Have you recently visited Harajuku and wondered about the long line that wrapped around the tree just on the other side of the train station? Or, did you happen to stop directly in front of Garrett Popcorn Shops and try to enter, but were denied because there were about 100 people already waiting in line across the street? Doh! Although the average wait time can be 1.5 hours on the weekend, it is well worth standing even in the chilly temperatures this time of year. The handcrafted gourmet popcorn at Garrett Popcorn Shops is out of this world!
I am not from Chicago, nor am I a popcorn connoisseur. But, I do enjoy munching on popcorn in the theater, at a baseball game, or at home with the family during movie night. It’s low in calories and enough to get you through an event or satisfy a snack craving. But, now that I’ve had Garrett Popcorn, I’ll have to find more reasons to enjoy popcorn because their recipe is just so very yummy! According to Garrett Popcorn’s brochure, they use only the highest quality ingredients from area producers and every batch is handmade daily in old-fashioned copper kettles. In my opinion, this popcorn outshines every box of Cracker Jack I’ve opened and all of the microwaveable bags I’ve warmed up. Each freshly popped kernel is carefully smothered with greatness and I just can’t seem to get enough of it.
At the Harajuku location, they offer seven signature gourmet popcorn flavors in signature packaging. Each flavor is gluten-free and can be purchased in a small, medium or large bag, or 1-quart or 1-gallon Signature Blue Tin. On our recent visit, the Signature Blue Tin was sold out, so we opted for the Garrett Signature Snowflake tin and filled it with CaramelCrisp, 2,800 yen. At 140 calories per 1-cup, this flavor was not at all too sweet, sticky or clumpy. It’s light and airy and you just end up wanting more and more. We read the The Chicago Mix was the No. 1 flavor around the world, so we decided on a medium bag to snack on during our road trip home. It’s a half & half mix of CheeseCorn and CaramelCrisp. Our only regret is that we didn’t order this flavor in a 1-gallon tin. It’s such a sensational combination of sweet and savory and hands down addicting!
As of today, Japan is one of the nine international Garrett Popcorn Shops locations. There are two alone in Japan: Harajuku & Chiba. To access Garrett Popcorn in Tokyo, take a 1-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station, or 30 seconds from the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line-Fukutoshin at Meiji Jingu-mae Station Exit 3. Hours are 10:00am to 9:00pm daily. However, due to the congestion, please plan ahead.
