Shiawase no Pancake in Kichijoji

Shiawase no Pancake is one of Japan’s most famous “fuwa fuwa” souffle pancake cafes. These Japanese-style fluffy pancakes are both Instagram-worthy and delicious, making it a favourite among locals and tourists alike.

Originally from Osaka, Shiawase no Pancake (A Happy Pancake) is a popular cafe chain known for “fuwa fuwa” fluffy pancakes. The cafe’s name stays true to its motto: “Delicious things can make people smile”. It has a total of 27 outlets countrywide, and 7 stores in Tokyo alone. I decided to visit the store located in Kichijoji, away from the bustling crowds of Shibuya and Ikebukuro.

Heading to Kichijoji

The Kichijoji outlet is slightly hidden, located on the 3rd floor of an unsuspecting “building mall” along one of the shopping lanes in Sunroad Kichijoi. Look out for the signboard with a picture of the cafe’s famous Happy Pancake and you’ll know you’re at the right place.

Shiawase no Pancake offers both sweet and savoury pancakes, which all require a 20-minute wait time as the pancakes are freshly made. While waiting, you can take a look at the cooking process through the cafe’s glass-windowed open kitchen.

The souffle pancakes are made without baking powder, using only whipped egg whites to achieve its impressive height.

Shiawase no Pancake prides itself on using homemade, fresh ingredients—such as Hokkaido milk and New Zealand Manuka Honey.

Shiawase no Pancake: Verdict

The pancakes are super soft, light and airy—shake the plate to see it jiggle! I had the Uji Matcha Whipped Cream Pancakes with Strawberries, which was surprisingly not that sweet—making it a perfect vessel for the seasonal strawberries.

Despite each serving having three large pancakes, it was not too filling and left us all happy and satisfied. All the pancakes were priced between 1,000 to 2,000 yen, which I felt was a fair price for the labour needed and quality of the food.

I had visited on a weekend, and a queue outside the cafe started forming around 11:30 am. Luckily, I had reserved a table in advance, which is highly recommended especially if visiting on a weekend. The reservation page is in English, so it is easy even for those without knowledge of Japanese.

Shiawase no Pancake’s other Tokyo locations include Shibuya, Omotesando, Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Machida. Personally, I would recommend visiting one of the less crowded stores such as Kichijoji.

Kichijoji also has much to offer, living up to its reputation of being Tokyo’s no.1 most livable neighbourhood. It is also walking distance to Inokashira Park and the famous Ghibli Museum.