From Food Truck to Restaurant

Hello fellow Ibarakians!
I have another food truck to restaurant post for you! One thing I love seeing in the food industry is someone achieving their dream. I especially enjoy watching a food truck grow into a successful restaurant. While I'm a little sad that the food truck won't be making as many appearances at local events, I'm incredibly happy for the owners.
One of my favorite food trucks recently reached that milestone. The best part is that, even though they'll be running their new restaurant, they plan to keep the food truck and continue attending events from time to time. I was so excited to hear the news that I just had to check out their new restaurant. That's how I found myself standing in front of Bon Bon's brand-new location.

Bon Bon Food Truck

Before I get into Bon Bon's new restaurant, let me tell you a little about their food truck. Bon Bon has been attending many events around Tsukuba over the past year or two. You may have seen them at Tsukubanominoichi, Village Market, and several other local events.
One of the things I love most about Bon Bon is that the owner is always experimenting and changing the menu. The first time I tried their food, the menu featured Taiwanese dishes like Taiwan mazesoba and Taiwanese gyoza. Every item Mrs. Ibaraki Eats and I tried was delicious.
Later, Bon Bon switched things up and started serving tacos. Their tacos were fantastic, with homemade tortillas and flavorful, perfectly cooked meat. Most recently, I tried one of their newest menu items: what we call a "walking taco" in the United States. For those of you who aren't familiar with one, it's simply a bag of chips that's opened up and filled with taco ingredients, making it an easy meal to enjoy while walking around an event.
Every menu item I've had from Bon Bon has been fantastic, and I've loved seeing how creative the owner continues to be. If you happen to spot Bon Bon at a local event, I highly recommend giving them a try. But now that Bon Bon has opened a restaurant, let me tell you all about it.

Bon Bon Restaurant

Bon Bon's restaurant is located in the Inashiki area of Ami Town. I visited their new restaurant a few weeks ago for a late breakfast. Unfortunately, I was on my own for this adventure. Mrs. Ibaraki Eats was at work, but she's already hoping to visit the restaurant with me soon.
If you decide to visit Bon Bon, the first thing you might feel is a bit of confusion. That's exactly how I felt. The restaurant is tucked away in the middle of a quiet neighborhood, and at first I wasn't even sure I was in the right place. The only sign I saw said "Ami Dining Park." I parked my car on the gravel parking area beside the dining park and took a closer look. That's when I spotted a brand-new building with Bon Bon's sign on the front.
What surprised me even more was that Ami Dining Park is home to two other newly opened restaurants as well, a pizza shop and a ramen shop. In the center of the dining park are several tents with outdoor seating, creating a fun and inviting place to enjoy a meal. It was really cool to see the setup, and I hope to dine outside one day. However, since it's the middle of summer, I'll happily stick to eating indoors with the air conditioning.

Inside

When I walked into Bon Bon, I was greeted by the friendly owner and invited to sit wherever I liked. Since the restaurant is brand new, everything felt fresh and welcoming, with plenty of new wooden tables and chairs throughout the dining area. There is both counter seating and table seating, and I estimate the restaurant can accommodate around 15 customers. Of course, if the indoor seating is full, you can always enjoy your meal at one of the outdoor tables.
Much of the restaurant operates on a self-service system. There is a water station and a utensil station located near the return tray window. The owner brings your food to your table, but once you've finished your meal, you simply return your tray yourself.
Before taking my seat, I looked over the menu and decided what I would be having for breakfast.

The Menu

Bon Bon's menu focuses on brunch, making it a great spot for a relaxing morning or early afternoon meal. While the names of the main dishes are written in English, the descriptions are in Japanese.
The Bon Bon Plate includes a seasonal soup, salad, a meat dish, an egg dish such as an omelet, fresh bread, homemade whipped butter, and a seasonal jam.
The Vegetable Plate comes with a seasonal soup, salad, fresh bread, homemade whipped butter, and seasonal jam.
The Soup and Bread Set includes a bowl of seasonal soup, fresh bread, homemade whipped butter, and seasonal jam.
Finally, the French Toast Set comes with seasonal soup, French toast, additive-free bacon, homemade whipped butter, maple syrup, and seasonal jam.
You can also add a drink set to any of these meals. If you're still hungry, you can order a bread refill, which includes two additional pieces of bread.

It has been a while since I have had French toast so I went with the French Toast Set.

French Toast Set

When my French Toast Set arrived at my table, it looked absolutely amazing. The owner of Bon Bon recommended that I pour the maple syrup over the French toast and then top it with the seasonal blueberry jam. I couldn't wait to dig in.
The first thing I did was try the French toast on its own, and it was incredible. A lot of places in Japan claim to make great French toast, but I usually leave feeling a little disappointed. That wasn't the case at Bon Bon. The French toast had a beautifully golden exterior while remaining soft, fluffy, and full of flavor on the inside.
Next, I spread the fresh blueberry jam over the French toast, and it took it to another level. The jam tasted incredibly fresh, and I loved how the sweet, slightly tangy blueberry flavor complemented the rich French toast. Finally, I poured on the maple syrup, bringing everything together perfectly.
For my last bite, I made sure to get a forkful of everything—a piece of the tender, additive-free bacon along with French toast covered in blueberry jam and maple syrup. It was absolutely fantastic. It was one of the best breakfasts I've had in quite a while, and I already know I'll be coming back to Bon Bon for another breakfast soon.

After finishing my meal, I thanked the owner and told her I'd be seeing her again soon. Whether it's at the restaurant or at one of the local events with the food truck, I'm sure I'll enjoy another fantastic meal. I do not doubt that you will too if you decide to visit Bon Bon's new restaurant or stop by their food truck at an event.

So, if you're looking for a delicious brunch and find yourself in Ami Town, why not give Bon Bon a try? Who knows? You might just see me there, enjoying another late breakfast and seeing what new seasonal jam they're serving.
Enjoy!

For more information on Bon Bon, check out their Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bonbon_foodtriptruck/?hl=en

Update
Bon Bon Plate

Quick update for you!
Mrs. Ibaraki Eats was finally able to try Bon Bon last Tuesday for brunch. She ordered the French toast and absolutely loved it. She really enjoyed Bon Bon and is already hoping to come back soon.
As for me, I decided to try another menu item: the Bon Bon Plate. On that day, the plate came with sliced grilled chicken, a kale salad, round hash browns, bread with creamy butter, a paprika mousse (which was really interesting), and a small omelet with cooked mini tomatoes.
Everything on my plate was delicious. The bread and butter were amazing, the round hash browns were incredible, the omelet was light and fluffy, and the paprika mousse paired wonderfully with the grilled chicken.
All in all, the Bon Bon Plate was a winner. I still love the French toast, but the Bon Bon Plate is another menu item that everyone should try when stopping by for brunch.

For the older blog posts, check out the WIX Ibaraki Eats.

https://regaladom24.wixsite.com/website