In laid-back Yoyogi-Uehara, magazine-reading, designer sneaker-wearing hipsters gather at Dish, a cheerful cafe just a stone's throw from the station.
The space has an open, casual feel, decorated with urban mod flourishes - colorful sofas, fiberglass bucket chairs, and sixties-era bric-a-brac - that recall San Francisco's Mission district or Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Bouncy ska and Cuban R&B keep the mood lively, and original art is exhibited along the right-hand wall.
The food menu is quirky and eclectic, a pastiche of Tokyo cafe meets London pub: a Thai-inspired dish of ground pork sauteed with basil (Y945), Shepherd's pie made with minced lamb (Y1260), a lasagna oozing Bechamel and meat sauce (Y1050).
The drinks menu offers an array of organic juices (all Y630), coffee served in individual French press pots, and herbal teas like the Power Balance (an unusual blend of basil, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, peppermint, cardamom, and black pepper, Y682).
But perhaps the most surprising thing is the wine list. The cafe serves 26 wines, including a handful of organics and an extensive range of wines from Walla Walla's K Vintners and Charles Smith Wines. Almost everything is available by the glass (from Y840) and the carafe (from Y2520).
by Melinda Joe