Phantom

Break into the pilaf topped with a soft-set egg and you get sweet onion and the crisp bite of lettuce. Along the Toden Arakawa Line, Phantom’s standout E.P. Rice brings together egg and paprika; its name also echoes the initials of Elvis Presley, whom the owner admires. Posters and records of Presley, along with music playing in the background, give the dining room an old-school American feel.

The generous range of meals, with the feel of classic café fare, is another draw. For a filling meal, there is Napolitan spaghetti with springy noodles and a large sausage on top, as well as homemade meat sauce. Other options include ginger pork rice, with seasoning clinging to a thick cut of pork loin, and Taiwan-style pilaf studded with fragrant sakura shrimp. Lighter choices include a peanut-banana sandwich named after a rock star, and French toast made with thick-cut bread and served with butter and bacon.

For after a meal or a pause in the day, there is banana juice made in a blender and full-bodied iced coffee with a pleasant bitterness. Desserts include old-fashioned homemade pudding, pudding à la mode and cream soda with a choice of four syrup colours, adding a bright note to café time. The café is open from the morning into the evening and also offers takeout.