Are you in the mood for something new and exciting to try out?
Look no further than Takenaka’s new Onigiri Cafe, which is located at COHO Commissary and is the first of its kind in Vancouver.
Who is Takenaka?
Takenaka is a Japanese food truck that first started 3 years ago. It was created to introduce delicious Bento Boxes on the go by Chef & Owner Shogo Takenaka and Sous-chef Daiki Ishikawa.
These chefs are part of the Tamaru Shoten Group, which is behind popular award-winning Japanese izakayas and restaurants like Kingyo, Raisu, Suika, and Rajio. So if you’re a fan of these spots, you can expect quality food and service at the onigiri cafe as well.
The team behind Takenaka told Noms Magazine that they opened the Onigiri Cafe as a way to introduce more people to the traditional Japanese snack (onigiri).
For those who are unfamiliar with onigiri, it is a traditional Japanese snack made from seasoned rice, which can be filled with any number of delicious ingredients.
They had previously been providing only takeout services at their food truck and at COHO commissary kitchen, but when the opportunity arose to take over the COHO Coffee space, they seized it so that they could start a dine-in service and expand their business even further.
Their relationship with the COHO commissary kitchen dates back 3 years, making it an ideal location for the cafe.
What is offered at the onigiri cafe?
At Takenaka’s onigiri cafe, the main draw is obviously their onigiri. You have the option to have your onigiri plain or upgrade them to get them filled – there are over two dozen fillings to choose from!
Whether you fancy something simple like salmon mayo or honey plum or a filling more high-end like uni, salted egg yolk, or grilled salmon and ikura, we know that you’ll find several that you’ll want to get.
Just know that the fancier the ingredient is, the more expensive it will be.
The even better news is that all their onigiris are twice the size than what you’d find at say T&T Supermarket – they’re plump and lightly salted. Two of these bad boys here is honestly filling enough for lunch!
When you visit Takenaka’s Onigiri Cafe, you can enjoy both breakfast and lunch service.
The lunch set is especially popular, as it comes with a classic onigiri (no filling), a main dish, salad, side, and miso soup – all for just $21. We saw 90% of tables ordering the lunch set at both times we were there.
During the soft launch, you were there were 3 options for the main dish. But the option to choose has been removed since the grand opening.
We were informed that instead, the main dish will be the same for everyone who orders the lunch set, but it will change from time to time so expect something the next time you visit!
At the cafe, you’ll also find delicious desserts like Japanese cheesecake or matcha panna cotta available as well as drinks such as matcha latte, hojicha latte and specialty coffee. The matcha and hojicha were sourced from Kitsilano’s O5 tea.
Take a peek at the full menu below:
The interior design is simple and spacious with around 15 seats. Both times we went during the prime lunch period, there was a 15-minute wait for a table so get there early before the rush kicks in!
Right by the entrance you’ll also see a freezer with Takenaka’s frozen ramen available for purchase. These are quick and easy pre-packaged ramen that you just heat up and get stellar quality noodles to enjoy.
Finally, the team told us that they are looking to extend their hours to 7 PM and offer Uber Eats delivery in the near future so keep an eye out for updates!
Whether you’re looking for breakfast or lunch, this could be just the place to try out something new. So why not give it a go?
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Address: 1370 E Georgia St, Vancouver, BC