Sakura-tei

Sakura-tei is an okonomiyaki and monjayaki restaurant in Harajuku, inside the art-filled Design Festa building. You choose ingredients, then cook them on the hot plate built into your table, with English instructions to guide you. The menu includes vegan and vegetarian versions, clearly marked, and a separate vegetarian sauce. Colorful wall art and hip-hop music add to the casual, creative setting. Come for a hands-on meal and try a savory pancake or monjayaki; mid-afternoon can be a quieter time to visit.

Cooking at the table

The meal starts with a choice of ingredients. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake built around batter, egg and cabbage, with possible additions such as pork, shrimp, mushrooms or tempura pieces. At Sakura-tei, the ingredients arrive for you to cook on the griddle set into your table.

Monjayaki is another option, alongside yakisoba. English instructions explain how to prepare the food, so you can follow them as you cook. Sauces and toppings, including mayonnaise and dried seaweed flakes, let you finish the dish at the table.

Vegetarian choices and the setting

Vegan and vegetarian dishes are marked on the menu, and a separate vegetarian sauce is available. This makes it easier to choose a meat-free version of okonomiyaki or monjayaki without relying on guesswork.

Sakura-tei is in the Design Festa building, where the dining space has painted walls and an artistic feel. Hip-hop music adds to the casual Harajuku atmosphere. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and the menu includes beer as well as food.