All TopicsNewsCultureJapanese Snacks & CandyFood & DrinkTravelEntertainmentMember Spotlight
TokyoTreat Japanese Snacks BlogJapanese Crepes: Japan’s Spin On a French Classic

Japanese Crepes: Japan’s Spin On a French Classic

terrellterrell
Published Time
Posted on 
May 10, 2022
Modified Time
Updated last 
August 20, 2022

The crepe is an iconic piece of French cuisine, often using the finest ingredients. But hop on over to Tokyo’s Harajuku area, and you’ll see plenty of people walking around and enjoying the Japanese spin on the dish. Today, let’s delve into the world of Japanese street food with the world of Japanese crepes.

French Crepes vs. Japanese Crepes

Before we go into the differences between French crepes and Japanese crepes, there are actually not that many. 

The crepe originated in Brittany, an area in western France, all the way back in the 13th century. Despite their popularity, it’s not really clear how or when it even ended up on the streets of Japan. 

French crepes are often made with wheat flour, milk, and eggs. However, they can also be made with buckwheat flour, usually for more savory crepes. This French treat is usually cooked, filled with top-notch ingredients, and laid on a plate. They are often folded or wrapped in a burrito shape. 

The Santa Monica Crepes stand, a stand for Japanese crepes, at night with its sign lit up, a crepe illustration behind it, and people enjoying crepes in front of teh pink stand.
Luckily, the French crepe made it’s way here, so that we can enjoy Japanese crepes on our way in between stores. Image via Shutterstock

Sometime during the 1970s, crepes made an appearance in Harajuku as a street food. These Japanese street crepes were thinner, folded into a cone in paper wrapping, and most importantly, full of unique ingredients. Unlike French crepes, Japanese crepes use wheat flour for both sweet or savory fillings.

The outer layer of a Japanese-style crepe is made to be paper thin by using a tool to spread the crepe batter across the pan or griddle. This street food is soft, but good shops will make ones that are nice and crispy around the edges.

Craving a sweet treat from Tokyo? Or how about something savory? Check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat sends the latest and greatest Japanese snacks, sweets, drinks, noodles, and more, right to your door straight from Japan, perfect for any craving! 

Dessert Crepe Fillings

While French crepes tend to use the finest ingredients, Japanese crepes are made to be a delicious treat that you can enjoy while shopping or on your way down Takeshita Street. That means that the ingredients may not be fancy, but they sure are delicious and easy to hold.

Fresh Fruits

Fresh fruits are so common that you probably can’t find a crepe stand without a single fresh fruit option. Things like bananas, strawberries, apples, and peaches are common staples, but more seasonal and regional fruits are also usually on the menu. Think fruits like kiwi fruit, mangoes, the famous Hokkaido melons, Japanese mikan (tangerines), and Amaou strawberries

For some added sweetness, some crepes may feature cinnamon apples for a kind of apple pie taste.

Sweet Dairy

A plastic model of a Japanese crepe at a Japanese crepe stand sits in front of a blue background, decorated with fake bananas, strawberries, ice cream, chocolate sauce, and cheesecake.
Unfortunately, for many lactose intolerant people, Japanese crepes can be full of dairy. This one features whipped cream, ice cream, and more. Image via Shutterstock

Dairy products like fresh whipped cream, custard, and ice cream are also common in one way or another. Japan loves fresh whipped cream (nama kurimu) because of its more subtle sweetness. Meanwhile, custard has a bit more flavor and volume. Ice cream, too, is a popular option with plenty of flavors including vanilla, chocolate, and matcha (Japanese powdered green tea) flavors. 

These toppings are so popular that many dessert crepes will have at least one of these, if not a combination. That being said, if dairy isn’t very kind to your stomach, you can always ask for it without using a simple “nama kurimu nashi (without)”.

Other Toppings

Some other tasty toppings include nuts and plenty of sauces. Strawberry, caramel, and chocolate sauce are popular additions to crepe’s fillings. Even Nutella is becoming more popular at crepe shops. 

If you want to add a bit of Okinawa flavor to your crepe, you can also try a crepe with kuromitsu (traditional Japanese syrup) made with kokuto (Okinawa black sugar). You can go more traditional as well with an azuki red bean paste filling.

