nichi cafe

A colorful spread of seasonal side dishes, soup, and golden-baked quiche arrives at the table. Tucked into a residential neighborhood in Kamikatsura, nichi cafe centers its kitchen on cooking that highlights the natural flavors of vegetables, paired with baked goods crafted to be gentle on the body. The signature quiche plate stars a vegetable-crammed quiche baked in a crisp domestic wheat crust, accompanied by springy house focaccia made with domestic wheat cold-fermented for 48 hours and tender sautéed Sakurahime chicken for a satisfying meal.

Choosing your own combination of mains and starches is part of the appeal here. Alongside rice plates featuring white or brown rice sourced directly from Kawakita Farm, the cafe offers combinations that pair soup with gluten-free, egg- and dairy-free rice-flour muffins or scones. For guests with young children, a dedicated lunch plate for elementary school ages and under serves rice balls with sautéed chicken, making family dining easy.

The sweets lined up on the counter are just as enticing, featuring a wide spectrum of allergen-conscious options: rice-flour muffins baked without eggs, dairy, or wheat, rich tofu chocolate brownies, and fragrant canelés. Drink selections are equally thoughtful, spanning soy matcha and soy hojicha lattes to caffeine-free coffee, well suited to an unhurried teatime or a relaxing finish to lunch.

While bento boxes and baked goods are available to take away, seating tends to fill up quickly around midday, so reserving ahead is recommended if you plan to dine in.