Category: food

  • Everything I Ate in NYC: Asian Food Edition

    Everything I Ate in NYC: Asian Food Edition

    It would be very easy for me to plan an entire trip to New York City around food alone.

    As someone who especially loves Korean and Japanese food, I was in heaven getting to spend so much of our weekend eating our way through Koreatown, with a little Chinatown dim sum and conveyor belt sushi thrown into the mix. We managed to fit a surprising number of delicious things into just three days, ranging from casual late-night noodles to a Michelin Guide-featured Korean restaurant.

    Here’s everything I ate!

    1. Kimchi Cream Udon at Mew Izakaya

    After seeing a concert at Kings Theatre, my husband and I headed back to Koreatown in search of a late-night meal and ended up at Mew Izakaya. I ordered the kimchi cream udon, and it was exactly what I needed after a day that had been book-ended with a 6AM flight and a pop music concert. I needed carbs!

    The noodles were thick and chewy, and coated in a rich and creamy kimchi sauce with just enough of a kick. It was hot, comforting, and incredibly satisfying. This was one of my favorite dishes of the entire weekend.

    2. Okonomiyaki at Mew Izakaya

    Tim went with the okonomiyaki, and naturally I had to steal some.

    Okonomiyaki is a wonderfully comforting Japanese savory pancake that’s full of different flavors and textures and then covered in sauce. It’s usually made with batter and cabbage but sometimes it has noodles in it as well. Between his okonomiyaki and my giant bowl of creamy kimchi udon, Mew Izakaya turned out to be an excellent spontaneous post-concert dinner choice.

    3. Conveyor Belt Sushi at Kaiten Zushi

    We also managed to fit in conveyor belt sushi at Kaiten Zushi.

    Conveyor belt sushi is such a fun experience. You get to choose a whole array of sushi and side dishes from a tablet and wait for it to travel to your table via conveyor belt. Instead of committing to one big entrée, you can keep trying different plates and get a lot more variety for a reasonable price than a traditional sushi restaurant.

    This was a casual meal compared to some of the other restaurants we visited, but that’s okay! Sometimes you just need to sit down, watch sushi come by on a conveyor belt, and see how many plates mysteriously accumulate in front of you!

    4. Spicy Octopus with Bori Risotto at Seoul Salon

    One of our more elevated meals was at Seoul Salon, a Korean restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide.

    I ordered the spicy octopus with bori risotto. Bori means barley in Korean. The dish paired tender, spicy octopus with a creamy barley risotto. I hadn’t eaten anything quite like it before, and I loved the combination of spicy octopus with creamy and comforting risotto.

    It was flavorful, beautifully presented, and definitely one of the more unique things I ate all weekend.

    5. Tteokgalbi Wagyu Sliders at Seoul Salon

    Tim and I also shared the tteokgalbi sliders at Seoul Salon, made with wagyu beef, garlic mayo, and soft potato buns.

    These were SO good. Tteokgalbi is traditionally made from ground, seasoned meat formed into patties, and turning it into a tiny wagyu slider was an awesome way to serve it. The beef, garlicky mayo, and fluffy bun worked very well together.

    They were playful and approachable while still feeling special enough to fit the restaurant, and they ended up being one of my favorite things we ordered.

    6. Korean Fried Chicken at Seoul Salon

    Tim chose the Korean fried chicken as his main dish, which of course meant that I also got to try some!

    It’s easy to see why Korean fried chicken has become so popular. When it’s done well, the crispy exterior and spicy chicken combination is hard to beat. Seoul Salon’s version fit right in with the rest of our meal and gave us something a little more familiar alongside dishes like my spicy octopus and the tteokgalbi sliders.

    Between all three dishes, Seoul Salon was easily a standout of the weekend.

    7. Black Sesame Ice Cream at Food Gallery 32

    After dinner, we went back to our hotel for a couple of hours before somehow deciding that we needed dessert. We headed back into Koreatown and stopped at Food Gallery 32, where I tried black sesame ice cream for the first time.

    I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but it was surprisingly mild and easy to eat. The flavor was subtly nutty and with just enough sweetness, and I ended up enjoying it. It was one of those little things I probably wouldn’t have gone out of my way to order at home, which is exactly why I love trying things like this while traveling.

    8. Dim Sum at Jing Fong

    We saved Chinatown for our final day in New York and started the morning with an early dim sum lunch at Jing Fong.

