Wake Up and Smell Ogura Toast in Nagoya Japan

On our last Japan trip, I saw the long queue in front of Garrett Popcorn at Nagoya station and got curious about their local delicacy, the Ogura Toast flavoured popcorn. Since it was expensive, I only bought a small package. Back in the hotel, I opened it and shared it with Fafa. There was no better time to slather ourselves with butter after the wedding diet.

It was so good. As with other Garrett popcorn flavours, but ten times better. It’s sweet but not too sweet. Definitely not the sickening caramel sweet that I utterly despise, from the colour to the taste. Nagoya Ogura Butter popcorn tasted like lightly sweetened chocolate buttered popcorn.

It was addictive. Needless to say, we went back the next day to get the biggest box. Two.

Ogura Toast

A delicacy of Nagoya, Ogura Toast is thick slabs of toasted bread with buttery red bean spread called Ogura. It’s usually served as breakfast in Japanese cafes. Sometimes with freshly whipped cream, alongside boiled eggs and a hot beverage. Especially in Aichi prefecture, central Japan, where Nagoya city is located.

Nagoya Delicacy Breakfast at Kako Bucyo Coffee

1 Chome-10-9 Meiekiminami, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-0003, Japan

The next day I told Fafa we would have breakfast in a cafe walking from the hotel. Knowing how much I wouldn’t say I like cold mornings, especially since it’s too early to chase it away with a glass of sake, he asked me why. “For the Ogura toast”, I told him.

The cafe, featuring a creepy-looking mannequin sitting beside a creepy-looking turtle statue, was easy to spot with a long queue in front of it, even at 8 AM on a Monday. We patiently queued and agreed to be seated on the small bar seats in the corner, facing the window and ordered their famous Ogura toast.

It was delicious.

I must admit that I am glad I wouldn’t say I liked Nagoya much to stay longer because between Ogura toast for breakfast and Tebasaki chicken wings for supper, I would have shortened my age by half and doubled my waistline in no time.

Does your culture have an unusual spread or jam you put on your toast? Like Vegemite for Australians or Kaya for Singaporeans.

Though I am not a big fan of Nagoya city, if you are a foodie, maybe it’s worth a visit when you are in Japan, even if it’s just for the Ogura toast, chicken wings, and red clam miso soup.

Follow me on Instagram @KultureKween for more recent updates.