In private, we enjoy ambiguous relationships without clear boundaries, but we know that in work, we need to be clear and decisive to make progress. When someone says, "I will respond promptly," it's important to ask, "Specifically, by when can you respond?" and if they are late, follow up with, "The deadline has passed..." The Meteorological Agency defines "a few days" as 4-5 days, so it's important to communicate specific deadlines. Similarly, "a while" refers to 2-3 days up to a week. Today's morning set at the coffee shop Earl is available for order from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. I reminisce about my first secret drink at the bar Metropolitan in this same building during high school as I place my order for the sandwich set. The salad with a Chinese-style dressing is surprisingly delicious, followed by a creamy egg sandwich with a fluffy texture. The ham sandwich has a good balance of spicy mustard, mayonnaise, butter, and cucumber. The iced coffee is refreshing with a pleasant aroma and served in a cool copper cup. The elegant interior with stained glass makes for a comfortable and inviting space. I look forward to visiting again for lunch or perhaps enjoying a cake during snack time. Though I can't specify the exact date and time of my next visit, as a Kansai person would say, "I'll go if I can."

This is a classical café located on the second floor of a brown building right outside the north exit of Ikebukuro Station. The interior is quite old-fashioned, which may bother some people. You are required to order at least one drink within 3 hours, and both coffee and juice cost over 700 yen each. It's not cheap at all. Many people nowadays prefer to go to a more modern and clean café, so the clientele here tends to be upscale.

I went around 11:30 on Sunday and was seated right away. There was no host to seat us, so we could choose where to sit ourselves. There were game tables available where you could play for 100 yen. One thing that bothered me was the cigarette smoke. Although there was a smoking area, the entrance was open, so the smoke drifted into the restaurant. Not recommended for those who dislike cigarette smoke. I wanted to order pasta, but they said it's only available from 12 o'clock, which was disappointing. The beef stew was delicious with very tender meat. I ordered the Showa-style pudding, which was quite heavy and thick. The service was quick in taking orders and bringing food, but it didn't feel very relaxed. The food tasted good, so I might try other dishes next time.

I knew there was a shop here for a long time, but I visited for the first time for breakfast. The atmosphere is nice, but the air conditioning is strong, so it might be tough for women depending on where they sit. The male staff were good. The young women were also good. The older woman left a bad impression, which made me less inclined to return. It's a shame.

Ikebukuro has many retro coffee shops, and one of the most famous ones is located just 30 seconds away from the north exit. The atmosphere is really Showa retro, and you can get coffee and pilaf for just 1,100 yen even at night! The pilaf, in particular, is delicious in a simple, old-fashioned way. However, because it's quite popular, whether you can get in right away is a matter of luck! It's a convenient place right in front of the station, but you may see some people lining up at times!

I ordered an iced coffee for 650 yen at a cafe right in front of Ikebukuro North Exit. It had a proper bitter taste. They offer a variety of set menus with coffee, sandwiches, pudding, etc. for around 1000 yen. The cafe is located near the bustling downtown and hotel district, and the interior is luxurious, attracting a diverse crowd of people of all ages and backgrounds. The music from a large music box plays in the background, creating a comfortable atmosphere. However, since there may be a wait to get a table, it's best to be mindful of not overstaying your welcome. Thank you for the meal.

After buying Chinese ingredients on my way back, I stopped by "Hakushaku" near Ikebukuro North Exit. It's a cafe where you won't find any conscious types working on their laptops, so it's a whole different world. Tonight, I had a lemon squash which had a standard taste with no complaints. Overall, the prices seem to have gone up compared to before, as the Napoli-tan I had last time was priced at 1100 yen as a set. The "Omurice" that was written as a cafe's specialty caught my attention for being the epitome of contradiction with its completely modern fluffy texture. Thank you for the meal.

I boarded the early morning high-speed bus from Ikebukuro to Narita Airport, listening to the cicadas' "song of impermanence." Before getting on the bus, I had a light breakfast and a smoke at a coffee shop I've been using since my student days. It has a nostalgic Showa retro vibe. Speaking of which, I recently visited an event at Seibu Ikebukuro called the "Ikebukuro, Toshima, Seibu Line Retro Department Store Exhibition." Did you know that until around the 1930s, this area around the west exit of Ikebukuro Station was filled with tin-roofed houses? The day before, I had a crazy overtime at work, so I almost fell asleep on the red velvet chair. I had to leave and head to the bus stop. Thank you for the meal. The breakfast I had was the Morning "C" Set x 2, which included premium cheese toast, LG G yogurt, a banana, and coffee or tea or milk (hot or cold). In addition to this, I will be going on my second trip this summer. I have had the opportunity to visit various countries since my teens, so sometimes I am asked if traveling is my hobby. However, I do not have the concept of a "hobby" within myself, so I struggle to answer in such situations. Therefore, I often borrow the words of Dazai at the beginning and say, "Because it's painful." Let's go and see.

I wanted to take a break and enjoy a delicious iced coffee after finishing my errands in Ikebukuro for the first time. It's a 2-minute walk from Ikebukuro North Exit, and you can see the sign right away from the exit. When I arrived at 2:30 PM, it was full. At this time, in this heat, in Ikebukuro... it's definitely popular. I waited as the second in line for 30 minutes. I was drawn to the nostalgic Showa atmosphere and the café menu. [Order] Classic pudding with ice coffee set for ¥980. The pudding was just the way I like it - not too sweet and firm! Highly recommended for those who like firm pudding! The iced coffee was also incredibly delicious! The young staff were kind and provided excellent service, making it a comfortable place to be. My tired body and mind, sweaty from walking all morning, were healed. Thank you. By the time I left at 3:40 PM, there were about 8 groups waiting in line on the stairs. It's truly a long-established place. The café menu also looks delicious! Thank you for the meal!

