dough.

The surface is decorated with powdered sugar, adding a nice accent. The "Oimo de Chocolat" (300 yen), which uses Kawagoe's specialty sweet potato, is also a popular menu item, so we recommend trying both.

Kawagoe Chocolat Bromagee

[Donuts] "Glin Coffee" - fluffy and chewy donuts that you can eat as many as you want

Glin Coffee opened its first store in 2016. "Glin" is a coined word combining the initials of Gather, Link, Impression, and Narrative, and is imbued with the hope that "everyone who comes to the store will have a glin (a smile)."

Now, it has several stores mainly in the city and has become a cafe that represents Kawagoe. The Seibu Honkawagoe Pepe store, located in front of the ticket gates of Honkawagoe Station, is a convenient location that you can drop in on as soon as you arrive or before heading home.

The shop's specialty drinks are a wide variety of coffees (from 390 yen) roasted in its own roastery, but the donuts are the best food recommendation.

The most popular "Sugar Glaze" (240 yen) is popular for its fluffy, light texture and chewy dough. It goes well with bitter coffee or latte.

The display case is lined with gorgeous donuts such as raspberry and pistachio, so you'll have a hard time deciding which one to choose. They also make great souvenirs.

Glin Coffee Seibu Honkawagoe Pepe Store

[Dumplings] The chewy texture and miso sauce go perfectly together at "Arai Buhei Shoten"

Chichibu is a popular tourist destination in Saitama, along with Kawagoe. A long-standing miso shop that has been loved in this area for many years, Arai Buhei Shoten (commonly known as Yamabu), has a branch in Kawagoe and continues to be loved by Saitama residents.

The specialty here is the "Golden Dango" (400 yen), which is generously coated with their famous miso sauce.

The first thing that will surprise you is the size. The large, flat dumplings, reminiscent of the local specialty "yakimanju" of Gunma and northwest Saitama, have a crispy, fragrant skin and a chewy interior. The sweet and salty, rich sauce goes perfectly with the dumplings, leaving you extremely satisfied with both the taste and the quantity.

It has a different flavor from sweet treats like mitarashi dango, and is so filling that it can be considered a staple food.

In addition, the shop sells Chichibu's local food "Miso Potato" (250 yen), as well as Yamabu's specialty "Chichibu Oname" (from 324 yen). This is also a recommended place to look for souvenirs.

Arai Buhei Shoten Yamabu Kawagoe Toki no Kane Shop

[Sweet potato buns] Freshly made is exceptional! A gentle, handmade flavor from "Inabaya Honpo"

Kashiya Yokocho is located one block west of Kawagoe's main street, Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street. Inaba-ya Honpo is a long-established store founded in 1938, located on a street lined with traditional Japanese sweet shops and cheap snack stores.

The store is L-shaped with two entrances and two cash registers. Inside the deep store, they sell a wide variety of snacks, including Japanese sweets and cheap snacks.

One of the specialties that the shop is proud of is the "Purple Sweet Potato Manju" (120 yen). It is characterized by its colorful bean paste, which is made using purple sweet potatoes, one of the sweet potatoes that are a Kawagoe specialty. Another attraction is that it is served fresh in a steamer in front of the store, so you can enjoy the taste and warmth of the steaming hotness.

The soft dough has a chewy nuance like steamed bread and is slightly sweet. The purple sweet potato paste has a gentle sweetness, and the overall taste is comforting and delicious. There are benches in front of the store and inside the store, so remember it's also a great place to take a break.

Inabaya Honpo

I want to try this and that! Exquisite gourmet food to satisfy my hunger

Kawagoe, which is visited by many tourists from Japan and abroad, is dotted with multinational gourmet spots. Here are some of the foods that are suitable for eating various types of food that will satisfy your stomach.

[Slider Burger] a mini photogenic burger made with A5 Sendai beef "Mrs.hamburger"

A slider is a hamburger that is so small that it slides right down your throat, hence the name. Mrs.hamburger is a popular restaurant that serves sliders in a unique style.

It is located in "Enmusubi Yokocho," the same place as the aforementioned sweets shop "Annko no Kimochi," and you can easily eat in the food court.

The restaurant's signature features are not only the deliciousness of the sliders, but also the way they are presented, with the sliders skewered and placed in a cup of fries. Another plus is that they serve one type of bun in a bright pink color.

I ordered the four-piece standard "Slider Burger (Tall)" (1,680 yen). There are six flavors to choose from, and this time I chose "Tarutaru," "Cheese," "Teriyaki," and "Basil." A choice of drink is also included.

