Best hybrid snacks and desserts in Tokyo

Tempura Motoyoshi is one of Tokyo’s most celebrated tempura specialists. A meal at this Michelin-starred restaurant in Minami-Aoyama could easily set you back ¥19,000. But if you want a little teaser before splashing out for an omakase dinner, drop by the restaurant’s offshoot at Daikanyama for its signature deep-fried sweet potato tempura.

We recommended ordering the Noto salt-flavoured milk soft serve with pieces of deep-fried sweet potato and topped with crispy tempura bits. This inventive dessert is sensational. The warm sweet potato with its lightly crisp skin has been cooked for an hour to render its flesh buttery soft. It’s the perfect foil for the cold and creamy soft serve, while the sprinkling of salt brings all these flavours together to create one satisfying dessert.

This dim sum staple has taken over the streets of Yokohama's Chinatown. It’s an inventive mashup of a melon pan and a char siu bao. Found at Saiyuki, this savoury bun is filled with a moreish barbecued pork filling, while the top of the bun features a familiar cookie-like crust from a melonpan. In fact, these buns have become so popular, you can also order them online via Rakuten to heat up at home whenever you please.

If you can’t make it to Yokohama’s Chinatown, these hybrid rolls remind us of the famed char siu buns at dim sum chain Tim Ho Wan in Tokyo (it’s a controversial comparison, but trust us, they’re that good).

Forget the croissant-doughnut – it’s time to move on to the croissant-taiyaki. Taiyaki is a traditional Japanese fish-shaped cake that’s usually filled with red bean paste, but this version by Gindaco adds buttery puff pastry to give it that croissant-like texture.

The chain also offers different fillings such as custard cream and a seasonal strawberry custard flavour. One side of the fish is coated with caramelised and crystallised sugar, giving it an irresistible crunchy outer layer. Visit the Ebisu location if you’re keen to try their triple hybrid: taiyaki croissant ice cream!

Head on over to the cheerful Flippers café in Shimokitazawa for light-as-air pancakes that are almost like a cross between a soufflé and your favourite breakfast item. The super-fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth pancakes are made with ricotta, buttermilk or meringue, giving them a texture that's the talk of town. Don’t expect to just walk in – especially on weekends. But if you have the patience, getting in line for some of Tokyo’s most Instagrammable desserts will be well worth it.

Hailing all the way from New York City, this cosy bakery serves everything from croissants and cookies to baguettes and sandwiches. One of the most popular items is the pretzel croissant, which has everything you would expect of the buttery baked pastry, but with a crisp outer shell sprinkled with sesame seeds and salt to make it taste like a pretzel. You can't go wrong with this. 

Usagiya Café has added a French twist to this classic shiruko (red bean soup) dessert, mixing it with rich cheese. Put a dollop of shiruko fromage on a thin monaka wafer and you have the perfect Asian-meets-Western dessert. The hybrid was inspired by the Brazilian trend of combining goiabada (guava jelly) and cheese, and has become one of Usagiya’s most popular treats.