Gram Cafe & Pancakes
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My friend really wanted to try Japanese pancakes and they really do take 30+ minutes so make sure you order that first. The big gram for $18 was well worth it because it came with so much food, the sausage, eggs, crispy potatoes AND two pancakes was oh and a salad! I wish the dirty ube late had more ube taste, it was very milky and didn't have enough ice in it so it warmed up pretty fast. There was only one server working and she was having to manage all the tabled that were filling up past 8:40 am when we arrived. The soufflé pancakes were incredible so well worth it and they have savory options as well so it'll be on our to try list next time.
Bright, open, welcoming vibe to a small spot know for its Japanese souffle pancakes. So many varieties to choose from! Was tempted to try the creme brulee but having been so long since I had any, I went for the original/traditional, simply dusted with confectioners sugar and a little dollar of sweet cream on the side. They are jiggly, as advertised. A little denser and less sweet than ones I've had at other places but still very good. My sis tried the waygu loco moco and the gravy was definitely the star. Great portion sizes. It was my first time trying dalgona coffee (the whipped coffee that became a tik tok trend). I got the mocha flavor with oat milk. Decadent and sweet. Friendly service, patient answering questions, even as take out orders mounted and a wait grew for the small number of tables. I hope to return to try their savory dishes.
Surprisingly no line on a Saturday afternoon! Came in for some brunch with friends and had a great time. Service was great, food came out promptly (expect 20 min wait for souffle pancake), and nice ambiance. The chicken Karaage salad was the winner in our order. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I love the vinaigrette/sesame dressing for the salad, it is so good. This dish was so big and is probably meant to be shared. The pancakes for the eggs benedict were also fluffy and delicious. Just not as fluffy as the souffle pancakes. As other reviewers have commented, the souffle pancakes are delicious. You get two, really thick and fluffy pancakes topped with sauce, served with some garnish on the side. Both the matcha and creme brulee were tasty. The creme brulee was more on the sweet side. Bon appetit yelpers!
If you have ever been to Japan you know all about Gram cafe especially the wiggly souffle pancakes! This location is in the Culver Ranch 99 plaza on the CVS side near the rest of the restaurants. The interior is super cute with bright color decor. We came for lunch on a weekday so there was no wait. We started with a strawberry matcha. It was just OK with a very light matcha flavor and heavy strawberry syrup flavor. I'd probably skip any of there matcha drinks next time. The souffle pancakes needed a 15-20 minute wait time said the waiter so we only got one with a french toast sandwich for the second item. The monte cristo sandwich was tasty filled with thin sliced prosciutto, havarti cheese served with a small side salad and potatoes. Overall a tasty sandwich and sides for a hearty lunch. The classic souffle pancake was what we had been waiting for and it was overall just OK. It's served with some butter, whip cream and some syrup. The issue with the souffle is the texture is just off for some reason. Yes we've eating literally a million of these in Japan and other restaurants. It tasted like if the batter was too dry so the inner was not moist so the texture was just grainy. It SHOULD be like a souffle cheesecake and still steamy soft in the center. Overall, just disappointing and definitely not worth the wait time. Overall, not super impressed with this US Gram but we may try it again to see if it was an off day but 100% its different from the Japan version.
I was very excited to try this restaurant because I loved soufflé pancakes when I was in Japan. The staff was very friendly and accommodating and I went early enough to not have any issues with indoor seating. I ordered the original soufflé pancakes. It did take about 20-25 minutes which is not bad since these are made fresh. The issue I had with these pancakes were that they were soggy. Soggy to the point that the dough was like paste. I think the chef probably added too much water when they put the cover on the pancakes to cook. I had asked the wait staff if this was normal and apparently that is normal for this cafe. However, they could see my disappointment and allowed me to order a different dish. I ended up going with the chicken karaage meal. The omelette on top of the rice was nice but the chicken karaage was over fried which made the outside hard and the inside dry. The flavor was slightly tangy/sour too. All in all, I was slightly disappointed in my experience here as I was expecting to have light and fluffy pancakes.
I'm a sucker for Japanese food, especially Japanese bakeries, so I was excited to try Gram. I mainly came for the soufflé pancakes, but once I was there I also ordered their lunch special bowl which was a really good value. My kids and I loved the pancakes. We tried the crème brûlée, strawberry, and the seasonal. They were extra fluffy and the fruit sauce was delicious. Indoor seating is small, but there's a big outdoor area which was perfect.