Although it fits in the palm of your hand, the meat is fragrant and chewy, making it an excellent choice. The patty is made from 100% A5 rank Sendai beef, with no additives, and is rich, golden brown, and juicy. There are also four different sauces to choose from, giving it a wide variety of flavors. It also looks great, so it's no wonder it's so popular.

For those who want a smaller portion, we recommend the two-pack "Slider Burger (Small)" (1,580 yen). For those who want to enjoy six varieties, we recommend the six-pack "Slider Burger Macaron" (1,880 yen), which comes with more colorful buns. Although it's called a macaron, the dough is the same as a regular bun. You'll definitely be blown away by the visuals.

Mrs. Hamburger

[Chawanmushi] The rich dashi and variety that can only be found at the only specialty store in Saitama, "Coedo Chawanmushi Honpo"

There are many other unique shops in Enmusubi Yokocho. The next one we will introduce is Coedo Chawanmushi Honpo, which claims to be the only chawanmushi specialty shop in Saitama Prefecture.

As it is a specialty store, the menu has a wide variety of items. There are also many mini-sized items that are great for eating on the go, and I ordered the "Enmusubi Chawanmushi" (500 yen) first.

This is a cute chawanmushi in a small cup, but the taste is authentic. It uses broth made with flying fish, chicken, and bonito, and is fresh and rich in flavor, and is made with heart- and flower-shaped gluten. It also contains shrimp and other ingredients, so it is very satisfying.

The seafood bowls and green tea soba noodles at this restaurant are also popular, so I ordered a small "Green Tea Soba Cup" (660 yen). You can choose between quail or sudachi as a topping, and I chose quail. It has a refreshing aroma and a smooth texture, and when you split the quail, the rich flavor adds an exquisite accent.

This time we introduced the mini-sized menu, but of course, regular sizes are also available for those who want a full meal. You can also enjoy the "Enmusubi Chawanmushi" and "Cha Soba Cup" at a great price by purchasing the "Cha Soba and Enmusubi Set" (1,100 yen).

Coedo Chawanmushi Honpo

[Curry] It was unlikely! One Cup Style "negombo33 Kawagoe"

Negombo33, which opened in Nishi-Tokorozawa and is famous among curry lovers as one of Saitama's leading curry restaurants, also has a branch in Kawagoe, where they serve original curry exclusively for eating on the go.

This restaurant is also located in Enmusubi Yokocho, and you can easily eat in the food court.

The most popular dish is the "Three Types of Curry" (1,800 yen), which allows you to enjoy several different types of curry, but if you're looking to eat on the go, we recommend the "Koedo Burari Curry" (800 yen), which is a moderately sized dish. The cup presentation is also unique, and makes you want to hold it in your hand and take a photo.

Of course, the taste is also superb. It is made with turmeric rice made from hard-cooked Japonica rice, keema curry with slightly large grains, and egg yolk. The highly aromatic curry made with a variety of spices will whet your appetite. It has an authentic taste but is not too spicy, and adding an egg yolk makes it even milder. It is a long bowl, so make sure to mix it all the way to the bottom before enjoying it.

negombo33 Kawagoe

[Eel] Savory grilled eel on skewers, prepared in store at "Unagi Denbe"

Eels have long been a common catch in the rivers near Kawagoe, and the area has many soy sauce breweries, which led to the development of a sauce culture. Residents also ate eels often as a valuable source of protein, and even today there are many famous eel restaurants in Kawagoe.

One of the famous restaurants is Unagi Hayashiya, and its sister restaurant Kushiyaki Rinrinya, where you can easily enjoy its flavor, will relocate and renovate in November 2021. That restaurant is Unagi Denbe in Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street. It's not uncommon to see long lines, but if you order takeout, the turnover is quick and you'll be able to buy your order relatively smoothly.

Take-out foods include "Mini Kabayaki" (500 yen), "Liver Grilled" (350 yen), and "Unagi Rice" (800 yen), and I chose the classic "Mini Kabayaki."

It is freshly grilled on a charcoal grill in front of the store, so the skin is crispy and the inside is fluffy and fragrant. It is also rich in fat, and the sweet and salty sauce adds to the flavor. There is also Japanese pepper available in front of the store, so please try it to your liking.

Unagi Denbe

[Fried Chinese Yam] A hearty dish you won't be able to stop eating at Kingyotei

Café & Bar Kingyotei is a storehouse-style restaurant that opened in 2022 at the entrance of Matsumoto Soy Sauce Shoten, a long-established soy sauce brewery founded in 1767 during the Edo period.

