Arrrgghfhgg!!! Where I came from (The Bay), they didn't have a spot that specialized in Soufflé Pancakes. And I suck at making them. So when Hanabusa Cafe appeared on my search for brunch in DT Chicago it was a no brainer for me. I dragged my husband with me first thing in the morning so that we don't have to wait in line. Thank Goodness there was no line but the menu was a little confusing. They gave us a menu and we had to order in line first, and of course it being our first time here, we were attracted to the pictures and didn't notice the handwritten strawberry cream flavors (also our heads were down reading the menu rather than up looking at the TV advertising (which has the SC flavor - obviously we missed out on that). I had checked the menu on yelp before going and already knew I wanted the earl grey pancakes. When we got there, I saw that there were two favorites. I asked our teller which would he recommended between the fan-fav of Custard Vs the Earl Grey. His answer was "... well... they are very different flavors..." and that was as descriptive as he got -- so I just stuck with my Earl Grey. My husband told me I was being a butthole and why did I ask for their recommendation if I was only going to go with my original. I told him I asked for their thoughts and recommendations and he didn't really sell it to me, duh! I'm very aware that those are two different flavors but maybe if they can tell me more about the flavors and why he liked one over the other, I may have been sold. Be excited about what you sell/serve! Anyway. The husband had the plain and I had earl grey and no regrets. Only regret I had was not being able to go again before we had to leave Chicago and my husband's regret that he didn't see the strawberry cream earlier as he would have gotten that one. So don't miss out on that! 1 star down because service could have been better. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Plain and Earl Grey - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Arrived with my mini me on a Saturday afternoon after a few outings nearby. There was plenty seating, so we chose a lovely spot near the cutest floral signage with plenty of outdoor lightening. The staff was very informative, letting us know what they had an available. Our After a quick glance at the menu, we decided on splitting the Taro pancakes & 2 milk teas. drinks arrived first and they were yummy. Not long after we got our pancakes and we were so impressed. It was almost too pretty to eat but once we dug in, we couldn't stop eating.The fresh fruit on the side and the whipped cream and sauce was a nice and sweet touch. read more

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The pancakes are quite singular. I had the Taro and was quite pleased with both the flavor and the texture. The service, while efficient was not super friendly, but not rude by any measure. Super cute ambiance. I sat in the window at a low table and delighted in horking down my food as passers-by looked on. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Matcha tea perfection - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Heard this place was famous for their soufflé pancakes, so had to come try. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. The pancakes take about 15 min to make, but to be expected. I ordered the matcha pancakes and a cup of matcha to drink. The pancakes were perfectly cooked all the way, light, fluffy, and bouncy. The matcha syrup was a good amount of sweet and earthy. The fruit on the side was nice as well. The matcha tea was basic too. Overall, pretty cute spot that does pancakes pretty well. Each plate comes with 3 pancakes which was plenty for me. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Matcha soufflé pancakes - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went to Hanabusa on a weekday morning and it wasn't very crowded. We shared the matcha souffle pancake for two, and the presentation was amazing! the sauce on the side made pouring it super fun and visually so appetizing. The fruits were fresh and the pancakes had a great fluffy texture, though I felt the flavor itself lacked a little oomph and didn't fully stand out under the powdered sugar. Seating on the windowsill was unique, even if a bit crammed, and service was fine, nothing special but nothing bad. Overall, it's worth trying once for the experience and presentation, but I'm not sure I'd come back consistently. read more

We stumbled upon this cafe when we were looking for breakfast options near our hotel. The custard souffle pancakes were delicious and fluffy, the custard was light and flavorful. Nutella souffle pancakes came with fruits and it was delicious as well. We also enjoyed the matcha drinks, you can taste the matcha. read more

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Surprisingly it wasn't packed but still had to wait about 30 min for the food to be ready. Well worth it though! The pancakes were delicious , seemed like we were eating clouds! We had the Nutella pancakes and the taro pancakes. The Nutella ones were a bit too sweet For my taste but the taro ones , outstanding!!!!! Cappuccino was good as well! Definitely recommend! read more

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Yummy and Fluffy soufflé pancakes topped with creamy custard or matcha and both topped with fresh berries. So delicious and decadent! read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Custard and matcha pancakes - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Japanese Pancakes are one of my favourite desserts. We tried the Mocha pancake, which was super delicious and so soft & fluffy. Great presentation and good service too! The ambiance was like a cute cafe with pink aesthetics, very instagrammable :) read more

