The popular LeTAO cheesecake in Otaru, Hokkaido — rich and melts in your mouth

Text and photos by /Annie

The most memorable thing on this trip to Japan was definitely LeTAO’s signature — the double-layered cheesecake. Although LeTAO has also set up directly operated stores in Taiwan, I always feel that the one in Otaru tastes way better than the Taipei branch. Actually, I spent a day in Sapporo with no particular plan, just wandering around. My last visit to Otaru left a good impression (because there were dessert shops everywhere), and thinking that it was still early and tourists were probably all asleep, I decided to head to Otaru for a quick stroll.

I originally just wanted to take photos by the canal in Otaru today, but after passing by LeTAO and seeing a handsome guy offering samples of pyramid chocolate, I decided to pop in for a look. As I wandered around, I discovered that there’s actually a café for sit-down dining on the second floor.

The café space on the second floor is quite spacious, but later on, a group of Taiwanese tourists came here for afternoon tea, and their loud volume made it hard not to notice.

The cake combo looked like a pretty good deal, so I ordered one to try. On the menu, you can choose any one cake paired with a drink (black tea, coffee, or orange juice) for just 864 yen.

There were quite a few types of cakes to choose from, but in the end, I went with the classic double-layered cheesecake, which I noticed almost every table had ordered.

For my drink in the combo, I chose iced black tea. The tea leaves at LeTAO seem to be scented, and I really liked the flavor of the July limited edition.

If you like the drink, the shop also sells the tea.

The No. 1 popular item, the Double Fromage. I had tried LeTAO’s cheesecake at their Taipei store before, and while I thought it was pretty good back then, it didn’t particularly wow me. But this time, having it at the flagship store was an absolutely astonishingly delicious experience (it really does taste better when it’s fresh)! The rich aroma of the cheese and the delicate, smooth texture of the cake had incredibly layered flavors that simply melted in your mouth. The only downside was that there was only a small piece — such a delicious treat that you won’t forget easily.

Main store of Otaru Western Confectionery LeTAO
http://www.letao.jp/shop/letao.php
Address: 7-16, X:cho, Otaru City, Hokkaido
Business hours: 09:00 ~ 18:00

Annie @ Travel Food Fun
Returning to the essence of travel