Hanabusa Cafe

Hanabusa Cafe

201 S Mary Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086, United States

Cafe
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About This Place

Nestled in a quiet strip mall in Sunnyvale, Hanabusa Cafe offers a delightful escape for anyone craving a unique breakfast or brunch experience. This charming cafe specializes in Japanese-style soufflé pancakes, a rare treat that elevates the humble pancake to new heights. Far from your ordinary flapjack, these pancakes are ethereally light—often described as "pillowy clouds" or akin to the delicate texture of Japanese cheesecake. Each order is carefully prepared from scratch after you arrive, ensuring freshness and a melt-in-your-mouth softness that truly sets Hanabusa apart.

The menu is wonderfully focused, spotlighting just a handful of pancake flavors, each thoughtfully crafted and topped with exquisite ingredients. Patrons rave about the fluffy creations—ranging from classic originals to the beloved matcha flavor that beautifully balances sweetness with a subtle earthiness. The artistry in presentation amplifies the appeal, making each plate nearly too pretty to eat. Pair your pancake with one of their refreshing fruit teas or a quality coffee for the perfect start to your day.

The ambiance at Hanabusa Cafe complements its culinary delights with a cozy, intimate space that feels both quaint and inviting. The decor has a playful, anime-inspired vibe that adds a touch of whimsy, while the atmosphere buzzes gently with friendly chatter and the occasional view of fancy cars passing by, adding an unexpected dose of suburban excitement. Though seating is limited, the wait is part of the experience—customers have noted that the pancakes require about 25 minutes to arrive as they are made fresh to order, a testament to the cafe’s commitment to quality over speed.

While some guests mention the price point—$17 per pancake may seem steep—most agree that the fluffy texture, fresh flavors, and charming atmosphere justify the indulgence. The staff’s warmth and attentiveness further enhance the visit, making you feel well cared for during your leisurely brunch. Whether you’re a devoted pancake lover eager to try soufflé style for the first time or simply on the lookout for a cozy little gem with a twist, Hanabusa Cafe crafts an experience that's as heartfelt as it is delicious.

Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating
Service options
Outdoor seating Offers takeaway Serves dine-in Delivery
Popular for
Popular for breakfast Popular for lunch Good for solo dining Good for working on laptop
Offerings
Serves coffee Serves comfort food
Dining options
Serves breakfast Serves brunch Serves lunch Serves dessert Seating
Amenities
Toilet
Atmosphere
Casual Trendy
Crowd
Good for groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards Accepts debit cards Accepts NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Plenty of parking

Map & Directions

Visitor Reviews

  • Kim Pollard
    3 week ago

    Such a cute little place to eat at. I had no idea what to expect other than fluffy pancakes. There were four of us, so we got one of each of the flavors. You do have to wait about 25 min. For them to come out, but the decor and the anime on tv made up for it. We just watched the "fancy cars" drive by. We don't get to see some of the more expensive vehicles in our neck of the county. If you want a truely unique food, you have to stop there.

  • Miriam Kanter
    1 month ago

    This is probably my favorite breakfast/brunch place ever! The pancakes taste like delicious clouds, the toppings are amazing, and the overall aesthetic of the place is just adorable. I haven't yet tried every single flavor they have, but so far my favorite is the matcha. I have some thoughts about the common criticisms of this place: 1.) You have to wait at least 20 minutes for your order: Yes, this is true. However, soufflé pancakes are not able to be made ahead of time- they would deflate. If you need something to do while you wait, you can try their delicious teas. I recommend the lychee one. 2.) It's expensive: To that I say, have you ever tried making Japanese soufflé pancakes yourself? Because I have, and it was a nightmare. I'm a pretty competent home cook, but it took me multiple tries before I was able to produce something palatable, but nowhere near as good as what this place can do. And one batch (2 servings) took 1.5 hours to make- 1.5 stressful hours, I should add. Think about how you value your time- and sanity. In my opinion, the money is well spent! In short, this is one of the few places that serves a unique, difficult to make delicacy. It is well worth the investment. Pro tip: call them before you drive over, to make sure they're open. They're randomly closed sometimes (even when they're supposed to be open.)

  • kaliador18
    1 month ago

    Very small menu hyper-focused on well-made, freshly-made, tasty, adorable fluffs, in a cute space with friendly folks, & with fruit teas & coffee options, too. Tucked away in a tiny strip mall in a residential area, but well worth finding!

  • Paul Tacci
    2 month ago

    Super tasty pancakes! I’ve actually never had soufflé pancakes before and my whole family really enjoyed these. Be aware that this is not fast food! The batter is made once you order and is cooked shortly after. This is basically a homemade process done for you by a friendly and talented staff but is does take some time. They advise that it takes about 25 minutes which is about how long our order of 5 dishes took but I think it could be much longer on the weekends. We had the original, chocolate, strawberry, and one matcha. All of them were good! We bright our whole family and the dog thinking it would be short but dogs are not allowed inside. The cashier guy was super nice and offered to bring some chairs and tables outside which is not something they normally do but since they had extra tables and were not too busy they were able to accommodate us outside. It was very much appreciated and we really enjoyed all the food and the service was friendly and helpful.

  • Vid C
    2 month ago

    Very nice pancakes. I have tasted Japanese cheese cake and these pancakes have similar texture. They are very soft and delicious. We tried all 4 flavors they have including the original, they’re super yummy. They charge $17/pancake, which is super expensive. The place has less seating and crowded. Suggestion: if they make small plates with one pancake option instead of three, people who go there rarely can at least try all three flavors!

  • Mayra Deleon
    2 month ago

    I saw this place on Instagram, and the pancakes looked so good, so me and my husband decided to go try them. We went on a Sunday morning, and it was not packed. We found parking right away and ordered as soon as we were ready. We found a seat right away and got the drinks that we ordered within 5 minutes. The pancakes took exactly the 25 minutes that they said it would take. The presentation of the pancakes is nice. At first, the pancakes tasted like raw dough, but once I ate more, it tasted just right. I got the matcha pancakes and to me they were perfect. I tasted my husband strawberry pancakes, but they were too sweet for my liking. I like how they have uno cards by the register so people can take them to their seat and play. I also loved their decor and how they were playing anime on the TV. I would definitely go back and try other pancakes.

  • Leah Poritz
    4 month ago

    This place was soo cute place to be in and enjoyable to be with your friends or family that you can chat or play games at this place. It takes a bit while the food will be ready as it takes 25 minutes. As I tasted the strawberry pancakes, tasted very light and fluffy and sweet but the more you eat them it gets more sweeter. The drinks are something I'll come back for and the drink I got was mango tea tasted so good. Very pricey but affordable. You probably be paying yourself for $24 bucks otherwise if you are paying for others will be more than $24. Overall, that impressed me and will come back with my family's or freinds. I had good time over there.

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