Pompadour

Quick Facts

What it is

Pompadour (ポンパドウル), born on the chic international fashion promenade of Yokohama Motomachi in 1969, is universally revered as one of Japan's most prestigious European artisan bakeries. Instantly recognizable by its vibrant scarlet-red storefronts and matching red shopping bags, Pompadour has fiercely maintained its founding philosophy of "Ittempo Ikkobo" (One Store, One Atelier): refusing frozen factory dough, every single branch employs trained professional bakers who mix raw flour, knead, ferment, and bake fresh breads from scratch on-site every single day! Pompadour is world-famous for inventing the "Cheese Batard" (チーズバタール)—a crusty French bread stuffed to bursting with hundreds of giant cubes of rich, creamy cheddar and gouda cheese—alongside its spicy Yokosuka Navy Curry Bread and crisp artisan baguettes.

How to order

Shopping at Pompadour is graceful, aesthetic, and simple:

1. Grab a tray and tongs: Walk into the bright, scarlet-accented bakery. Pick up a plastic tray and tongs from the stack near the entrance.
2. NO Otoshi cover charge: Enjoy honest dining—Pompadour charges strictly zero table fee and zero cover charge (¥0 Otoshi)!
3. Select your artisan breads: Walk through the bakery aisles and use your tongs to place items onto your tray:
   • Signature Cheese Batard (チーズバタール): The undisputed #1 legend; a heavy, golden French bread packed with giant melted cheese cubes (available as a whole loaf or pre-cut half loaf).
   • Yokosuka Navy Curry Bread (横須賀海軍カレーパン): Traditional crispy fried curry bread stewed with beef, carrots, and sweet onions based on historical Japanese naval recipes.
   • French Baguette (バゲット): Traditional long French loaf with a blistered, crackling crust.
   • Red Bean Butter Roll (あんバターフランス): Crusty roll stuffed with sweet Japanese red bean paste and thick slabs of rich Hokkaido butter.
   • Chocolate Croissants & Apple Danishes: Golden sweet treats.
4. Take your tray to the checkout register: Proceed to the cashier counter.
5. Request bread slicing (Free Service!):
   • If you purchase a Cheese Batard, baguette, or sandwich loaf, the cashier will ask if you want it sliced!
   • Tell the clerk: "Slice onegaishimasu" (Please slice it!). They will slice the loaf cleanly into bite-sized wheels or sandwich slices right before your eyes.
6. Pay at the register: Tap your Suica card, credit card, or pay with cash/QR code.
7. Receive the iconic Red Bag: Staff packs your purchases into Pompadour's famous scarlet red paper shopping bag (Akai Fukuro)—an iconic symbol of Yokohama high-society elegance!
8. Enjoy at your hotel or on the Shinkansen: Pop a slice of Cheese Batard in your hotel toaster oven, or snack on fresh Navy Curry Bread on the bullet train!

What to order first

Dishes below reflect core brand staples officially featured on the Pompadour Official Website:

• Signature Cheese Batard (名物 チーズバタール): The 1969 legend; crusty artisan French dough crammed with hundreds of chunky cubes of rich, savory cheese (~¥756 whole / ~¥378 half tax-included).
• Yokosuka Navy Curry Bread (横須賀海軍カレーパン): Golden fried crunchy bun filled with rich, savory Japanese naval beef and vegetable curry (~¥248–¥280).
• An-Butter France (あんバターフランス): Crusty mini baguette stuffed with sweet azuki bean paste and a thick bar of salty Hokkaido butter (~¥237–¥270).
• Traditional French Baguette (トラディショナル バゲット): Hand-scored artisan bread fermented for hours to develop complex wheaty umami (~¥324–¥380).
• Shonan Gold Citrus Pastry (湘南ゴールドのデニッシュ): Seasonal flaky pastry featuring local Kanagawa citrus and sweet custard (~¥302–¥350).

Payment & practical info

Prices and details checked: October 2026.

• Pricing & Value: Outstanding price-to-quality ratio; purchasing a half Cheese Batard and a Navy Curry bread costs around ¥600–¥700.
• Takeaway & Cafe Variety: Most locations are takeaway shops in department store basements (Depachika), while select locations (including Yokohama Motomachi Flagship and Tokyo station malls) feature sit-down cafes with coffee service.
• Payment Methods: Accepts Japanese Yen cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners Club, UnionPay), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA), electronic money (iD, QUICPay), and QR codes (PayPay).
• Atmosphere: Chic, cosmopolitan, and polished. Scarlet-red design, warm European brickwork, and — at many branches — open bakery windows where you can watch bakers at work.
• Yokohama Motomachi Heritage: The flagship store in Yokohama Motomachi (near Chinatown and Harbor View Park) is a legendary landmark that has welcomed international travelers and foreign sea captains for over half a century.

Good to know / Common mistakes

• Toast the Cheese Batard!: While delicious at room temperature, toasting a slice of Cheese Batard in your hotel toaster oven for 2 minutes is LIFE-CHANGING. The crust turns crackling crisp, and the giant cheese cubes melt into creamy, gooey pools of liquid gold!
• The "One Store, One Atelier" Difference: Unlike bakery chains that ship frozen, pre-baked loaves from central factories, Pompadour bakes everything from scratch in each individual store. Look for the bakers dusting flour behind the glass!
• Buy the Half-Size Batard: If you are traveling solo or with a partner, buy the pre-cut Half Cheese Batard (~¥378)—it is the perfect portion for breakfast or a train snack.
• Yokohama tourist landmark: When sightseeing in Yokohama (Minato Mirai, Red Brick Warehouse, Chinatown), strolling over to the Motomachi flagship is a beloved local tradition.
• No tipping: Tipping is never accepted. Pay the exact bill at the register.

Sources

• Pompadour Official Website: https://www.pompadour.co.jp/ (Verified: 2026-10-02)
• Pompadour Corporate History Portal: https://www.pompadour.co.jp/concept/ (Verified: 2026-10-02)