MARUZEN Café

Hayashi rice, said to have been invented by the founder, is the specialty

"Maruzen" is a bookstore that carries a wide range of products, including general books, academic books, foreign-language books, and high-end stationery. The Nihombashi store opened in 1870 as Maruzen's first store and has a history of more than 150 years. "MARUZEN café" is located in a corner of the foreign-language book floor on the third floor of the Nihombashi store. Its specialty is hayashi rice, which, according to one theory, was invented by Maruzen founder Yuteki Hayashi. Hayashi rice is a yoshoku dish that originated in Japan, made by simmering beef, onions, and other ingredients in a sauce and serving it over rice.

Yuteki Hayashi was a businessman who introduced Western knowledge and culture to Japan during the Meiji era. Because he was involved in importing Western goods, he is said to have been familiar with Western cuisine as well. He is said to have served friends visiting his home a dish of beef and vegetables simmered together and served with white rice. This dish is believed to have been similar to the hayashi rice eaten today. One theory holds that it later came to be called "hayashi rice." The name "Hayashi Rice" used at "MARUZEN café" is also derived from Yuteki Hayashi's name.

"MARUZEN café" is located inside the bookstore, so visitors can be seen reading books they have purchased, while students spread out study materials and work. You can stop by while browsing for books or take a break with a book that has caught your interest in hand. Being able to spend time this way is part of the unique appeal of a café inside a bookstore.

A variety of hayashi rice dishes with sweetness and richness

At "MARUZEN café," visitors can enjoy a flavor associated with the founder as a modern café dish. Hayashi rice is a type of yoshoku, a genre of Japanese cuisine that developed under the influence of Western cooking. Being able to enjoy this dish at Maruzen, which has introduced foreign cultures and knowledge to Japan, is another attraction unique to this café.

The hayashi rice currently served at the café is made with a demi-glace sauce base. Meat and vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, and carrots are added and simmered for several hours, allowing their savory flavors to meld into the sauce. Fruit chutney, made by simmering fruit and spices, is also added, giving the dish a mellow flavor with both richness and sweetness.

In addition to the classic "Pork Hayashi Rice," the menu includes "Premium Beef Hayashi Rice," which is richer and less sweet. There are also omurice-style versions and dishes paired with curry, allowing visitors to enjoy this historic dish in a variety of forms.

Desserts inspired by the short story "Lemon"

The long-established bookstore "Maruzen" appears in Motojiro Kajii's short story "Lemon." "Lemon" is considered a classic of modern Japanese literature and is sometimes included in Japanese school textbooks. At the time, Maruzen was a place where people could encounter foreign-language books and cultures from abroad, as well as a cultural hub where intellectuals and students gathered. In "Lemon," Maruzen is depicted as an intellectual and sophisticated bookstore lined with foreign-language books and art books.

At "MARUZEN café," visitors can enjoy lemon desserts inspired by the fruit that gives the story its title. These distinctly Maruzen desserts can be enjoyed while imagining the world of the story. Through hayashi rice and desserts inspired by "Lemon," visitors to "MARUZEN café" can also experience the history of the long-established bookstore "Maruzen." This is another appeal unique to the café.