Today, I had the perfect opportunity to make time on a weekday morning during the year-end and New Year holidays. I started by having breakfast in Kanda and then traveled to Narita East in Suginami to visit "SONKA" to buy some bread. "SONKA" is a popular bakery specializing in French bread, founded in 2014. I had been curious about this place for a while as I had heard good things about it. However, due to a lack of motivation for bread and its closure on Sundays, I hadn't visited until now. Lately, my interest in bread has increased, especially since I got hooked on sandwiches. So, I decided to use this year-end holiday to finally check it out! Exiting from the New Koenji Station's Exit 1, I turned right and then immediately right again down the next street. After turning right at the end of the road, I kept going straight and found it on the left-hand side. The shop has a pastel-orange exterior with a charming Western atmosphere. Inside, although I think they have seating for dining in, it seemed like they weren't offering it today. The seats at the counter and tables looked like they were mostly for waiting. For my order, I was aiming for the sandwiches. I hesitated for a bit but ended up choosing the BLT (550 yen) and the red bean butter (450 yen). First, I tried the BLT, and it was delicious! The baguette had a firm texture with a crunchy exterior, providing a satisfying chewiness. As I chewed, the strong aroma of wheat and pleasant sweetness spread in my mouth. The thinly sliced bacon, lightly crisped around the edges, along with the cut cherry tomatoes and lettuce, blended well with the robust baguette, making for a delightful combination! The red bean butter sandwich was generously filled with chunky red bean paste. The subtle sweetness combined with the slightly salty butter complemented the hearty flavor of the baguette perfectly. While I wondered if there might be other choices that would suit this baguette better, I found that the bread itself, with its strong aroma of wheat, was more than satisfying. Although it's a bit of a challenge for me to visit this place personally, I still feel like trying out other items on their menu. I'll definitely try to find the right timing to visit again!

I sought delicious bread and visited this bakery in Minamiasagaya as part of my quest for the top 100 bakeries. It's a bit of a walk from the station, but worth it. I waited in line for about 15 minutes after it opened and finally got in! I tried the ham and cream cheese sandwich. The bread is delicious! I would love to visit again if I have the chance.

I finally got to visit the shop that I've always been curious about whenever I pass by Gokaichi Kaido. It was around 11 a.m. on a weekday when I visited. There was one person waiting inside, and after I entered, more customers started coming in one by one. I noticed that there's often a long line outside on Saturdays. The menu has seven items. I hesitated a bit but ended up ordering the BLT. Since this shop specializes in French bread, the crust was crispy while the inside was chewy. It paired really well with the ingredients and tasted delicious. I'm curious about the other menu items too. I'd like to visit again. It's a bit far from the station, so I took a bus from Nakano or Kichijoji. There's also a coin parking nearby.

I came to buy a dinner baguette at a French bread specialty store. There are two types: regular and whole wheat, both for 250 yen! If you order a sandwich, they will make it for you there. I got one with peach ham and Gouda cheese for 550 yen and anko butter for 450 yen. I had it at home, and it was surprisingly delicious. Firstly, peach ham and Gouda cheese go perfectly with the bread. The anko butter is delicious, of course, but because the butter is strong, it overwhelms the goodness of the bread. I felt it was a waste, but it's still delicious. French bread is recommended to eat toasted as it is. It's really delicious. I also tried garlic toast, but it's a waste. It's delicious, but it becomes too garlicky. It's recommended to eat it plain or dip it in soup. I'd like to go buy it again.

It's a bit inconvenient to access as it's about a 15-minute walk from both Minami Asagaya and Asagaya stations. I came back because last time they were sold out of bread. They mainly sell French bread with various types available. The sandwiches seem to be popular, so I'd like to try them someday!

Located in Minami Asagaya, this bakery specializes in French bread. During my visit, they only had French bread for sale. I ordered a takeaway sandwich with prosciutto and cream cheese, which they made fresh upon ordering. I enjoyed it at a nearby park. The French bread had a rich aroma of wheat that filled my mouth. The addition of the salty taste of the prosciutto and the tangy richness of the cream cheese made it exquisite! I could eat this all day. It was a bakery that truly showcased a dedication to French bread.

A bakery located a 5-minute walk from home. Closed on Tuesdays and Sundays, open from 9:30 to 13:00 (closes when sold out, which is often the case). Finally managed to visit and tried their French bread priced at 250 yen per loaf. It was amazing - chewy inside, crispy outside, with a rich wheat aroma and flavor unlike any other French bread I've had. They also offer sandwiches, and their grape bread with lots of grapes is incredibly satisfying and delicious. I love the quiet atmosphere in the residential area, with jazz playing in the background, and I adore the vibe of the lovely couple running the place (I assume). Definitely becoming a regular here.