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I ordered takeout form hanabusa and was pleasantly surprised but the food. The pancakes were so fluffy and soft! They just melt in your mouth. They didn't taste eggy which was a surprise. I tried the ones with Nutella toppings that included a generous amount of Nutella, whipped cream, caramels and peanuts. Loved them and I will be definitely be ordering more from here! read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This was my second time trying Hanabusa's soufflés. This time to dine in. I've had take out before, and I can confidently say it's only good if you eat it fresh at the time they make it. The unfortunate part is seating is limited. But you'll probably find a seat before your food comes out. Both times ordering here, the service is extremely slow... I think we waited nearly 30-40 minutes for the matcha soufflé. However on the positive note, the drinks did come a bit faster. I did enjoy it made fresh. It was warm, sweet and the matcha had a strong flavor. The fruits were also pretty fresh. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Extremely slow. Place gets busy and is not that big so plan on waiting for a table. Thankfully there were tables available when we walked in. A bit of a fast food feel, to be honest, except it is anything BUT fast. The pancakes take 20-30min to prepare and the cashier didn't tell us until AFTER we ordered. I'm we were hungry so had we known, we would have gone somewhere else. We also ordered lemonade and they didn't tell us they were out until 30min after we ordered. Pancakes were good but in my opinion not worth the wait. Don't regret trying it but probably wouldn't go back. My drink (pictured) was DELICIOUS. If I do go back, it would be for this. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Veryberry Tea - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First off, those of you who are not familar with the area, be sure to look NEXT door to the actual Heyworth building entrance with the address on it. It took me good 5 minutes to look around inside the office building before making my way outside to look next door for another entrance. Or maybe it's just my ignorance. Either way, you've been warned. Speaking of warnings, pancakes will take good 20+ minutes to make, so don't be rushed. I noticed that the marketing videos playing in the store warns you about it, but the store clerks did not. A lady next table over asked at least three times whether food was coming. I mean, if you think about it, fluffy pancakes require very delicate fire work, so it makes sense. Not to mention it literally takes 2 minutes to eat the whole thing because the cakes are so light and fluffy. Pancakes themselves were very satisfying, both the texture and the taste. But where it fell short for me was the overwhelming sweetbess of the toppings and sauces. I think they could have balanced it out better. I'd say it's worth a try if you've never tried fluffy souffle pancakes before, or if you can handle the overwhelming sweetness unlike me. To someone like myself, there are other places who can balance their offerings better, although probably not from anyone nearby. I probably would never be back, but I definitely think your mileage will vary. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Earl grey + salted caramel - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First time trying Japanese soufflé pancakes and I was so excited!! So so worth the hype - these are so incredibly fluffy and delicious! The perfect light dessert after a meal. We got the custard soufflé. It was brûléed at the top, but overall could've used a bit more flavor. We also tried the matcha soufflé, which had a nice balance of fruit to matcha ratio. The furikake fries had four sprinkles of furikake and were super overcooked and hard. Note: Apparently lines are usually super long. We got lucky and were seated immediately at 4:30pm on a Saturday. Less ppl near dinner time! It does take a while to get your order - we waited a good 30-45 minutes! However this makes sense, every pancake is made to order and cooked fresh! They have mostly two tops and some four seaters. read more

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i walked by hanabusa one afternoon and was intrigued by the concept of japanese soufflé pancakes but it was packed so i made a mental note to come shortly after they opened the next day. i was not disappointed! i order an iced matcha & the current featured pancake flavor, strawberry cream cheese. you get a total of three tall fluffy pancakes & it is more than filling! there is also some fresh fruit served with it. not overly sweet & just the perfect texture. i am impressed! would recommend tourists & locals alike. if you are looking for a sweet satisfying breakfast/brunch give hanabusa a chance! read more