Great food. The time to make the pancakes have gotten significantly shorter. The menu states 30-45m but it seems like it'll be depending on how busy they are. As these pancakes are made fresh by batch, if they are busier, they probably wait till they can maximize making them in 1 batch. Still very tasty, the food is great. There isn't too much interior seating and it's quite small so may not be the best for large parties.
Located in the Culver Plaza closer to the new Starbucks. It's a small place with a lot of sweet and savory options. We ordered a few items to share. The Loco Moco Wagyu and the Wagyu Beef burger pancakes were my favorite. The beef was well seasoned and was tender. The gravy for the loco moco was great with scoop up with the pancakes. The sweet pancakes were more dense than other places. They could be more on the fluffy side. The Staff was very nice and came by often to check up on us. There are a few other items that caught my eye and I'll be back to try.
Finally got to try this place I've been seeing on social media about and I'm glad I did! I came on a Wednesday afternoon and didn't have to wait, but maybe an hour before closing, a wave of people showed up and the place got packed. I tried one savory and one sweet option. I tried the wagyu burger pancakes which comes with a side of salad and potatoes. Wasn't sure about the combination but it worked out really well. The flavor was great and the burger was nicely made, juicy and not dry. For the sweet option, I asked the worker for their recommendation and they suggested the mango Pomelo. I'm glad I went with this, it was really good! The souffle pancake was nice and soft, and the mangoes were just the right ripeness. There were some Pomelo bits and a scoop of sago on top, which does add to the overall dish but wish they had added more. I also tried their chicken karaage appetizer and this one was just ok. The chicken was over fried so tasted dry and didn't have the nice chewy tender texture as most Japanese restaurants have it. Service was great, server was friendly and food came out promptly. The AC was BLASTING though so just beware. Overall would recommend this place but giving it a 4 star because it is very pricy for what you get.
It's been a while since our last visit with Gram Cafe. Remembering the wait was horrible for our first visit so we came just right after they first opened on Sunday morning. There was no wait and we were seated right away. This time my daughter ordered the Premium Hazelnut Chocolate Souffle Pancakes and I ordered their Omu Katsu Hayashi. The menu is deceiving as the picture didn't quite point to the right item. Thank goodness the wait staff asked me if I was ordered based on the picture or the item. I told her based on the picture. She corrected me that the menu was mislabeled. Both dishes were excellent. The souffle pancakes were light and fluffy while the Omu Katsu Hayashi was savory. My daughter and I enjoyed both dishes very well.
The space is small but cutely decorated. I shared the lunch set with one other person. It's a really good deal in my opinion. The karaage and souffle pancake were good but not the best I've had tbh. I did like the lychee flavor on the pancake, though. Service was attentive despite being busy in the restaurant.
Came here with a friend for the first time and we were very excited about the soufflé pancakes. We decided to share a sweet and savory dish and opted for the Mango Pomelo Sago Soufflé Pancakes and the Savory Japanese Monte Cristo. Mango Pomelo Sago Soufflé Pancakes | $18.00 - This came very fast, pretty much right after we ordered it. We were a bit surprised since they told us it can take 30 minutes or so to prepare. I liked the presentation but was immediately put off by the overly ripe mango on top that was dark and mushy. It didn't feel right that they would serve mango that didn't look fresh. The pancakes themselves were fluffy but reminded my friend and I of biscuits with its texture. The highlight was the mango cream on top. There wasn't really a lot of pomelo unfortunately and ironically enough, the mango on the side wasn't ripe so it was way too tart. We did like the cream and mango ice cream garnish sides, they went well with the pancakes. Savory Japanese Monte Cristo | $18.50 - We both liked this dish a lot. The bread they used was super tasty and had a great texture. This came with a side salad and some potatoes. The sandwich was just the right savory level and wasn't too heavy. It's not like a traditional Monte Cristo, but in the best of ways. I would come back for this in the future. The interior was cute and the staff members were friendly. It wasn't too busy since we went during a weekday afternoon, but there was still a wait. We did get seated pretty quickly though. Important thing to note about this location is that they don't serve any matcha drink options. We were told by a staff member and were a bit bummed, hope they do offer matcha drinks in the future.
