I can’t always eat ramen when I go out, can I? This past weekend, I went with some friends to Shiawase no Pancake (“A Happy Pancake”) in Kyoto. They are actually a chain of fluffy pancake shops, so you can find them around Tokyo and Osaka as well. Its popularity speaks volumes about the chain, as they are always busy at all times of the day.

They have a few variations of their pancakes, mainly varying toppings and prices.

While everything looked delicious, I opted for their Rich Cheese Mousse and Berry Sauce Pancakes for 1250￥ ($11.50 USD) and a hot coffee for 200￥ more.

Jenny ordered the Kyoto-only Hojicha Tiramisu Pancakes and Josie the Seasonal Fruits Pancakes. As you can see, they all looked absolutely deliciously decadent.

The texture was unbelievably fluffy, soft, and pillowy. Never before have I ever had such light, yet rich pancakes, though they do not taste at all like the typical American diner pancakes. They are more akin to the eggy taste of a Chinese egg tart with the softness of a bread pudding. Which means delicious.

The toppings, too, were varied between our dishes, though I definitely think I had the best choice with the creaminess of cheese and whip complementing the sweet eggyness of the pancake, cut with tartness from the berry sauce. Ridiculously delicious with a price to match.

Would it be worth the wait? To those seeking a savory-sweet snack (there are those options available) or a sweet treat, definitely. I’d personally prefer to wait for a ramen, but you know, sometimes having a lovely meal with some lovely ladies is a nice change of pace.

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