Breakfast @ Coffee Oujyou, Ueno, Taito, Tokyo

 

There is nothing quite like having a good morning coffee in a rustic coffee shop. There is something comforting about it, being transported back in time and having a nice sip, getting ready for the day as you have your breakfast. One such great breakfast spot is Coffee Oujyou 珈琲王城.

Charcoal? Didn't see that coming!

Literally translated as coffee's imperial palace, this humble establishment does treat its coffee like a member of royalty. And I was pretty lucky to have breakfast and a sit down here during one of my visits to Tokyo. Their morning set quite standard, consisting of a cup of coffee, a boiled egg, and a thick piece of toast. However, for a slight premium, you can have it toasted under a charcoal fire. Now that is really rustic. 

Fit for a king!

It was very early in the morning and as such, my breakfast came right away. The first thing that caught my eye was, of course, that brick of a toast. It was a massive piece, which was charred to perfection and had a buttery surface. A really dark cup of coffee and a pale boiled egg came suit. 

Bold

The coffee was the way I liked it. It has deep and dark overtones and had a slight peaty aftertaste. It was crisp and was a great pick me up for the morning. It was slightly bitter and sweet like all good coffee should taste. Blood of angels? Probably not but it tasted awesome. 

What thickness!

The toast of course came soon after. Despite looking like a brick, it was soft and fluffy to the touch. It had such airy texture, that it felt like cotton candy at times, but with more resilience. The toasted bits were crunchy and added a dimension of texture. the buttery sides were slightly greasy and salty. Well, like any decent toast should. Despite being so simple, it was very satisfying. Is it because it was under a charcoal flame? Who knows? But it definitely tasted smokier than the standard toaster. 

Shiny!

The egg was well, just a standard boiled egg. But it did add some protein to the overall meal and was quite filling. Nothing to shout about but I cannot complain either. It was shiny though. 

Beautiful interior

This was a satisfying breakfast. Not bad for 700 yen. Some people may grumble for having such a price on such basic things. But trust me, the basics done well are worth any price. And the experience of coming to this place is worth the price alone. It felt like time has frozen and you are in a period drama. 

Classic morning vibes.

So if you would like to try some classic rustic breakfast or cannot afford the price of a Delorean, then I cannot recommend Coffee Oujyou enough. They do have a vast menu for their lunch service. So probably a revisit is necessary for that juncture. In the meantime, if you would like to drop by, the address is as follows:

6 Chome-8-15 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005