Hanabusa Cafe - strawberry cream cheese soufflé pancakes - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute little cafe for soufflé pancakes and drinks. It's good to try if you've never had soufflé pancakes before, but I thought they were just ok. I ordered the earl grey sea salt caramel pancakes but the flavor just ran sweet. Service is friendly but can be slow. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went here once when it first opened and now had the chance again to go! Their soufflé pancakes are so so good! Great for a little snack and a drink. It does take a little bit for the food to get ready as they're made to order. It's also a bit pricey I think. The cafe itself is pretty small with limited seating. I would go here as a treat once in a while but probably not all the time. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Mocha Pancake - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I never got to try the jiggly soufflé pancakes on my trip to Japan, so I was excited to see that I could have the same experience closer to home! It's fairly small inside and we were lucky to get a table even though it was quite early. The order process is simple. Pick your flavor/style, maybe add a drink, then sit and wait for a delicious delivery. Only 40 minutes after opening they were already sold out of the matcha pancakes. Luckily we each had a backup choice ready. My husband chose the traditional, I chose the crème. I knew there would be a long wait so I didn't balk at the 30 minutes. That's not due to how busy they are, soufflé pancakes cook low and slow, averaging 20 minutes or longer. But it's worth the wait. The pancakes themselves are less sweet but eggier in flavor. Think French toast. Mine had a delicious cream brûlée flavored topping, complete with the torched sugar on top that offers a fun and satisfying crunch. Each of the three pancakes were cooked perfectly and served with slices of fruit on the side. It was quite filling, even in spite of the light and airy texture. The dining area was clean and service was fast and friendly. I hope to make it back soon! read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It looks like I forgot to review this place when I went! It's so good. I enjoyed my fluffy pancakes very much and cannot wait till the next time I go again. It is a busy place! We were lucky to get a seat, we might have waited just a few minutes as the previous occupants finished up. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Expensive but very good soufflé pancakes. I ordered the earl grey and salted caramel ones which I would HIGHLY recommend. The flavors were truly amazing. I would say that the pancakes are a bit over priced, but you do get three heavy pancakes, for which I could only eat 1 1/2 before getting full. The staff here were super friendly and willing to tell you their favorite recommendations. My favorite part of this cafe is the floor seating near the window. It really brings the atmosphere of the cafe to life. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Earl Grey & Sea Salt Caramel Pancake - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cute spot downtown Chicago that serves fluffy Japanese styled pancakes. Although overpriced it was definitely soft and tasty. Presentation could have been a bit better as some of the fruits used weren't as fresh. Service was great, even though there was a bit of a wait. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Since moving back to the US, I've been desperate to find a lot of the foods I used to eat all the time. One particular decadent dessert are the very fluffy ふわふわ pancakes. Hanabusa boasts multiple soufflé pancakes and my sister and I decided to try the mocha and original pancakes. The jiggly-ness is definitively on point!! Unfortunately, I think the original pancake and the whipped cream don't have much of a flavor to them. I really needed the sparse amount of fruit to give them SOMETHING. I think, as a start, this is promising, but I wish there was maybe more toppings to help give it a little more flavor. This isn't a problem for ones like matcha and mocha pancakes since they have tons of topping, but the original pancakes need a bit more. They were quite busy only an hour into their opening, so I'm looking forward to seeing this place develop and their menu get better! read more

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Food: It's been a few months since I've tried their hot Kyoto Matcha latte, and it is a drink that's stuck with me to this day; it's hard to find good matcha nowadays! The drink was creamy and wasn't too sweet; the bitterness was prominent but not overwhelming -- overall, this drink captured everything I was looking for. However, if you have a sweet tooth, I'd suggest taking some additional sugar packets from the counter. I wish I had gotten to try their souffle pancakes, but I was already on a sugar high, + the worker told us that waiting for a pancake would have required us to wait an additional 20+ min. Ambiance/Service: Hanabusa's decor was cute, and I adored the seating near the windows! However, space was extremely limited, and they could only let in about 4 people at a time (we came on a Sunday morning). I'm not sure if it's this packed on a weekday, but the wait time is something to consider when planning your visit. One gripe I have is the prices. I modified my drink by requesting oat milk, and in total, I paid $7+ for my drink, but the serving was quite small (about the size of the palm of my hand, for reference); I found the pricing abysmal for how much I was getting. The drink could have easily been finished in less than 10 sips. While I would consider returning to Hanabusa, I think there are other cafe-styled dessert places in Chicago I'd rather try. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Hot Kyoto matcha latte - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went after ballet with my daughter as a surprise and discovered it was super cute inside! Lots of people in line the few times I tried to stop by around 10am Saturday. Pancakes were super airy and fluffy and look nicely plated. It's pretty sweet but that's expected based on the menu toppings. My daughter liked the fruit and pancakes so it was kid approved :) I would recommend to try if you like pancakes. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Chicago isn't the place I'd think I'd find good Japanese soufflé pancakes but here we are. Hanabusa has excellent pancakes but be warned come early and bring your jacket if you're coming in the winter because this place is popular and there will most definitely be a wait (potentially outdoors). The space is fun and can accommodate about 30 guests at a time but one of the major factors in the wait is the amount of time it takes to make an order of these yummy pillows of goodness which is usually about 15-20 minutes. Is it worth the wait? Absolutely. We got the original, custard and matcha pancakes. All the pancakes were light, fluffy and just a tad sweet which is perfect in my book. My son who loves matcha everything was really happy with his pancakes and said the matcha sauce was excellent. Custard pancakes were also really good as well. We got an order of fries to munch on while we waited which was just so-so. What really sets this place apart however is the service. Staff here is really really friendly and they make every guest feel welcome. Service was quick once the food was ready and we never wanted for anything. Highly recommended if you're looking for this type of breakfast in the area. read more