It is located in a back alley about 1-2 minutes walk west from Nakacho intersection, which connects Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street and Chuo Dori.

The concept of this shop is goldfish and flowers, and there are many motifs of goldfish and flowers everywhere. The original menu includes "kingyoyaki" instead of taiyaki, and "goldfish bowl soda" made in a goldfish bowl, but the recommended takeout food is the limited edition "fried yam" (600 yen).

Although you have to wait a few minutes to get it freshly fried, it is exceptionally delicious. The first bite is hot and steamy, but the inside has the characteristic crunchy and sticky texture of yam.

The strong salt-based seasoning is excellent and goes well with alcohol. Some people may even prefer these to regular potato fries; this is a new type of "french fries."

Café & Bar Kingyotei

[Onigiri] You'll definitely have to queue! Nakaichi Honten: Irresistibly fragrant

One of the most famous gourmet foods in Kawagoe that has people lining up is the "Nekomanma Yaki Onigiri" (300 yen) at the Nakaichi Honten. The store sells a variety of dried goods, mainly bonito flakes from Makurazaki, Kagoshima, including smoked bonito "Shin Satsuma" and ago (flying fish) flakes, which are rare in the Kanto region.

Please note that "Nekomanma Yaki Onigiri" is sold in limited quantities from 12 noon onwards, and is not available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. The rice used is Koshihikari rice produced in Saitama Prefecture, and the onigiri is coated with an original soy sauce made from bonito flakes and kelp stock. The onigiri comes in two varieties: sprinkled with dried bonito flakes or shaved sardines.

As for the taste, the flavor of the broth that you can feel like a grilled rice ball from a dry goods store is exquisite. The rice grilled over charcoal with dashi soy sauce has an exceptional aroma and the surface is irresistible. The bonito flakes and sardine shavings used are sold in the store, so if you want to recreate them at home, please take them home as souvenirs.

Nakaichi Honten

[Cucumber skewers] A simple skewer that brings out the flavor of the ingredients "Kawamuraya"

Kawamuraya is a pickle shop with its main store in Omiya, and also has branches in Kawagoe and Asakusa. It is a long-established store with a sensibility that matches the times, and its two main pillars are creative pickles using new ingredients and nutritious matured pickles.

A popular item on the menu is the "Kushikyuri (pickled cucumber)" (200 yen). Available in two flavors, "Katsuo" and "Ume shiso", the pickled cucumber on a skewer is sold as a whole, making it the perfect snack to cleanse your palate when you want something light.

Both are lightly pickled, with a light flavor and a crunchy texture. The bonito has a sweet flavor brought out by the dashi broth, giving it a pleasantly refreshing taste. The plum and shiso have a nice balance of mellow acidity and soft fruitiness. There are chairs in front of the store, so it's a great place to take a break.

Kawamuraya

[Menchikatsu] Made with A5 rank Wagyu beef, the juicy cutlet is the appeal of "Wagyu Hitsumabushi Ushikawa"

Wagyu Hitsumabushi Ushikawa opened in 2020 as a sister restaurant of Shinra Garden, a long-loved yakiniku restaurant in Kawagoe. Its specialty is hitsumabushi, made with A5-grade Japanese black beef that the owner purchases directly from the meat market in Shibaura, Tokyo.

Take-out is also available through a small window connected to the kitchen, where the "Koedo Menchi" (300 yen) is a very popular dish. It is a special minced meat cutlet made with their prized A5 rank Japanese Black Beef and Koedo Kurobuta pork from Kawagoe.

The simple seasoning makes the most of high-quality ingredients, so the umami of the meat and the sweetness of the fat overflow with the juices, making it delicious even without sauce. Since it is freshly fried, the batter is crispy and the inside is juicy, and the sweetness of the onions and the crunchy texture are also a nice accent.

Heading north along Kawagoe Ichibangai Shopping Street, the shop is located where you turn right at the "Fudanotsuji" intersection and a few minutes' walk, so it is not a short distance but it is such a gem that it's definitely worth visiting Kawagoe just for this.

Wagyu Beef Hitsumabushi Ushikawa

In addition to historical sites and storehouse-style streets, Kawagoe has many picturesque spots such as the "Toki no Kane" (Bell of Time) and rickshaws. There are also Japanese clothing rental shops, so you can enjoy Little Edo even more by walking around the town in a kimono. Please use this article as a reference and enjoy your food tour.

Originally posted: March 7, 2023
*Some content was updated on October 1, 2024.

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