Japan is home to not only some of the coolest cat cafes in the world, but also some of the most unique, delicious and downright adorable snacks that you can find.
Because the main inspiration for NEKO Cat Cafe came from Japan, when we open our doors in Seattle we want to make sure you can not only see, but also taste the Japanese roots. We are going to take those muffins, cookies and scones you find at most Seattle cafe’s and spice them up a bit.
Here is a list of 5 classic Japanese snacks that we are thinking of serving at NEKO. Check them out and let us know what you think would be the best in our cat cafe.
Mochi Balls
Mochi balls are made by pounding sticky rice and are typically filled with sweet fillings like ice-cream or sweet bean paste. Flavors range from vanilla to strawberry to green tea.
Taiyaki
We are going to make the adoptable cats at NEKO a wee-bit jealous with these fish shaped treats. Taiyaki are made with pancake or waffle batter and traditionally filled with red bean paste, custard or chocolate. Taiyaki means baked fish in Japanese, hence the fish shape.
Dango
Is that a candy kabob? Nope, its Dango. Similar to mochi, dango are made with rice flour but are usually served on a skewer with three or four pieces. Dango come in a large variety of flavors and toppings including red bean paste, chestnut, and sesame seeds.
Manju
Manju originally came from China as ‘mantou’ and have since evolved into a popular Japanese confectionary. It is made of flour and rice powder and is usually filled with bean paste or a green tea filling.
Senbei
Crunchy and irresistible senbei are Japanese rice crackers that are both savory and sweet. Traditional savory versions are made of soy sauce and then wrapped in a thin layer of seaweed. Nowadays, senbei come coated in everything from curry to kimchi to chocolate.
