Okudo Senbei

Strolling along Tateishi Nakamise Shopping Street with its preserved retro shitamachi atmosphere brings you to Okudo Senbei, a purveyor of hand-pressed rice crackers. Laid out at the storefront are traditional senbei painstakingly grilled one by one over charcoal, catching the eye of passersby searching for an unpretentious neighborhood snack.

The rice crackers here have a firm, substantial crunch, releasing the rustic, natural flavor of the rice with every bite. The variety is broad: choices range from plain shiro to fragrant sesame, sea-scented nori seaweed or shrimp, and spicy crackers dusted with chili pepper over a savory soy sauce glaze.

Picking up individual crackers to nibble on while exploring the street is an easy pleasure, though many also opt to bring home assorted bags or plain-grilled varieties as gifts. Balanced and never overly salty, their flavor makes them an effortless pairing for a cup of green tea.