01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
At Saryo Zen Cafe, grilling your own mitarashi dango and chatting as you gaze out at the garden make the wait for sweets part of the experience. One customer reportedly spent around 30 minutes grilling dango, using up all the solid fuel, and liked the accompanying sansho kombu so much that they took some home.
There is a good range of teas to choose from: matcha whisked with water heated in an iron kettle; hojicha, with the fragrance of roasted tea leaves; and Uji sencha, with its refreshing finish. For something sweet, try freshly made warabi mochi made with hon-warabiko (bracken starch), or seasonal cream anmitsu served with fruit. The “Zen” ice cream is another option, with a choice of 2 flavours: matcha, hojicha or vanilla.
One diner who tried a seasonal set enjoyed being able to sample several things in smaller portions. Another review describes a peaceful visit with garden views. Seating is limited, however, so allow yourself plenty of time if you hope to linger.
