Hanabusa is awesome! The service was quick, and the staff was very friendly. The restaurant itself is very cute, but relatively small. Excellent vibes. The nutella pancakes were some of the best we've had. Light, fluffy, and not too sweet. The texture is really the star of the show. It's perfectly gooey without being undercooked. Super inviting. You just want to grab a fork and dive right in. It's exactly what you'd want from a sweet breakfast dish. The taro pancakes were good but not great. A little bland, as the taro flavor didn't come through as well as I expected. Our only criticism is really that the egg flavor was coming through a little too much. I wonder if it would have been better if the eggs were more fully incorporated with the batter, and also, perhaps, if the batter had a little more flavor. I know that soufflé pancakes are somewhat eggy, but I'd want it to taste a little more like a pancake and less like an egg. Not overpowering though. Overall, delicious.

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 I've been here ~5 times, usually right before or after a visit to the Art Institute that is just 1-2 blocks away. It's just perfect for a casual brunch or afternoon snack. Food & Drink: Come here for the Japanese soufflé pancakes. That's what they're known for, and it's what they do well. My favorite is the matcha. Note that they take some time to make it, and it is a bit on the sweet side. They don't always have their other menu items in stock, such as the takoyaki. Their drinks are good, and I've had their matcha latte and a few of the fruit drinks. I would love a stronger flavor and the option to adjust sweetness. Service: Staff are always nice, although service times can depend on how busy they are. Ambiance: Cute aesthetic with flowers and neon signs! The space is on the smaller side, which explains the long lines on the weekends.

The soufflé pancakes are still as heavenly as I remembered. The experience of wait during the weekend is, however, overwhelming. I was lucky enough to get a table without waiting in the rain, but the wait for my pancake after I made the order was 40+ minutes. They did inform me about the 30-min wait for the pancake when I made the order, but it turned out to be 41 minutes. Lol. As I was leaving, I overheard those at the next table mentioning about the 50-min wait for their food. As for the space itself, it does have a cute design, but a little...aged, and a bit dark inside as well. Overall, I'd still recommend their pancake if you can come on a weekday ;p

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!

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!

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!

The first bite activated my tear ducts. It was that good of a flavor, and texture. I'd like to make an honorable note of the aesthetic to the restaurant. It is very clean, cute, and has that unique touch to it. It is located across the street from an amazing record shop, it's right off Michigan Ave, and near the amazing Bean. This place is perfect for a date, a sweet bite, and in between classes. The interior: Is bright, it has a pastel color pallet from the chairs, the walls, the decor, and even the food itself. The restroom is very clean, and even has a nice clean scent to it. The music they have playing in the restaurant is not too loud, and definitely feels right for the vibes. The service: Is amazing. The food is made to order, and brought to your table. The crew came around twice to make sure we enjoyed everything. And lo and behold, we did! The food: Was just phenomenal. The Gyoza was nice and hot, served with soy sauce, and had a good quantity of six. The Soufflé Pancakes were definitely worth the $16.00. From the way it would jiggle to the appearance, and to the taste brought me to the clouds. The drinks were absolutely delicious as well, the peach green tea is something you would crave on a hot summer day. The house milk tea would put you in a good mood, especially when topped with their cheese foam. Definitely give this place a try, I see myself being here in between my own classes every week.