The popular Japanese cheesecake shop, LeTAO, is coming to Bellevue. It will be opening at The Shops at The Bravern on the first level, where Cafe Trophy was previously located. LeTAO is planned to open in spring 2024.
The dessert shop originated in Hokkaido, Japan in 1998. This particular city is known for its love of desserts and sweet treats. Founder, Seigou Kawagoe, created the first version of Le TAO’s famous double fromage, a Western-inspired Japanese dessert. The first LeTAO bakery opened soon after in the city of Otaru.
LeTao is famous for its two-layered cheesecakes. It is a combination of baked cheesecake with a rich cheese flavor, and an unbaked cheesecake that is light and milky. The bakers at the desert shop make over 25 million double fromage cheesecakes per year.
While the double fromage cheesecake is the most popular flavor, other options include chocolate double cheesecake, melon fromage cheesecake, matcha fromage cheesecake, and the three-layer chocolate cake. Cookies and chocolates are also included on the menu.
LeTAO has locations in Canada, Australia and Japan. This is the first dessert shop for the renowned brand to open in the United States.
Cafe Trophy first opened at The Shops at The Bravern in 2016. It then closed in September 2023, while simultaneously opening a new location at The Bellevue Collection. Known for its cupcakes, the sweet shop is now located on the second level of Bellevue Square, next to Abercrombie & Fitch.