food-drink -

Soy to the World

Life is conspiring to keep your big Japanese sojourn an Oriental fantasy. (Frankly, you lack the time, yen, and Tinsley Mortimer advertising contract.)

But even crap exchange rates won’t keep you from Kyotofu, a new Japanese dessert bar and bakery that’s just opened (softly) in Hell’s Kitchen.

The sleek little spot (designed by the architect who did Chikalicious, Jewel Bako, and Momofuku) has a bright, comfy dining pod filled with white upholstered seating and tables for two.

The focus is on beautiful desserts, sweet treats, and small plates with imported Japanese ingredients like mochi, green tea, black sesame, lychee, and tofu (which is made on-site daily).

And, oh, the options: Tahitian vanilla sticky rice pudding, saffron-sake-pear tartlets, and bite-size cookies paired with cherry blossom liqueur, sake, champagne, and shochu cocktails.

Soon enough you’ll be able to pop by for a morning coffee and breakfast pastry.

It’s bound to become a ritual for the midtown set.

We hear it’s already big in Japan.


Kyotofu, 705 Ninth Avenue, between 48th and 49th Streets (212-974-6012 or kyotofu-nyc.com).