    The food was delicious, but I also love the experience of eating there. Servers periodically wheeled carts loaded with freshly prepared dim sum through the dining room, stopping at the tables so you could see what was available and choose whatever looked good.

    We ended up with an assortment spread across the table, making it a perfect meal for sharing and trying different things. I had been here before, and I was eager to introduce this place to my husband, who loves dumplings and pork buns and basically all things dim sum.

    It was also a great way to end the food portion of our trip before spending our last few hours exploring the city.

    Basically, I Ate Very Well!

    If there’s one thing this weekend confirmed, it’s that I could very happily spend an entire NYC trip bouncing between Koreatown and Chinatown to eat everything in sight.

    I loved that we got a little bit of everything: comforting creamy kimchi udon after a concert, casual conveyor belt sushi, an elevated Korean dinner at Seoul Salon, a new-to-me dessert in the form of black sesame ice cream, and a table full of dim sum in Chinatown.

    As much as I love sightseeing when I travel, food is such a huge part of how I experience a destination. Some of my strongest memories from trips are tied to specific restaurants or dishes, and I already know that several of these will be things I think about when I remember this trip.

    And considering how many restaurants in Koreatown and Chinatown we didn’t even get to try, I clearly have an excuse to go back.

  • I Spent A Year Living In Orlando. These Were My Top 10 Favorite Things To Do.

    I Spent A Year Living In Orlando. These Were My Top 10 Favorite Things To Do.

    I lived in Orlando for a year, spanning from June of 2023 until June of 2024. I had just moved there all the way from central Maine to live with my boyfriend, who I had met online and maintained a long distance relationship with for almost a year before we finally closed the gap (He’s my husband now, by the way!). Before he switched to working for a fully remote company, he was based out of Orlando. It was a whirlwind year of theme park days, excellent food, palm trees, and sunshine. Relocating to Pittsburgh, where we bought our house and are currently living, was quite an adjustment! Here were my ten favorite things to do during my year in sunny Orlando, Florida! Not everything on this list is a major tourist attraction. I’ve also included some of my favorite local spots.

    1. Spending the Day at EPCOT

    EPCOT is my favorite Disney park, hands down. Part of that is because Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is easily my favorite Disney ride, and my second favorite ride of all time. It also has a special place in my heart for a different reason: the Cosmic Rewind loading area is where Tim proposed to me on our last trip to Disney before moving to Pittsburgh. I’ll always associate this ride with that moment.

    But I also love EPCOT because rather than feeling like I had to rush between attractions to do everything the park has to offer, I found my own little routine and my own things that I liked to do every time I visited.

    I always loved walking around the Mitsukoshi Japanese department store in the Japan pavilion. This was before I had been able to visit Japan and getting to do so felt like a far away dream, so I really loved this little slice of Japan. I always took my time browsing all of the Pokemon, Sanrio, Rilakkuma, and anime merchandise. Then there’s the Mexico pavilion, where chips, guac, and a margarita before riding on the Gran Fiesta Tour made for a perfect evening.

    I also loved all of the rotating seasonal festivals and food and drink booths. Throw in a ride on Soarin’, a walk around the World Showcase, and a stop for dinner somewhere along the way, and you’ve got yourself a perfect theme park day. EPCOT is especially great for childless couples. It has a big focus on food and drink and cultural appreciation.

    2. Soaking Up the Vibes at Animal Kingdom

    Animal Kingdom is the most beautiful theme park in Orlando. It has gorgeous landscaping, greenery, animals, music, and incredible attention to detail. The vibes are immaculate, and simply being there is enjoyable.

    It also happens to have two of my favorite Disney attractions: Expedition Everest and Avatar Flight of Passage. Expedition Everest is one of those coasters that Tim and I would occasionally ride over and over again, utilizing the single rider line so that we could get as many rides in as possible, although we couldn’t sit together using this method. Avatar Flight of Passage, on the other hand, is one of the most immersive and impressively modern theme park attractions I’ve ever ridden.

    I loved taking it slow at Animal Kingdom. I liked wandering through the animal trails, popping into the shops, catching a show, and stopping into the Nomad Lounge for some of the most excellent food and drink that the park has to offer. Animal Kingdom isn’t a park that I ever felt like I had to “conquer.” I just liked spending time there.