Been wanting to try this place since we saw the sign go up since we live nearby! Came on a Saturday around lunch time and put our names on the yelp waitlist - took 35 minutes for our table to be ready but thankfully got to sit inside :) The ambiance is cute and cozy (little small which may affect wait time but there's more seating outside). My husband and I shared the chicken karaage salad and it blew our expectations out of the water since we came for dessert but their food options all look solid (will try other ones next time)! The sakura ube latte also hit the spot and looked so pretty~ The star of our meal was definitely the lychee sakura souffle pancakes - they passed the jiggle test and came with lychee jelly, lychee sorbet, and cream on the side which were so complementary to the soft, eggy, slightly sweet pancakes. A little pricey but I think it's worth it for what you get.
We were very excited when they open in MPK. Gram Cafe & Pancakes was founded in Osaka! And now all over Asia and two locations in US. This was my first time trying to Irvine location but was really craving coming back from Osaka having a local japanese souffle! Is it as good as japan? Maybe not, but is it very yummy and satisfying yes! Japan's is a little more fluffy inside and not dry on the bottom of the pancakes. I've been going for just simple og food and coffee/tea to appreciate the core of the food. I ordered the plain pancake from Japan with light maple syrups. This limited option was a summer special and looked quite refreshing so I tried it this time! Surprisingly the one from Gram jiggles more which logically doesn't make sense if the Japan was more fluffy and undercooked than here but I'm no food scientist! Only thing is they close 4pm for both locations everyday including weekends. Wished they have a little later hours as some people work on weekdays. read more
Mango Pomelo Sago Soufflé Pancakes 8.86/10- this was so good! Soufflé pancakes are a Japanese style of pancake made w/ a whipped meringue batter, so they come out tall, jiggly & almost like eating a cloud. They were so fluffy & light that they practically melt in your mouth. They also included a lot of mango, which I loved. The sweetness of the mango w/ the slightly tart pomelo & chewy sago made every bite perfect and it went so well w/ the soft pancake. Benedict Pancakes 7.35/10- I loved how light the pancake was, it wasn't dense at all so it felt a lot less heavy than a regular eggs benedict. You get to choose 2 from smoked salmon, avocado, & bacon. I went w/ smoked salmon & avocado, but I wish they gave you both on each pancake instead of putting one choice on each. The breakfast potatoes were perfectly seasoned, crispy on the outside & soft on the inside. The side salad was also delicious & the light citrus dressing was perfect w/ it. Honeycomb Latte 8.57/10- I'm not a huge fan of coffee but I was so intrigued by this drink bc I've heard great reviews, & I loved it. The honeycomb is fresh & housemade, you could really taste it in every sip. This restaurant actually originated in Osaka in 2014 & is now one of the most popular chains from Osaka. My dad has been wanting authentic soufflé pancakes ever since we tried them in Hawaii & this is the closest we've had since! Expect pretty long wait times, it gets super busy. Instagram: @hungrytamale read more
5 days ago
Excited to try this restaurant! The food was good and definitely worth trying. The lunch set is a great value, especially if you want to enjoy both a main course and soufflé pancakes. The soufflé matcha pancakes was okay, but you could still taste the matcha powder. Next time, I'd love to try the mango soufflé pancakes and lychee ! I personally prefer the lunch bowl set over the main dish. We ordered the Wagyu Loco Moco, which was good but didn't quite give me a "WOW" The restaurant itself is cozy, with a lovely interior design and a nice atmosphere. Overall, it's a good spot to try if you're looking for a cozy place with a cute vibe and something different to enjoy! read more
My friend really wanted to try Japanese pancakes and they really do take 30+ minutes so make sure you order that first. The big gram for $18 was well worth it because it came with so much food, the sausage, eggs, crispy potatoes AND two pancakes was oh and a salad! I wish the dirty ube late had more ube taste, it was very milky and didn't have enough ice in it so it warmed up pretty fast. There was only one server working and she was having to manage all the tabled that were filling up past 8:40 am when we arrived. The soufflé pancakes were incredible so well worth it and they have savory options as well so it'll be on our to try list next time. read more
21 days ago
Bright, open, welcoming vibe to a small spot know for its Japanese souffle pancakes. So many varieties to choose from! Was tempted to try the creme brulee but having been so long since I had any, I went for the original/traditional, simply dusted with confectioners sugar and a little dollar of sweet cream on the side. They are jiggly, as advertised. A little denser and less sweet than ones I've had at other places but still very good. My sis tried the waygu loco moco and the gravy was definitely the star. Great portion sizes. It was my first time trying dalgona coffee (the whipped coffee that became a tik tok trend). I got the mocha flavor with oat milk. Decadent and sweet. Friendly service, patient answering questions, even as take out orders mounted and a wait grew for the small number of tables. I hope to return to try their savory dishes. read more
