Kumonocha Cafe — Restaurant in Kyoto

My friend suggested we try this cafe as it was trendy and cute. I honestly had high expectations and this place did not disappoint.

We came on a rainy day so there were less people than usual. There were several open seats and the rest of the cafe was filled with locals. Generally speaking, this cafe is very popular with both tourists and locals, but we got lucky. It was quiet enough to be able to speak, and we managed to get seats with a nice view of Arashiyama.

The menu items were reasonably priced and absolutely delicious. I got the strawberry cloud cake and a strawberry soda drink. My friend got the matcha. The cake was very soft and sweet, but not too sweet. The drink paired surprisingly well with the cake.

There weren’t many seats available despite there being two floors, so it might be difficult to get a seat during busier times. But otherwise, I think this cafe...

Among my circle of friends, I bear the title of the Tiramisu Lord, having traversed the globe in pursuit of the finest tiramisus. My quest led me to Kyoto, a journey spanning more than 20 hours, all in the name of sampling the legendary matcha tiramisu.

Kumonacha offered an intriguing experience. Their matcha tiramisu represented a playful and inventive twist on the classic Italian dessert. The concept itself held undeniable allure. Nevertheless, the dessert itself left something to be desired. The mascarpone lacked the desired creaminess, and the ladyfingers failed to capture the moisture found in a traditional coffee tiramisu.

I don't regret embarking on this tiramisu adventure; it was indeed an enjoyable experience. However, it's unlikely I'll actively seek out this particular tiramisu again, given the multitude of exceptional tiramisus awaiting...

Update: after drinking both of our drinks we realized that the matcha here is not very good — we both found the flavor pretty bitter and too strong which is usually indicative of a lower quality matcha. It’s nice that they have dairy free milk options but it didn’t taste very nice so I personally wouldn’t go back. I’ve had much nicer smooth and sweet and not bitter matcha elsewhere. ——————— Original review: Very cute little place! Vegan or lactose intolerant friendly because you can sub soy or oat milk in any of their drinks!! They made me their matcha frappe with oat milk, I just didn’t get the whipped cream on top. So exciting to find a matcha place that does dairy free in Kyoto! Really cute store design as well, and adorable mousse cakes that look like clouds! Matcha was strong...