    3. Going to Another Broken Egg Cafe for Brunch

    My favorite Orlando-area brunch spot was Another Broken Egg Cafe. I am forever grateful to the coworker who introduced it to me.

    My usual favorites were the eggs benedict, the city grits (cheese grits topped with bacon, tomato, and green onion), and the Bourbon Street pancakes, which were layered with banana, pecans, a delicious rum butter sauce, and whipped cream.

    This restaurant serves the kind of breakfast where you probably won’t need lunch afterward. Everything is southern-style, rich, hearty, and delicious. Tim and I ate here for weekend brunches over a dozen times, easily. I will forever be thinking about those Bourbon Street pancakes!

    4. Getting Boba at Krave Tea or Shen Tea

    There was never a shortage of boba in Orlando, but two places in particular became instant favorites of mine: Krave Tea and Shen Tea.

    At Krave, it was all about the black sugar boba for me. To this day, I’ve never had boba that has been able to top it. It’s made with fresh milk and their house-made black sugar boba. The boba itself sweet, caramel-y, and perfectly chewy. Their other offerings are great, too. I’ve never had something from here that I disliked. At Krave Tea, you’re getting a perfectly and lovingly crafted drink.

    Shen Tea, meanwhile, gets its flowers for being the most adorable boba shop I’ve ever set foot in. The interior is so kawaii, with pink walls and stuffed animals everywhere you look. The drinks are good, too! I really enjoy their taro milk tea.

    5. Eating and Grocery Shopping at Lotte Plaza Market

    Going to Lotte Plaza Market was a legitimate activity for me when I was living in Orlando. It’s a HUGE Asian supermarket with an attached Asian food court. The food court has around 5-7 different vendors, and has a particular emphasis on Korean dishes. You can get tteokbokki, ramyeon, bibimbap (the best bibimbap my husband has ever had!), and my favorite: the spicy beef and kimchi bowl. Our meals usually came with an array of small Korean appetizers. Other vendors offer pastries, boba, ramen, pho, and more.

    Shopping for Asian groceries after eating authentic Korean food was always a lot of fun. Coming from someone who had seldom left small-town Maine before meeting my husband, I can say that there is nothing comparable to this market where I grew up. Huge multicultural markets like this are so exciting to me, partially because I never really got to experience anything like them, save for a couple of visits to Boston and New York City.

    6. Riding Velocicoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure

    I’ve ridden over 40 unique roller coasters, and Jurassic World Velocicoaster remains my favorite roller coaster of all time. That should tell you how much I love this ride!

    Mustering up the courage to get on it was quite an endeavor for me. It was probably our 5th or 6th trip to Islands of Adventure that I finally did it. I remember the exact moment that the train was cleared to leave the loading area, and knowing that it was officially too late to back out. My vice grip was unmatched and my heart was beating out of my chest. This was early in my roller coaster journey!

    I very quickly realized that while Velocicoaster was the most thrilling ride I had ever been on, it was also the most fun! The launches, inversions, airtime, and speed are just incredible.

    Of course, there are plenty of other reasons to visit Islands of Adventure. Hagrid’s Magical Motorbike Adventure is another fantastic coaster, and despite not being a Harry Potter fan, I loved wandering around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And I can’t talk about Universal without mentioning Butterbeer. This drink is pure joy and deliciousness.

    If you’re a roller coaster person, don’t skip it. And get a Butterbeer while you’re at it.

    7. Visiting the American Girl Store

    This one is admittedly very specific to my interests, but as a lover of all things American Girl and the owner of around a dozen American Girl dolls, I loved having this store nearby.

    Even as an adult collector, it’s so nostalgic to walk around in an actual American Girl store and see all of the dolls and elaborate displays in person. It’s also really cool getting to meet and chat with other adult collectors. I remember one of the cashiers telling me that she has over 70 dolls!

    It’s also one of those places that serve as a reminder that there is a lot to do around the city for people with niche interests. It’s not all theme parks and major tourist attractions. Sometimes it’s tiny doll furniture, too!

    8. Getting Sushi at Sakari Sushi in Winter Park

    When you live somewhere for a while, it’s inevitable that you develop a handful of restaurants that become your places, and Sakari Sushi quickly became just that for me and my husband. They have a bit of an upscale vibe, creative and delicious sushi, and excellent house-made kimchi. It was a go-to place for date night!

