UNIVERSAL BAKES and CAFE — Restaurant in Tokyo

Hate to give a low rating to a vegan establishment, especially in Japan, where it's fairly difficult to find vegan food, but they have a rule that you cannot eat the baked goods inside unless you purchase a drink as well. This rule makes no sense to me because what if I don't like any drink they have on the menu, or I have had a drink before from elsewhere and I came to try their pastry/bakes goods specifically, or what if I simply don't want to get a drink? It is such a silly rule and made me feel quite unwelcome. As a paying customer who bought several baked goods, I might have even paid more than a person who bought a pastry + drink and they are allowed to sit in and I am not. We bought three pastries per person, yet we had to leave and eat on the bench a few streets away. The baked goods themselves were on the pricier side but they were nice and there was quite a selection to choose from even though we were there...

i had been in japan for 2 weeks, eating my way across the west, and i hadn't had a decent baked good until i came to Universal Bakes and Cafe. The mini mushroom pizza thing was stunning, the curry bun (which I thought would just be curry spiced bread) had ACTUAL CURRY inside, and the coffee roll was just plain fun. I also snagged a day old champagne loaf, and another loaf of some variety, plus a french toast... stick... thing, and I thought the price was quite reasonable. I don't think it's fair to say that this place is pricier BECAUSE it's vegan. If anything it's pricier because of the level of thought and skill put into the bakes.

Additionally, the shop is in a charming area with a cozy vibe, and the staff are super warm and friendly and attentive, so what more could you ask...

Beware: this place is NOT GF. Nothing. However all the placards for the breads say GF on them. It’s very strange. When I asked why they just kept repeating everything is made with wheat. I only came here because it’s a top result on GF searches in the area. The staff acting rude and patronizing was really the icing on the cake I couldn’t eat. But their reply was so robotic I felt they had had this same conversation with other customers—if the signs are confusing…maybe change them??

I personally felt the bread was too out in the open and unwrapped, especially during a pandemic and when the staff have their noses hanging out of their mask. I wouldn’t have probably gotten anything...