Cafe Frosch

For a lunch built around bread, the koji bread plate at Cafe Frosch stands out. It is designed to showcase bread made with rice koji and left to mature slowly. The menu lists it as limited to 15 servings per day, at 1,480 yen. Another description pairs long-matured stone-oven koji bread with seasonal dishes and a mini dessert. The food changes from day to day, making this a lunch to look forward to for both the bread and whatever accompanies it.

One diner who ordered the koji bread plate praised it as a lunch with plenty of vegetables. On that visit, the plate included grilled pork belly with herbs and roasted aubergine dip, among other dishes, in a spread that brought Greek cooking to mind. It is one example of the seasonal combinations served with the bread, and a reminder that the day's selection brings colour to the meal as well.

If you would rather have a more substantial meal than bread, the tender braised pork rice bowl is another option. The menu says it comes with miso soup, and coffee or tea can be added after the meal. One diner singled out how meltingly tender the pork belly was, while another also noted enjoying the braised pork bowl. It is worth keeping in mind for anyone seeking a rice-based meal.

For a lighter way to enjoy the bread, the menu includes a set of 2 kinds of koji bread with the soup of the day, as well as a small set where the soup can be swapped for salad. Another set pairs 3 kinds of koji bread with yoghurt, jam and cream cheese. Add coffee or tea for a leisurely bread break rather than a full meal. Koji bread sandwiches are also offered in a changing daily selection, so it may be worth asking what is available when you visit.

For something sweet, several kinds of additive-free homemade cake are made with local free-range eggs, fresh cream and butter. The menu also offers a 150-yen discount when cake is ordered with a drink. Diners have also mentioned ordering a latte with mint syrup or a cappuccino, as well as ice cream topped with caramelised banana and candied walnuts—signs that there is plenty to enjoy after the meal, too.

Cafe Frosch is a café in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto. Seating includes tatami, sofas, a counter and tables, and one visitor reported being able to choose where to sit. Whether you are after a koji bread lunch or a coffee and cake break, there are options to suit what you feel like eating.