    9. Getting Indian Food at Tamarind in Winter Park

    This was another restaurant that Tim and I frequented. As lovers of Indian cuisine, this place always hit the spot. The staff are very kind and the food was always great. One night our server suggested we try the gobi manchurian, and we quickly realized that it’s one of our favorite things ever and we get it almost every time we go out for Indian food to this day!

    This is another place that probably wouldn’t make a standard “top 10” list, but that’s part of why I’m including it. Some of my favorite memories from Orlando are the big attractions and the roller coasters, but just as many are the places that I found myself returning to again and again.

    Thank you for all of the wonderful dinners, Tamarind.

    10. Riding Basically Everything at SeaWorld Orlando (But Especially Mako)

    SeaWorld Orlando is another must for roller coaster fans because the park honestly has quite an impressive lineup. Among all of the coasters this park has to offer, my absolute favorite is Mako. Honorable mentions are Ice Breaker, Kraken, and Pipeline.

    Mako is a huge hypercoaster built around speed, airtime, and massive drops, with no inversions. The first drop is around 200 feet, making it among the tallest roller coasters in Florida. The best part is the feeling of being completely lifted out of your seat as you fly over the hills. It’s thrilling without being rough or too complicated. It’s just a lot of fun!

    SeaWorld isn’t as impressive or as elaborately themed as Disney or Universal, but it earned its spot on this list for having one of my favorite roller coasters of all time. Mako alone makes this park worth visiting at least once.

    Why Orlando Will Always be Special to Me

    I don’t know that I’d ever live in Orlando again, but I’m really glad that I did. For one year, some of the places that millions of people save up all year to visit became a part of my every day life, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling a little nostalgic for that.

    When I look back, I think about Disney World of course, but I also think about the smaller things. I think about going out for boba or sushi, or exploring Lotte Market and coming home with a bag full of new Asian snacks to try. I hope that this blog taught you about some lesser known gems that Orlando has to offer. Living here allowed me to experience this city in a way I never could have as a tourist.

    This is my love letter to Orlando- the city that gave me a year of theme parks, good food, new experiences, and some of my favorite memories.

  • 5 Adorable Foods I Ate in Japan

    5 Adorable Foods I Ate in Japan

    Japan has a way of turning food into a delightful spectacle, from rainbow colored desserts to themed cafes and character dining experiences. As someone who loves Sanrio, cute cafes, and all things kawaii, I was excited to eat some cute meals during my 18 day trip to Japan! Here are 5 of the cutest foods I ate while visiting last fall.

    1. Hello Kitty apple pastry at Universal Studios Japan

    Universal Studios Japan has a dedicated Hello Kitty area in the park. There is a Hello Kitty bow museum with an opportunity to “meet” Hello Kitty at the end of your visit, a teacup ride, a gift shop, and a food stall called “Hello Kitty’s Corner Cafe”. This is where I picked up this adorable apple pastry with a mascarpone topping. Decorated with a pink bow and pearlescent sprinkles, and placed in a cute pink box depicting Hello Kitty herself, this dessert was a visual delight, as well as very tasty! It was almost too cute to eat (key word: almost!), but my husband and I enjoyed sharing it as a mid-day snack before continuing our adventures at USJ.

    The Hello Kitty area of the park is small but very charming and well themed. I saw lots of Hello Kitty fans in cute HK-themed dresses just hanging out, taking selfies, and snacking on the cute desserts on offer. I wish that Universal in Florida had this much Hello Kitty representation. And yes, I made my husband meet Hello Kitty and ride the teacups with me! Sometimes you just have to fully embrace your inner child.

    2. Rainbow French toast at Pink Kawaii cafe

    While exploring Osaka, we stopped into a cafe called Pink Kawaii. The bright colors and over the top presentation made it impossible to resist coming in. This place really committed to the bit, and the execution was on point. While there, we had some cute drinks and one of the most colorful desserts I’d ever seen. And thankfully, it wasn’t just pretty… it was really tasty, too!

    The rainbow French toast we shared was impressively colorful, with saturated rainbow hues swirled into the bread. It also came with a scoop of ice cream served in a star shaped dish, and a cute little ceramic pitcher for maple syrup.

    We also ordered a couple drinks to refresh and rehydrate in the middle of our long day in Osaka. I got pineapple juice, and Tim got some kind of blue soft drink. I can’t remember exactly what it was, but it came in a souvenir cup shaped like a duck that we got to keep as a memento to remember the cafe by. Pink Kawaii is definitely worth checking out if you are a kawaii lover visiting Osaka. The food is good and there are many opportunities to get some very instagrammable shots.

