Bio Cafe +
SHIBUYA, TOKYO

This is not really about their organic fare or their unique tofu inspired deserts. No, this is about their bagels and how they got them right. Any visitor to Tokyo will know that finding a bagel here, a real bagel for that matter, is almost impossible. Every foreign food has to go through a kaleidoscope filter before it can be served to the public here(mayonnaise pizza donut anyone?). Somehow, Bio Cafe in Shibuya has done the unthinkable in Tokyo and produced an authentic bagel! Not only that, there’s a huge variety of them as well, all made with really nice ingredients(back to their organic concept thing).

It’s easy to find too, just walk up Spain Zakka over by La Fabrique in Shibuya, it’s just before the stairs that lead up to the crepe shop. Their flavors may sound odd at first, don’t forget, we’re still in Tokyo, try them and you’ll be amazed at how good they are. There are a few types, my favorite being the kind with the chewy outer skin and the fluffy insides, which may not be the best way to describe them, but they aren’t far from New York style. Here’s the rundown, potato, pumpkin, adzuki bean and oats, mixed berry(awesome.), kinako, pistachio and beet, spinach and almond, and many more flavors. My wife and I have nearly tried them all, and they are all fantastic. Mixed berry is very chewy and nice, with real berries inside, and adzuki bean and oats is tasty and filling.

Their awesome beet and pistachio bagel. Amazing.

The only missing element is the cream cheese. It’s usually stocked in grocery stores around Tokyo, you just won’t find it at Bio Cafe. These guys leave Bagel Bagel in the dust. Even the treatment of the bagels is authentic. Layered in a basket sitting by the window, not stuck in individual plastic sealed bags with expiration dates on them(Bagel Bagel,… grrrr…). Just for the record, I have tried dinner there and it’s not bad at all. First go for a bagel though, it’s worth the trip. Bagels are 230 yen each.

Bio Cafe’s Website

Bio Cafe Map