How to Make 10 Yen Cheese Coin (Japan’s Viral Cheese Pull Snack Recipe)

Have you ever seen Japan’s viral 10 Yen Cheese Coin? As you can see on the cover picture, it’s a one-hand snack made with a pancake-like outer layer and stretchy mozzarella cheese inside. Today, I’ll introduce what the 10 Yen Cheese Coin is and how to make it at home in this article.

The 10 Yen Cheese Coin actually originated from the 10 South Korean Won Cheese Coin, which was a popular tourist souvenir of Gyeongju in Korea. In Gyeongju, the Tahoto (literally meaning “multiple-treasure pagoda” in Japanese and written in Korean as 불국사 다보탑) is a famous tourist destination, and the pagoda is depicted on the back of the cheese coin, just like the Korean 10 won currency. Its cute, playful appearance and stretchy cheese interior captivated young people in Korea, helping it go viral.

Later, the South Korean version was adapted in Japan, particularly in the Shin-Okubo area, known as a cultural hub for Korean influence. The cheese coin was reimagined with a 10-yen coin design and quickly gained popularity among Japanese youth as well.

When you compare the two coins, you’ll notice they share a similar golden-brown hue, making them look remarkably alike. In fact, the baked, golden exterior of the cheese coin perfectly captures the look of both coins.

In Japan, the 10 Yen Cheese Coin is typically sold at specialty food stands or festival stalls. Despite its name, it usually costs around 500 yen and measures about 10–15 cm, making it a perfect one-handed snack.

The 10-yen design does not stop at the front. On the back of the cheese coin, you can find a detailed depiction of the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple in Kyoto. Recreating these intricate designs requires a special mold or cooking pan, as shown in the recipe steps below. Even without one, you can still enjoy the taste and signature cheese-pull experience.

The ingredients are quite simple. While you can use regular flour, I used a hot cake mix. These convenient mixes typically contain flour, sugar, skim milk powder, fat, oil, baking powder, and vanilla flavoring. They simplify preparation by removing the need for sieving or adding extra ingredients. In Japan, hot cake mix is far more than pancake batter. It is a versatile ingredient that exceeds expectations, so trying a Japanese hot cake mix is well worth it.

Most importantly, mozzarella cheese is essential to achieve that signature stretchy effect. I used shredded mozzarella in my recipe, which works well. However, block mozzarella stretches even better when pulled apart, making it ideal for recreating the cheese coin. For the best experience, enjoy it immediately after cooking.

If you have leftovers, you can store them at room temperature for up to one day or freeze them by wrapping them in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer bag. Reheat using a microwave or toaster oven until fully heated so the cheese becomes stretchy again.

Enjoy recreating the 10 Yen Cheese Coin at home and the satisfying cheese-pull experience. Don’t forget to explore other viral Japanese food recipes, such as Sweet Potato Crème Brûlée or savory Convenience Store Fried Chicken Famichiki.