If you’re looking for a perfect first date place, or a new cafe to catch up with friends over brunch, then you may want to give Cafe Shibuya at UP Town Center a try.
Cafe Shibuya is decked out in charming interiors, bright and well-lit spaces, as well as comfortable chairs and spacious tables, completing the warm and homey ambiance of the place.
Signs written in quirky calligraphy such as “Life starts with a slice of honey toast” give the cafe a playful touch. And like the sign, it’s the cafe’s toasts that are the highlights in the menu, taking cues from Japanese toast cafes that pile up toppings on their toasts!
Naturally, we just had to try their toasts– this definitely isn’t your homemade toast. Cafe Shibuya spent a year perfecting their toast, which is crispy on the outside, and pillowy on the inside. Not to mention, it’s so thick and high, it’s like slicing into clouds. Cafe Shibuya offers both savory and sweet toasts, their bestsellers.
Here are what we tried:
Shibuya Benedict Toast. A wonderful twist on the popular eggs benedict dish, Shibuya Benedict has farmers ham, poached egg, shiitake mushrooms, and a special homemade Japanese mayo cream sauce. The deep-fried and poached egg was a great touch to the dish, deliciously crispy on the outside, yet soft and fluffy on the inside. We also loved the Japanese mayo cream sauce, which was wonderfully creamy and added to the flavor of the eggs benedict.
Japanese Hamburg Toast. Who would have thought that a burger would work on toast? Everything went well, and the patty was juicy. Although far from being the star of the dish, the crispy chips are also worth mentioning– just the right amount of crispiness and saltiness, with the creamy mentaiko dip!
Original Shibuya Honey Toast. While there were so many choices for dessert toast, with one indulgent topping after another, we decided to stick to simple, and we’re glad we did! The sheer simplicity of vanilla ice cream atop a fluffy toast, drizzled with honey was just pure heaven. This dessert is much recommended during your first visit!
Matcha and Strawberry Toast. We love matcha, so we could not resist trying this dessert toast during our visit in Cafe Shibuya! Matcha and strawberries are always a good combination, and the toast adds to the extra oomph. We love that the matcha ice cream was so generous, and having the ice cream seep into the bread the moment it reaches our mouths is an experience that cannot be summed up in words.
Tabasaki Fried Chicken. When you’re in the mood for something other than toast, order the Tabasaki Fried Chicken. The chicken has a sweet, soy-like marinade that seeps into the meat, yet the skin is deep-fried to a crisp. It goes really well with the kimchi rice, offered in a hearty serving. The nori strips also add some mild flavor to the meal.
For a warm dining experience that feels like home, with delightful overloaded toasts, head on over to Cafe Shibuya.
Cafe Shibuya
UP Town Center, Katipunan, Quezon City
