I decided to come to this cafe in the rarely visited Yoyogi-Uehara area, unsure of where to go. It's a bean to bar shop, and as soon as I entered, I could smell the lovely scent of cocoa. I ordered the limited edition parfait available only at the main store. There were only 10 servings available, but it seemed like there were still some left. After a short wait, a beautifully presented parfait arrived. Along with the parfait, they provided a booklet with information about the cocoa used (origin, etc.), allowing me to feel like I was traveling the world while enjoying the parfait. It was called the Cocoa Journey and cost 1650 yen. Despite being a chocolate parfait, it was not all brown, which was nice. The bottom layer had a part that changes flavor depending on the season, and this time it contained yuzu and kumquat jelly. While eating chocolate, you can sometimes get tired of it, but this parfait was enjoyable because of the different cocoa flavors, and I could eat it deliciously until the end. The drinks looked delicious too, and I was also tempted by the gateau chocolat. The consideration for the customers was also appreciated, and it was a wonderful atmosphere in the shop. Thank you for the meal.

Last summer, I went to have shaved ice, and I decided to go again this year. It's a bit far from the station, but maybe that's why it's not too crowded even on weekends, which is nice. - Chocolate Shaved Ice 1100 yen Topped with apricot compote, it's sweet and tangy, perfect for summer. The main chocolate syrup is really delicious, it goes well with the ice. I've never had a chocolate shaved ice better than this one. The accompanying syrups are condensed milk with black tea and apricot syrup, both refreshing and tasty. It's amazing. - Bean to Bar Chocolate Parfait -CACAO JOURNEY- 1650 yen This one is also delicious. The sauce at the bottom ranges from strawberry to pineapple, and from choux pastry to the second cocoa pulp sorbet. Anything chocolate-related here is just too good. The ice cream, sauce, and plate are all perfectly balanced in sweetness. Even the granola is surprisingly tasty! The lemon and pineapple acidity adds a nice touch. It's so good from start to finish that it disappears in no time. I want to go back for another round this season. The shop is cool, so you can feel comfortable wearing a jacket.

Today we are going on a sweets tour around Yoyogi Park. First stop is here. I have been to the Yoyogi Uehara branch before, but this is my first time at the main store. Although I was curious about the summer limited chocolate shaved ice, I already have plans to eat shaved ice later. Lately, I can't eat two servings. So, I decided to try the Chocolate Ice Cream (640 yen) for here. I thought it would be served in a glass, but surprisingly it came in a cup. The ice cream was firm and made with cocoa from Haiti, without the use of thickeners. The taste was rich but had a refreshing melt-in-your-mouth texture. The cocoa flavor was intense. I think it may be a pioneering presence in the world of bean-to-bar chocolate, but chocolate sure comes at a high price (^^;

There is a chocolate shop in Yoyogi-Uehara called Bean to Bar, which offers chocolates made with a focus on cocoa. The chocolates may not look fancy, but they showcase the simple goodness of the ingredients. I tried their Chocolate Pulp Smoothie, which is made with chocolate ice cream and cocoa pulp. The rich cocoa flavor is prominent, and the use of ice cream makes it easy to drink cold and delicious. I'm sure their chocolates are delicious, so I'd like to try a tasting comparison next time.

Chocolate specialty store Minimal Tomigaya Main Store Located near the Yoyogi Park Station on the Chiyoda Line, about a 5-6 minute walk from the station, near the Tomigaya intersection, is this chocolate specialty store. This place operates under the philosophy of subtraction, creating chocolates with minimal ingredients, sourcing cocoa and making chocolates all in-house. It was selected as one of the top 100 sweets in Tokyo by Tabelog in 2023. In this area around Yoyogi Park to Yoyogi Uehara, there seem to be about 10 popular stores selected as top 100 by Tabelog within a 10-minute walk radius, showing how densely packed with popular shops this area is. I would like to visit again soon. This time, I purchased a cookie sandwich. The crispy cookies surrounding it were impressive. The chocolate was bitter, with a direct cocoa flavor, making it a well-balanced taste for adults. I enjoyed it with coffee. There were four types of cookies available, but it was a bit disappointing that you could only purchase them in sets of two of the same flavor.

Located between Yoyogi-Uehara and Yoyogi-Hachiman (Park) along Yamate-dori. A fun shop with unique products that make the most of cocoa. Today's order: Cocoa Pulp Juice for 484 yen. A 100% juice made from the fruit inside the cocoa. Enjoy the thick texture and rich flavor without breaking it. Despite being cocoa, it tastes like lychee. Today's purchase: LB Arhuaco for 1814 yen. A cocoa with a slightly added flavor. It supposedly pairs well with wine, but I paired it with black tea since I don't drink alcohol. You can enjoy a good aroma and taste. They also offer chocolate samples. LB Arhuaco was one of the two samples I tried. Thank you for the meal.

