Delicious Dorayaki at Fukudora in Morishita

Published: August 31, 2017

Japanese people love their sweets and none more perhaps than dorayaki, the stuffed pancake sandwich beloved by all ages. Today we visited a new shop opened by dorayaki maker Fukudora, just one minute’s walk from Morishita Station in Koto-ku.

 

 

As we stepped inside on a hot and humid August afternoon, the shop was cool and comfortable, with piped classical music creating a relaxed ambience. Fourth generation president Mr. Konishi spared a few minutes from his busy schedule to chat about his company and their products.

 

 

“Fukudora is 15 years old but before that the company was called Konishi Seika, a maker of mainly Western-style cookies and cakes. My great-grandfather started the business in Nakano-ku, where we still have an office. My grandfather decided that the future was dorayaki and moved the factory to Sumiyoshi in Koto-ku from Nakano, opening a shop at the same time. We then established a second shop in Hakusan in Bunkyo-ku. Following that, we opened this shop in June of this year.”

 

 

“Why did we change our main products and our business style? It was for a variety of reasons but mainly because, although dorayaki are traditional Japanese confections, they are very close to Western-style sweets. Dorayaki basically contain eggs, flour and honey. Honey is the key ingredient; it gives them their unique smell and taste and allows the central area to become firmer when they are baked. They are all handmade, cooked on a hot plate. Castella has similar ingredients but is steamed, not made on metal griddles.”

 

 

“Dorayaki are very versatile and, as my grandfather always said, everyone likes them,”  adds Mr. Konishi. Fukudora offers 15 different flavours including anko, the traditional azuki bean paste filling. Mango cream and hassaku, a large citrus hybrid similar to an orange with a tart sweet flavour, are the summer selections while strawberry cream and Shinshu (Nagano) apple cream are autumnal flavours.

 

 

I selected a nama-dora, filled with a mixture of sweet bean paste and fresh cream. The kawa (pancake) was firm but softly moist with a delightful honey fragrance, while the filling was incredibly smooth and creamy. It was sweet but not excessively so; a perfect mid-morning or afternoon snack. Actually, one could eat Fukudora’s marvellous creations at any time!

 

 

The dorayaki at Fukudora come in two groups: those that contain cream and must be eaten soon after purchase or refrigerated, and those that contain azuki bean paste, which may be kept at room temperature. The former group may be refrigerated for up to three days, while the latter can be kept at room temperature for four days. This is what makes dorayaki such excellent souvenirs.

 

 

“Many of our local customers buy them on their way home after work, while shopping or as souvenirs when returning to their hometowns outside Tokyo. We sell many of our “selection boxes” to such customers. We like the idea of them saying to their relatives, “Look, there’s this delicious dorayaki shop just near my station in Tokyo.” I enjoy the day-to-day communication with the customers very much,” adds the affable Mr. Konishi.

 

 

The four dorayaki containing sweet bean paste are: tsubu-an (chunky chopped bean paste), kuri (white bean paste with a whole chestnut), ume-matcha (pickled plum and green tea flavoured bean paste) and anzu-an (white bean paste with an apricot). The cream varieties on the other hand, include chocolate cream with mochi (soft pounded rice cake), coffee flavoured bean paste with cream, green tea and mochi, bean paste with cheese and cream, and a custard cream with bean paste. They sound great, look wonderful and taste sublime.

 

 

The Fukudora Morishita shop is the only Fukudora shop to feature an eat-in corner. Customers can order their dorayaki, take a seat and enjoy them with a complimentary cup of tea. It’s a very pleasant way to take a break for a few minutes.

 

 

Fukudora has many other tasty treats to tempt customers. As befits a former maker of Western-style sweets, Fukudora sells madeleines. There are two types, plain and green tea, and both contain a smattering of azuki beans. They would go very well with your mid-morning or afternoon tea and coffee. In addition there are large, individually wrapped manju with chestnuts or sweet potato and white bean paste.

 

 

As if that weren’t enough to sate your sweet tooth there are colourful fruit jellies filled with a variety of fresh fruit…

 

 

As well as these inviting biscuit selections. For those who would like something savoury, Fukudora also carries a range of sembei rice crackers, also made in Koto-ku.

 

 

The popular anime and manga character D●raem●n loves dorayaki; in the English language version of the television series his friend N●bita calls them ‘yummy buns’. If you are in the Morishita area then you should make a beeline for Fukudora to discover just how yummy they are.

 

 

Story and Photos by Stephen Spencer