Asakusabashi - SMELL Pelican's ham toast♪ Asakusabashi Station West Exit near SMELL. The exterior of the cafe is plain. The name is not written in English as SMELL. The lunch menu consists of pilaf or spaghetti, but the most popular item is the Pelican's bread ham toast. They also offer egg and cheese toast, ham and egg, cheese omelette, and scrambled eggs. There are many sandwich options, with ham and egg being a favorite during lunchtime. The place gets crowded during lunch, with mostly nearby office workers taking a break. Around 1 pm, the place starts emptying out as people return to work. Finally, my order was taken. The ham toast and iced coffee cost 720 yen. The ham toast with cucumber and spicy mustard was delicious. The Pelican's bread holds its shape well, making it suitable for sandwiches. The vintage coasters at SMELL are cherished, with "COFFEE MUSIC" written on them. It gives off a nostalgic vibe. If you want a relaxing time, it's best to visit in the afternoon when it's less crowded.

I braced myself for the possibility of smoking throughout the restaurant and entered in the morning. Even though the previous customer sat far away, I still had to deal with secondhand smoke, which was tough. But it was worth it to visit. I ordered the egg sandwich, and the bread from Pelican was just amazing - so soft and chewy! And the coffee...! It was really delicious! Smooth, no bitterness, and easy to drink! I wanted to have another cup. The owner kindly told me to be careful not to spill on my clothes. Next time, I'll try their Morning set, which is apparently the best value!

Pelican Bakery offers sandwiches made with their own bread which are their specialty! It's a charming place with a unique appeal, even during off-peak hours. The Mixed Sandwich Set costs 820 yen and is a good value. When you order, you can hear the sound of bread being sliced and cooked on a frying pan, which adds to the excitement. The sandwiches are surprisingly filling, with a thin omelette used for the egg sandwich. The combination of the warm omelette and Pelican bread was delicious. The ham sandwich was also tasty. The atmosphere was quiet as I visited on a weekday morning, with the place all to myself. The sole staff member, a slightly older lady, provided good service, although it might be different during busier times. The vintage TV, lined up ashtrays, and old-fashioned furnishings added to the mysterious charm of the place. Overall, I had a great experience enjoying tasty sandwiches in this unique setting.

There was a cafe called "Smell" that I had been curious about for a while, but it seemed like it had closed down because it had been closed for a long time. However, today it was open, so I decided to go in. I planned to watch an online seminar while drinking coffee, but I felt a little hungry so I tried to order a sandwich, but they were out of bread for sandwiches. I gave up and instead ordered a Cheese Omelette Toast set (750 yen) with coffee. The toast was made with cheese wrapped in a thin omelette, mayonnaise, and cucumber sandwiched between slices of toast. It was a delicious hot sandwich, or you could say toast. The coffee had a good balance of acidity and was just to my liking. It was a shame that the store allowed smoking (there were ashtrays available) considering how good the coffee was.

...A world of dead words? Just outside the west exit of JR Asakusabashi Station, there is a long-established coffee shop called Smell. It was founded by the current owner's parents in Chuo Ward in the 1950s. Although it is listed as "pending" on Tabelog, as of July 2022, it is still operating energetically. The interior of the shop has about 7 counter seats and 4 tables. The brown leather chairs lined up give it a retro snack bar atmosphere. As soon as you enter, there are stairs on the right, separated by a curtain. On hot days, it is a habit of the Showa-era old men to escape into the "sauna" shop. During weekday lunchtime, the owner managed the shop alone. The customers were all women, including solo female diners, in three groups. Everyone was eating cafe-style lunches like spaghetti and sandwiches. I sat in front of the counter and had an iced coffee (420 yen). They poured the pre-made iced coffee from a bottle and served it to me. The refreshing and delicious iced coffee was enjoyable. After finishing the iced coffee in the cool shop, I went back outside to sweat again.

