A short Japanese pop-up in a Florentin zen garden#
Koko Zen (קוקו זן), the small Japanese café tucked into a zen garden at Florentin 5 in Tel Aviv, is running a limited-time dessert pop-up with visiting Japanese confectioner Ai through May 31, 2026. Run by Japanese chef Mihoko-san, the café has built a steady queue along its sidewalk since opening, mainly for its fluffy Japanese pancakes and a menu that swings between sweet and savory.
The visiting chef#
Ai grew up in northern Japan and moved to Israel 18 years ago. She runs Mushroom Cafe (her Instagram handle is @lovekinokokissa_ai — kinoko means mushroom in Japanese) from her home, and the Koko Zen collaboration is one of the few chances to taste her work outside that setting.
What’s on the special menu#
For the duration of the pop-up, three items join the regular Koko Zen offering:
- Mochi pancake with matcha cream — ₪59
- White-chocolate sand pancake with red bean paste — ₪59
- Taiyaki (fish-shaped filled pastry), two fillings — ₪20 each
The standard menu — Japanese pancakes both sweet and savory, sando sandwiches, and tea-based drinks like hojicha — runs alongside.
Visiting details#
- Address: Florentin 5, Tel Aviv
- Hours: Monday–Saturday, 11:00–20:00
- Pop-up runs through: May 31, 2026
The café reopened to full hours after a brief closure during April’s security situation. Expect a queue, especially at weekends.
Sources: Walla Food, Instagram – Koko Zen