    3. Duffy-themed lunch at Tokyo DisneySea

    For those unfamiliar, Duffy is a widely beloved character in Japan. He is Mickey Mouse’s teddy bear, and he is so popular that entire shops are dedicated to him and his friends. He was created for Tokyo DisneySea, and he is undeniably the face of the park. It wasn’t uncommon to see park visitors carrying around Duffy stuffed animals or otherwise donning Duffy merchandise. I fell in love with some of these characters myself during my day spent at the park, and indulged in Duffy photo ops, purchasing multiple stuffed animals and keychains, and ordering this themed meal for lunch.

    The meal was offered for Duffy’s 20th anniversary celebration, which happened to be going on while we visited. It consisted of Japanese curry with rice, pumpkin soup, and a small salad. I also ordered a fun boba drink with a scoop of kiwi.

    As you can see, the rice in the curry dish resembles Duffy the bear! Between the adorable presentation and the fact that I had just fallen in love with this sweet little guy, this meal quickly became one of my favorite memories from visiting Tokyo DisneySea.

    My love for this bear knows no bounds!

    4. My meal at the Cinnamoroll Cafe

    I go much more in-depth about this dining experience here, but despite having already written about it, the Cinnamoroll Cafe needed its own spot on this list.

    This cafe was whimsical, adorable, immersive, and everything a Sanrio fan would hope it would be. My husband ordered Japanese curry, and I ordered omelette rice. As you can see from these pictures, the sheer cuteness factor alone makes this cafe worth a visit. There are locations in both Tokyo and Osaka, and I’m sure you cannot go wrong with either location. We went to the location in Tokyo. I truly can’t recommend this place enough.

    Along with our main entrees, we got a dessert to share and a cheesecake flavored milk. The dessert, as seen above, featured a scoop of ice cream made to resemble Cinnamoroll’s friend, Chiffon. It also had whipped cream, fruits, and some Pocky for good measure.

    If you are interested in visiting the Cinnamoroll Cafe on your upcoming trip to Japan, please refer to my post dedicated entirely to my experience here!

    5. Rainbow cheese corn dog on Takeshita Street in Harajuku

    On our final full day in Japan, we visited Harajuku. Harajuku is a neighborhood in Tokyo known for its over-the-top street fashions, often called J-fashion. It is also known for it’s many novelty food items, including this Korean style corn dog filled with rainbow colored cheese.

    Taste wise, it was a pretty basic street food. It was fine. Visually, it was much more impressive than it was taste-wise. As soon as I pulled it apart, colorful strands of melted cheese stretched between my hands. I wish I had better photos!

    Takeshita Street was far too crowded for my tastes, and in some ways our visit there was a bit disappointing, but at least I got to eat rainbow cheese.

    Final Thoughts

    Japan is famous for its incredible cuisine, but one of my favorite discoveries was how cute and fun the food can be too. The foods I listed above were just as much experiences as they were meals. Most of them made me smile as much as the theme parks, temples, and other attractions did. As a foodie traveler, I absolutely cannot wait to experience even more cute food on my next trip to Japan. I already have some places in mind!

    Whether it’s a rainbow dessert or a curry resembling the world’s cutest teddy bear, Japan has a way of making themed dining experiences feel like you’re a little kid again. These meals may not have been the most authentic or sophisticated things I ate in Japan, but they captured another side of the country that I fell in love with over and over again: its willingness to embrace joy, fandom, and whimsy.

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  • My Day Trip to Uji: The Matcha Capital of Japan

    My Day Trip to Uji: The Matcha Capital of Japan

    When people think of day trips from Kyoto, Osaka and Nara tend to get most of the attention. And while those destinations are incredible and certainly worth visiting, one of my favorite excursions during my honeymoon trip to Japan was our day spent in Uji.

    Located just outside of Kyoto, Uji is best known for centuries of superior quality matcha. For those unfamiliar, matcha is Japanese powdered green tea. In the last decade or so, it has become increasingly popular globally. Most popular coffee shops, including Starbucks and Dunkin’, offer their own matcha latte drinks. The matcha you’ll find in Uji, however, is the real deal! We saw some matcha shops with signs boasting their centuries-long tenure. One shop in particular was 400 years old. Uji is also home to Byodo-in Temple and the recently-opened Nintendo Museum.

