One lifetime, one encounter: Ichigō café
The image of a strawberry conjures numerous mental images – whether it be beauty found in simplicity, passion, purity, or the heart.
Introducing a sweet side to life, Ichigō café resides on the northern fringes of Franklin Street among a series of apartments in Fulton Lane. In their representation of the strawberry, in Japanese ‘ichigo’ connotes the simplicity of life. Adorned by ethereal, cloudlike fixtures on the ceiling, Ichigō have truly embodied the essence of simplicity in its minimalism.
These guys are known for their fresh shokupan, (which means, quite literally, “food bread”) and other highly ‘grammable cakes so meticulous they necessitate a separate segment on their menu. By virtue of a delightful-sounding menu, friendly staff, and homey atmosphere, Ichigō has become an acute personification of Japan.
Avocado toast with watermelon, apple, and strawberry pressed juice.
CREDIT: Matilda Linsdell
Scouring the menu for something full-time-uni-student-friendly as someone with a part-time job was not an easy challenge among the $12.50 slices of shortcake and $18 shokupan katsu sandwiches. The QR code ordering system really gives you time to consider what you’d like and after thorough contemplation, I chose the avocado toast.
Despite being a simple brunch item, Ichigō’s avocado toast was accompanied by edamame hummus, poached egg, whipped tofu curd, puffed brown rice, seed mix, charred lime and fresh herb. At its value of $23, I began to see the reason for its steep price. Layers upon layers of fresh avocado, a perfectly poached egg laid upon two slices of fluffy shokupan, among other exotic ingredients to guffaw at – the dish was amazing. I recall the edamame hummus being a personal favourite of mine as I powered through the dish and generously smeared the paste wherever I saw fit. The delicate umami flavour of sliced nori on top of the egg was not only a fitting touch, but suitably paid homage to Japanese cuisine. Japanese and brunch are two cuisines that work together extremely well and Ichigō have tapped into this synergy and perfected it.
To quench my thirst, I ordered a strawberry, watermelon, and apple pressed juice. Again, a bit on the dear side and something you could easily make at home, but nonetheless a necessity for sunny weather.
‘Cloud-like fixtures on the ceiling’.
Ichigō is also your one-stop shop for laughing one second, then eating in complete silence the next. Their desserts range from shortcakes to shortbreads which are perfect for brunch dates with friends. True to its namesake, Ichigō are known for their light, pillowy strawberry shortcake. Friends and I adored its muted quality with just the right amount of strawberry flavour. However, their melon cake was a tad bitter.
If you’re a sucker for a strong matcha taste, Ichigō’s matcha latte is a wise choice – and the mini cookies that came with it were appreciated! The latte is not a great choice for someone who hasn’t yet tried matcha before as per its sweet bitterness, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Strawberry shortcake, melon shortcake, cold iced matcha latte and cookies.
Aside from its price tag, Ichigō is difficult to fault. With its homey minimalism and quiet ambience, Ichigō is an excellent catch-up venue.
Ichigō is open Monday-Sunday from 8 am-8:30 pm and closes at 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.