Surprisingly no line on a Saturday afternoon! Came in for some brunch with friends and had a great time. Service was great, food came out promptly (expect 20 min wait for souffle pancake), and nice ambiance. The chicken Karaage salad was the winner in our order. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I love the vinaigrette/sesame dressing for the salad, it is so good. This dish was so big and is probably meant to be shared. The pancakes for the eggs benedict were also fluffy and delicious. Just not as fluffy as the souffle pancakes. As other reviewers have commented, the souffle pancakes are delicious. You get two, really thick and fluffy pancakes topped with sauce, served with some garnish on the side. Both the matcha and creme brulee were tasty. The creme brulee was more on the sweet side. Bon appetit yelpers! read more
If you have ever been to Japan you know all about Gram cafe especially the wiggly souffle pancakes! This location is in the Culver Ranch 99 plaza on the CVS side near the rest of the restaurants. The interior is super cute with bright color decor. We came for lunch on a weekday so there was no wait. We started with a strawberry matcha. It was just OK with a very light matcha flavor and heavy strawberry syrup flavor. I'd probably skip any of there matcha drinks next time. The souffle pancakes needed a 15-20 minute wait time said the waiter so we only got one with a french toast sandwich for the second item. The monte cristo sandwich was tasty filled with thin sliced prosciutto, havarti cheese served with a small side salad and potatoes. Overall a tasty sandwich and sides for a hearty lunch. The classic souffle pancake was what we had been waiting for and it was overall just OK. It's served with some butter, whip cream and some syrup. The issue with the souffle is the texture is just off for some reason. Yes we've eating literally a million of these in Japan and other restaurants. It tasted like if the batter was too dry so the inner was not moist so the texture was just grainy. It SHOULD be like a souffle cheesecake and still steamy soft in the center. Overall, just disappointing and definitely not worth the wait time. Overall, not super impressed with this US Gram but we may try it again to see if it was an off day but 100% its different from the Japan version. read more
Business owner information
Kate L.
Thank you for your feedback! We’re sorry the soufflé pancake texture…
I was very excited to try this restaurant because I loved soufflé pancakes when I was in Japan. The staff was very friendly and accommodating and I went early enough to not have any issues with indoor seating. I ordered the original soufflé pancakes. It did take about 20-25 minutes which is not bad since these are made fresh. The issue I had with these pancakes were that they were soggy. Soggy to the point that the dough was like paste. I think the chef probably added too much water when they put the cover on the pancakes to cook. I had asked the wait staff if this was normal and apparently that is normal for this cafe. However, they could see my disappointment and allowed me to order a different dish. I ended up going with the chicken karaage meal. The omelette on top of the rice was nice but the chicken karaage was over fried which made the outside hard and the inside dry. The flavor was slightly tangy/sour too. All in all, I was slightly disappointed in my experience here as I was expecting to have light and fluffy pancakes. read more
Business owner information
Kate L.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad our staff was friendly and…
25 days ago
3 months ago
I'm a sucker for Japanese food, especially Japanese bakeries, so I was excited to try Gram. I mainly came for the soufflé pancakes, but once I was there I also ordered their lunch special bowl which was a really good value. My kids and I loved the pancakes. We tried the crème brûlée, strawberry, and the seasonal. They were extra fluffy and the fruit sauce was delicious. Indoor seating is small, but there's a big outdoor area which was perfect. read more
Business owner information
Kate L.
So happy you and your kids loved the pancakes! The crème brûlée and…
Great food. The time to make the pancakes have gotten significantly shorter. The menu states 30-45m but it seems like it'll be depending on how busy they are. As these pancakes are made fresh by batch, if they are busier, they probably wait till they can maximize making them in 1 batch. Still very tasty, the food is great. There isn't too much interior seating and it's quite small so may not be the best for large parties. read more
3 months ago
Located in the Culver Plaza closer to the new Starbucks. It's a small place with a lot of sweet and savory options. We ordered a few items to share. The Loco Moco Wagyu and the Wagyu Beef burger pancakes were my favorite. The beef was well seasoned and was tender. The gravy for the loco moco was great with scoop up with the pancakes. The sweet pancakes were more dense than other places. They could be more on the fluffy side. The Staff was very nice and came by often to check up on us. There are a few other items that caught my eye and I'll be back to try. read more
Business owner information
Kate L.
