Japan is a land rich in food options. From satisfying bowls of savouries like ramen, udon or katsudon, to the endless choices in sweets such as kakigori, daifuku and monaka. If there’s one thing about the country that is true, it is that it doesn’t want you to go hungry.
Even though it may seem like there are way too many options to choose from, there are certain dishes that are a must-try on any Japanophile’s bucket list. One such item that you have to make sure you’ve tasted on your first trip to Japan is a classic; dango.

Possibly Japan’s most famous form of wagashi, dango are sweet Japanese rice dumplings shaped into round balls that are skewered onto bamboo sticks. These rice dumplings come coated in a variety of toppings, with the most common flavour being drizzled with sweet soy sauce and known as mitarashi dango.
Their chewy texture and variety of flavours make them a satisfying treat for people with all tastes and preferences, and can be enjoyed as a dessert, snack or even for breakfast, but traditionally the sweet is enjoyed casually alongside matcha.

If you’re not too sure where you can try this traditional sweet, or if you are so hooked on them that you would like a never ending supply, Kitanokazoku in Shinjuku has an all-you-can-eat dango menu that is perfect for filling up on.

Kitanokazoku began their all-you-can-eat dango option back in March 2021. For 888 yen, customers are given 60 minutes to wolf down limitless dango and mitarashi bean paste. Available everyday from noon to 6pm, customers can enjoy roasting their own dango sticks on top of the tabletop grill.

The basic price includes endless dango and mitarashi bean paste, but for an additional price, customers can enjoy ‘anko and kinako’ and ‘anko and butter’ toppings or grilled dorayaki pancakes and vanilla ice cream.
This summer the store has also introduced special limited seasonal toppings that go well with both their dango and dorayaki pancakes; chocolate mint cream and chocolate mint agar.

All-you-can-eat dango

Price: 888 yen (tax included)

Basic Topping
Mitarashi bean paste

Summer Limited Toppings
Chocolate mint cream: 50 yen
Chocolate mint agar: 150 yen
*refills of mint cream are available for 50 yen each time.

Additional toppings and extras
Anko and Kinako topping: 100 yen
Anko and butter topping: 100 yen
Custom-grilled dorayaki pancake: 150 yen
Vanilla ice cream: 100 yen

Kitanokazoku Shinjuku Yasukuni Dori store

Location: 4F Celesa Yoei (セレサ陽栄) Shinjuku Building, 1-16-3 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 〒160-0021
Business hours:12: 00 – 20: 00
All-you-can-eat dango hours: 12:00 – 18:00


By - Connie Sceaphierde.