Popular dessert shop's delicious refreshing smoothie ◆ Minimalist Tomigaya Main Store (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) ◆ Chocolate Banana Smoothie ¥800 ● Instagram tsukasan777 ● Twitter tsukasan2010

There is a quiet shop along the Yamanote Street, just 4 minutes from Yoyogi-Hachiman, offering a chocolate and ice cream tasting experience from the top 100 sweets shops in Tokyo 2023. I tried their recommended seasonal limited edition shaved ice. The chocolate shaved ice was priced at 1100 yen, and it was incredibly delicious, with the chocolate and ice blending together perfectly. It came with apricot sauce, condensed milk, and black tea sauce on the side. The apricot sauce enhanced the flavor even more, making it a burst of deliciousness. I savored every last bite without leaving anything behind. The ice was topped with two scoops of ice cream made from Venezuelan chocolate, surrounded by refreshing black tea jelly and apricot compote as a nice touch. The stylish interior with high stools and a counter added to the overall experience. The staff kindly explained the menu to me when I was having trouble deciding what to order. The chocolate dessert may not look flashy, but it was truly the best sweet treat I've had this year. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Minimaru is located just 5 minutes from Yoyogi Park Station. Known for their chocolates, this shop exudes a sense of simplicity and high quality. During my visit in August, I opted for their Chocolate Shaved Ice, a limited menu item only available at their Tomigaya main store. The presentation was beautiful, with chocolate ice cream and apricot compote on top of the ice, drizzled with chocolate syrup and accompanied by square pieces of black tea jelly. The additional sides of black tea condensed milk and apricot sauce added an interesting twist to the flavors. While the ice itself wasn't the typical shaved ice texture, the richness of the chocolate syrup and ice cream made up for it. Overall, I was highly satisfied with the experience and could sense the expertise in chocolate that this shop is known for. The staff was also very friendly, making it a great place to visit. Congratulations on being selected as one of the top 100 shops!

Visited for the first time on August 26, 2023. From Yoyogi-Hachiman Station "West Exit," crossing "Yamanote Street" and heading towards Shibuya, you will eventually see a shop on the right side of the street. It was a Saturday, and this day off was dedicated to exploring sweets shops along the Odakyu Line. After visiting Seijo Gakuenmae and Yoyogi-Uehara, I arrived at this shop. I arrived around 5:30 pm, with only two female customers in the store. Although there were other tempting drinks, I decided to order the "Chocolate Shaved Ice," limited to 15 servings per day. After a 10-minute wait, the female staff brought it to me. The menu included apricot sauce and tea-flavored condensed milk. I tried it without the toppings first. The chocolate sauce, not too sweet, was fine, but the ice did not have the desired fluffy texture, possibly due to limited focus on the ice quality. However, the chocolate flavor was excellent. The shaved ice also contained apricot compote and Venezuelan chocolate ice cream, which was incredibly delicious. The ice cream had a fruity sweetness and acidity that paired perfectly with the apricot sauce. The tea-flavored condensed milk, served with tea jelly, was an interesting addition. Although the ice was not perfect, the flavors were satisfying. At the checkout, when asked if it was my first visit, I mentioned that I came after reading reviews on Tabelog and was pleasantly surprised by the chocolate ice cream. The staff kindly offered me a taste of three types of chocolate after paying. Each had a distinct cocoa flavor profile, showcasing the depth of chocolate varieties. The staff explained how different cocoa varieties create unique flavors, similar to coffee. Despite the ice quality, the shop effectively conveyed the complexity of chocolate. I will definitely revisit. Thank you for the meal.

The chocolate shaved ice with apricot syrup and condensed milk with black tea syrup was generously topped with chocolate syrup. Inside, there was Venezuelan chocolate ice cream and apricot compote. The jelly around it was black tea flavored. Every bite was delicious and satisfying. The combination of apricot's sweet and sourness with the rich sweetness of chocolate was amazing. When I showed a social media post, I received a chocolate mini tablet as a gift, which was also delicious. Thank you for the meal!

I went to this shop near the intersection in Tomigaya on Friday morning around 11:40. Since there were no customers yet, I ordered a Chocolate Banana Smoothie for 800 yen and drank it at the counter. It was made right in front of me and had a stylish latte art-like finish. It was incredibly delicious! I get more excited about cold and sweet drinks with bananas than shaved ice! Thank you for the meal! I will definitely go again!