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We ordered a matcha pancake for a relaxing afternoon. We were first told that the food will take about 30 minutes, but we ended up waiting for 45 minutes for the food to arrive. While I understand the freshly made pancakes could take a while, but 45 minutes of wait time is too long. Other customers who arrive later than us got their good much faster than we did. The food itself was okay, nothing very impressive. The pancake was fluffy and not too sweet. For the price of the pancakes, I was hoping to get more fruit on the plate, but we only got a ew grapes and small strawberry slices. Besides the wait time and the food, I think this place would be cute for hanging out since they have the floral interior design and neon signs. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - matcha pancake - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dine in - very confusing. Apparently you have to line up outside the cafe door, and wait to be seated. It's not clear. The man running the order seemed disorganized. We ended up waiting outside the door, as the line began building. All the guests standing behind us in line were just as confused. When the employee at the register tried to have one of his other employees to assist, they also were confused, so clearly not a great chain of command. They need to work on this. Wait: when ordering, we were warned that it'll take 35-40min for food. It took way over an hour for the wait. This is honestly unacceptable for any food establishment. Clearly disorganized or did not plan the line prep and execution well Food: got the Takoyaki, which came out before our pancakes. Highly recommend to grab one of the snacks due to the long wait. Kyoto Matcha Latte is good, so good drink rec. my friend and I got the matcha pancake and the matcha cream cheese pancake. Both were decent, but I don't think worth wait read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Matcha cream cheese pancake - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pancakes were great, service was ok but awkward. Very disorganized and clumsy. We had a group of 5. Everyone got expensive drinks and we shared 2 plates to try the place. The food and drinks were great. The cafe is small but only maybe 1/2 full. I pulled an empty chair to a table so we would not take up 3 tables. The counter guy brought me a stool and said I could not have the chair.... None of the other tables around us were sat the entire time we were there. Spent $100 on a snack to sit on a stool because I didn't want to be the AH and just take another table. The whole interaction was odd. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Nutella Pancake - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been really excited to try this place, especially because I've heard so much about their soufflé pancakes. It's such a charming spot--ideal for a cozy date or a fun girls' day out! We decided to go with the custard soufflé pancakes, and they did not disappoint. They were incredibly soft, light, and absolutely delicious, with the perfect balance of sweetness. Alongside that, we ordered the gyoza and a refreshing mango sparkling drink. While the drink was perfectly bubbly and fruity, the gyoza didn't quite hit the mark. It felt like it wasn't made fresh, and the texture suggested it might have been reheated or microwaved, which was a bit of a letdown. Still, overall, the experience was enjoyable, and the pancakes alone are worth the visit! read more

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Hanabusa Cafe is a small dessert spot with not many seats, but it's super cute. The pancakes aren't the most affordable for an everyday treat, but they are absolutely worth it. I've been here at least three or four times, and every type of pancake I've tried has been so delicious! read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hanabusa Cafe is amazing. The Souffle Pancakes are so fluffy and light. We also really enjoyed the Gyoza and Takoyaki. Everything was delicious and the atmosphere is very cute. I highly recommend visiting this spot for a great Japanese brunch. read more

This is a great place but the food takes FOREVER! Spent almost two hours in total just waiting for my food. There wasn't enough spots for people to be switching in and out. The workers were taking their time!! There should've been either more workers or faster people. Also this place was VERY pricey. I paid 14.99 for just the pancakes....I would visit this place again only if it was weekday! I wish the place was just a little more roomy as well. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Nutella Pancake and Custard Pancake - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Enjoyed these fluffy pancakes and it really brought me back to the ones I had in Japan! I ordered the taro souffle pancake and matcha latte. The pancakes were nice and fluffy and chewy and jiggly. The taro sauce had great flavor and was strong enough to not be too light/bland. It was surprisingly filling, given how airy the pancakes are. However, I think next time I'd get matcha sauce, so it can cut the sweetness of the dish. The matcha latte was good, no complaints. However, I've had better drinks at matcha-dedicated establishments; so, I'd say to skip the latte here unless you really want it. Came on a Sunday morning for brunch, and wow I knew I'd have to wait but it took slightly longer than I thought! There was already a small line before opening. It got far worse by the time I left. Since the space is small and it takes a while to make the soufflé pancakes (roughly 20-30min, especially if there's people ahead of you), you may find yourself waiting a while to both get seated and get served your food. Don't come hungry! read more

