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Hanabusa Cafe

3.9 (571 reviews)
ModeratePancakes, Cafes, Japanese
Closed • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Updated 1 week ago

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HANABUSA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
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Recommended Reviews - Hanabusa Cafe

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Original Soufflé Pancake
Kyra K.

First day in Chicago, and caffeine was on my mind! My friend found Hanabusa Cafe for us, and it was near our plans and a good place to chill for a bit. The cafe is cute and casual. We arrived on a weekday morning. It wasn't too busy, but it seemed to have a steady flow of diners. The inside is cute and whimsical, with plenty of seating for smaller groups. They also have a bathroom. The service was fine, and our items came out fast. Our group got some soufflé pancakes, and I got a Kyoto Matcha Tea. The matcha was strong and earthy. Very bitter at the end but good quality for a hot drink! I had a couple of bites of the soufflé pancakes, and they were light and airy. The cream was sweet and flavor-forward. If you're walking around Chicago and in need of a quick pick-me-up or craving soufflé pancakes, Hanabusa Cafe is a good option! Find them off E Madison Street near public transportation. Thanks Irene M. for finding this spot for us!

Matcha Tea (no dairy)
Irene M.

Morning whisk... Hanging out in the downtown area for the day we needed some perk to kick things off and found this adorable cafe in the midst of some shopping area conveniently right beside the Goth Target I've been wanting to see Hana USA Cafe is an adorable place filled with all this Japanese and some other Asian teas as well though we came for matcha...Soufflé pancakes was also ordered which was so light and fluffy and didn't take very long as well. The staff is nice and friendly and even brought or purser to our table which was very nice. A few seating inside and was so nice and warm cozy inside as the weather was about 60 degrees outside having a warm cup of matcha was very nice and perfect. Thank you!

Some menu choices
Andrew K.

Passed by this place twice on Madison without finding it but there is a sign out front that I had missed. Had a couple of nice tasting iced teas and two different soufflé pancakes. We tried a Nutella and the strawberry one. As they are made to order it was about 20 minutes to get our food and it was busy there so I wasn't too surprised. The inside is small but charming and comfortable. Servers were pleasant. When pancakes came out I was glad to see that they were big enough to share. At the same time, I was surprised that they were about $20 each (it's not a typical American pancake but still....) so with tax/tip you are paying $50 for two pancakes. At the same time, you're obviously paying for location. They were fluffy and tasted pretty good and as a novelty thing for me it was worth it one time.

Alex H.

Had to try these pancakes you always see on tv They do take a while to make but honestly it was worth the wait It's a cute little place nice for a date or to have a whimsical time I enjoyed these fluffy cakes so much Service was good

Strawberry passion fruit lemonade
Kendra R.

Hanabusa Cafe is a cute spot. The café has a nice, airy atmosphere with a garden-inspired aesthetic that makes it feel bright and inviting. The menu is also pretty extensive, with everything from ramen and udon to small bites, soufflé pancakes, teas, and smoothies. I stopped in mid-morning during the week, and there were already quite a few people in the café. I decided to try the Strawberry Pancakes with the Strawberry Passion Fruit Lemonade. The pancakes are made to order, so expect about a 10-15 minute wait, depending on how busy they are. My tea arrived pretty quickly and had a really nice balance of strawberry and passion fruit. I could taste both flavors without one overpowering the other, which I appreciated. I've had soufflé pancakes before, so I knew what to expect. These were nice and airy and definitely passed the jiggle test. The strawberry topping was delicious and reminded me of a flavored whipped cream. It paired really well with the pancakes without being too heavy. Overall, I had a great experience at Hanabusa Cafe.

Elaine H.

Got the Custard Soufflé Pancakes and Hana Signature milk tea. This place was one of my favorites! The pancakes were light and airy with a smooth creamy custard on top. I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it but it honestly was the right amount with a side of some fruit. The milk tea was not bad either and I can taste the tea flavor which was good. Definitely would come back again!

Earl gray and sea salt caramel soufflé pancake
Raymond N.

