大阪めんま
Located along the Shima Sunset Road in Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is the "Itoshima LONDONBUS CAFE," a cafe renovated from a bus born in 1950. The cafe opened in October 2014. The bus used for the cafe is an authentic bus that actually ran in England, and on the second floor inside, you can enjoy gelato and hot dogs while overlooking the sea. Itoshima is known for its picturesque spots and trendy shops, and this cafe is often featured as one of its representative establishments. I was particularly interested in trying their gelato, so I decided to visit for a sweet treat after lunch. I visited the cafe on a Friday afternoon around 1:30 pm. Besides the bus, there are also terrace seats available, offering beautiful views, although it was quite cloudy and dark on the day of my visit. I placed my order, paid, and received my items at the adjacent shop before moving to the bus, where a sign indicated that only up to 9 people could enter. Since there were only two of us at the time, we decided to enjoy our treats inside the bus. The gelato menu boasts over 40 flavors annually, but on the day of my visit, there were 10 flavors available. A single scoop costs 500 yen, while a double scoop costs 550 yen, with an additional 50 yen for premium flavors. I opted for a double scoop of "Pine Mix" and "Vanilla," and another double scoop of "Raspberry & Apricot" and "Lemon Milk." The Vanilla had a slightly brownish color and a rich, flavorful taste of vanilla. The Pine Mix had a fruity and tropical flavor with a hint of acidity and some fruit pulp mixed in. The Lemon Milk was light and creamy, with a gentle citrusy flavor. The Raspberry & Apricot was intensely sweet and sour, exceeding my expectations. My preference ranking from top to bottom was Vanilla, Pine Mix, Raspberry & Apricot, and Lemon Milk. Across the street, there was a trendy vintage clothing store that seemed to share the LONDONBUS CAFE brand. I would love to visit again on a sunny day. Checking the cafe's Instagram, I saw that the hot dog set comes in a cute bus-shaped box, so I look forward to trying it with a different gelato flavor next time. Thank you for the delicious treats!