La Ruche, Jiyugaoka: The Legendary Summer-Only Ice Cream Shop

Hi! It's foodie yoko, a food blogger who has eaten at thousands of restaurants!

It's so hot every day...

The end of the rainy season has just been announced and summer is only getting started, but I'm already about to wilt.

Before the real summer begins, there's a legendary ice cream shop I want you to visit: La Ruche.

La Ruche

La Ruche is an ice cream shop near Kuhombutsu and Jiyugaoka,

affiliated with L'epi D'or, a Western-style pastry shop in Denenchofu.

By the way, L'epi D'or means "the golden ear of wheat" and La Ruche means "the beehive"!

And this ice cream shop is only open in summer!

So every year, the locals get restless wondering when it will open, lol.

I was one of them, but La Ruche started a Twitter account a few years ago!

How is everyone doing? Thank you for waiting so long. This year, La Ruche opens at 12:00 on Friday, June 15! It's already hot, isn't it? Are you in the mood for ice cream? Please wait just a little longer. The whole staff is looking forward to seeing you.

— La Ruche (@La_ruche_0) May 18, 2018

Thanks to that, I was able to confirm the opening and go this year too. Yay!

This is the exterior. It really looks like a little neighborhood shop, doesn't it?
It's a bit worn-looking, lol, but it's truly delicious, so that doesn't matter at all!

There are two tables inside, so you can sit and enjoy your ice cream.
There's also a water server with free Mt. Fuji spring water.
Perfect if you're thirsty, lol.

Customers kept coming in, one after another!
The space is probably only about 20 square meters, yet there were 6 or 7 people lined up in front of the ice cream case!!
Lots of families, from what I could see.

Check La Ruche's Twitter for today's recommended flavors

La Ruche tweets every day about which ice creams they have.

This was the lineup that day.

(The chef especially recommends the mango.) https://t.co/GHWleCMQTL

— La Ruche (@La_ruche_0) July 8, 2018

I was aiming for the top-recommended mango or the rhubarb, but when I went around 5 p.m. both were sold out (sob).

So I ordered guava and rum raisin!

They are so particular that they only make as much ice cream each day as will sell that day.
Popular flavors go quickly, so if you have your heart set on one, go early.

You can choose a cup, a soft cone, or a waffle cone!
By the way, the soft cone has a surprise: as you eat down, cornflakes appear inside.

Rum raisin and guava seem to be available most of the time.

They have soft serve too.

It's rich and so delicious, you should try it.

If you're hungry and want both ice cream and soft serve, get an "ice soft," lol.

Today is Soft Serve Day, apparently! 🍦 At La Ruche we have the "ice soft," soft serve on top of your choice of ice cream 🍦
Can't choose between ice cream and soft serve? We recommend it for you!
#SoftServeDay pic.twitter.com/74fX5nmpm3

— La Ruche (@La_ruche_0) July 3, 2018

As a rhubarb lover, my summer isn't over until I've had the rhubarb, so I'll go again, lol.
And I want to try the tiramisu too!

It's a hidden sweets spot even for those who think they've conquered every cafe near Jiyugaoka, so if you're curious, go before they close for the season!

La Ruche
6-28-1 Okusawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-0083
12:00-19:30
Closed Wednesdays