Matsubaya [Mimi's World Tour]

Bakery: Matsubaya (まつばや)
Address: 40 Ginkakujichō, Sakyō-ku, Kyōto
Website: n/a 
Style: Japanese 
Price: $$-$$$ 

Matsubaya, your final destination before reaching Ginkaku-ji temple, is more of a stall than a bakery or sweets shop. Their signature item is without a doubt their "rabbit" custard puffs (complete with plastic replicas with rather unappetizing pudding pouring downwards) and soft ice cream; there is, if I remember correctly, also the possibility of having a cream puff stuffed with soft ice cream. Besides this, they have a few shelves of some sort of cookies and crackers. I came here just as Ginkaku-ji was closing and feeling cold and tired from walking all the way there for essentially nothing, I decided to take advantage of the free tea Matsubaya offered with purchases and make a Cake Tour of those puffs... :P 

 The custard puffs come in two flavours: vanilla and matcha, with an occasional seasonal flavour available. It was sakura while I was there. All cost 300 yen.

The size of your fist, these are stiff and airy and biting into them, you get that nice bit of crunch on the outside and a little softness on the inside before getting to a pretty big mass of thick custard. A bit too much custard, in my opinion, as just using your mouth is nearly impossible and quite messy. They should really serve these with a spoon, so you can scoop out the excess custard instead of getting your fingers and face covered in it.... I liked the taste of the puff and the custard was pretty good; a little thick and gloopy, perhaps, but nice matcha flavour. Personally, I think I simply prefer cream puffs over custard puffs -- with matcha cream, of course! Yummy....   

Rating: ***