I casually entered a coffee shop in Asakusabashi. It turned out to be a Showa era smoker's cafe. I ordered a coffee. I thought it was a small size, but when I looked at the logo inside, it said "Smell" (lol). I did a double take but it really said "Smell" (lol). I wonder what smell they are referring to? By the way, I didn't try it this time, but I heard that their toast is made with "Pelican" bread.

The sandwich made with Pelican bread at this snack-like shop with a nostalgic exterior and prices from the Showa era is run by a mama-san who exudes an atmosphere that suggests she was beautiful in the past. I ordered a "Royal Milk Tea" since they had run out of bread for sandwiches. While many shops nowadays use steamers, this shop sticks to the traditional method of simmering in a pot, which made the tea very delicious. Thank you for the meal, and thank you very much.

I headed to Smell, an old coffee shop across from Gyoza no Osho in Asakusabashi, to enjoy an iced coffee (400 yen). Inside, people were watching the Koshien baseball game between Chiben Wakayama and Imabari Seiryo on TV, while smokers were happily puffing away. I don't smoke myself, but the atmosphere felt like a smoker's paradise.

I had a Tamago Toast Set at a cafe near the west exit of JR Asakusabashi. I enjoyed the toast and coffee made by the lady at the counter in the peaceful atmosphere of the cafe. The toast was made with Pelican bread, thick and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and even better than the egg. The dry curry at this wonderful cafe is also worth trying.

"Black Lives Matter" has become a common phrase to hear. There was a tragic incident in America where a white police officer held down an unarmed black man's neck with his knee for 8 minutes and 46 seconds until he passed away. As a result of this, the phrase "Black Lives Matter" started being said all over America, even by white people, showing the conscience of a multicultural nation. Even Funk Music, which was named after the strong body odor of black Americans, seems quite discriminatory. In "The Tale of Genji," the main character Kaoru's name means "pleasant scent," while his rival, Nio, has a name that means "unpleasant smell," showing a contrasting structure. Therefore, today's #Morning topic is #SMELL. Using the famous bread from Pelican in Asakusa, it must be delicious. After some hesitation, I chose the Cheese Omelette Toast. Looking around the table, I noticed an ashtray, suggesting that this place allows smoking, which is rare these days. As I enjoyed my sandwich, the cheese stretched out dramatically. The subtle presence of mayonnaise and the thin but flavorful egg omelette were delicious. Sipping on the coffee, I could feel its moderate richness. The toast had a crispy texture when bitten into, followed by a chewy sensation, creating a perfect balance. Adding a bit of salt enhanced the flavors, making the coffee aroma stand out. Despite the short stay, as the waitress bid me farewell with a "Take care," I felt energized and uplifted, as if I had experienced a pleasant scent throughout the visit.

If you have a reason to go to Asakusabashi and want to incorporate food log activities, search for a restaurant on Tabelog. I found a cafe called "Gion" that serves morning meals and Pelican bread, but unfortunately it was closed until 11am due to the owner's schedule. However, I found another cafe called "Smell" nearby that also serves Pelican bread. The cafe had a cozy atmosphere, with a friendly female owner. The menu was simple, and I ordered a morning set with hot coffee. The cafe allowed smoking, so it may not be suitable for non-smokers. The coffee had a nice aroma and a slight acidity, while the butter toast was soft and flavorful. The boiled egg was perfectly cooked. The cafe also sold Pelican bread, and I saw a customer ordering 1.5 pounds of it for delivery. I was surprised by the quality of the food and the reasonable prices.

After walking tiredly from Akihabara, I found myself in Asakusabashi, where I refreshed at a place called smell in front of the station, known for its leather goods shops. The cool and stylish mama running the smoking-friendly café seemed intriguing. Although the bread was said to be delicious, I was too exhausted from the heat and walking all the way from Nihonbashi, Kanda, Akihabara to Asakusabashi to be interested. I opted for an ice coffee, which surprisingly felt like the most delicious thing I had tasted all summer. It revitalized both my body and mind. The old-fashioned atmosphere of the café was calming, and it was a fortunate encounter during my wandering.

