AMAM DACOTAN — Restaurant in Tokyo

Luxury breads.

The shop uses the best of the best ingredients and there are many fascinating and interesting flavor combinations that you cannot find elsewhere. Pear and yellow raisin and cashew nut bread, for example. The croque monsieur has a very strong taste because of all the cheeses... With a hint of sweetness from a touch of honey.

The chef has a lot of good ideas and brought the Italian maritozzo bread fad to Japan. The main branch is in Fukuoka. The maritozzo is good but the balance is a bit off, in my humble opinion. The bread is a bit too compact (should be lighter and fluffier, if you ask me) and there should be far less cream/custard. The cream is pure (not vegetable oil, like cheap bread shops) and there were lovely orange peel bits inside.

If you go at 3:00 p.m. on a weekday you can expect to wait about 90 minutes and risk not having a great selection to choose from because by the time you get to the shop, many popular items are already sold out.

The shop is a bit too busy now so I'd recommend going after everything has calmed down a bit. I believe the quality will be better and you can enjoy yourself without such a long crazy wait. The people working there seem incredibly stressed out and they're trying as hard as they can to meet the demands of the customers.

On weekends expect to line up for definitely more than 2 hours (be sure to check that no one cuts in line! I am convinced that one lady inadvertently cut in line when I went!). It's the longest line in Tokyo for bread at the moment. This photo was taken at around 4:30 and as you can see the variety of breads is quite limited. The owner comes around to remind people that the selection is limited and the bread may sell out before they reach the shop.

In time the quality control should improve (some breads looked obviously rushed out) and there will be a far smoother execution. Don't go out of your way to come...unless you happen to be in the area. Otherwise, just wait until lines become less zoo-like!

It is not a bread shop with kid-friendly bread. My child was not a fan of any of the breads that I bought. It is definitely bread for adults and those with a refined (snobby?) palette. Lots of the breads would pair very well with some fine wine or...

Noticing the multitude of glowing reviews on Google, I finally decided to visit the legendary bakery, Amam Dacotan. After the annoyingly long queues, from the moment I stepped inside, it was clear why this place has captured the hearts of so many. The bakery exudes a whimsical charm that feels like an escape from daily life, inviting you to indulge in its delightful offerings.

The array of breads and pastries on display was both enticing and slightly overwhelming—in the best possible way. Each item looked like a piece of art.

I began with the Ham Sandwich, which was a revelation in itself. Instead of the usual thin slices, it featured thick, chunky blocks of ham that provided a hearty and satisfying bite. The bread scented with horseradish, was fresh and perfectly complemented the richness of the ham.

Next up was the Egg Custard Toast. This was an interesting fusion, almost like an egg mayo transformed into a sweet treat. The base was a rusk-like honey toast—crisp on the outside yet soft within. It was topped with a torched egg mayo that added a creamy texture and a hint of smokiness. The combination was both unique and delightful.

The Green Tea Bun caught my eye with its understated appearance. Expecting the typical overly sweet matcha flavor common in other bakeries, I was pleasantly surprised. The bun was almost savory, sprinkled with what seemed like cumin-like spices and a touch of salt on top. This unexpected twist offered a bitter and aromatic concoction that served as a welcome respite from the richness of the other items.

Lastly, I tried the Poached Egg Creamy Cheesy Brioche, which was as satisfying as it looked. The brioche was soft and buttery, topped with a perfectly poached egg and a generous layer of creamy cheese. Each bite melded the flavors together, creating a comforting and indulgent experience.

Overall, Amam Dacotan is pricey but it proved to be a truly special bakery that lives up to its reputation. The creativity and quality of each item makes it worth visiting. It's a place where the heaviness of the treats is matched by the flavours they bring, making every calorie absolutely worthwhile.

Customers are required to order a...

Bread and other baked goods from this place look super appetizing in the photos that I saw on Instagram. However according to that same Instagram, many people wait in a queue at this shop for 1.5-2 hours. For me, it is too much. So even though I was really curious about this place, I wanted to wait until the hype dies down. But since today was rainy and I was nearby, I went to check the line. The line was indeed much shorter than usual. From the moment I arrived till the moment I left the shop with my purchases, it took less than 30 minutes. I am very happy with my decision not to come for shopping here when the line was much longer, otherwise, my disappointment would be even greater than it is now. I bought six items. In total it was more than 2,000 yen. I thought it was a bit expensive. But I really hoped it will taste great (spoiler, it didn't). Espresso toast - zero espresso taste or coffee aroma. Pistachio kuglof - this one had potential but the taste of cranberries and white chocolate was much stronger. Fig Far Breton - one fig on the top, nothing inside. A bit plain to my liking. Pistachio and anko sesame bread - here you can get some pistachio hints in the cream. Anko tastes a bit strange. The sesame flavor is too strong and does not necessarily make the best match with the fillings. Honey and 4 kinds of cheese Croque monsieur - too much white sauce. Blues cheese you feel when you get it. As for the other kinds, I am not sure what they were. No ham inside. In short, the fillings/toppings were okay. The bread looks very good. It looks like it has some bite to it. While in reality, all kinds of bread I had were soft and not the best bread I had in Tokyo. Last but not least, I got it all for a takeaway. And they didn't have any proper package for the pistachio anko bread. So it ended up being smooshed and the cream was all over the nylon bag by the time I got home. I think they should think better about how people are going to bring it home or as a souvenir to their friends. Is it instaworthy? For sure. Is it really worthy? I am...