Sirotae Cake Shop, Akasaka

When I first came to Tokyo, a good slice of cheesecake seemed impossible to find. But thanks to a Japanese friend who brought Sirotae’s show-stopping cheesecake to a dinner party, my search is over. Just a three-minute walk from the Akasaka-Mitsuke train station, Sirotae cake shop is jam packed every day with locals queuing up for a little slice of cheesecake heaven.

Sirotae is a long-established cake shop with a charm unique to its surroundings in Akasaka. The shop is decorated with dark mahogany wood, glass, and doors detailed with brass engraved handles. The old world facets and British Colonial style make this building stand out amidst the ramen noodle houses and discount clothing shops of the area.

My mother, who was in town for a visit, and I finally settled into our seats after waiting about 20 minutes. The dark wood and antique accouterments provided a cozy feel in the café room. The room was packed with other teatime diners enjoying house baked sweets and conversation.

Among many delectable pastries, cakes, and cookies available at Sirotae, the cheesecake is clearly the fan favorite. It is being sold and packaged for patrons faster than the staff can restock the shelves. The shop makes 500 slices of the rare cheesecake daily, and it’s a fair assumption that it never goes to waste—there are even occasions when it sells out before the day is half over.

Knowing that this is Sirotae’s specialty, we ordered two slices of the cheesecake, along with a pot of first flush Ceylon Asaam tea to accompany it. We bit into the crumbly and buttery crust that held up a thick and tall layer of sweet, rich cheese. The cake is garnished with slivers of fresh pistachio. The slices are small, but so rich, creamy and delicious that they do a far better job of satisfying hungry customers than a huge portion of a lesser quality cake would.

I plan to go back to Sirotae to try other desserts like the cream puff, which is also very popular. It will, however, be a struggle to pass up another slice of the mouthwatering cheesecake.

The Deets

Address: 4-1-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Tel: 03-3586-9039

Open: Mon-Sat, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.