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    Tokara

    4.7 (31 reviews)

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    Amazing wagashi
    Jaclynne W.

    Tokara is so so lovely. Wagashi is thoughtfully and beautifully made, a delicate delight.

    a plate of noodles and a cup of tea
    Rylee M.

    Tokara is a local legend! If I could give this 10 stars, I would. The Wagashi is absolutely amazing, and she is the kindest person. Please go support such a truly unique local business. Great quality of food and great service.

    Beautiful business card
    Sophia P.

    Just a beautiful experience from the sweets, to the matcha, to the ambience of the space. I don't think they are open regularly, but my friend and I made it for an open house event as part of the Phinney Art Walk, and what a treat! I felt transported and also the staff were so gracious and welcoming. Hopefully I'll be able to visit another open house or will try ordering through their Uber eats or pick up at the local bakeries they supply. A special little gem!

    Tokara's "Tsuki Usagi" (Moon Rabbit) with a bowl of matcha.
    Nemu E.

    I started going to Tokara's Open House last year even though I had been a resident of Seattle for 5 years prior to that. It was such a beautiful, serene, and mysterious place and only open once a month! However, one day I decided that I should make a reservation and then went to pick up my order. Tokara-Sensei is a very gracious and kind host. Her studio at Phinney Ride is small and cozy. She even offered me green tea. I enjoyed having a conversation with her and exchanging tea notes. After that, I made it a goal to make it to almost every single one of her open house if I could. Her handmade traditional Japanese sweets are pleasant to the eyes and palate. While most people complain that the sweets are "bland," to me, they are just the right texture and flavor. The flavors must not overpower the palate with sickening sweetness like what most of the Western confections offer. Moreover, the designs of her handmade confections change every month so I'm always looking forward to what she has to offer on the upcoming open house. I highly recommend Tokara to anyone who wants to try traditional Japanese sweets. They are great with matcha or green tea and must be consumed as soon as possible to enjoy the optimal flavor and texture of such beautifully fine confections.

    Lena L.

    I felt like the desserts were tasty but lacking in flavor. It was very simple flavors and so I feel it was a bit overpriced to get 3 small desserts. However, there is artistry and handiwork that is invested to make the shapes of the desserts so beautiful. I don't know if I would try the things i got again but it was nice trying this place out. The owner was kind and offered me some free tea while I picked up my box. It's just a tad inconvenient with the space and the limited hours you have to pick up the items as well.

    Monica B.

    I had been by Tokara countless times. I always looked at the sign, which lists the next open house (typically on a Sunday) and kept on going by, making a mental note to come back. And so it went - over and over again. My brother has a great appreciation for confections. When he visited in August, I decided to take him there to try the wagashi (Japanese sweets). We decided to try the open house. I called the week before to submit my order for 3 boxes. Each piece is $3.50 and each box holds 3 pieces. My total was a bit over $30. When we arrived, there were a number of things for sale in front of the house. Also, a few artists were displaying their art for sale. As we walked up to the house, I somehow felt a bit serene and couldn't figure out why. Well, when I got inside, all the seats were taken (only 3 or so because it was a small space) and a woman was in the middle of a ceremony. Somehow I was getting that vibe before I entered the house. I believe the cost was $5 but I'm not sure since I didn't have any. The wagashi was presented on a stack of boxes so everyone coming could see them. Chef Tokara came in and out of the back to deliver the wagashi. She tested my Japanese and I'm sorry to say, it's not very good. Fail! I must say that it's a crime to eat something so beautiful! Each piece is both delicate and intricate. Here's what we got: Gourd: Firm tofu-like texture. Green tea flavor. Coarse rice flower, sea gelatin. Green tea, white bean paste inside. Mimosa knoll: Rice sponge cake with three layers, colors of mimosa petals, egg, white bean, rice flour, green tea, purple potato. Sunflower: Konashi and egg kinto with sprinkled poppy seed on top, white bean sugar, egg, flour, azuki, poppy seed. My favorite was the mimosa knoll. The rice sponge cake was just sweet enough and the flavors were complex. The green tea and purple potato added variety that contributed to the overall experience. I enjoyed it very much but felt sad as I ate these bits of art. I wanted to keep looking at them! Overall, at $3.50 a piece, a bit spendy but a nice treat.

    Wagashi (this onecame with the matcha set)
    Joop V.

