Cafe Ikanika

Surinagashi is a potage-style soup made with vegetables gently steamed and simmered, then combined with dashi and milk. At CAFE IKANIKA PRIVE, one option is to enjoy it with bread. The boule is made with domestic wheat and kinako, topped with amaranth and steamed in a bamboo steamer. It comes with a salad, making it a light choice for lunch. Another diner said they had ordered the combination of surinagashi made with the vegetables of the day and takikomi rice repeatedly. The vegetables in the soup change, so there is something different to look forward to each day.

For a more substantial meal, the rice set comes in two sizes. The light set includes takikomi rice, miso soup and small side dishes; the full set has more side dishes and also includes a mini serving of surinagashi. One diner who tried a set meal with takikomi rice cooked with horse mackerel and ginger remarked that the fish’s flavour stood out more than its texture. The meal also included furofuki daikon and a mild, pink-hued surinagashi. The set changes from day to day. The curry, meanwhile, combines minced meat and seasonal vegetables and is served with rice mixed with multigrain rice. One diner described it as rich, with plenty of root vegetables, making it an option for a different kind of rice dish.

For dessert, choose from baked cheesecake, gâteau au chocolat and banana cake. You can order half portions of 1 varieties, or try the “half and half” plate, which pairs half portions of 2 kinds of cake—handy if you cannot settle on just one. Coffee is the house’s original blend, prepared by hand-drip. The tea selection features leaves chosen by Aomori’s Konohato Tea Shop, and is available by the cup or pot. One diner enjoyed the half portion of cheesecake with coffee, a pairing well suited to lingering after a meal.

The dining room has art and books, with music playing in the background. Diners have described enjoying a quiet meal or coffee on their own. Dogs are allowed indoors, too, so it is an option for a café stop with your dog. Payment is cash only. For a meal, you can start with the vegetable surinagashi and choose bread or rice, then round things off with cake or tea.