Thank you for your kind review! We're so glad you enjoyed your visit.…
Finally got to try this place I've been seeing on social media about and I'm glad I did! I came on a Wednesday afternoon and didn't have to wait, but maybe an hour before closing, a wave of people showed up and the place got packed. I tried one savory and one sweet option. I tried the wagyu burger pancakes which comes with a side of salad and potatoes. Wasn't sure about the combination but it worked out really well. The flavor was great and the burger was nicely made, juicy and not dry. For the sweet option, I asked the worker for their recommendation and they suggested the mango Pomelo. I'm glad I went with this, it was really good! The souffle pancake was nice and soft, and the mangoes were just the right ripeness. There were some Pomelo bits and a scoop of sago on top, which does add to the overall dish but wish they had added more. I also tried their chicken karaage appetizer and this one was just ok. The chicken was over fried so tasted dry and didn't have the nice chewy tender texture as most Japanese restaurants have it. Service was great, server was friendly and food came out promptly. The AC was BLASTING though so just beware. Overall would recommend this place but giving it a 4 star because it is very pricy for what you get. read more
It's been a while since our last visit with Gram Cafe. Remembering the wait was horrible for our first visit so we came just right after they first opened on Sunday morning. There was no wait and we were seated right away. This time my daughter ordered the Premium Hazelnut Chocolate Souffle Pancakes and I ordered their Omu Katsu Hayashi. The menu is deceiving as the picture didn't quite point to the right item. Thank goodness the wait staff asked me if I was ordered based on the picture or the item. I told her based on the picture. She corrected me that the menu was mislabeled. Both dishes were excellent. The souffle pancakes were light and fluffy while the Omu Katsu Hayashi was savory. My daughter and I enjoyed both dishes very well. read more
The space is small but cutely decorated. I shared the lunch set with one other person. It's a really good deal in my opinion. The karaage and souffle pancake were good but not the best I've had tbh. I did like the lychee flavor on the pancake, though. Service was attentive despite being busy in the restaurant. read more
Business owner information
Kate L.
Thanks for the feedback. We appreciate your notes on the karaage and…
Came here with a friend for the first time and we were very excited about the soufflé pancakes. We decided to share a sweet and savory dish and opted for the Mango Pomelo Sago Soufflé Pancakes and the Savory Japanese Monte Cristo. Mango Pomelo Sago Soufflé Pancakes | $18.00 - This came very fast, pretty much right after we ordered it. We were a bit surprised since they told us it can take 30 minutes or so to prepare. I liked the presentation but was immediately put off by the overly ripe mango on top that was dark and mushy. It didn't feel right that they would serve mango that didn't look fresh. The pancakes themselves were fluffy but reminded my friend and I of biscuits with its texture. The highlight was the mango cream on top. There wasn't really a lot of pomelo unfortunately and ironically enough, the mango on the side wasn't ripe so it was way too tart. We did like the cream and mango ice cream garnish sides, they went well with the pancakes. Savory Japanese Monte Cristo | $18.50 - We both liked this dish a lot. The bread they used was super tasty and had a great texture. This came with a side salad and some potatoes. The sandwich was just the right savory level and wasn't too heavy. It's not like a traditional Monte Cristo, but in the best of ways. I would come back for this in the future. The interior was cute and the staff members were friendly. It wasn't too busy since we went during a weekday afternoon, but there was still a wait. We did get seated pretty quickly though. Important thing to note about this location is that they don't serve any matcha drink options. We were told by a staff member and were a bit bummed, hope they do offer matcha drinks in the future. read more
Been wanting to try this place since we saw the sign go up since we live nearby! Came on a Saturday around lunch time and put our names on the yelp waitlist - took 35 minutes for our table to be ready but thankfully got to sit inside :) The ambiance is cute and cozy (little small which may affect wait time but there's more seating outside). My husband and I shared the chicken karaage salad and it blew our expectations out of the water since we came for dessert but their food options all look solid (will try other ones next time)! The sakura ube latte also hit the spot and looked so pretty~ The star of our meal was definitely the lychee sakura souffle pancakes - they passed the jiggle test and came with lychee jelly, lychee sorbet, and cream on the side which were so complementary to the soft, eggy, slightly sweet pancakes. A little pricey but I think it's worth it for what you get. read more