This is an old-fashioned coffee shop called "smell." I decided to try their curry instead of coffee. They offer two types of curry: dry curry and curry spaghetti. I ordered the curry spaghetti, expecting it to be like curry stir-fried noodles, but it turned out to be spaghetti topped with curry sauce. It was unexpectedly delicious and paired well with the pasta. The meal also came with soup, and all of this cost only 700 yen. It was a nostalgic taste at a nostalgic price in a nostalgic atmosphere.

In front of Asakusabashi Nishiguchi, there is a cafe called Smell. I had seen a sign mentioning that they use Asakusa Pelican bread, so I had been wanting to visit. Pelican is a bakery that has been selling bread since 1942. Smell has been in business since the 1950s, even before Pelican became famous. The interior has a counter and sofa seats. I sat at the counter and ordered the egg sandwich set from the menu on the wall. The eggs were cooked fresh after I ordered, so they were hot. The sandwich had two types of eggs and the bread was excellent. It was fluffy and had a good aroma. The coffee was brewed slowly with a pot of hot water and had a slight bitterness, but it was delicious. I don't often have the chance to visit classic cafes like this, but it was cozy and pleasant.

Egg Sandwich Set (with crust) for 820 yen @ Cafe Smell in Asakusabashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo In a place where time seems to stand still, just a short walk from Asakusabashi West Exit, there is a cozy café with a calm atmosphere. With about 6 counter seats and 4 tables, it is a spacious and relaxed setting. Currently, a lovely middle-aged lady manages the place alone. People spend their time leisurely, each in their own way. Even during lunchtime, the atmosphere remains the same, attracting a certain clientele. In this day and age, it's rare to find a café where smoking is allowed in all seats. They offer dishes like pilaf and meat sauce, but the specialty of this café is their sandwiches. Among them, the "Egg Sandwich" with two types of eggs is outstanding. It includes thinly cooked eggs and egg salad mixed with mayonnaise. The bread used is from Pelican in Asakusa Taharamachi, soft and moist all the way to the crust. Enjoying this sandwich with a fragrant and slightly bitter coffee makes you forget about the passage of time. A well-known hidden gem where you can savor a delicious meal at a leisurely pace.

In front of Asakusabashi Station, there is a coffee shop called Smell. The Asakusabashi area is filled with many coffee shops. Behind the slightly intimidating door is a classic coffee shop. They use Pelican bread to make sandwiches and toast. I ordered an egg sandwich and coffee. An elderly woman runs the place by herself. The egg sandwich made with Pelican bread is homemade. The egg is not too strong in flavor and goes well with the soft bread. Enjoying the Pelican bread with coffee is the essence of Asakusabashi's Smell. The shop is small and cozy, a coffee shop for the common people.

Near Asakusabashi Station West Exit on a weekday at 8:00. l was drawn to the square sign of KEY COFFEE and entered "tea room Smell", a retro-style café filled with Showa era vibes. I sat at the counter and ordered the Morning set for 420 yen. It came with thick slices of toast, a boiled egg on a stand, and a hot coffee. The toast was perfectly cooked with plenty of butter. The boiled egg on its stand looked quite fancy. The coffee had a balanced taste of bitterness and acidity, reminiscent of the Showa era. Surrounded by the aroma of coffee and toast, I relaxed and enjoyed my time. When we talk about "smell", nowadays we also have terms like "smell harassment", but the smell here is definitely pleasant. I will definitely come back here again.

Morning set for 420 yen at a retro coffee shop located on the west side of Asakusabashi Station. This place has been around since the Showa era, giving it a sense of history. The toast made with Pelican bread is thickly sliced and simply buttered. The drip coffee is best enjoyed black. The only downside is that smoking is allowed in all seats. I will definitely come back. Enjoyed the meal! March 29, 2017, during breakfast.