Enjoy a Worry-Free Cafe Time in Hikone!

A Relaxing Cafe Time for All Our Customers

I want to enjoy delicious cafe food, but I'm worried about my allergies... Our cafe, located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, sincerely wants to answer the wishes of every customer who feels this way. To be a place here in Hikone where everyone can spend their cafe time with peace of mind and to their heart's content—that is what we consider the highest form of hospitality.

At our cafe, we strive not only for deliciousness but also for safety and security in every menu item we serve. For customers with food allergies, dining out options can be limited, and anxiety about the food served is often a constant concern. We put ourselves in our customers' shoes and work daily to ensure that their time in Hikone is a wonderful experience, free from food-related worries.

In this article, we will detail our specific initiatives for allergy support. It's packed with information to help visitors to Hikone choose our cafe with confidence and enjoy their meal with a smile. We hope you'll read to the end and consider us for your next cafe visit in Hikone.

Between the Desire to Eat and the Fear of Not Being Able To

In modern society, food allergies are far from uncommon. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, about 1 in 10 infants and 5-10% of individuals from school age to adulthood have some form of food allergy. On a national scale, this means a very large number of people are dealing with allergies in their daily diet.

Especially when dining out with family and friends, those with allergies often face the significant stress of having to constantly check menus and ingredients. Worries like, What's in this dish? or I'm concerned about cross-contamination... can ruin what should be an enjoyable time. In fact, we often hear from customers who have had experiences like, I asked about allergy support at another restaurant before, but their vague response left me anxious, or There was so little information that I couldn't order anything in the end.

Since our opening, we have taken this issue seriously. Allergy support is not simply about removing allergens; it involves a deeper challenge of understanding each customer's symptom severity, their dietary preferences, and, most importantly, how to provide them with a sense of security. A small mistake—such as providing incorrect information, poor communication between staff, or carelessness in the kitchen—can have serious health consequences for our customers. Therefore, it requires the utmost care and responsibility. As a restaurant in Hikone, we recognize this significant responsibility, and building a system that allows our customers to use our cafe with true peace of mind is one of our top priorities.

Our Concrete Solutions: 3 Pillars of Food Safety

At our cafe, we have implemented the following three pillars of allergy support to ensure our customers can dine with peace of mind.

1. Thorough Information Disclosure and Menu Innovation

• Comprehensive Allergen Labeling for 28 Items: We provide clear and detailed allergen information for a total of 28 items—including the 7 specified raw materials (egg, milk, wheat, buckwheat, peanut, shrimp, crab) and the 21 quasi-specified raw materials—in our menu books, on in-store displays, and on our official website. By creating an environment where customers can easily check allergen information at any time, we strive to help them choose their menu with confidence. This initiative is considered progressive among restaurants nationwide and has been highly praised by our customers.
• Enhanced Individual Consultation System: For customers who are still concerned after checking the menu or who have severe allergies, we have a system for individual consultations with knowledgeable staff. We carefully listen to the specifics of each customer's allergy and symptom severity and propose suitable menu items or alternatives. Last year alone, we handled approximately 500 individual consultations, allowing many customers to dine at our cafe with peace of mind. We are dedicated to flexibly responding to customer needs across our diverse menu, which includes seasonal dishes featuring fresh local Hikone ingredients and our evening seafood-centric cafe menu.
• Development of Allergy-Friendly Menus: We always offer at least three types of special menu items for those with allergies, such as vegan cakes made without eggs, dairy, or wheat; gluten-free bread made with rice flour; and special dressings free of specific allergens. These menu items are developed not only to be allergen-free but also to be exceptionally delicious, with new creations introduced regularly. We incorporate fresh vegetables and fruits grown in the rich natural environment of Hikone, creating dishes that can be enjoyed by all customers, regardless of allergies.

2. Meticulous Care and Operations in the Kitchen

• Use of Dedicated Utensils and Cooking Spaces: When we receive an order from a customer with a severe allergy, we use dedicated cooking utensils (cutting boards, knives, bowls, frying pans, etc.) whenever possible and section off a cooking area to minimize the risk of cross-contamination (the unintentional mixing of allergens). For example, we schedule cooking times for items using wheat flour, like bread and pastries, separately from the preparation of allergy-friendly meals. Based on the principles of HACCP, an international standard for hygiene management, we have established strict rules for kitchen workflow and cleaning to minimize risks.
• Thorough Information Sharing Among Staff: We have implemented a combined system of a proprietary digital management tool and multiple verbal confirmations to ensure that allergy information provided by the customer is reliably shared among all relevant staff—from the floor staff taking the order to the kitchen staff and the server delivering the dish. Especially during large group reservations for parties or banquets, we meticulously manage each individual's allergy information and implement a double- and triple-check system to prevent any mistakes during service. To prevent accidents caused by miscommunication, our entire staff treats this information with the gravity it deserves—as information that concerns a customer's life—and handles it with a deep sense of responsibility.
• Thorough Cleaning and Disinfection: Cooking utensils and tableware that may have come into contact with allergens undergo a rigorous disinfection process, including sterilization with boiling water and cleaning with special detergents, in addition to regular washing. We also use special plates or markers to distinguish allergy-friendly dishes from regular ones. This helps eliminate the risk of residual, invisible allergens, allowing us to provide our customers with genuine peace of mind.