    Pre-Nintendo Museum lunch: conveyor belt sushi at Kappa Sushi

    Kappa Sushi, located near the Nintendo Museum, is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. This is a popular genre of sushi restaurants in Japan, and it was our first time eating at one. You order small plates on a tablet or on your phone, and the food arrives at your table shortly after via conveyor belt. Ordering many dishes is encouraged, as each dish is usually only two pieces of sushi. We really enjoyed eating at Kappa Sushi. There’s just something about conveyor belt sushi restaurants that make me so giddy with excitement. It is a lot of fun getting to try so many different kinds of sushi. Visiting a restaurant like this on your trip to Japan is an absolute must if you are a sushi lover like me!

    The Nintendo Museum

    After our early lunch at Kappa Sushi, we headed straight to the Nintendo Museum. As lifelong Nintendo fans, this was an attraction that my husband and I were both very excited to visit. Fun fact: this museum is in a former Nintendo manufacturing plant!

    The museum opened only recently, and it does an incredible job of showcasing Nintendo’s history. There were lots of interactive exhibits and opportunities to play Nintendo games, and a gift shop that sold exclusive items that you could only get at the museum. The layout and the design were very modern and pleasing to the eye, and the displays did a great job of highlighting the evolution of the company over the years.

    Photography isn’t allowed in much of the museum, so I don’t have a lot of photos. You’ll have to go see for yourself! And trust me when I say that it’s more than worth a visit for any Nintendo fan. I am not always a huge fan of museums, but I had an absolute blast here.

    Uji Matcha

    After finishing at the Nintendo Museum, we took a bus to historic Uji, where we wandered into a cute little cafe called Rokujoan to finally sip on some world-renowned Uji matcha. We got some traditional hot matcha to try, as well as a brown sugar iced matcha latte topped with a scoop of matcha ice cream. We also shared a crepe with some fun toppings. Everything we got was delicious. I really enjoyed hanging out in a matcha cafe in historic Uji, and I recommend anyone visiting Uji find a similar place to relax and refresh for a little while. Spending some time here was the perfect little pick-me-up before continuing our sight seeing.

    Our goodies from the cafe in historic Uji!

    I’ve enjoyed matcha many times, but drinking it in Uji felt like a special experience. It is clear that this city takes a tremendous amount of pride in being the matcha capital of the world. There are endless tea shops and matcha related treats and souvenirs to see while you visit. While you’re here, make sure you take some time to walk the streets and pop into some of the shops. The vibes here are traditional yet modern in a uniquely Japanese way.

    Byodo-in Temple

    Next, we went to Byodo-in Temple and museum, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. It’s even featured on the ten yen coin! Sadly, we arrived after ticket sales to visit the interior of the temple had closed, but we were still able to explore the grounds, admire the temple from the outside, and visit the museum. Just walking around outside was really nice. As you can see, Byodo-in Temple is quite a sight to behold!

    The museum was very interesting. There were restorations of old paintings, maps of Uji created during the Edo period, statues, and other artifacts. No photos were allowed, but the exhibits offered a wonderful glimpse into the history of Uji.

    And even without visiting the inside of the temple, I thought it was one of the most beautiful sights of our trip.

    A sunset stroll

    My favorite memories from Uji weren’t from visiting a major attraction! We left Byodo-in around sunset, wandered away from the more densely touristed areas, and explored some of the city’s side streets. Eventually, we found a bench overlooking the Uji river and a pedestrian bridge. Across the river, there were mountains visible in the distance, as well as a mix of both traditional and modern Japanese homes. The sky was pink, and the energy was quiet and reflective. I remember that during this part of our day in Uji, it hit me that I’m in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and in one of it’s most historically and culturally rich cities.

    Why Uji was one of my favorite day trips

    My day in Uji was packed with variety, which is one of the things that made it stand out the most. On the modern side, I got to experience conveyor belt sushi and the incredibly impressive and brand-new Nintendo Museum. On the more traditional side, I got to sip matcha in historic Uji, and I got to visit the stunning Byodo-in Temple. It was cool getting to see one of Japan’s newest major attractions before learning about centuries of history. And our evening spent at a slower pace and enjoying the sights and the sunset on the slower side streets made for a beautiful end to our day.

