Grilled cheese and dill soup from Cafe RoJean in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
Cafe RoJean in the trendy Setagaya ward of Tokyo is straight out of Kansas, with a warm, inviting interior set with Mason jars and clay pottery. The country blue pottery-style dishware and sunflower-bedecked cloth napkins scream heartland kitchen.
American diners nostalgic for some down-home cuisine can find it at Cafe RoJean in the trendy Setagaya ward of Tokyo.
This cozy restaurant is straight out of Kansas, with a warm, inviting interior set with Mason jars and clay pottery. The country blue pottery-style dishware and sunflower-bedecked cloth napkins scream heartland kitchen.
The dining space seats 14 with room outside for six more. English menus are available.
I opted for the grilled cheese sandwich and dill soup for 1,650 yen, or $11.56, and a cherry lemonade for 700 yen. The American-sized portion was big for Japan.
The more cheese, the better, and RoJean’s grilled cheese did not disappoint. The soup was creamy and rich. The cherry lemonade was more sweet than tangy.
Cafe RoJean in Tokyo seems straight out of Kansas, with a warm, inviting interior set with Mason jars and clay pottery. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)
The menu includes several classic American dishes that are hard to find in Japan, including sloppy joes with chips and chicken quesadillas (1,350 yen each), buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy (1,650 yen); and granola with milk and yogurt (1,100 yen).
Drink options are hot coffee for 440 yen or iced for 550 yen, with free refills; iced and hot black, mint, lemon ginger, peach or raspberry tea for 440 yen; and cherry, blue raspberry or peach lemonade for 700 yen.
Don’t leave without trying the brownie sundae topped with pecan sauce for 1,400 yen; vegan cinnamon sugar French toast sticks for 1,500 yen; banana bread for 550 yen; or key lime pie for 850 yen.
Cafe RoJean
Location: 1-9-2 Kitazawa, Setagaya city, Tokyo 155-0031
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Prices: Most items cost between 550 yen and 1,650 yen.
Dress: Casual
Directions: A short walk from Ikenoue Station on the Inokashira Line.
Information: Online: facebook.com/caferojean
