Tasting Fukui Soba Galettes at Godiva Café
What is the alluring taste of buckwheat and cacao?
Cover photo: Posing with my “Echizen Soba × GODIVA” buckwheat cocoa galette with smoked salmon and soft-boiled egg, at Godiva Café Diamor Osaka, Osaka, Japan (2025). Photo by Danny With Love.
Intro
Fukui Prefecture and Godiva Japan have partnered to create delicious sobako (buckwheat) and cocoa galettes! What a novel combination! This marks the fifth anniversary of the “Echizen Soba × GODIVA” (越前蕎麦 × GODIVA) project. 16 local restaurants in Fukui and various Godiva cafés across Japan are offering limited-time dishes through December 14th, 2025.
What is buckwheat?
Despite the name, buckwheat is not wheat but a fruit seed, related to rhubarb. Often called a “superfood,” buckwheat is low in fat, but high in fiber, protein, minerals, and vitamins. It’s especially high in rutin, which is good for cholesterol, blood pressure and circulation. Buckwheat can be processed to make a variety of foods, including noodles, tea, bread, and galettes!
Why Fukui sobako?
Fukui buckwheat is the best in Japan! Fukui soba (buckwheat noodles) ranks highly in online taste surveys and Fukui Prefecture has been awarded the top spot for four consecutive years by the Japan Soba Preservation Society (日本蕎麦保存会). Local dish “Echizen soba” — buckwheat noodles with grated daikon radish — was named by Emperor Showa (昭和 天皇) himself after his visit to Fukui in 1947; he commended, “Echizen soba was very delicious.”
Buckwheat Cocoa Galette Tasting
Originating in France, galettes are “flat cakes” popular for savory recipes. For a taste of the new dish, I stopped by the Godiva Café at Diamor Osaka, near Osaka Station. I ordered the buckwheat cocoa galette with smoked salmon and soft-boiled egg (1,420 yen ~ 10 USD). It looked so appetizing.
I was surprised by the novel combination of buckwheat and cocoa! The subtle flavors perfectly complement each other, making for a unique and satisfying dish. Godiva Japan CEO, Jérôme Chouchan, says, “The polyphenols in cacao and the vitamins in buckwheat are a perfect match.”
I hope the collaboration will spread the charm of Fukui, which also boasts famous Echizen gani (crab) and dinosaurs. If you like buckwheat, please give these buckwheat cocoa galettes a try!
Posing outside Godiva Café Diamor Osaka, Osaka, Japan (2025). Photo by Danny With Love.
“Echizen Soba × GODIVA” Participating Godiva Cafés
“Echizen Soba × GODIVA” menu availability varies by store. The buckwheat cocoa galette with smoked salmon and soft-boiled egg dish is available at the Godiva Café in Nihonbashi (Tokyo), Futako Tamagawa (Tokyo), Minato Mirai (Yokohama), Omiya (Saitama), and Diamor Osaka, through December 14th.
“Echizen Soba × GODIVA” Participating Fukui Stores
Mahina Pueo (森のカフェ 月とぷえお) SAKAI CITY
Café de Musée PAPOTER (カフェドミュゼパポテ) FUKUI
Galette & Crepe Rozell (ガレット＆クレープ専門店 Rozell) FUKUI
Green Haibe Cafe / FUKUI
Kazenomori Cosmopolitan Cafe (風の森コスモポリタンカフェ) FUKUI
L’aisance (レゾンス) FUKUI
Okubo Teahouse (大久保茶屋) FUKUI
Outdoor Style Cafe TAKIBI / FUKUI
Queen Alice (浅田クッキングスクール直営 クィーンアリス) FUKUI
Sachi Mom (さっちゃんのママ) FUKUI
Cafe il Venticello / SABAE CITY
Poca Pocca (ポカポカ) SABAE CITY
Cafe Yuimaru (Cafe ゆいまーる) ECHIZEN CITY
HAMA-An (越前そばと珈琲 HAMA庵) ECHIZEN CITY
Matsunitaka (マツニタカ) TSURUGA CITY
Cafe Stripe (Cafe 縞) WAKASA TOWN
The collaboration menu varies by store, lasting through December 14th.
Fukui Reporter Disclosure
As part of the Fukui Reporter program, I am tasked with participating in local events and publicly promoting the prefecture. This is a volunteer position that allows me free entrance to a selection of museums throughout the area. The opinions I share are my own.
