Hanabusa Cafe
Paige Buschman · 163 Google reviewsHanabusa Cafe — cafe in Loop. Strong visual attention on every plate. Friendly without hovering. Ky: "The fruit is always fresh and the pancakes themselves are perfectly fluffy" [$$]
What 980 diners keep saying
What 980 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“So we actually went to Hanabusa twice during our stay in the city because we liked it so much. It was our first meal upon arrival and last meal before leaving. The pancakes and teas were delicious, the space was cute and comfortable, service was friendly and much faster than anticipated, and it wasn’t busy at all like I had expected. We went at 12pm on a Wednesday and then 3pm on a Tuesday and both visits we had zero wait and were one of maybe only two or three tables filled. The location is close to lots of shops and tourist spots, so it’s a convenient place to grab a bite between exploring or coming in and out of Union station. Overall, extremely pleased with our experience here and would love to come back!”
“Delicious pancakes beautifully served. You order at the counter, then seat yourself. Get there early because it is a small space inside.”
“If I could, I would give 10 Stars for their souffle pancake. It is as light as cloud, and as delicious as if it was made in heaven. I can't believe I could find this souffle outside of Japan. So so good.”
“Came here with my wife for breakfast 😊 She had been here previously with friends and was excited to introduce it to me 😁 I can see why, this place is amazing! I came here for the pancakes 🥞 😋 They said it'd be a half hour wait, but I accepted, we don't get these in my 8,000 person town 😂 To start, I got a Very Berry Cheese Smoothie. That was a nice drinkatizer, yum! Nice flavor overall and the cheese foam is a recently discovered fave of mine. And then a few minutes later, out came the pancakes! I got the custard pancakes. And oh my! In addition to their fantastic jiggle physics, they are so good! Personally, they live up to the hype 👌🏻 So fluffy and tasty 😋 And the custard was done right, like a lovely creme brulee. The mocha one IMO is even better! That's the one my wife got 😊”
“Was in Chicago for my partners birthday week. We decided to try Japanese style pancake on our last day to wrap up our trip. We stopped in at 9:10am on Friday, and it was already starting to get packed. After we placed our order, the cashier said it will be about 20 minutes until it’s ready, as they make them fresh from scratch. They also have a sign under the register making the same statement. They have a few tables and chairs scattered around, with the bathroom key upfront. The place is small but has a lovely vibe curated for the space. The food itself was mouthwatering. The pancakes were jiggly and puffy. They serve you 3 with one order. If you are looking for a pancake spot near Millennium Park, this is the place to try!”
“We tried Hanabusa Café in downtown Chicago for the first time. The place has a very elegant style. The staff were helpfull and nice recommending to us which Milk Tea to choose between the different tea options. We ordered the original and got 3 pancakes with homemade whipped cream. They were super airy, jiggly, and literally melted in the mouth, exactly what we were hoping for. We also got the Hana Signature milk tea, and it had this earthy, almost mushroom‑y flavor in the background that was actually really interesting. Not something I’ve tasted before. Overall, we really enjoyed our time there. For a first soufflé pancake experience, it definitely didn’t disappoint.”
“Chicago has my whole heart 🥰❤️ Who knew you could get Japanese soufflé pancakes in the US? Coffee was great & an overall fun experience!”
Sounds like your kind of place?
Star it — your hit list is where dinner decisions get made.
One email a month — new openings, hidden gems, and where locals are actually eating.
More cafe in Downtown & River North
See the ranking →
In the same lane · mid-range
If it's packed, walk to…
More good rooms in Loop, minutes away.