Natural Cafe Iina
(ナチュラル カフェイーナ)- Nearest station：
- Categories：
- Budget：
-
- Closed：
- Tuesday, Wednesday
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Dog-friendly terrace seating at a fantastic café for a delightful breakfast of rice porridge
- Previous review
- View all reviews（130）
- Next review
Restaurant information
Details
| Restaurant name |
Natural Cafe Iina
|
|---|---|
| Categories | Cafe |
| Phone number (for reservation and inquiry) |
0267-42-3562 |
| Reservation availability |
Reservations available |
| Address |
長野県北佐久郡軽井沢町軽井沢東25 |
| Transportation |
647 meters from Karuizawa. |
| Business hours |
Hours and closed days may change, so please check with the restaurant before visiting. |
| Average price（Based on reviews） |
JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999
|
| Payment methods |
Credit cards not accepted Electronic money not accepted QR code payments not accepted |
Seats/facilities
| Number of seats |
45 seats |
|---|---|
| Private rooms |
Unavailable |
| Private use |
Available |
| Non-smoking/smoking |
Non smoking |
| Parking |
Available West side restaurant |
| Space/facilities |
Open terrace |
Menu
| Food |
Breakfast available |
|---|
Feature - Related information
| Occasion |
This occasion is recommended by many people. |
|---|---|
| Service |
Pet friendly (Good for pets) |
| Family friendly |
Children welcome(Babies welcome, Preschoolers welcome, School-age children welcome) |
| Website |
You can enjoy organic porridge from 8 AM on weekdays, which I learned about from Tabelog.
I arrived shortly after 8 and was happy to find a parking lot with space for about 4-5 cars on the right side after turning left into the alley before reaching the train station.
Upon entering the café, I went straight to the terrace seating on the right, surrounded by greenery, creating a wonderful ambiance. However, the seats reminded me of the ones from my elementary school classroom, which made for a less comfortable experience!
I was a bit surprised by the pricing on the menu, but I informed the staff that I wanted my meal without any animal products (vegetarian) and ordered the porridge set with a hot coffee.
Although I didn’t specify and it wasn’t asked, the coffee arrived right away, which startled me a bit—I could’ve used it after my meal!
【Porridge Set - JPY 1,890 (excluding tax)】
The porridge was served in a shallow dish with ingredients pre-arranged on top! I mentioned vegetarian but was surprised to find that it came with some shirasu (whitebait) and tarako (cod roe), which I decided to pick off. The porridge itself was quite plain, so the toppings were seasoned a bit sweeter and stronger, perhaps indicating the chef has a fondness for sugar.
It included hijiki seaweed, dried daikon, and kinpira, and although I wasn't shocked to find pumpkin in the mix, I was surprised by the addition of menma (bamboo shoots)!
I love menma, but it was such a unique choice! If only my vegetarian grandpa had had things like pickled plums or kombu kelp, that would have been great.
I took my time to savor the meal—though it was a gentle and healthy breakfast, I still felt it was somewhat lacking.
While I understand it may be labor-intensive, I wished it had been made with brown rice and that the toppings were served separately.
Oh, since it was a set, I expected a soup or miso soup to be included, but it turned out that only the drink was part of the set.
【About Gorohei Rice】
Gorohei rice is grown in a limited area near the Gorohei Water in the Asana district of Saku City, Nagano Prefecture.
This rice is known for its stickiness and sweetness, cultivated with clear waters transported from Mt. Tateshina and the area's strong clay soil.
Considered even more delicious than renowned brand rice, Gorohei rice is very rare because of its limited production and is often used in high-end restaurants, earning it the nickname "phantom rice."
【Personal Reflection】
The porridge made from this miraculous rice, which has had its essential nutrients removed, was mild and easy to digest—so I was glad I could share it with my dog.
However, it felt a bit pricey for me—considering in Tokyo I could get an exquisite lunch made with organically grown vegetables and brown rice for the same price.
Regardless, it was a memorable experience. It was a great meal!