“Café Tricolore” is a well-known, historic Japanese kissaten (traditional coffee shop) founded in Ginza in 1936. This time, I visited their Akihabara branch and ordered their “Cheese Tart.”
About Café Tricolore
Beyond its flagship location in Ginza, Café Tricolore operates branches across various regions, including Akihabara, Ueno, Futako-Tamagawa, Omiya, and Kawagoe.
The menu is filled with classic kissaten staples such as drip coffee, cafe lattes, handmade puddings, apple pies, and sandwiches. Interestingly, because I visited the Akihabara branch, they even served udon noodles—likely due to the high volume of international tourists visiting the area.
For this visit, I ordered the Cheese Tart. It costs 780 yen for a single item, or 1,260 yen as a drink set. For an extra 150 yen, you can also add vanilla ice cream or chocolate sauce as a topping.
A Cheese Tart with a Visibly Silky, Smooth Texture
Here is the actual cake.
A crisp tart shell lines the bottom and edges. This style of pastry is also frequently sold under the name “cheesecake.”
The cheese filling has a delicate pale cream color, suggesting it was slowly baked at a gentle, low temperature.
The plate is also garnished with whipped cream and fresh mint.
Looking at the cross-section, you can see virtually no air bubbles or crumbly texture—just a dense, velvety smoothness.
Subtle Acidity, Rich Yet Remarkably Light
Taking a bite, the texture is just as smooth and silky as it appears. It has a rich, dense consistency that invites you to savor it slowly as it melts over your tongue. In addition, the tart crust is crumbly and buttery, providing a delightful textural contrast between the velvety cheese filling and the crisp shell.
As for the flavor, a bold, creamy cream cheese taste spreads generously across the palate. While definitely rich, the sweetness remains mild and gentle, giving it a very creamy, balanced impression.
There is also a pleasant hint of acidity in the aftertaste. While deeply satisfying and full of flavor, it is never cloying or heavy. The recipe seems meticulously calibrated. It’s hard to imagine any cheesecake lover disliking this—it is an exceptionally well-crafted cheesecake.
Product Details
- Shop: Café Tricolore (Visited the Akihabara branch)
- Item: Cheese Tart
- Price: 780 yen (tax included)
■ This article is a translation of a post originally written in Japanese (Original Article).