Yūraku

A vivid layer of soft scrambled egg rests over ketchup-seasoned chicken rice, finished with a bright streak of red sauce. The signature soft omelette rice at Yūraku in Asakusabashi offers pure, unpretentious comfort food, yielding gently at the touch of a spoon. Served with green peas in nostalgic kissaten fashion, it makes an effortless midday meal alongside soup and a tall glass of iced coffee.

Opening at 7:00 on weekdays, the cafe draws plenty of early visitors for its morning service. Golden-brown thick butter toast served with a boiled egg in an egg cup and a balanced, low-acidity hot coffee provides a leisurely start to the day. Diners can also opt for morning sandwiches or toasted hot sandwiches filled with egg, ham, or tuna.

Lunchtime caters to larger appetites with reliable staples such as classic spaghetti Napolitan, Japanese-style mushroom pasta, beef short-rib rice bowls, and stamina rice bowls. Those dropping in later in the day will find traditional coffeehouse sweets, including pancakes and French toast topped with vanilla ice cream, accompanied by fragrant fruit teas.

The deep interior houses comfortably spaced tables that preserve the atmosphere of an old-school Japanese cafe while remaining entirely non-smoking. As payments are cash only, be sure to keep coins and banknotes on hand before taking a seat.