Tabelog ratingbistro bugaboo (ビストロ バガブー) is a classic French bistro a minute's walk from Kobuchizawa Station. A single chef cooks, serves and clears for 14 seats. The menu is built on Yamanashi produce. The signature gyukatsu is Koshu wine beef, breaded and fried in beef fat, and the pâté en croûte uses local Crystal Pork. In 2023 the bistro was named to Tabelog's French EAST "Tabelog 100".
Almost every review praises the cooking. The gyukatsu is the most recommended dish, and one diner called it the best he had ever eaten. Several reviewers also single out these dishes:
- the chicken-liver pâté with brioche, "almost foie gras"
- the pâté en croûte
- beef cheek braised in red wine
- duck confit with white-bean cassoulet
Desserts earn their own mentions, notably the nougat glacé and crème brûlée. A French guest rated the onion soup the best he had ever had. Many diners remark on how smoothly one person keeps the meal moving.
The criticism centres on the chef's manner, described as taciturn at best and curt at worst. Several one-star reviews tell of guests being hurried out at closing time. In one 2026 case, a couple who asked for faster service left without eating. Other complaints are that it is courses only, that the smaller sets are light, and that wine pours are small.
Lunch is a set with a choice of starter and main. Reviewers in 2025–2026 paid ¥3,800, plus a ¥1,000 supplement for the gyukatsu. Dinner courses ran from ¥4,400 to ¥7,700 depending on the main, and the full course cost ¥6,600. Reviewers paid ¥1,000 for a glass of wine and ¥700 for a soft drink. One couple spent about ¥9,000 each with two glasses of wine. Typical spend is around ¥4,000–¥5,000 at lunch and ¥6,000–¥8,000 at dinner.
Most reviewers consider it good value, and one noted that Tokyo rarely offers a course like this at the price. A minority found it less generous once drinks and dessert were added.
- Getting there: 1 minute's walk (about 150 m) from JR Kobuchizawa Station. Dinner takes about two hours, so do not plan around a tight train.
- Booking: book ahead online via Tabelog or Hot Pepper, or by phone on 0551-45-6843. Walking in only sometimes works. Same-day cancellations or changes in party size are charged the full course fee.
- Age restriction: children below elementary-school age are not admitted. School-age children are welcome but must order the same course as adults.
- Ordering: one course per person, and at least one drink per person at dinner. There is no à la carte and no drinks-only visits.
- Payment: cards (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners), electronic money and QR code payments are all accepted.
- Seating: 14 table seats and no private rooms. The whole bistro can be hired for up to 20 people. Wheelchair accessible.
- Smoking: non-smoking.
- Parking: none on site. Use the municipal Kobuchizawa No. 3 coin car park (¥100 per hour), or No. 2 if it is full. Suntory Hakushu distillery is nearby.
- Service: quiet and brisk rather than chatty. A sommelier is available. The bistro closes fairly often, so check the website before travelling.