WAIT! The soufflés are cooked to order and can take up to 30 minutes...have a little snack so you're not hangry or walk over to Junbi for some matcha while you wait. Truth be told, we avoided the line and went at 830 on a weekday and there wasn't much of a wait. Food presentation is gorgeous and delicious. The strawberry mascarpone is light and not too sweet. The savory benedict was flavorful with a perfectly poached egg. For the benedict, you can choose two different proteins. We did the salmon and bacon. The salad dressing is light and the potatoes were well seasoned. Food came out quick and the coffee was brewed to order. The dirty ube was good but nothing special. I would highly recommend checking in to shorten your wait time. read more
Execution of the pancake itself was amazing. However the flavor combo for the sakura lychee was a miss. Lychee was overpowering the sakura. I'd skip this specific seasonal pancake. Service was amazing. They were very accommodating, especially when we requested seat change for the stroller. It can get busy on the weekends, but they also use the outdoor patio seating. It's not too long of a wait. read more
5 months ago
To start, this is a place that is well worth driving out of the way to visit. The fluffy pancakes are made as you order them, it could take 30 minutes or so, but it is so worth it. We ordered shrimp croquettes and a side of soft scrambled eggs which were so good. I would drive here just for those items too. We visited on a Tuesday morning and were thankful it wasn't too busy. Another 5 star performance came from the staff! They are excellent too, so kind and helpful. YOU BETTER GO! IT'S AMAZING read more
4 days ago
We came today for breakfast. Waited 40 minutes to get seated on Sunday morning. It's quite busy with a constant stream of customers. 1) fried oysters - this was good, I ate 3 of the 4 pcs 2) fried squid - husband enjoyed this 3) fried vegetable - kiddo liked it 4) fried fish - this was delightful! Wish there were more pcs, glad it had no bones 5) sakura lychee pancake soufflé - lychee flavor was good, melts in your mouth. Enjoyed the lychee sorbet that came with, only available during Cherry blossom season(?) 6) pork Katsu curry - good but some strips of meat were too fatty 7) loco moco - husband enjoyed this 8) Ube latte - decent read more
I wish I was smarter and joined the waitlist before my friend came because we still had to wait about 30 min after arriving. There were two (?) empty tables but everyone was busy. That aside... when we were seated and helped, we were HELPED. staff consistently came back to check on us, give us baby utensils and plates, warned us that our soufflé pancakes could take up to forty minutes. We ate our apps first then the pancakes came. I got the mango and didn't throw it up!! Which is HUGE bc of my morning sickness!!! So fluffy and so many components that complimented it sooo well. We luckily got a corner booth with my LO. If I'm back in the area, I'd probably come back or if another friend suggests it. read more
Finally had a chance to come here on a weekday with my kids. We all enjoyed it very much! Loved the aesthetics of the restaurant. Minimalist and pastel. I came for the jiggly pancakes! Tried to seasonal Sakura pancake. It was so so so good!!!!! It came out within 15 min. Of ordering. Had the hojicha strawberry with oat milk latte. It was divine. Kids had the savory Wagyu Japanese pancake. They both enjoyed. It was about a 20 minute wait to sit inside. Had to find staff to figure out how to order -- they apologized and came to take our order. Definitely will come again. A little slice of Japan in Irvine. read more
Come for weekday lunch set and get a 20% discount on soufflé pancakes. We got the omu shrimp croquette hayashi and omu chicken karaage hayashi. The mini side salad was a nice touch. Wish the omu rice had more eggs...it was a pretty thin sheet of egg. The shrimp croquette and karaage were both good. We ordered the original soufflé pancakes to share between two people... it was the perfect amount of dessert after our meal. Houjicha latte was decent, not too sweet but could be a bit warmer (we ordered hot and it was not that hot). Overall, a nice relaxing place to enjoy lunch set followed by soufflé pancakes. read more
7 months ago
The soufflé pancakes are really a sight and a delicious breakfast treat. All the flavors are just what they add to their original pancakes. So keep that in mind. Our group decided to order 5 kinds and share to be able to taste the different flavors. We got the creme brulee, sakura lychee, original, strawberry, and hazelnut chocolate. The creme brulee was our favorite of them all. I'd say the second favorite was the sakura lychee, then the strawberry and hazelnut chocolate. The strawberry one was very light in flavor and we wished it tasted more strongly of the strawberries. The hazelnut chocolate was a little too sweet, but still very delicious. I don't think you can go wrong with any of these flavors. The chicken karaage was pretty good but enjoyed the shrimp croquettes more. The takoyaki was cooked well and had a good amount of octopus in the filling. The wait time is very long to get seated - we waited almost an hour and a half for a party of 4, but it was worth it. It takes 30 minutes for them to make the pancakes as well. It's super cute and cozy inside. I loved the color scheme. I would definitely come here again. read more