    If you’re visiting Kyoto on your upcoming trip to Japan, I strongly recommend a day trip to Uji. It’s an easy day trip, and it combines food, culture, and history with a little bit of Nintendo magic. I don’t think you’ll regret coming to this beautiful city.

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  • My Experience Dining at the Cinnamoroll Cafe in Tokyo

    My Experience Dining at the Cinnamoroll Cafe in Tokyo

    As anyone who knows me personally could tell you, I am a lifelong enjoyer of all things cute and “kawaii”, and Sanrio characters are no exception. Visiting the Cinnamoroll Cafe was a highlight of my trip to Japan last fall. Going into it, I knew the food would not be life-changing, but I knew that everything would be adorable. And boy, did it deliver on that front. The cafe was everything I hoped it would be.

    A bucket list stop for Sanrio fans

    As soon as we arrived, it was obvious that this cafe was designed with love, care, and attention to detail

    We visited the cafe on our second-to-last day in Japan. By that point in our trip, we had already experienced so much of what Japan has to offer: temples, shrines, theme parks, city skylines, shopping districts, and countless amazing meals. Even still, I was incredibly excited to come here. The Cinnamoroll Cafe doesn’t take reservations. We lined up nice and early so we didn’t have to wait very long, and we were seated almost immediately. I suggest lining up 20 or 30 minutes before it opens.

    Part of the fun of visiting Japan as a pop culture nerd and/or lover of kawaii characters is Japan’s commitment to the bit. Everyday experiences can be completely themed around widely beloved and absolutely adorable characters. And while character dining experiences exist in the United States, they are nothing like what you can find in Japan. And I say this as someone who spent a year in Orlando and visited Disney World many, many times! Japan just takes character dining to another level.

    Aesthetically speaking, the cafe did not disappoint. Everywhere you looked, there were cute Cinnamoroll details incorporated into the decor. Even the bathrooms were adorable and full of Cinnamoroll! It was an immersive experience, and it felt like stepping into a kawaii wonderland. Many of our fellow patrons were dressed for the occasion, with Cinnamoroll themed outfits, which added to the feeling that we were somewhere special, whimsical, and somewhere you could leave your worries and your adult responsibilities at the door.

    This was a cheesecake flavored milk. I really enjoyed it! ❤

    The food

    For lunch, Tim ordered Japanese curry and rice. I got the omelette rice. The food was good! And although Tim found it a little unsettling that his curry was bright blue, I thought it was a nice touch. We weren’t there to eat gourmet, we were there to smile! And the way these adorable meals were presented to us, with Cinnamoroll shaped rice for both, had me smiling and giddy with excitement the whole time we were there. The real star of the experience is the atmosphere itself. The food was tasty and enjoyable enough, and the presentation made it as memorable as any fancy omakase. We did hear the microwave beeping in the kitchen somewhat constantly, but we were able to find the humor in that. We knew going into this experience that we weren’t getting a Michelin star meal!

    Tim’s Japanese curry on top, and my omelette rice on the bottom. The curry featured chicken and potatoes, and my omelette rice had greens, cubes of ham, and peas.

    The joy of being a fan

    One of my favorite things about Japan is how it openly embraces fandom. Whether it’s Pokemon, Nintendo, anime, Studio Ghibli, or Sanrio, the culture feels so accepting of the idea of being a fan. It’s okay to enjoy “childish” things, and being loud and proud about your fandom(s) is welcomed with open arms. The Cinnamoroll Cafe embodies that spirit.

    Nobody was too cool to be here. Nobody here was aloof or detached. All of us were there to take photos, admire the decorations, and eat some cute food. It was so refreshing!

    Final thoughts

    I think the Cinnamoroll Cafe is worth a visit if you’re a Sanrio fan, a lover of cute things, or someone who is interested in themed dining experiences. The food was serviceable, the atmosphere was on point, and it turned out to be a uniquely Japanese experience that I am so glad I had the opportunity to indulge in. Even my husband, who is much less interested in cute characters and these kinds of themed experiences, found our lunch at the cafe to be a fun time. And he pointed out how well executed the concept was!

    Be sure to check out the gift shop if you come here! I was able to pick up a pin with artwork of the omelette rice I got. It’s a very nice little memento to remember the experience by!

    Thank you for reading, and be sure to let me know in the comments if this post made you want to visit the Cinnamoroll Cafe! And if you can’t fit this stop into your Tokyo itinerary, not to worry, as there is another location in Osaka as well!