    I was so intrigued by Tokara, this local, hidden gem in Seattle that handmakes rotating kinds of wagashi, the traditional/delicate handmade Japanese sweets that are typically used in tea ceremony. Their desserts are both aesthetically and tastefully pleasing...and are quite rare to find in normal day to day places we typically visit. Tokara has an open-house just once a month (but they do wholesale supplies to other Seattle bakeries, too), so make sure you look up their schedule, call/email to pre-order ahead of open-house date and go pick up your sweets when they are open. Tokara is a very small place but has a zen-ish calming feel to it. Most people just go there to pick up their sweet boxes (3 pieces/box consisting of mochi, yokan and manju each for $12 a box). However, if you are lucky to arrive there early like I did when there aren't so many people, you can have tea set for $7 (matcha+another type of wagashi) there as well. This was my first time getting sweets at Tokara. I also got a box for my SO's grandparents who had stronger ties to Japan and don't get to have these often anymore (because of their ages and because these confectionaries are hard to find here) and their eyes really lit up once they saw what the box contained :)). I will check out their open house calendar and put it on my schedule and will definitely be stopping by Tokara in a future again.

    September selection
    Vivian H.

    Tokara has an open house on the second Sunday of each month. Unless you want to buy in bulk, your best option is to make a reservation for a box or two for the open house. It's $11 for a prepared box of three. The sweets are handcrafted and seasonal. It's a good thing that I reserved a box, because she was already sold out by 3:15. I took the box home, made a pot of genmai cha, and enjoyed the sweets. The flavors and textures were spot on - delicate and subtle. The treats were beautiful and it makes you appreciate even more than they are handmade. My only gripe was that it was a bit expensive, but I will probably be back.

    Exterior of Tokara
    Kara S.

    Tokara, So my name is Kara. Obviously, as you can imagine, every time I walked by this adorable little house I felt like it was speaking to me. Writing me a letter, maybe. Immediately after moving to the neighborhood, I googled it and read about the Japanese confections that are only available to the public one Sunday every month. Typically this is the second Sunday of each month, but for some strange and wonderful reason, the sign that announces the next open house day read 1/6, which just so happened to be the day I was walking by with me dog. AND the day I skipped a hike because I was too cold. I felt like it was a strange fate that I ended up loafing around my neighborhood on a Sunday that they were to open. So I went home and busied myself for a few hours, all the while thinking about going there right at 1 pm. See, they suggest you reserve a box of confections, which I hadn't done. I actually went to the website and tried, but couldn't for the life of me figure how to. I'm not sure if that speaks to their UX design or my UX idiocy. Either way, I just decided to go right when they opened. The place was adorable, and I really enjoyed talking to them, while sipping a sweet bean dish and drinking some green tea. I really had a genuinely wonderful conversation with the woman playing the shamisen, about what brought us both to Seattle from the East Coast and how we think it compares. Now, I didn't love the confections as much as I wish I did. Bean paste just isn't my thing, unfortunately. But the experience of the visit was worth what i paid for those three treats. And to top it off, they said I was their first customer of 2013, and that it was good luck. I would say even if you are unfamiliar with Japanese confections, just go for the experience. It's completely worth it. Love, Kara

    Yao H.

    This one has been on my list for a while and we finally got the chance to successfully make a reservation. They usually open on one Sunday each month, and we reserved a box of wagashi online. They also offered matcha and wagashi for $8/person that afternoon, and we also tried that. The wagashi was different from the ones we reserved, and it well tasted well with the hand-made matcha, authentic and yummy. And it was great to observe how they made the matcha. In the reserved box, there were three pieces of wagashi, all of which were yummy too. Nice place!

    Cute Japanese style house

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    Tokara makes the best manju on the west coast.

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    Tokara Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tokara

    Where can I find these in stores?

    There is a list of partners who sell tokaragashi in the website ”purchase” page. Thank you for your… Read more

    Seems like they are closed forever?

    Hello. Tokara is mainly doing wholesale business, and open to public only once or twice a month. The dates are usually posted on Website and FB. Thank you!

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    Review Highlights - Tokara

    The wagashi was different from the ones we reserved, and it well tasted well with the hand-made matcha, authentic and yummy.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    ChefShop - (1/22/26)

    ChefShop

    (58 reviews)

    $$

    Interbay

    My first visit was back in August 2010 when I bought a large bag of cocoa, definitely preYelp for…read moreme. I've driven past this spot a gazillion times and just read this specialty business has been around since 1997! Props for longevity! I stopped in yesterday (1/22/26) for three reasons: I had a Too Good To Go confectionary pickup, wanted to see their Kasama Chocolate selection, and look around after my 15-16 year hiatus. Parking along Elliott in the Interbay area is dicey due to bus lanes, parking restrictions and traffic flow. Luckily, there are a few parking slots on the south side of their building, adjacent to Holy Mountain Brewing. Walked in and was blown away at the retail layout, so much to see! The counter person (owner?) was busy with another customer. Their convo was very warm and interactive. So I slowly meandered through the store and really liked what I saw. I should have come here for useful holiday gifts. I was later checked upon inquiring whether I needed any help locating any particular item(s). Chocolates, spices, olive oils, sauces, condiments, pasta, and other specialty items that a culinarian, gourmand, or treasure seeker would fully enjoy. The retail displays are so enticing and provides a lot of inspiration. Plus ChefShop is a lot closer to me than heading to PFI on S Dearborn. I ended up having to restrain myself and selected ras el hanout and berbere spice jars and two bars of Kasama Chocolate for purchase. The latter I learned about from Instagram, much closer than having to trek to Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver, BC. Plus my TGTG confectionary bag, everything found made for a successful retail visit. Terrific retail layout. Welcoming and informative customer service. With the loss of Chocolopolis further down Elliott, ChefShop is another great resource for quality chocolate varieties. Definitely, follow them via IG (@chefshopseattle) for up to date info & classes. Great to stock your pantry, find unique gifts for others, and treats for yourself. Just don't have such a long delay between visits like me. Highly recommended!