6 months ago
Excited to try this brunch spot. Menu looks so good it was hard to decide. Dessert souffle pancakes are the Beyonce of this place and the bowls and savory pancake dishes are the Kelly and Michelle. All were good but the souffle pancakes steal the spotlight! On a Thurs at 11:45 there were still several tables open inside and outside but you must enter your name on the ipad via Yelp waitlist. It's about 15 minutes to get a table and we sat inside. Once you seated the staff were nice and friendly. And are ordering was efficient and accurate. The current seasonal specials are sakura inspired and we got a few of the Sakura drinks as well as the lychee Sakura souffle pancakes. We highly recommend all of them. I got a savory egg Benedict with smoked salmon and one with bacon avocado and the dish comes with a nice salad with your choice of dressing (highly recommend the Japanese sesame dressing) as well as really delicious breakfast potatoes. My friend got the Unagi Tamago Rice Bow lunch special (which saved us 20% off the souffle) which has cubes of avocado around it and it's a very generous size portion of rice. The inside is sparsely decorated but it's cute with a nice aesthetic comfortable bench seating as well as plastic chairs. The bathroom was clean. read more
4 days ago
Wait can be long so I advise to join the waitlist ASAP. It's a very cute cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. The smoked salmon salad was amazing and they were not skimpy with the salmon! Soufflé was also pretty good but not sure if it's worth the price tag. I'd come back for the salad though! read more
I was so excited for the Irvine location to open! I wanted to try their sakura specials from what I saw on social media, but unfortunately I was too late; they switched it out for their summer special by the time I went. Right away when you walk in, you're taking in all the pastel cuteness of the interior. Definitely a cute place to meet up, but the line does grow at peak time. Luckily, my group came just after 11am and got the last table before the waitlist started. I got the Omu Katsu Hayashi rice which was delicious and very filling. I also got a side of sausages which were the tastiest of my whole order. I had to stop halfway to make room for the matcha creme brulee hot souffle pancake since I was more excited to eat that. It was decent; the top layer was a tad overbaked in my opinion and could have been a bit more fluffier and jiggly. Overall it tasted yummy and not overly sweet. Lastly, their strawberry hojicha latte was pretty good too. read more
3 months ago
This is a hidden gem for fluffy Japanese-style pancakes. When we stopped by, there was no wait at all, and I ended up opting for the seasonal Sakura pancakes and the Sakura smoothie. Unfortunately, I think our order got mixed up, as they dropped off an item we didn't order and didn't bring the Sakura pancakes. Once we corrected them, I finally got my food a short time later. Otherwise, the food was great! read more
3 months ago
I decided to try this place out. I got the original soufflé pancake and a honeycomb latte. I went on a weekday so I was immediately seated. I was able to get my order quickly in a timely manner. Would definitely come back to try different flavors. there is seating inside and outside. read more
I've been eyeing Gram Café and Pancakes, and I was excited they opened up in Irvine. They are usually busy on the weekend, so I recommend going during the weekday if possible. Parking in this plaza is tough but not impossible. There is plenty of shared outdoor seating in the plaza, but limited inside seating. Since it was my first visit, I tried a variety of items. Staff warned me that the souffle pancakes take a long time to make so I put in an order of Crème Brulee Souffle Pancakes ($15) first. I also ordered the Shrimp Croquette ($7), Takoyaki ($8), and Ebi Fry ($8.50). When the crème brulee souffle pancake came out I remember thinking it was small. More of a snack than a meal. The crème brulee topping slid off when you cut into it. The sauce tasted like raw eggs and lacked that char with crème brulees. When I checked on the other items I ordered, the kitchen was still working on it so I asked them to pack it togo. Staff should understand that people who come during their lunch hour might have time limitations. They were really nice, but maybe just not aware. I tried the appetizers when I got home. Wasn't too impressed by any of it. The portion was small relative to pricing. It's fun and cute to try, but nothing something I would eat over and over again. read more
Business owner information
Kate L.