I went to a highly-rated restaurant on Tabelog to see if it was really delicious. [Before entering] I arrived around 10:00 on a weekday and was able to enter right away. [Inside the restaurant] There were only about five counter seats. However, I wasn't sure if dining in was available. There were various options lined up, but I was told that the sandwiches are made to order. [Ordering] Anko Butter: ¥450 BLT: ¥550 French Bread: ¥250 [Appearance/Taste] I bought popular sandwiches and their boasted French bread. The anko butter had plenty of anko and generous butter, very substantial in volume, and consistently delicious. The BLT had a noticeable tomato flavor and was surprisingly refreshing. It also had quite good quality. The French bread was firm on the outside and soft inside. We enjoyed it together as a family. [Overall impression] It feels like a French bread specialty shop, so those who like dense bread will probably enjoy it. The owner and his wife (?) provided very humble service, explaining the ordering process carefully. Since the sandwiches have a shelf life of about 30 minutes and are a bit challenging, I'll visit again when I'm nearby. Thank you for the meal.

"I had a BLT sandwich made with a French baguette that had 'All of me now' written on it. The shop's sign reads 'French bread, jam, and jazz.' Inside, there are large speakers, nostalgic cassette tapes, and books on display. SONKA's French bread integrates perfectly with the sandwich fillings, enhancing its deliciousness. The crunchy French bread is filled with fresh cherry tomatoes, lettuce, bacon cooked on the spot, and grain mustard, all blending together in the mouth. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about SONKA."

I had been curious about this shop since passing by in the morning, and I had done some research on it. Although it's a place I've been interested in, the items tend to sell out quickly, so I haven't been able to buy anything until today. I passed by before the opening, and I made it in time. I couldn't get the sandwich I wanted as it was sold out for the third time, but I purchased sweet and plain ones. I brought them home right away and enjoyed them as I love bread! The taste has a slight acidity, and you can clearly sense the unique aroma of this particular bakery.

Visited GW Valley on a Monday around 10:30 a.m. and got takeaway: 2 BLTs and a baguette. It's a popular spot around here, but my first time. The place is small, with just a counter seating about 5 people. The baguette had a delightful aroma and rich flavor. The owner seemed sincere, which was nice.

This is a bakery located a 15-minute walk from Minami Asagaya. They mainly sell crusty baguettes, some with nuts mixed in or flavored with orange. When you order a BLT, they bake the bread fresh and get creative with various types of cherry tomatoes. The BLT is incredibly delicious, perhaps even overshadowing their chocolate croissant, which was unexpectedly delightful too. I'm eager to try their liver paste next time on a Saturday.

Value lining up since the morning, this renowned bakery in Asagaya offers baguette sandwiches made to order on the spot, with a surprising 30-minute shelf life! The owner's handmade baguettes, crafted with meticulous attention to ingredients, are a must-try. It's recommended to grab one for takeout and enjoy it by the nearby Zenpukuji River. ✔︎ Anko (sweet red bean paste) butter sandwich ✔︎ Peach ham and gouda cheese sandwich ✔︎ Liver pâté open sandwich ✔︎ Coffee ==================== #SONKA (#ソンカ) ⏰ Opening hours: 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM (Sandwiches available from 10:00 AM) *May close early if bread sells out. *Closed on Sundays and Tuesdays. ==================== ‍♀️Check out other nearby shops with these tags: ✈︎ #CafeJourneySuginami #CafeJourneyAsagaya #TokyoCafe #SuginamiCafe #AsagayaCafe #ChuoLineCafe #TokyoSweets #SuginamiSweets #AsagayaSweets #ChuoLineSweets #TokyoBread #SuginamiBread #AsagayaBread #ChuoLineBread #MorningBread #SuginamiMorning #AsagayaMorning #Breadstagram #BreadHunt #BreadDate #BaguetteSandwich #OpenSandwich #AnkoButterSandwich #FrenchBread #asagaya

I arrived a bit early at a somewhat hard-to-reach place known for its renowned bakery. I got the information that they start selling sandwiches at 10:00. I took a bus and arrived just before 10:00. There were several groups already in line. I bought anko (sweet red bean paste) butter, raisin France, and regular French bread. I enjoyed them in a nearby green park. The baguette had a crispy crust, a soft interior, and a wonderful flavor of wheat with a hint of fermented acidity. The combination of sweet red bean paste and butter was delightful! I bought a 1/3-cut of raisin France, and it was dense and surprisingly heavy, incredibly delicious. Indeed, the taste was so exquisite that it makes me want to visit again.

