Starting May 18, 2026, UNION SQUARE TOKYO (ユニオン スクエア トウキョウ), a well-known American-style restaurant at Tokyo Midtown, is offering three limited-time special menu items featuring California Prunes.
California Prunes are characterized by their natural sweetness — with no added sugar — and their rich, aromatic flavor. They are also highly regarded for their balanced nutritional profile, containing dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamin K. In recent years, their versatility has been gaining renewed attention, with growing interest from the hotel and restaurant industry in the value and flavor benefits they can bring to menus.
For this collaboration, California Prunes are incorporated into three of UNION SQUARE TOKYO's popular signature dishes: pasta, pork grill, and beef cheeseburger. Head Chef Yosuke Shioda developed the items with a keen eye toward the dining experience as well as the cultural stories behind each ingredient.
Menu Overview
- California Prune and Blue Cheese Penne Rigate
Penne tossed in a rich blue cheese sauce, finished with California Prunes, walnuts, and fresh basil. The bold aroma of blue cheese enveloping the pasta harmonizes with the fruity sweetness and gentle tartness of the prunes.
- Kato Pork Grill with California Prune Poivre Blanc Sauce
A new take on one of UNION SQUARE's popular signature dishes, featuring the melt-in-your-mouth Kato Pork from Gunma Prefecture, now served with a California Prune sauce. The juicy loin steak, a black pepper-spiced poivre blanc sauce, and the sweet-tart flavor of prunes come together for an exceptional combination.
- Tankaku Beef Burger with California Prune and American Cherry Confit
A premium burger featuring a large patty made from 100% rare Iwate-Yamagatamura Tankaku beef, layered with generous cheese and a special prune purée sauce made with American cherry confit. A fruity prune sauce simmered with aged balsamic vinegar and a touch of spice draws out the full umami of the lean Tankaku beef.
From Head Chef Yosuke Shioda
"California Prunes are an incredibly high-potential ingredient that brings deep richness and vibrant contrast to dishes. In developing these dishes, I drew on their fragrant sweetness and well-balanced acidity to seek harmony with the bold meat-forward cooking that UNION SQUARE TOKYO is known for. In particular, turning prune purée into a sauce allows for a natural thickness and depth without any added sugar — that is one of its greatest appeals. I hope guests enjoy the multifaceted expressions of the prune as it complements the saltiness of blue cheese and the natural sweetness of premium branded meats."
Restaurant Information
UNION SQUARE TOKYO
- Address: Galleria Garden Terrace B1F, Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
- Official website: https://unionsquaretokyo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unionsquaretokyo/