This shop was selected as one of the top 100 sweets shops in 2023. It was about a 5-minute walk from Yoyogi Park Station, facing a major street which made it easy to find. When I first visited, it was before opening hours as I was doing a morning sweets shop tour. I had planned to visit a crepe shop in Soshigaya-Otakanomori, but on the way there, a new store had opened up. I had just visited the sister store in Yoyogi-Uehara, Minimal The Baking Yoyogi-Uehara, so I felt a connection. After having a crepe, I returned to this shop and it was open. I was relieved. I was intrigued by the ice flag in front of the shop, so I ordered the Chocolate Shaved Ice for ¥1,100. You order at the counter and then wait for it to be served. Once it arrived, I took a picture. If you post the photo on Instagram or Twitter, you receive a chocolate as a gift. The Chocolate Shaved Ice is limited to 15 servings per day. It consisted of Ghanaian chocolate syrup, black tea condensed milk, apricot sauce, Venezuelan ice cream, apricot compote, black tea jelly, and was very luxurious. It was a hot summer day, so the shaved ice was especially delicious.

On this day, I ordered the Minimal Experience Set. It allows you to compare and taste 6 different chocolates. One of them is very small, but each chocolate has a distinct taste that is very impressive. It seems they are made with minimal sugar and cocoa, resulting in the true taste of cocoa with hints of tropical fruits and grape jam. This is the first time I have been so impressed by chocolate. Amazing.

I was curious about Minimal, a shop I often passed by. Before I knew it, I found myself inside the top 100 sweets shop. It's a shop that specializes in chocolate. The main store is here, and there is a branch in Yoyogi-Uehara nearby, with a new one set to open in Soshigaya-Otakan in September 2023. I was interested in trying their kakigori and parfaits, but what I really wanted to try was their pulp juice. It's made from cocoa pulp, so I chose that without hesitation. I had a chocolate drink just the other day in Kuramae, so I decided to pass on that this time. ▶︎ Ordered item - Cocoa Pulp Juice 440 yen It's a shot-sized drink, very cute. It really feels like the pulp was squeezed directly into the juice. It's thick and rich, with a good balance of acidity and sweetness, and a lovely aroma. Quite delicious~ This is what cocoa tastes like~ haha It was a new and enjoyable experience for me. This time I tried the juice, so next time I'd like to try their chocolate. The shop is not very spacious, so you can't really relax inside. Thank you for the meal~!

The Cocoa Journey parfait and red roasted tea set. The parfait is overall heavy, but the cocoa pulp sorbet on top is delicious. There are layers of pineapple jelly at the bottom, but the top parts are large, making it difficult to change the flavor. The biggest drawback is the extremely slow serving time.

This is a chocolate specialty store in Tomigaya. The atmosphere of the store blends in so well with Tomigaya that at first I thought it was a clothing store... Ever since I saw it on the Netflix series "Saboriman Kantarou," I was curious about it. I tried all the flavors of the Minimal chocolate. I was impressed by how delicious the coarsely ground cacao chocolate was... The shaved ice with apricot and chocolate was also amazing. Everything was top-notch.

Bean-to-bar chocolate shop. The parfait changes seasonally, with different cacao from various origins used for each component. You can enjoy it while referring to the guide provided. The cacao pulp sorbet is refreshing and delicious. The chocolate soda was a first for me. The refreshing taste of soda and lemon complements the sweetness of the chocolate. I worry about carrying chocolate around in the summer, but they offer a sturdy insulated bag (for a fee) for taking home chocolate bars. I'm also curious about their shaved ice menu. ♡

I finally went to try the shaved ice at minimal that I've always wanted to eat. It was light yet satisfying, and I enjoyed the chocolate shaved ice at this chocolate specialty store. It had a sophisticated taste that didn't disappoint. I highly recommend this shaved ice to chocolate lovers! ♡

I visited the café on a weekend afternoon craving for a parfait. It was the summer version, featuring pineapple jelly and lemon mousse. It had various chocolate elements like chocolate ice cream, chocolate jelly, and white chocolate, but it wasn't overwhelming. Despite the hot weather, it was refreshing. I would love to try their chocolate drink and shaved ice too!

The cakes here are really delicious, quite rich, and I always shop at this main store. My favorite is the Gateau Chocolat. It has a moist chocolate flavor that is sweet but somehow not overwhelming. It pairs well with various drinks like tea, wine, and coffee. While any drink complements it, the Gateau Chocolat still stands out. It is moist yet has a strong flavor, not too sweet, and never gets boring. It has a perfect taste. I highly recommend this shop.

Today's sweet treat was a chocolate shaved ice with hojicha tea from Minimal Chocolate. Hmm... I can't really recommend this year's version, last year's was truly, truly delicious. It was overwhelming from the very first bite. But this year's had less chocolate, and my first impression after a bite was "thin." The amount of chocolate syrup was also reduced, and I think the flavor has decreased. I'm sure the change in composition was due to the rising cost of ingredients. I was willing to pay more for something delicious, but it seems that's not possible. I should have done a taste test before bringing my friends. Oh well, disappointing. The parfait also had less chocolate in it. Disappointing.