SONKA, a renowned bakery specializing in bucket sandwiches, is located a 12-minute walk from Minami-Asagaya Station on the Marunouchi Line, along Gokichi-dori Avenue. Heading south from the station, following the river and turning left when you reach Gokichi-dori Avenue, you'll find it nestled in a residential area. I managed to find it without relying on Google Maps. I visited at 11:30 am on a weekday, and upon arrival, there was no one inside except for one customer. Currently, they are only offering bucket sandwiches as their café section is closed, but you can still purchase their signature buckets separately. The menu, shown in image 6, is prepared upon ordering. I ordered the An Butter (450 yen) and Baguette Chocolat (450 yen), totaling 900 yen. After placing the order, a lady sliced the bucket and prepared the sandwiches. The An Butter sandwich had red bean paste and butter spread on both sides of the bucket, neatly packed in a bag (as shown in image 2). It offered a delightful harmony of sweetness from the red bean paste, saltiness from the butter, and the aroma of the bucket's wheat. As for the Baguette Chocolat, it contained three thick slices of chocolate inside the cut bucket. The crunchy texture of the chocolate combined well with the bucket, making it easier to appreciate the deliciousness of the bread. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. Next time, I plan to try their BLT or prosciutto sandwiches while enjoying the cherry blossoms along the riverbank when the weather warms up. Note that they close when the buckets are sold out, so it's best to visit early. For those with a poor sense of direction, using smartphone navigation or taking a bus between Nakano and Kichijoji stations is recommended. On my way back to the station, I followed the same route I took earlier and reached the station in 10 minutes.

When going for udon in the Kōdaira area from my home, I decided to take a side street from before Shin-Kōenji because Ome Highway has heavy traffic and lots of signals, which is inconvenient. While going along that road, I noticed a wonderful aroma in the morning and discovered a shop. But it was closed on my way back, so I kept encountering it without being able to stop. After several times, I looked it up and guess what! It turned out to be a popular bakery (laughs). Despite passing by many times, I couldn't stop by on my way back, so this time I went to the shop to buy sandwiches! I arrived at 11:16 on that day. There was one person waiting to pay inside the shop. Shortly after, I was seated and ordered a BLT (550 yen) and a peach ham and Gouda cheese sandwich (550 yen). Payment is cash only! The sandwiches were almost sold out by 11:20, but I managed to buy them just in time. It seems that items like bread are baked around 12:30, so if you want to buy them for sure, it's better to come around opening time. The order was ready in about 5 minutes. Let's go home and eat now. Starting with the BLT! I was surprised by the redness of the tomato visible from the cross-section. They seem to be using good stuff. When I take a bite, I'm surprised by the aroma of the wheat. And the crispness of the mustard and lettuce, the juiciness, and the flavor of the bacon are all in excellent balance. Rather than saying it's well-balanced, each component builds up the taste of the sandwich firmly and it comes together nicely. After eating this, I thought I'd like to have just the French bread alone. If there are people who can't eat the sandwich because they bought bread, I'd like to refrain from that, but I'd like to try buying a normal loaf of bread. And another type of bread. This one also has a solid bread taste, and on top of that, there's the mellowness and aroma of the Gouda cheese, and the taste of the ham, so what I felt was a taste that stands out because the bread is good. If you bake it a bit more so that the Gouda cheese melts, naturally, it starts with the aroma of the Gouda cheese. As we go along, the saltiness of the ham comes in, and the sweetness of the baguette catches it, giving it a wheat aroma, which brings another kind of enjoyment. Since I pass by frequently, next time I want to buy a different type of bread and try them all for now!

The nearest station is a 15-minute walk away. It's one of Tokyo's top 100 restaurants, but it's relatively difficult to reach, has short opening hours, and mainly offers French bread. Despite all that, there's always a long line – a testament to its excellence. Getting there is a bit of a hassle due to its location (^_^;) Finally, I made it there, taking a bus from Nakano Station. It's a 1-2 minute walk from the bus stop. The shop opens at 9:30, but sandwiches are only sold from 10:00. I arrived just after 10:00, and there were already 4-5 groups waiting outside. The interior has limited entry, and there's no eat-in option. After waiting for about 15 minutes in the cold, I finally got inside. They make the sandwiches after taking orders, so it takes some time to purchase. The line moves slowly. It's recommended to visit during pleasant weather in spring or fall, or be well-prepared for hot or cold weather. There are rumors that they sell out by early afternoon, so it's best to go early. [What I ate] - Baguette Chocolat ¥450 - Yakisoba French Liver Pâté Tartine ¥1400 I usually love soft bread, not so much French bread. But this... it's delicious, unbelievably delicious. It's incredibly simple. Whether it's yakisoba, chocolate, or liver pâté – none of them are particularly rare, right? But what is this? It's overwhelmingly different. Incredibly delicious. The French bread, with a strong taste of wheat, is delicious on its own. The fillings are not only tasty individually, but the combination makes it more than 100 points. I understand why it gathers so many people in this location. I thought, "I'll go once," but I take that back. I want to go again. I want to go soon. I want to go regularly. Thank you for the delicious bread (*´ω`*) It was a feast!