I watched a baseball game at the Belluna Dome and then stayed in Ikebukuro. For breakfast, I went to the coffee specialty shop called Hakushaku-san (established in 1976, a long-standing coffee shop in Ikebukuro that has been in business for 47 years already). It opens at 7:30 in the morning, which is great. When I arrived, there was already a line of people waiting for the shop to open. The interior of the shop is full of a sense of tradition with red velvet sofas and chairs. The decor and lighting are also very soothing. They offer a morning set, so I ordered the American set. The coffee was just how I like it, with a great acidity. The sandwiches were a standard egg sandwich and a ham sandwich, both in a convenient size to enjoy slowly. I left feeling full and satisfied. While Starbucks and Blue Bottle are nice, this atmosphere is more calming. I had a delicious and elegant time there.

Ikebukuro Station's Cream Soda Mix Sandwich was a fresh experience for me as I had never been to this side exit before. I arrived around 11 o'clock and there were a few empty seats, with a mix of people working and chatting inside. By lunchtime, there was a small line forming outside. The atmosphere inside the shop was nice, with a retro vibe that stood out. It wasn't too noisy, but not too quiet either, making it a good place to have a calm conversation.

I got off at Ikebukuro Station during a business trip transfer and was looking for breakfast. I found this place just before 9:00 with few customers. I sat at a table and looked at the menu. I felt like having a sandwich, so I ordered one. A coffee arrived first, and when I took a sip, I was surprised by its strong acidity. The sandwich arrived about 10 minutes after ordering. It had egg, cucumber, and ham. When I took a bite, I could taste the softness of the bread, the sweetness of the egg, the crunchiness of the cucumber, and the combination of ham and cucumber was delicious. I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in a retro atmosphere.

A long-established coffee shop near Ikebukuro Station North Exit. It's been so long since I last visited that it's beyond my memory, but the interior and exterior remain the same as they were back then. The furnishings have a lot of charm, and the table-integrated games are from before I was born, making them quite valuable now. I ordered the morning set, which includes cheese toast and coffee for 850 yen including tax. Due to multiple orders, it was served in about 15 minutes. The coffee has a flavor that brings out the acidity, and the cheese toast was delicious whether eaten as is or with honey. It was nice to have yogurt and bananas on the side. The clientele seemed diverse, with inbound tourists, middle-aged regulars, and young students all present. Ikebukuro sees a lot of turnover in its shops, but I hope this one stays here for a long time. Thank you for the meal.

I visited during my lunch break for iced coffee and omurice. It was almost full around 3pm. The omurice was fluffy with chicken rice, just like a nostalgic old-fashioned cafe. It was delicious when paired with the iced coffee. ✨

The morning hours until 2pm are long and convenient. When I went, there were a wide range of people using the restaurant, from Chinese people to elderly individuals and couples, creating a lively atmosphere. I was worried about the smoking area, but I sat at a table far away from it, so it was not a problem at all! I would like to come back again.

I have visited many times, but this was my first time trying the pudding! The atmosphere of the retro Showa era shop was perfect, and the firm pudding was amazing. It was also my first time sitting at a seat for arcade games, but I didn't understand the rules of mahjong... Next time, I want to have a pudding rematch at a seat for an Invader game!

I've been going to Renoir a lot lately, but when I visited after a long time, it was still good. The morning set for 690 yen has a Showa-era extravagance in its interior. The dandy waiter adds to the charm. The music box-like BGM was a bit loud though. The sandwiches used to be bigger in the past, but the ambiance inside the crowded but quiet restaurant was nice. It was a good experience. While Meda and Noir are also good, they can be quite lively.

Tuna pizza toast is very soft and fluffy. The toast is quite soft! It is loaded with tuna, pizza sauce, and cheese. The pizza sauce has a strong presence, while the tuna is subtly present. The generous amount of cheese adds to the satisfaction. The atmosphere is also great.

The portions are generous, so the morning set is available until 2:00 pm. I wanted to have a light lunch, so this was perfect. I had a sandwich, coffee, and salad. The sandwich was a classic egg sandwich and cheap ham with a strong mustard mayonnaise. That's how ham should be. The coffee could have been stronger, but it's cheap so it's okay. It's convenient that the store is open late at night too. The cakes also look like they have generous portions, so I might come back to try them. But I need to be careful not to get lost in Ikebukuro, as I'm not good with directions.

Visited on February 25, 2023 at 5:30 PM. The restaurant was fully packed, but there was no one waiting, so we waited for a seat to open up at the front. After about 10 minutes, we were seated. That day, I was with three friends, and in the busy area of Ikebukuro, it was very much appreciated to find a café where we could get in within 10 minutes. I ordered an iced coffee and a double cheesecake. The double cheesecake had a good amount of volume, but it was light enough to eat easily. The café had a wide variety of menu items unique to a café, making it a place I would like to visit again.

I came back again. The sandwiches here are still delicious with soft and chewy bread. The fillings inside are of course tasty too. They open early in the morning so it's great for breakfast. I want to try their spaghetti or stew next time. Thank you for the delicious food as always. They also have a smoking area.