3. Staff Training and Knowledge Updates

• Regular Allergy Training Sessions: We conduct training for all staff at least twice a year on the latest knowledge regarding food allergies, emergency response procedures, and appropriate customer communication methods. In addition to lectures from experts, we incorporate practical, simulation-based training to cultivate the skills needed to respond calmly and accurately in any situation. The training covers topics such as food allergy symptoms, responding to anaphylactic shock, and how to use an EpiPen.
• Promoting Certifications and Collaborating with Experts: At our cafe, some staff members have obtained the Allergy Support Advisor certification from the NPO Japan Allergy Association, enabling them to provide more specialized advice and support to customers. When necessary, we also collaborate with external experts such as local nutritionists and doctors to incorporate the latest knowledge and safety management information. This ensures that we can always provide accurate and reliable information in response to the diverse questions and requests from our customers. We are constantly learning and evolving to protect the health and safety of our patrons.

From Arrival to Departure: Practical Steps for Peace of Mind

To help you enjoy your meal and drinks at our cafe without worry, here are some steps we ask for your cooperation on, along with the specific procedures we follow. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak with a member of our staff.

When Booking or Arriving

1. Advance Notification: When making a reservation or upon arrival, please inform our staff about any food allergies, including specific ingredients, symptom severity, and past experiences. For severe allergies, we kindly request that you notify us in advance when booking. This allows us to make thorough preparations (such as readying dedicated utensils, securing ingredients, and providing detailed instructions to the kitchen staff), which significantly enhances your safety.
2. Detailed Confirmation and Consultation: Based on the allergy information you provide, our knowledgeable staff will carefully listen to your needs and explain available menu options, possible alternatives, and any precautions taken during preparation. Please feel free to ask any questions, no matter how small. For example, we can answer detailed queries like, Are there any ingredients other than rice in this local Hikone sake? or Does the sauce for the Omi beef steak contain eggs? as accurately as possible.

When Ordering

1. Reconfirming Menu Details: When you are ready to place your order, we will ask you to state your allergy information again as we confirm the menu items together. Our cafe offers a wide variety of dishes, from lunch pastas and sandwiches to desserts, as well as evening offerings like a savory salad inspired by straw-grilled bonito from Kochi and an ajillo made with fresh seafood direct from the fishing port. We carefully check the allergen information for each dish to ensure we can provide it in a way that meets your needs.
2. Request for Final Check: Before we begin cooking, we may ask you to repeat your allergy information one last time for final confirmation. This is a crucial step to ensure peace of mind for both you and our team. By verifying that we have a shared understanding, we can proceed with cooking confidently.

When Serving the Food

1. Separate Serving and Identification: To clearly distinguish your allergy-friendly meal from other dishes, we may serve it with a special marker (such as a dedicated flag, pick, or a different colored plate). This helps you and others at your table to identify the allergy-safe dish at a glance. This is especially helpful when multiple dishes are served at once, such as in our private tatami rooms or during reunion gatherings, reducing the risk of accidentally eating the wrong dish.
2. Final Explanation from Staff: When we bring your dish, the server will once again explain the details of the allergy accommodation. For example, they might say, This is the [dish name] for [your name], prepared without eggs. This provides you with a final layer of assurance. If you have any questions or concerns upon seeing your meal, please let us know immediately.

Our cafe is not just for daytime enjoyment; we also operate as an izakaya in the evening, serving as a popular spot for parties near Hikone Station and private izakaya dining. We offer a wide selection of local Shiga sake, with over 25 varieties of Japanese sake to complement Hikone's nightlife through various banquet courses and for business entertainment. Our commitment to allergy support remains steadfast across all these settings. Whether it's our creative Omi beef dishes or our specialties made with fresh seafood direct from the port, we accurately convey allergen information for our izakaya menu as well. Furthermore, as a smoke-separated establishment, we provide clearly defined smoking and non-smoking areas to ensure a comfortable environment for all guests. No matter the time of day or the occasion, we are dedicated to providing service that prioritizes the food safety of every single customer. Please dine with confidence.

Conclusion: Your Cafe in Hikone, Pursuing Safety and Deliciousness

Food allergies are an extremely delicate issue directly related to the health and safety of each customer. Here in Hikone, we have worked diligently since our opening to create a place where you can enjoy your cafe time or an evening meal at our izakaya without any food-related anxiety. We believe our most important mission is not just to remove allergens, but to connect with our customers, providing both peace of mind and joy.

To be perfectly honest, providing flawless allergy support is incredibly challenging, and completely eliminating the risk of trace cross-contamination is a difficult feat for any restaurant. However, we prioritize standing by our customers and our entire staff is sincerely committed to providing the highest possible level of safety and security. As a testament to this, we are proud to have maintained a record of zero customer complaints related to allergies over the past five years—a result we attribute to our close communication with customers and our thorough internal management. A simple thank you from a customer is our greatest motivation.

When you visit Hikone, we invite you to enjoy a comforting beverage and the peace of mind that comes with safe dining at our cafe. From light lunches, specialty coffee, and desserts to our evening izakaya menu, we will do our utmost to help you spend your time with a smile, free from allergy worries. If you have any questions or special requests, please do not hesitate to contact our staff. As a cafe rooted in the Hikone community, we sincerely look forward to welcoming you.