01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A thick block of white bread hollowed out into an edible bowl and filled with piping-hot stew, the signature dish known as gurapan is synonymous with Café Den. The crust is toasted until crisp and fragrant, while the fluffy crumb inside mingles with the velvety sauce. Diners can choose between 2 varieties: a mellow white stew with prawns, ham, and bacon, or tender stewed beef sinew simmered in demiglace. Both versions are topped with cheese and baked to a golden brown. Dipping the reserved bread soft interior into the rich sauce and eventually eating your way through the crust makes for a uniquely satisfying meal.
Sweets and drinks here come with theatrical flair. The limited-run custard pudding is firm and traditional, capped generously with a swirl of soft-serve ice cream where bittersweet caramel blends with mellow dairy richness. Classic cream sodas and coffee floats arrive with an entire ice cream cone inverted directly atop the glass. The dark bitterness of the coffee or the fizzy soda contrasts with the sweetness of the melting ice cream at every sip.
Wood-paneled walls and colorful upholstered chairs lend the cozy dining room an unhurried, retro Showa-era charm. Beyond the house specialty, the menu covers a full spectrum of café fare, from morning sets with toast and a boiled egg to omelet-filled sandwiches and spaghetti plates. Please note that payments are cash only, so it is best to prepare paper money in advance.