Hi, thank you for your honest feedback and for visiting us.…
4 months ago
Tried Gram Cafe for the first time this week. The first thing I noticed was a line of people out the door and an iPad that showed the option to sign in and be added to the waitlist. I went on a Friday around 12pm and the wait for a table was 40minutes! The inside of the cafe is very small, but super cute. They also have a large outdoor patio. My friend and I only had about an hour, so we decided to get our food to go. We were told it would be about 40 minutes to get our food that way as well. Pretty crazy, especially because it seemed like they did have empty tables. Our food actually only took around 25-30minutes thankfully and everything was so yummy. The prices may be a bit high, but the food was still good. I was excited to finally try the soufflé pancakes...we got strawberry, but there's other flavors too. I loved how fluffy and light they were. They did not make me feel overly full like traditional pancakes do. I also got 2 sides of bacon and they were so crispy and cooked to perfection. Overall I liked the food, but in the future I will give myself a lot more time to enjoy it! read more
I am a big fan of souffle pancakes! So when this place opened I was happy to know that another one existed. I can barely eat regular pancakes but I can polish an order of souffle pancakes no problem. I tried the strawberry mascarpone souffle pancakes and it was some of the best that I have had. So much strawberry flavor and such delicate, airy, fluffy delicious pancakes. There are several savory items as well and coffee/tea/lemonade for purchase. I tried the strawberry yuzu lemonade. Cons: Very limited seating, around 30-32 people, and the souffle pancakes take 30 minutes to make, 60 on busy days per the menu warning. So, if you are outside waiting, it could be quite some time. I will definitely come back, and will have to make sure it is another weekday due to the limitations. It was even full before we got our food on a Tuesday morning. read more
We came on a Saturday lunchtime. What time is about an hour I think. Service was great! even when we sat outside in the patio, which I was concerned that might not have bad service. they brought us our utensils in a basket with napkins and kept checking up on us for water refills. The outside area has shading and umbrella so we were really cool even though it was quite hot. We ordered salmon, egg, pancake with passion, potatoes, and salad fried fish, with tartar sauce It was fried at the time we got it so it was piping hot really good. Mocha tea, Japanese soufflé pancake, - recommended by staff. and the top is kind of like crème brûlée sugar torched top. Not too sweet and it comes with red theme of cheese cream on the side. LOVE. Pork cutlet, curry rice with egg omurice. The curry was too sweet. I actually order next door vendors chicken cutlet curry rice too. I prefer theirs. Ube latte. Yummy. Overall 4/5. Service made a huge impact. Would come again if we're not in a hurry to eat. read more
This location is in Culver Plaza in Irvine. It's small inside, much tinier than their Monterey Park location. If you come when it's busy, there is a lot of outdoor seating where you can eat if you take it "to go". I visited on a weekday morning and there was no wait to be seated; there were many open tables. I ordered Strawberry Mascarpone Soufflé Pancakes and a caffè mocha. The two things this place has going for it are friendly employees and beautiful presentation of food. Otherwise my visit was disappointing. Rather than the stated made-to-order "30 minute wait time", the pancakes surprisingly arrived on my table within a couple minutes, obviously pre-made (please see manager's reply below). Instead of warm and jiggly, they were room temperature and soft but not the proper texture. They were still okay, just not up to par when compared to soufflé pancakes at other restaurants or even their Monterey Park location. The mascarpone crème anglaise which covered the pancakes was good and the strawberries on the plate were fresh and quite flavorful. When halfway finished with my pancakes, the fellow serving the room stopped by to check on me and sheepishly realized I had not received my mocha. About the time I finished eating, it finally arrived, so I took it to go. Let's just say it's not what they will be known for. It had a burnt flavor that I didn't care for but it certainly gave me a good caffeine buzz. Prices were a bit high but perhaps worth it if things were made properly. Apparently, they were having a bad day. read more
Business owner information
Kate L.
Dear Timmy,…
2 months ago
Great food . Great service . And it was really clean. Personal preference : the coffee was more on the bitter side. I was looking more for a sweet coffee. Maybe any suggestions? read more
Business owner information
Kate L.
Thank you so much! We’re glad you enjoyed the food and service. If…
4 months ago
The melon soufflé was absolutely delicious, and the toast was just as good! The service was friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. The only downside is that the place is a bit small inside, but the food definitely makes it worth a visit. read more
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More info about Gram Cafe & Pancakes
15333 Culver Dr
Ste 420
Irvine, CA 92604
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(628) 256-6013
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https://www.gramcafeusa.com
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