While in The Loop, I was intrigued when I found out there was a Japanese soufflé pancake shop in the area. Hanabusa Cafe is a restaurant which offers soufflé pancakes and specialty drinks. Unlike in Japan where soufflé pancakes are eaten for breakfast, this is more of a dessert cafe, especially since Hanabusa opens at 9am. The place itself isn't too big and the revolving entrance door placement is a bit misleading since it is off to the side appearing to go into another business. Although tables and chairs are available, ordering is done at the register and I wouldn't exactly classify this as a sit down restaurant. I arrived on a Thursday just after noon and there were a couple parties already dining in. I ordered the earl gray and sea salt caramel soufflé pancake and was told the wait would be around twenty minutes, which was fine since I wasn't in a hurry. This arrived at the table and had earl grey tea sauce under whipped cream and sliced strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. The pancakes were denser than I expected but the earl gray sauce was definitely the star of the dish (and the main reason I ordered this); the flavor was evident without overpowering the rest of the ingredients or adding too much sweetness. The whipped cream seemed like filler, the caramel made the dish a little too sweet, and the slice fruit added flavors to the plate. Luckily I was looking at the fruit before eating since I found a pointy stem sticking out of one of the blueberries. I also didn't notice the sea salt flavor in the mix of everything on the plate. Otherwise, the plate composition was not bad. Hanabusa Cafe is a nice place that offers something unique in the area. However, I do not think it is worth coming out of your way for since the execution could be improved, especially with the removal of stems from the fruit.

Matcha cream cheese
Ananya M.

Service was quick and the shop was super cute. The pancakes feel exactly like the ones you'd get in Japan and the flavors all look so good!! I can't wait to try the other flavors. We got the matcha cream cheese and crème brûlée ones and they were so good. It comes with 3 pancakes, 2 with the toppings and then 1 classic on the side and I really like how they do that so it gives variety! So good!!

Gerald H.

Stopped here for breakfast after our original choice was booked solid. Located in-line with other businesses, this isn't a large place but it was clean. I ordered the original pancakes and an iced vanilla latte. Both were good. Staff was friendly.

Original Pancake
K K.

Orders are taken quickly, almost faster than you expect, and then the pace shifts entirely. The food comes out extremely slow -- not in a frustrating way, but in a "whatever they're doing back there must take time" kind of way. Watching the staff work, you get the sense that making these pancakes isn't just cooking; it's a slow, careful process that can't be rushed. And honestly, the wait ends up being worth it. Seating is limited, and that's putting it gently. This is not the place to show up with a group or try to squeeze in a big table. It's better suited for one or two people who don't mind settling in and letting the kitchen take its time. Once the pancakes arrive, everything makes sense -- the slow pace, the tiny space, the deliberate cooking. It's a small operation doing something very specific, and doing it well.

Mocha soufflé pancake
Hil L.

I was craving Japanese soufflé pancakes since returning from Japan. I was excited to try this place while visiting Chicago. We dropped by after our tour of Wrigley Field. We were told it takes 20-25 minutes to make them. Hubby got the mocha one. He thought it tasted more eggy than the place we went to in Japan. I didn't mind. Kinda reminded me of Rikuro's Japanese cheesecake in Osaka which was eggy. I liked my matcha cream cheese pancake. Matcha was a more subtle taste. Get the regular Matcha one if you want stronger matcha flavor. It was a good afternoon snack for us.

Custard pancakes
Anna T.

Staff was kind and fast in service. We came at 10am and waited probably 5 mins to get a table. We got the iced matcha latte and wasn't too sweet but I didn't love the matcha quality and that's my only reason for 1 star off. We also got the custard and earl grey pancakes. It was delicious and not too sweet. Fruits tasted fresh. Would so try the matcha cream next time.

Taro pancakes
Sarah P.

We came here because we saw they served the fluffy cloud pancakes! There was a variety of options such as Nutella and taro. It is an order at the counter and find a seat setup. We ended up getting the taro pancakes and it wasn't too crowded when we first got there, but was packed when we left on a Sunday morning!

Matcha soufflé pancakes

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5 months ago

I liked this pretty well. My pancakes were smotherd in nutella and then I realized why I have suddenly become obese in the past year.

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Hanabusa Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Hanabusa Cafe

Do you take reservations?

Sorry, we do not take reservations at our current location due to limited seating.

Do you have parking?