Visited one of the top 100 bakeries in Tokyo as per the 2022 selection. Arrived a little past 11:30 am on a weekday to find the shop seemingly closed. However, upon opening the door, it was indeed open. There wasn't a wide selection of bread displayed, which made me slightly anxious, but I was relieved to see they were still open. The menu on the blackboard listed five items available at this hour. Orders were handmade one by one, so it took some time. I took a seat at the counter and waited for my order to be ready. There was no queue. The options were: Ham and Cheese (¥550 including tax) and Anko Butter (¥450 including tax). Both were baguettes with a satisfyingly firm texture, offering a robust flavor with each bite. I particularly love a bakery that serves delicious baguettes. They were delicious on their own, but the Ham and Cheese was simple yet tasty, while the Anko Butter had a modest sweetness with plenty of red bean paste generously stuffed inside, giving it a hearty appearance.

This Christmas Eve, I went to Minami-Asagaya. Since I hadn't been to "SONKA" before, I decided to try "Tonkatsu Narusou," and it turned out to be a wonderful Christmas Eve. We arrived around 9:45, about 15 minutes after opening, with 4 groups ahead and 7 groups behind us. There were about 5 groups waiting when we left. We aimed for 9:45 arrival to avoid the busiest opening time. We were worried about missing out on sandwiches if we arrived too early, so we chose this time. It was a great success! There were always about 7-8 people waiting in line. I thought there would be more, but it was not too bad. We waited for about 10 minutes and entered around 9:55. Luckily, we were able to order sandwiches. It's unclear if you can order right after opening. We sat on the chairs inside while waiting for our order. Prices include tax. It's a face-to-face ordering system with 2 operators, with one group entering at a time. We ordered: - Parma ham and cream cheese (¥500) - Ham and cheese (¥550) - 4 cheese (¥550) - An butter (¥450) - Baguette chocolate (¥450) - Salt nut France (¥190) ×2 - French bread (¥250) There weren't many types of bread available. The sandwich lineup on Saturdays is slightly different from weekdays. There were no BLT or hot dogs. Liver pate is only available on Saturdays. We paid in cash at the register with receipts but no detailed breakdown. We were instructed to eat the sandwiches within an hour. We ate them in the evening after buying them and having lunch, so apologies for not scoring the sandwiches this time. Impressions: All sandwiches were made with French bread. The French bread was excellent! It goes well with everything! My favorite sandwiches were the An butter and Salt nut France. They were delicious! The small round bread with plenty of nuts and occasional salt had a great aroma and a nice crispy texture. The French bread "This is my everything now" was also good, especially when lightly toasted. The crusty end was the best part. The strong yet gentle flavor of the French bread was delicious. They gave us two chocolates, saying "Merry Christmas, please have some chocolate." It was delightful. Thank you for the meal.

During a break from work today, I went shopping at a bakery known for its delicious baguettes. Initially planning to buy a baguette sandwich to eat back at the office, I changed my mind when I learned they make the sandwiches to order. So, I decided to dine in, accompanied by an iced coffee (380 yen). The atmosphere was calm with jazz playing in the background. I opted for the ham and cream cheese sandwich (500 yen), said to be their bestseller, and a hot dog (500 yen). The hot dog, despite being nestled in a soft bun, was a luxurious treat with its freshly made warmth radiating. The sausage was incredibly tasty, complemented perfectly by the vegetables and mustard, but what truly stood out was the baguette—crispy on the outside, yet moist and chewy inside, with a wonderful aroma of wheat. While the ham and cream cheese sandwich was also exceptional, the warm hot dog highlighted the aroma of wheat even more, with a distinct sweetness coming through.

"SONKA" is a small, specialized bakery known for its baguettes. Located a bit of a walk from the station, its uniquely Japanese appearance captivates passersby. The shop offers baguettes and hard bread with fruit, among other items. They open at 9:30 AM, but sandwiches are only available from 10:00 AM. On this visit, I purchased the baguette for 250 yen. I reheated it at home and was delighted. The crust was crispy without being too hard, and the taste was simple yet delicious. It's a classic flavor that goes well with anything.