    This is a great little shop filled with tons of specialty items and high quality ingredients for…read moreyour next meal. It is the perfect place if you are a serious foodie or chef! They have every spice you can imagine and lots of gourmet condiments too. The owner is friendly and they send out a very lengthy e-mail every week highlighting some of their products and providing recipes to try. The first time I came was for a fun tasting event where we got to sample some of their Mediterranean herbs and spices used on hummus. The next time I came here was for a Too Goo to Go pickup where they had a special recipe surprise bag. It came with the recipe and some of the ingredients needed to make a pasta dinner. They regularly have pickups available on Too Good to Go so that's a great way to try some of their products at a discount. The only drawback here is that the prices can be a bit steep, and sometimes items are not priced clearly so you might need to ask.

    BEAST AND CLEAVER - Potatoes au gratin

    BEAST AND CLEAVER

    (94 reviews)

    $$$

    Loyal Heights, Ballard

    Food: where to begin?! We had the pate, Camembert cheese, roasted beets, potato gratin,…read morecheeseburger, and Wagyu ribeye. We didn't care for the cheeseburger, but everything else blew our socks off. We went to Japan last year, and I'm pretty sure the Wagyu was on par with what we had there. Service: friendly, timely, and attentive Ambiance: it's a casual and comfortable bistro inside a butcher shop

    This review is for the Beastro, an intimate dining experience at Beast and Cleaver, a small butcher…read moreshop nested in a corner of Loyal Heights. I would recommend getting a reservation, as the dining room is very small and intimate. Inside the dining room are a few small tables and a bar that can seat 4-5 people. The Beastro is an open-kitchen layout, and you can see the cooks work on each dish before it comes out. The menu is well-composed, with thoughtful appetizers that get you excited for the main courses. For main courses, my group got the London royale and porterhouse steaks. The London royale was delicious, it's served rare atop a delicious sauce with crisped baguette slices. The meat really melts in your mouth. The porterhouse was also very good, and they were able to cook both the filet & strip to perfection. If you're able to get a reservation the Beastro is a great place to celebrate a special occasion or go on a date night. The vibe is super intimate so the setting won't be loud or distracting.

    Pasteria Lucchese - Spinach pappardelle $8, pomodoro sauce $8

    Pasteria Lucchese

    (15 reviews)

    $$

    Ballard

    Okay, holy shit, I had to RUN and write this review after getting spinach pappardelle and pomodoro…read moresauce from Pasteria Lucchese at the Ballard Farmer's Market. I'm an Italian from New York. I lived there for 22 years. When I tell you I haven't had good Italian food since I moved to Washington 5 years ago (yes, I even disliked The Pink Door), I mean it. And when I say this is the BEST pasta and sauce I stumbled across today, I MEAN IT. I feared writing this review would cause the pasta to sell out faster. I went around 12:30 today and most of the pasta was already sold out (I believe they open at 9 am). I guess I'll be waking up earlier to beat everyone there for the rest of my life. YOU MUST GO HERE.

    Pasteria Lucchese has ruined boxed pastas for me!…read more You can find their booth at Ballard's farmers market. I finally noticed their booth while roaming around the market during a snow day, which resulted in a uncrowded market. Anyways, the man running the booth was so easy to chat with. I ended up purchasing their saffron tagliatelle and beet and goat cheese ravioli since he sold me on how to prepare those pastas. He even gave me his business card and told me to not hesitate to call if I had any further questions while cooking. You can't beat service like that! Later that night, I followed his suggestions on how to prepare those pastas: Saffron tagliatelle with shallots, onions, crab meat and a little cream. Beet and goat cheese ravioli with caramelized onions. We ended up adding a little bit of cream to it. I was blown away with both dishes. Both pastas had the perfect texture and flavors were amazing. The saffron pasta had a nice creamy taste while the ravioli tasted earthy and mildly sweet. Best of all, these were quick to prepare, and there's no need to thaw the pastas either. While it takes 3-4 min to boil the pastas, the total cooking time was under 15 min. Next Sunday I'll be returning to stock up on those pastas for those nights I need a quick meal.

    Tokara - desserts - Updated May 2026

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