Rainy season is here and what better way to stay dry from the gloomy weather than eating fluffy pancakes inside a cozy café? Recently experiencing a big pancake boom, Tokyo offers every kind of pancake imaginable. They’re not just for breakfast anymore — you can get your hotcake fix any time of the day. Grab a friend or two and try out these recommended cafés.
1. Butter Café
Located in Toyosu LaLaport, Butter Café serves everything from classic buttermilk pancakes to specialty items such as their Crème Brulee Pancakes served with Hokkaido soft-serve ice cream. Originally from Osaka, the café uses only the highest quality butter to make their hotcakes. With its white interior and quaint decors, Butter Café provides a relaxing escape from the hectic life of the city.
2. Café Kaila
You can always expect to find a long queue outside this Hawaiian café, and once you take a bite out of their famous pancakes, you’ll realize what the hype is all about. Café Kaila’s pancakes are fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness and the platters are topped with a generous serving of fruits. Although they’re famous for their pancakes, do try out their Eggs Benedict as well; however, be prepared to arrive around opening time to beat the crowd as they only serve 60 dishes per day. Portions are quite large so bring a friend to share with (and to keep you company for the two hour wait in line)!
Tucked inside a rather boring grey building, don’t let its slightly dodgy location drive you away. With two stores located in Harajuku and Shibuya, Mee’s Pancakes provides a quiet, comfortable place to rest from running around all day on the crowded streets of Tokyo. Their heart shaped pancakes come with various types of toppings such as ice cream, seasonal fruits, whipped cream, and chocolate. We recommend the Blueberry and Cream Cheese Pancake or the Chocolat Chocolat Pancake.
Located in the backstreets of Omotesando, Honolulu Coffee is popular for its Hawaiian blend coffee, but they also serve Hawaiian inspired pancakes. Their Kona Coffee Cream Pancake includes three layers of hotcakes topped with Kona coffee, whipped cream, and vanilla ice cream hidden underneath. If you’re not a big fan of coffee, you can try their Macadamia Cream Pancakes. As you dry off from the rain, take a sip from their Tiramisu Coffee Cup. The café is small and cozy and portions are large—perfect for a rainy day date!
Pancakes don’t always have to be sweet, and if you’re craving for something savory, J.S. Pancake Café has you covered. With several locations throughout Tokyo, you can enjoy your pancakes on a rainy day, anywhere. For a healthy dish, we recommend the Avocado and Salmon Pancake which comes with a salad and Ricotta cream cheese. For those with a sweet tooth, the café offers seasonal items such as Mille-feuille Pancake and French Pancake with Tea & Citrus. They also offer a variety of drinks. And for those of you who insist that pancakes and beer do go together, they serve alcohol as well.