K. Minamoto Piccadilly shop — Local services in London

Minamoto Kitchoan is a serene and elegant shop offering traditional Japanese wagashi - beautifully crafted cakes and sweets that are as much about aesthetics as they are about flavour. Always tasty and never disappointing. I absolutely love Japanese sweets. The selection changes seasonally, showcasing the craftsmanship and artistry behind their products: whether it's delicate yokan, subtly sweet mochi (I especially love their grape mochi), or their jewel-like jellies where the whole cherry in jelly (Hanaouto - 花桜桃) is a rare and seasonal delicacy. If you see it, try it! Each piece feels carefully considered and beautifully made. It’s not just food; it’s cultural expression and feels like a bit of real Japan in the heart of London. The shop itself is calm, minimalist, and immaculately presented. Staff are always polite and helpful, and happy to explain the ingredients or suggest pairings (many of the sweets are ideal with green tea). Prices reflect the premium quality and imported nature of the items, but for something special, or as a thoughtful gift, it's well worth it. If you’re curious about Japanese confectionery, or simply want something elegant and different from the usual dessert fare in London, Minamoto is...

I cannot believe how unfriendly, unpolite, borderline ill mannered the lady at the counter was ! I was asking her if she could explain to me the difference between different items and at the beginning, she pretended as she couldn’t understand what the question was, and then when I explained to her that I was looking for the higher quality product for a special evening, she just pointed to the labels and said “it’s written here”. At that point, trying to understand that maybe she gets harassed a lot by tourist given the location, I gave her another chance and explained to her that I was looking to buy eight pieces of the highest quality. Still, the attitude didn’t change at all. I have traveled and worked in Japan, so I’m very familiar with Japanese culture. I couldn’t believe my eyes looking at her face and my ears hearing her tone. If she wasn’t Japanese, I could’ve pointed out to her how badly and poorly she was behaving in customer care. But it would be very outrageous for Japanese culture. The only sad result she obtained was that instead of buying eight pieces, I ended up buying only five. I wish the manager of that store realizes who she was and have a nice chat with that lady 1:45 PM on...

This review is based on an online purchase and not the store itself.

After years of waiting to find a special occasion to order from this store, I finally had a reason to order some sweets. I was beyond disappointed. This store tries to sell itself as being in some way natural and pure. The website talks about 'quality of ingredients':

"Wagashi is made of combinations of natural ingredients such as sugar, Azuki red beans, grains, agar and fruits. "

The ingredients in the peach mochi I received include high fructose syrup (implicated in type 2 diabetes), tartrazine, and a host of other nasty additives.

Essentially, there's a ton of unhealthy confectionary on the shelves in any British supermarket that are healthier for you than these mochi and what's more won't cost you £18 for a box of 12.

I also received a Doryaki. It was faintly sweet and that was the only flavour. I love red beans in japanese sweets and so was extremely disappointed. Certainly not worth £3.

The store itself looks like an amazing experience. I wouldn't bother actually buying anything online...