01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A good melon pan is about more than its crisp surface: the bread inside should be sweet and moist, too. This one is described as Pingouin’s most popular item, and one regular says it was the reason they wanted to come back. It is easy to see why it might catch your eye. For something especially cute, look for the penguin-shaped cream bun; different colours are said to appear with the seasons. The cream buns are filled generously with homemade custard, with a soft, flowing texture.
With both sweet bakes and savoury breads on offer, picking up a few to try at home is part of the appeal. One long-time customer’s favourite is P shokupan, the Japanese-style soft white loaf. They enjoy its chewy texture without toasting it, either with ham or cheese in a sandwich or alongside soup. Thick-cut toast is also on the menu, made with one slice of bread cut to 3 thickness; it is described as crisp outside and fluffy within. Choose P shokupan to appreciate the bread’s springy texture, or the toast for a browned, crisp-edged slice.
For a more substantial meal, there are savoury breads and sandwiches. One visitor singles out the generously filled chicken tatsuta and ham katsu sandwiches, while another enjoyed a well-topped tartine. The panini is a hot sandwich pressed with bacon, lettuce, tomato and cheese; the herb chicken and BLT sandwiches can also be toasted. Set meals pair bread and salad with daily soup, or offer pork stew in place of the soup. The stew is tomato-based, with pork belly cooked until tender.
There is also a platter combining four kinds of savoury bread, with one of each. The quiche set comes with two varieties: a mushroom, shimeji mushroom and bacon quiche, and a seasonal quiche. Salad and daily soup are included. You can order a larger portion of soup or choose to have pork stew instead.
Choosing from the breads is part of the pleasure, though several visitors say the selection had dwindled by the afternoon. If you have your eye on a penguin-shaped bun in particular, going earlier may be wise. Pingouin is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 to 15:00, and closed on Sundays and Mondays. It is a handy Sangenjaya stop when you want to choose between classic sweet breads and options to pair with a sandwich or soup.