We offer parking validations $15 for 12 hours at Grant Park North Garage. Come check out our unique Japanese pancakes, have a bubble tea , coffee and shop around on State Street :-)

View All 5 Questions

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4.1(769 reviews)
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Food was amazing! I look forward to visiting this restaurant every time I'm in town…read more Would recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a good breakfast, friendly staff, and quick order to table time.

We decided to check out The Original Pancake House for breakfast, and while the overall experience…read morewas pleasant, I can't say the food completely lived up to my expectations. When we arrived, there was already a wait, but thankfully, it wasn't too bad! They seem to have a pretty efficient system for getting guests seated, served, and on their way, so the line moved relatively quickly. We ordered the junior pancakes, a side of hash browns, a side of bacon, and a create-your-own omelet, along with coffee. Let's start with the pancakes. For a restaurant with pancake in its name, I was expecting something a little more memorable. Unfortunately, they were just okay. They weren't bad by any means, but they certainly weren't anything to write home about. The create-your-own omelet was another dish that left me feeling a little underwhelmed. It had a noticeably fluffy texture, almost as though milk, pancake batter, or some combination of the two had been incorporated into the eggs. While I can appreciate a fluffy omelet, something about the overall flavor just felt like it was missing that extra something. I honestly can't put my finger on exactly what it needed, but it didn't particularly stand out. Now, let's talk about the BACON! Because THAT was absolutely the star of the show! It was phenomenal and easily my favorite part of the entire meal. If there's one thing I would come back for, it's definitely the bacon! The coffee was also really good, which I always appreciate when going out for breakfast. As for the service, it was excellent! The staff was attentive, the restaurant operated efficiently, and despite being busy, everything seemed to move along smoothly. Great service can make such a difference, and they definitely delivered in that department. Overall, The Original Pancake House was a decent breakfast experience. Nothing was necessarily bad, but aside from the bacon and coffee, nothing really wowed me either. Would I return? Possibly! Especially for that bacon! However, when it comes to the pancakes and omelet, I think there's room for improvement in the flavor department. Great service, good coffee, unforgettable bacon, but an otherwise average breakfast experience.

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Small dining room. Signs say they prefer you pay cash instead of credit card.

Original Pancake House
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4.3(1.5k reviews)
0.9 mi•Near North Side, River East
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A birthday weekend that I'm truly enjoying! My wife has this whole weekend planned out for my…read morebirthday. I'm being surprised left and right, we came here for breakfast. Shoutout to Maddy for being a great host! Recommend you ask for her area! Good food! My wife had the Belgian Waffles with cinnamon, strawberries, and Mango, Pineapple, & orange drink. I had the eggs your way, egg white scrambled with cinnamon bacon and mimosa for the drink. Finished it off with a chocolate chunk (chocolate chip cookie) to set off my birthday breakfast the right way! I love Chicago and this is the first time I've ever been to this establishment. Great service, good food, and amazing vibe!

I had a pretty terrible experience eating here due to the kitchen's complete lack of ability to…read moredeal with my mild walnut allergy in any sane capacity. I ordered the Korean Fried Chicken tenders which is supposed to come with sesame ginger slaw, cashew, picked red fresno, and gochujiang honey mustard. I made it very clear that my allergy is specific to walnuts and is not dangerous but I do avoid eating them. Apparently they were unable to understand this or come up with anything resembling a solution, so they sent out a plate that was just 3 chicken tenders and some honey mustard, simply leaving the rest of the dish off. The chicken tenders themselves were overcooked and disappointing - but the main problem is that this isn't an entree. The idea that any chef looked at that plate and thought "yeah, we can send that out" absolutely blows my mind. $20 for 3 chicken tenders and some honey mustard. They are out of their minds. The waitress didn't even bother to tell me that my dish would be affected due to allergies (which didn't even apply here, I'm not allergic to cashews at all) as I would have either explained the situation or ordered something else. I'm sure most people have a fine time eating here, but this was the most amateur-hour handling of a food allergy I've ever seen and it ruined a dinner I had been looking forward to. This was a failure on every level by both the wait staff and the kitchen. I'm curious if I had a gluten allergy as well if they'd have just brought me a plate with nothing but a cup of honey mustard on it.

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