Manhattan

At Manhattan, a bakery set on a neighbourhood street corner in Mibu, many visitors arrive hoping to catch the freshly baked signature an butter. Bread with an aromatic crust and a remarkably crisp bite holds a generous filling from edge to edge, layered with thick cuts of butter and coarse sweet red bean paste cooked to a restrained sweetness. It feels satisfyingly heavy in hand, yet the earthy sweetness of the beans and the gentle salinity of the butter balance effortlessly with every chew, making it easy to finish. While delicious enjoyed as is, taking it home for a quick pass in the toaster oven crisps the crust and lets melting butter soak into the crumb, bringing out an entirely different side of the roll.

A versatile selection spanning savoury loaves to sweet bakes

Sharing the spotlight with the an butter is the salted butter roll, celebrated for the pure aroma of its dough and the rich burst of butter baked inside. The selection of sweet and savoury pastries is generous and hearty, featuring items like the shio-pan anpan—soft salted bread wrapped around sweet bean paste to highlight its flavour—and a fried curry doughnut stuffed with a boldly spiced filling. Alongside these, the shelves showcase a tempting variety of treats, from sausage-topped pizza toast and crisp shrimp katsu sandwiches to seasonal fruit danishes and brown-sugar raisin rolls.

An early-morning takeout stop for neighbourhood strolls

Operating strictly for takeout with no eat-in area, the shop has a compact, relaxed interior that easily fills with just a couple of parties inside. It opens at 7:00, making it a convenient morning stop for a daily loaf of bread or a freshly baked savoury bun. The signature an butter often arrives on the shelves closer to midday, so it helps to time your visit around what you hope to pick up. Payment is cash only, so keep some notes or coins handy when stopping by on a walk through the Mibu area.