Komeda

Komeda Kissaten（喫茶店 or cafe/coffee shop) is the largest cafe chain in the Tokai region. Of 413 shops in Japan, Aichi prefecture is home to 263 of them so you absolutely can’t miss seeing them around the city.

Komeda really is the McDonald’s of coffee shops in Nagoya and outnumbers even Starbucks which is a really feat.  The interesting thing about the chain is that it keeps true to the traditions of being a coffee shop rather than a cafe, if you can understand what I mean by this.  When you enter there is a similar, bu not the same, clientele to say that of Starbucks but certainly an older, rather deeper atmosphere – the old timers sitting and smoking, the coffee tickets, the pine wooden decor, the magazine rack for those wanting to read in peace – all make it feel less cafe like.  There would be less younger groups, no high window facing counter seating and you are served at the table as opposed to standing and queuing up.

There’s a familiar and yet rich taste to the coffee and the menu rarely ever changes.  In the morning you can order a drink and have accompanied with that a “morning set” which at Komeda consists of a boiled egg and thick piece of toast. It doesn’t sound incredibly interesting but it comes with the drink for free and is surprisingly satisfying.

If that’s not enough, they offer really quite an interesting sweet and savoury menu which does to some extent vary depending on the shop. Hot dogs, sandwiches, pizza, salads, croquet, gratin etc as lunch snacks and cakes and pastries for sweets. The famous Shirono-whirl （シロノワール） is their trademark sweet which is a warm pastry with a soft ice-cream topping with a cherry.

It’s difficult to recommend Komeda as somewhere you should absolutely visit, but it is worth knowing about especially if you’re new to the area and might be looking for somewhere to enjoy quiet cup of coffee and choose from a menu with pictures (if you’re worried about your Japanese).

Contact

Website in Japanese