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Review Highlights
“This unassuming little cafe in Shinjuku (near Marui/Isetan) has the best french toast I've eaten.” in 8 reviews
“I can't recall how I've heard of Cafe Aaliya, but I'm not shy about sharing this hidden gem.” in 6 reviews
“-French Toast with Caramel Sauce: Sort of an accidental order as I thought the Mix came with Maple Syrup, not Caramel Sauce.” in 6 reviews
Location & Hours
山本ビル B1F
Shinjuku, 東京都 〒160-0022
Japan
Shinjyuku-Sanchome Station, Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku Gyoen Mae Station
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Amenities and More
Recommended Reviews
Overall rating
56 reviews
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Maurice L.Centrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands37960Apr 7, 2024Food was very unusual and I can always take it again I felt very fresh. I was told by the local store to try it out
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Oh no 0- Mar 20, 2023Updated review
2nd time in 4 months, its a must stop every time we are in tokyo. The old location was closed for renovations so we ate at its other location around the coner: Aaliya coffee roaster.
The 3 flavor french toast was not on the menu but the other items were still spectacular. The fruit French toast & the pouched egg French toast both hit the spot. They also make top notched hand drip coffee. See video below for more visual details.
https://youtu.be/Drl5dJDePFwHelpful 2Thanks 1Love this 2Oh no 0Oct 22, 2022Previous reviewThis should be the standard for all french toast: perfectly toasted to golden brown, inside spongy & airy, all the while maintained its buxom figure without any sagging. If Pam Anderson's surgeon constructs a perfect french toast, this will be it.
We discovered this gem 3 yrs ago on the last day of our trip. This time however we came early & often. There is still a line up the stairs but efficiency seems to have improved 3 yrs later. The french toast was absolutely heavenly, better than I even remembered or fantasized. The fork easily sliced through it like it was tofu. I anni wolved down my 3 morsels quickly & didn't feel stuffed at all. This was 2 hr after I ate at Mugi to Tamago.
For the last few years we searched in vein for something similar, the closest encounter was Mama's Royal Cafe at Cabo (Mexico). It was stuffed with cream cheese inside, but still no where as fluffy & spongy as Aaliya Cafe.Nov 15, 2019Previous reviewAll I can say is Wow!! One of our travel buddy who's a huge Japanese foodie highly recommended it and he was spot on as usual. It's rar to wait literally 20 min for ours. All 3 of us ordered the stack of 3 french toasts with 3 kinds of topping/sauces (whipped cream with caramel, apple sauce, vanilla ice cream)
Flavor: 10/10, very buttery and eggy, this is the A5 of french toasts. You probably don't need any sauce except a little syrup, it was already so rich in flavors
Texture: 10/10, crispy brown outside, interior fluffy and spongy and moist
Presentation/photogenicity: 8/10, they prep and presented each plate nicely, bristol fashion but Japanese style
Overall this was most def the best pancake I have ever had! 
265329129Jul 28, 2023SEND HELP! I've died and gone to heaven! Seriously though, no exaggeration, this is the best French toast I've ever had! With every bite my mind just could not understand how something could possibly be this delicious? I've decided it is witchcraft. Anywho seriously this place is a MUST try while in Tokyo. You will NOT be disappointed. The prices are also ridiculously well priced. During the week they have a combo where you can choose a soup or salad, a drink, and French toast all for 1050 YEN. So about $7.50. WHAT?! I'm definitely considering moving close by
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4012291795Jan 30, 2023Cafe Aaliya does French Toast the right way. 2 perfectly prepared soft pieces of heaven. It's very hard to explain how delicious it is. Think of eating a cloud with a side of caramel sauce my GOODNESS it's so good!!! There are other things on the menu but you are only coming to Aaliya to get the insanely good French Toast trust me!
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Ryan O.Honolulu, HI1361544Oct 26, 2022Great French Toast! It's light and fluffy. I haven't eaten here since 2019, pre covid. The line back then to eat here was epic. I was so glad to see that it's still open as so many of my favorite places to eat have closed their doors post covid lockdowns. There was no line at this time and many open seats....service was fast and professional. I definitely recommend here for breakfast, I've never had French toast this good.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0- Nov 28, 2019
This is probably THE BEST FRENCH TOAST I've ever had!!! But it's in Japan! Say what?!?!?! Ok, so supposedly the origin of French toast was not in France, possibly Rome or England. But who cares?! Cross those oceans and get to Cafe Aaliya in Shinjuku!
It's located downstairs in a totally unassuming spot. And we've been lucky each time we've visited, there was no wait. I can't recall how I've heard of Cafe Aaliya, but I'm not shy about sharing this hidden gem.
Both times we've visited I've ordered the French toast mix plate. It comes with 3 perfect French toast pieces - it has beautiful crust, but the center is perfectly soft, creamy and eggy (is that a word?) and 3 dipping sauces: apple sauce (my favorite), caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream topped with blueberries. And with the iced Cafe au lait - a perfect breakfast meal!Helpful 8Thanks 0Love this 11Oh no 0 - C R.Vacaville, CA0122Dec 23, 2022
Highly recommend this place. It's worth the hike and the weight. Best French toast we've had - buttery, moist, flavorful. The coffee is excellent as well. Each cup is brewed separately. I had the cafe latte. The unique coffee roast gave it a chocolaty flavor.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Jan 17, 2020
I walked by this restaurant a couple of times from JR Shinjuku station to my hotel, and I decided that I had to try this place especially since I'm a french toast person.
This restaurant primarily served french toast. How good can french toast be? Trust me, this place is the bomb! I ordered the original french toast and waited for about 10-15 minutes.
The french toast came in two pieces with a scoop of whipped cream. OMG, it was the best french toast I've ever tasted. It was very buttery and eggy and literally melts in your mouth! You don't even need any toppings or sauces. It's already full of flavor.
This place was so good that I went back a second time with my friends and ordered the french toast mix with three different sauces. A must in Tokyo!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 
Yoyo L.San Mateo, CA88128747Dec 10, 2019I still miss the fluffy french toast! The caramelized sugar crunch on the surface was everything.
It's a small cozy french style cafe with few tables.
Talking about the French toast -- their signature! You won't taste any egg, but creamy butter taste. With blueberry cream, the toast was even better.
The latte was okay, I guess I still prefer a little more bitterness in the coffee.
Overall experience was great, but I wish the speed of service can be a little faster.
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