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When my friend and I walked in, we were unsure which pancake to pick. The cashier was very patient and gave us some suggestions. He recommended the nutella which is what my friend and I ended up getting. These pancakes were so light and fluffy!! The pancake kinda shakes when you jiggle it haha. Overall, it had the right amount of sweetness to it and I liked how there was some nutella inside the pancake. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food was fun to eat. I was hoping to see maybe eggs or something to complement the pancakes with. The fluffy pancakes were phenomenal, very soft and prep to perfection. Service was great! Ambience very clean and people friendly as well. read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

FINALLY got to cross this off my list! I've always wanted to try Japanese soufflé pancakes! This cute cafe is located in the heart of the Loop. Parking is scarce but you may be lucky to find street parking. Not many people there considering we went midday on a Monday. To drink, I ordered the matcha latte iced and it was pretty good. Tasted high quality and it wasn't overly sweet. I ended up going for the taro pancakes which were very good! It's like you're eating a cloud - you don't even have to chew lol. The taro cream is rich but not overpowering. The caramel drizzle is a nice touch as well. You can skip the furikake fries - they literally tasted like McDonald's fries with barely any furikake on it. Overall it's a super cute aesthetic spot to check out! read more

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We came on a Friday morning and there was a line. We waited about 45 minutes, they have minimal seating and seemed understaffed so def expect a wait. I got a matcha latte which was really good! We shared the matcha and custard pancakes between 4 people and it was the perfect amount if you don't want to be stuffed. The pancakes were fluffy and the cream was really good. Def worth the wait! It did seem like they were out of a lot of menu items, and you had to order before you sat down. Wish they let people sit instead of being outside in line. If you come during busy hours expect some things to not be available like ramen, certain drinks, side dishes. Overall the pancakes were really good tho and the inside was super cute! read more

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Amazing soufflé pancakes! Have never had anything like it. Get the custard ones! Taste just like crème brûlée! read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Chicago isn't the first place you'd expect to find amazing Japanese soufflé pancakes, but Hanabusa Café proves otherwise. These heavenly, jiggly stacks of goodness are absolutely worth the trip--but be prepared, because this spot is popular and there will likely be a wait, especially on weekends. If you're coming in winter, bundle up because you might be waiting outside. The café itself is cozy and can accommodate about 30 guests, but since each order takes about 15-20 minutes to prepare, the line can move slowly. Is It Worth the Wait? 100% YES. All the pancakes we ordered were perfectly light, fluffy, and just slightly sweet--exactly how soufflé pancakes should be. Earl Grey and Sea Salt Caramel Pancakes - I absolutely loved it! If you love tea-infused desserts, this one is fantastic. The subtle floral, citrusy notes of Earl Grey make for a really unique and delicious experience. And the pairing with salted caramel is just out of this world! Matcha Pancakes - My absolute favorite! The matcha sauce had just the right balance of earthiness and sweetness, making it a must-try for matcha lovers. Custard Pancakes - So rich and creamy while still being light. A great option if you love a classic, silky custard flavor. Nutella Pancakes - Decadent and indulgent! If you're a chocolate lover, don't skip these. What Sets Hanabusa Apart? The Service! The staff here is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive. Even with the long wait times, they make every guest feel at home and keep the experience enjoyable. Once the food was ready, service was quick and smooth. Final Thoughts: Pancakes are light, fluffy, and melt-in-your-mouth perfection A cozy, fun spot with a great atmosphere Service is genuinely warm and welcoming Come early and dress warmly in colder months--there will be a wait! If you're a soufflé pancake lover or just looking for a unique breakfast/brunch experience in Chicago, Hanabusa Café is a must-visit! read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

SO GOOD. Came here during Lollapalooza weekend on a SUPER SUPER HOT day and this hit the spot. The salted earl grey soufflé pancake was to die for! Flavors were so on point and shareable between 4 ladies. The service person was also very sweet and helped us choose a soufflé pancake that would fit our palates. Wonderful. Five stars all around. I would go back to this place next time I'm in Chicago! read more

Hanabusa Cafe - Earl Grey and Sea Salt Caramel Pancake - Pancakes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois