Popular Dessert Cafe In Tokyo, Sakanoue Cafe, Is Returning To Singapore With A Pop-Up At Isetan Scotts

By Karmen on 13 Mar 2024

Digital Editor

Has severe RBF but is fairly jolly and carefree on the inside. Degree of life satisfaction is heavily influenced by food.

Have you been in Tokyo, Japan, during summer? Probably not, but you may have heard of the snaking queues at Sakanoue Cafe (サカノウエカフェ) in summertime, when locals and tourists are willing to wait up to four hours for their shaved ice desserts. Good news for us: this wildly popular cafe will be back in Singapore with a one-week pop-up at Isetan Scotts from 5 April.

Sakanoue Cafe's specialty is kakigōri AKA Japense shaved ice. What makes their renditions particularly queue-worthy is their resemblance to cakes, parfaits and other heavier, more guilty-pleasure desserts, and the delight when digging into light and refreshing ice instead. The cafe's kakigōri are also said to taste as good as they look, with finely shaved ice drenched in homemade syrup, condensed milk and fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Photo from Sakanoue Cafe

While the menu isn't out yet, we can definitely expect the signature Kori no Shortcake at the pop-up takeaway store. Designed to look like a strawberry shortcake, this picture-perfect dessert is made of fluffy ice with strawberry pulp, condensed milk, strawberry sauce and fresh cream.

Photo from Sakanoue Cafe

We have our fingers crossed that the pop-up will also offer Ichiko the Panda. This daifuku-shaped dessert is made with high-quality red bean paste from Yushima's long-established Japanese confectionery shop, Tsuruse (つる瀬). On top is a cute panda face drawn with fresh cream and chocolate.

Photo from Sakanoue Cafe

You can expect the kakigōri to set you back around SGD13 per cup.

Sakanoue Cafe has also announced the opening of its first permanent overseas cafe located not in Singapore, unfortunately, but still relatively close by in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at LaLaport. This outpost is set to open in May.

Anyway, there's still the pop-up in Singapore to look forward to! It will be at Isetan Scotts from 5 to 11 April 2024.

In the meantime, check out Summer Bliss, a new cafe at Paya Lebar that also offers aesthetic shaved ice desserts.