Toconoco

I absolutely loved this place!!!! I ordered the mackerel set menu and an oat matcha latte. The set menu was so refreshing and light, but really filled you up - it tasted so homemade and healthy!! I forgot to take a picture of the matcha latte but it was served in a beautifully handmade mug (most of their ceramics were handmade!) I came here in May so was able to sit outside in the sun and enjoy the view of the river. The location is great as it’s tucked away and private. The staff were so lovely and it was nice to be able to order and talk to them in Japanese - It felt like I was back in Japan. I’ve recommended this place to friends and family and will definitely come again!

So, I've been heading over to Toconoco for about three years now, and honestly? It's like a comforting hug in the form of food. If you're after some genuine, no-fuss Japanese grub, this is your spot. Rice Balls: These little delights? Spot on. Perfect texture and just pure yum. Udon: Whether you're in the mood for something hot and cozy or cool and refreshing, they've got you. Soba Buckwheat Noodles: If you're trying to keep it on the healthier side but don't wanna skimp on taste, these are a win. Oh, and if you're a tea lover like me, their selection is on point. Matcha desserts? Yes, please! Sweet without being too heavy and that matcha kick is just right. But the real MVP for families? The kids' play area. It's such a cool spot for the little ones. Love seeing families chill, with kiddos having a blast. So, if you're after a chill spot with straightforward, delicious Japanese bites, give Toconoco a whirl. It's got that friendly, community vibe that keeps me coming back!

Nice atmosphere and it's definitely for families as there are play areas for the kids (and actually at the time of my visit, kids are just playing around the cafe 😄). Food is great, adequate serving at a good price. The rice rolls are larger than the store bought ones. The iced Hoji I ordered was flavorful. I had a hard time finding the place but that's because you have to pass through a gate leading to the cafe and I thought it was a private locked gate (which is not).

An new favourite of mine! It’s the first time that I’ve seen certain dishes outside of Japan and the soba was absolutely delicious! The vibe is very warm and cosy! I also adore the little details such as the teapots, savoury teas and music! Was a little disappointed by the anpan but everything else was amazing! Will be regular!

So good! There was only one thing I didn't enjoy. Friendly staff. Go here with alot of space to eat, there are many menu items which are all hearty and affordable, but since it's in a large neighbourhood area I recommend getting there around 2-3pm to beat the busy lunch rush! There are alot of seats but they were all filled up. We had a black sesame latte, which was nice and aromatic and had a good light sweetness, as well as toast that comes with 2 slices and 3 spreads: matcha, black sesame, and red bean, HIGHLY recommend this. The matcha latte was nice and smooth, so it's made well, and a good light sweetness to it, personally I think I would prefer it stronger/less sweet, other regular matcha drinkers would also agree. We also had onigiri which are so good for the price. If you are a fan of sour things, try the sour plum onigiri, I really enjoyed it. Then we had soba noodles and udon noodles, both so good🥹. The noodles were a very good texture and the soup had alot of flavour which alot of restaurants lack and charge too much for, these noodles and soups start at £6 and are a good portion too. The udon and soba noodles have different broths and we loved both kinds! They also give togarashi (japanese spice blend) with soups which is a nice touch. We also tried a salmon ochazuke which is rice, salmon on top sitting in a bit of broth which was nice but I don't think I would get it again :) In terms of the savoury food, it was very pleasant and fresh tasting. The only thing we didn't enjoy was the cheesecake of the day which was matcha flavour. It was still frozen, you could actually hear that it was frozen from cutting through it with the fork, so it should've been clear to the workers and they shouldn't have served it. If they told me that it wasn't ready yet I'd have no issue with that :) The cheesecake also had a weird taste to it, tasted like fridge/freezer smell, so they should cling film the cake or put it in a large container to prevent this. It was also very cheesy it could use more sugar, I looove cream cheese and cheesecakes that aren't too sweet so the cream cheese flavour is actually present but this was too cheesy for us. The matcha ice cream was good. Still would 100% go back!

Amazing little Japanese cafe set back off the busy canal. The perfect place for anyone with small children (up to 5) as it has a play space to keep them entertained. Stayed for a couple hours and enjoyed a coffee and Udon noodle soup of which both were straight from the heart. I will certainly return