POTANE

For the simple, mellow sweetness of sweet potato, stop by POTANE in Soshigaya-Okura. Its sweet potato fries are made with Yamadai Kansho, a branded sweet potato from Kushima, Miyazaki Prefecture. They have a crisp, light exterior and a soft, fluffy centre. Enjoy them on their own, or pair them with a dip such as jalapeño tartar sauce: its gentle heat and the sweet potato’s mild sweetness bring out the best in each other.

There is also a good range of sweet treats. The bite-sized candied sweet potatoes are coated in house-made syrup, with a crisp outside and a soft interior. Karai-mo dango, a traditional Miyazaki confection, are soft dumplings made with sweet potato and rice cake, dusted with kinako (roasted soybean flour) and served simply with anko (sweet red bean paste). For a richer dessert, the pot-baked sweet potato brûlée features the dense, creamy Benishizuka variety, caramelised until fragrant and topped with cold ice cream. The contrast of temperatures and textures makes it especially satisfying.

Drinks include a smooth sweet potato smoothie made with produce delivered directly from contracted farms, as well as a refreshing lemon squash made with additive-free Nichinan lemon syrup and beet sugar. The café is open from 16:00 until 23:00, except on Wednesdays. Beer, sweet potato shochu and other alcoholic drinks are available to enjoy alongside a snack. The welcoming interior is comfortable for guests with dogs, who are allowed indoors; takeaway is another option for a break during a walk or outing.