Trimeresurus
This is a cafe located in front of (or rather, on top of) the Morishita station on the Toei Shinjuku Line. It is known for its popular hotcakes, and when I visited with one other person on a Saturday around 2:30 pm, we were able to enter without waiting. We ordered the popular hotcakes (2 pieces), napoletana pasta, Ono Coffee blend, and tea, totaling 2,590 yen (tax included). PayPay is accepted, and there is a 30% cashback promotion for residents of Koto Ward (which was actually the reason why I went all the way to Morishita). The hotcakes, cooked on a griddle, are thick and fluffy with a firm texture when you bite into them. They recommend pouring plenty of syrup over them, as without it, the texture can be a bit dry. These hotcakes are more like a substantial main dish rather than a dessert-style pancake. The napoletana pasta had a rich flavor with ample ketchup, quite different from the one I had in Chiroru in Kyoto. The coffee, being the specialty of the shop named Ono Coffee, is priced significantly higher than the food items (I forgot the exact amount, but both the napoletana pasta and Ono Coffee blend were in the 600 yen range). It is aromatic, clean, and easy to drink, making it a delicious coffee that can be enjoyed on its own. Interestingly, on this day, we were the only ones having hotcakes in the shop, but when the lady sitting next to us saw us enjoying them, she got up and ordered some for herself. It may have been a small contribution, but it felt like we helped the shop in some way.