Aigburth Road has welcomed a brand-new addition to its independent food scene with the arrival of Shokupan Cafe, a passion project founded by partners Amir and Mei-mei.
Moving away from the high-turnover nature of standard city eateries, the new South Liverpool venue focuses on delivering a warm, cosy atmosphere that encourages visitors to slow down and enjoy Japanese cooking made entirely from scratch.
The opening brings a wealth of hospitality experience to the area. After years of managing successful cafes across London, Mei-mei is heading the front-of-house operations to bring top-tier barista skills to the local community.
Meanwhile, Amir, who continues to balance his career within the games industry, is holding down the kitchen as the site’s primary baker.
The culinary concept revolves entirely around the cafe’s namesake: Shokupan, a traditional, pillowy Japanese milk bread.
Despite the notoriously difficult process of crafting the bread from scratch, Amir took on the baking challenge with zero prior experience and successfully perfected the in-house recipe to form the foundation of their custom menu.
A Look At The Menu: Artisanal Sandwiches and Asian Flavours
The culinary lineup highlights classic Japanese convenience culture reimagined with high-quality, fresh ingredients.
The absolute star of the food selection is the Katsu Sando, a sandwich that blends iconic Japanese 7-Eleven vibes with modern fried chicken, topped with ultra-crunchy, vibrant yellow Takuan (Japanese daikon pickle).
For those seeking a sweeter option, the kitchen serves Honey Butter Toast, featuring their soft, house-baked milk bread paired simply with rich honey butter and sugar.
The beverage and snack selection heavily embraces distinct Filipino and Asian flavours, offering visually striking items such as Matcha Ube iced lattes alongside speciality baked cookies to complement the daily coffee service.
Local food enthusiasts can visit the new Aigburth Road venue throughout the week to try the full menu.
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