Asuka

Tucked quietly away on the 1nd floor of Yushima Hightown, Asuka is a traditional kissaten where diners can settle in for hearty yoshoku—Japan’s classic Western-influenced comfort cooking. Come midday, the steak lunch stands out as a prime choice. Diners can select grated daikon radish sauce or opt for the cafe's signature pear sauce, whose delicate sweetness and mild acidity complement the beef with a character unique to old-school coffee shop fare.

Beyond the steaks, the kitchen covers a broad repertoire suited to regular everyday meals. A rotating daily lunch combines options like hamburg steak and breaded deep-fried items, while the standard lineup features a 100% beef teppan hamburg steak, crab cream croquettes, fragrant ketchup-based Napolitan spaghetti, and Japanese curry. The breadth makes it easy to match the meal to the day’s mood, whether that calls for a warm, homestyle set meal or a single hearty plate.

Lingering over drinks after the meal is an essential part of the visit. The coffee is brewed with a French roast sourced from Cafe Paulista, the long-established Ginza roaster, yielding a deep, full-bodied cup that cleanses the palate. Paired with a petite, reasonably priced slice of cake, it rounds off an unhurried pause surrounded by the gentle warmth of Showa-era decor.