Hanabusa Cafe

“Great coffee and great pancakes.”

Great coffee and great pancakes! I got a flat white and the strawberry pancakes.

Irfan

Jan 2026

“The waffles were amazing — light, fluffy, and freshly made to order.”

The waffles were amazing — light, fluffy, and freshly made to order. You can really taste how fresh they are

Meiying WEI

Dec 2025

“The pancakes were so fluffy and delicious!!!”

The pancakes were so fluffy and delicious!!!! I got the early gray flavor and it was pleasantly refreshing. I wish I had time to try more flavors

Natalia Ramos

Nov 2025

“Nice hidden gem in Chicago a friend recommended to me.”

Nice hidden gem in Chicago a friend recommended to me. The absolute best Japanese style soufflé pancakes I’ve had! Also the cappuccino was phenomenal as well especially on a cold Chicago day.

brandon bryan

Nov 2025

“So incredibly tasty and the price is fair.”

So incredibly tasty and the price is fair. The coffee is decent. This food is not easy to make at home! One of my favorite brunch spots.

Impressive Stuff

Oct 2025

“We are so luck we came early.”

We are so luck we came early. There is usually a wait, but we were able to walk in and order. The pancakes are very always delicious.

Jo Ann Taylor

Sep 2025

“One of my go-tos for when I’m in Chicago.”

One of my go-tos for when I’m in Chicago. Hanabusa Cafe’s pancakes are absolute delicious. The fruit is always fresh and the pancakes themselves are perfectly fluffy. Their drinks also do not disappoint! Only complaint is sometimes pancakes can take ~30 minutes to come out, but they are entirely worth the wait.

Ky

Sep 2025

“I love the Japanese culture and had been craving soufflé pancakes.”

I love the Japanese culture and had been craving soufflé pancakes. I call them fluffy pancakes via YouTube.🤭 They were just as glorious as I thought they would be. I got the matcha and cream cheese flavor. They were airy, light and not too sweet. They were perfect. For drink, I had either the mango 🥭 or lychee tea. I can’t remember, but it was SUPER refreshing. To date these pancakes are the best pancakes I’ve ever had! It’s also pretty inside.

Cicely Ford

Aug 2025

“First time here! Been wanting to come to Hanabusa for the longest & finally did. Showed up about an...”

First time here! Been wanting to come to Hanabusa for the longest & finally did. Showed up about an hour after it opened & it was packed with a line outside. We waited a good 20 minutes outside then got moved to the lobby to wait an additional 20-25 mins. The place was smaller than I thought but it was cutely decorated. Once inside we placed our order & chose our seats. Our food was brought to our table. I got the original fluffy pancake with berries. It was SO yummy. It's def different than a regular pancake; it's light, fluffy, airy & the cream was delicious. I would love to come back & try their other varieties. They do serve ramen but it's during the week only. Staff were all super friendly & managed the crowd very well. Will be back!

Eight5ive2wo

Aug 2025

“I’ve always wanted to stop by Hanabusa and finally got the chance—and I’m so glad I did.”

I’ve always wanted to stop by Hanabusa and finally got the chance—and I’m so glad I did! The pancakes are incredibly fluffy, light, and just melt in your mouth. You can really tell they put a lot of care into the texture and presentation. The place has a cozy, welcoming vibe, and the staff was friendly and helpful. Whether you’re a fan of Japanese-style soufflé pancakes or trying them for the first time, Hanabusa is absolutely worth a visit. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Erick Melendez

Jul 2025

“Really nice fluffy pancakes.”

Really nice fluffy pancakes. Not too sweet too which is great if you’re not into super sweet things. They do take a while to come out - I would say it took about 20-30 minutes from when I ordered to get my food. I really liked that they separated the toppings from the pancake in the to go box.

Rowshon Jahan

Jun 2025

“If clouds had flavor, they’d taste like the Nutella soufflé pancakes at Hanabusa Café.”

If clouds had flavor, they’d taste like the Nutella soufflé pancakes at Hanabusa Café. I finally made it over to this cozy little spot tucked in downtown Chicago, and let me tell you worth every second of the wait. These aren’t your average pancakes. They’re thick, jiggly, warm, and somehow light as air, but rich like a dessert from a five-star Parisian bakery. And that Nutella? Oh my god. It’s not just a drizzle it’s a full-on Nutella cascade. Paired with crushed nuts, fresh berries, and whipped cream? Unreal. The inside of the café is tiny, like four-tables-small, so expect a wait if you hit brunch rush. I showed up around 10:15 on a Sunday and still waited 30 minutes. Totally fine though it gave me time to people-watch and drool over everyone else’s plates. Only con? These pancakes aren’t fast you have to wait . Each order is made fresh and takes around 20-30 minutes. But honestly, you’ll forget the wait the second you take your first bite. Pro tip: Don’t share. Just don’t. Get your own plate and thank me later.

D. J333

Jun 2025