You can also find tasty treats like cheesecake, chocolate cake, brownies, mochi, oreos, and more. Sometimes you will find them in pieces, but other places will put a whole slice of cake inside of your crepe.

Savory Crepe Fillings

Japanese savory crepes, also known as snack crepes, are still made with the same golden-brown thinness and flavor of a dessert crepe. So the only thing separating snack crepes from dessert crepes is the filling. 

This snack-on-the-go can have different proteins like tuna, ham, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, or sausage. For veggies, lettuce, spinach, and green peppers are common toppings. The sauces are really where it stands out, with sauces like Japanese mayo, pizza sauce, and salsa being just a few options.

Two women hold two Japanese crepes in their hands, one with a lot of chocolate powder and the other being a shops original creme brulee crepe.
Comcrepe in Harajuku has even made a name for themselves with their crème brulee crepe. This one usually has to be eaten with a spoon. Image via Shutterstock

Popular Japanese Crepe Stands

Tokyo has plenty of places to enjoy crepes. However, if you’re looking for options, the best place to head is to Harajuku. There are so many to choose from, but here are just a popular few.

Marion Crepes is one of the two oldest crepe shops in Harajuku, started in the 1970s just after the now closed Angel Hearts. It’s not as flashy as other shops on Takeshita Street, with a blue, red, and white color scheme different from the pink of other shops.

Santa Monica Crepes fits in a bit more with the general Harajuku kawaii aesthetic with a bright white and pink storefront. It even has a sign that lights up at night that features a strawberry crepe, so you can’t miss it.

Cafe Crepe Laforet is off of Takeshita Street, but it’s actually on the first level outside of Laforet Harajuku. This popular shopping center has plenty of great stores. tasty restaurants, and even a Sailor Moon store. So after a day shopping, you can head outside and buy a crepe to relax!

Craving some Japanese crepes now? What are your favorite crepe fillings? Let us know in the comments!

Enjoy Delicious Japanese Candy And Snacks Every Month!

Starting from $32.50 USD

Get TokyoTreat

Author avatar
terrell

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Enjoy Delicious Japanese Candy And Snacks Every Month!

Starting from $32.50 USD

Get TokyoTreat

Related Articles

Christmas Flavors: Best Pocky Treats for the Season!

November 13, 2023

Pocky has some fantastic Christmas flavors that you can enjoy! As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to unwrap the joy of these delightful snacks!

Christmas Cake in Japan: Why is it So Good?

November 09, 2023

A Japanese Christmas cake is like a slice of holiday magic on a plate. Imagine a snowy winter evening. When you take a bite, twinkling lights surround you, and the air carries scents of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Shiroi Koibito and More: Explore the Christmas Magic of Hokkaido!

November 09, 2023

Shiroi koibito isn’t just a delightful treat; it’s a magical gateway to Hokkaido’s winter wonderland!

Ekiben: Best Boxed Lunches on a Train!

November 07, 2023

An ekiben is a culinary treasure showing Japan’s unique food culture that offer a variety of regional cuisine!

Udon vs Soba: Which One Is Better?

November 01, 2023

Today, we’re diving into a super delicious topic: udon vs. soba – the ultimate showdown of Japanese noodles! These two noodle champs aren’t just popular in Japan; they’re rocking taste buds worldwide.

Karaage: The Best Fried Chicken from Japan!

November 01, 2023

Karaage (fried chicken) is a beloved treasure, capturing taste buds across Japan. Known for its crunchy outside and juicy inside, this Japanese fried chicken dish is a foodie’s delight.

TokyoTreat
Subscription
PricingBeginner’s Guide to TokyoTreatUpcoming BoxPast boxes
Support & Information
FAQContactHelp CenterBlog

Be a TokyoTreat Insider!

Join our newsletter and receive tasty news and deals!



AnIchigo Logobrand.
Copyright © 2023 TokyoTreat™. All Rights Reserved.
Accepted Payments
Visa payment availableMastercard payment availableAmerican Express payment availableDiscover payment availablePayPal payment available