If you've got a sweet tooth, then you might have had your fair share of pancakes across the capital, but there's one type that's quite literally rising above the rest. Japanese soufflé pancakes or fuwa fuwa (fluffy) pancakes are taking the city by storm with their cloud-like texture and seriously impressive height.
But how do they get so tall? It involves whipping egg whites into a meringue and then folding it into the batter before cooking slowly. There's a real art to it, which involves a lot of eggs. But I'm not mad about that - in fact, I'm very hungry for these towering desserts, which is why I've compiled a guide to the best Japanese pancakes in London. You're welcome.
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Japanese Pancakes In London
1. CA Japanese Pancakes
- Locations: Victoria (324 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 1AA), and Chiswick (195 Chiswick High Road, W4 2DR)
- Price: ££
- What to order: tiramisu heaven
- Why I recommend: finding a genuinely great soufflé pancake is hard enough; finding one that is entirely gluten-free and dairy-free while remaining incredibly light and fluffy is amazing
CA Japanese Pancakes is a warm, minimalist comfort of a Tokyo-style café, founded by duo Nina and Marco in 2019. After two years of meticulous recipe testing, they achieved what many thought impossible: a completely gluten-free and dairy-free Japanese soufflé pancake that sacrifices absolutely none of the signature wobble, cloud-like texture, or rich flavour.
What started as a single passion project has exploded into a multi-location success across Victoria and Chiswick. From the theatrical crack of the Ultimate Crème Brûlée topping to the Instagram-ready hues of the Ube Cloud, the menu is a visual delight for modern, Asian-inspired brunching.
The red fruit and cream Japanese souffle pancake (pictured left).
2. Fuwa Fuwa Cafe
- Locations: Stratford (Montfitchet Road, E20 1EJ), Soho, (57A Dean Street, W1D 6AJ), and Ealing (6 Oak Road, W5 3SS)
- Price: ££
- What to order: strawberry and Nutella
- Why I recommend: while they nail the nostalgic crowd-pleasers like banana and Nutella, Fuwa Fuwa truly shines when they infuse East Asian zest into classic western desserts. The blueberry and yuzu cheesecake pancake is a revelation - cutting through the rich creaminess with a bright, citrusy punch of Japanese yuzu
Before Japanese fluffy pancakes in London took over, there was Fuwa Fuwa. Translating appropriately to 'fluffy fluffy' in Japanese, this brand earned its title as the UK's original Japanese soufflé pancake store. Launching in 2017 as a humble pop-up kiosk in Westfield Stratford City, Fuwa Fuwa’s cloud-like creations sparked an instant obsession.
The secret to their meteoric rise? A commitment to the craft. Every single pancake is handcrafted and made to order using a closely guarded secret recipe and the finest ingredients. Cooked with precision to achieve that elusive, dramatic jiggle, they are served fresh, warm, and impossibly light.
The Lotus Biscoff Japanese pancake (pictured left) and a matcha with a pancake feast (right).
3. Hefaure
- Location: 108 Shaftesbury Avenue, Chinatown, Soho, W1D 5EH
- Price: £
- What to order: matcha with a brown sugar boba milk tea
- Why I recommend: I think that Hefaure steps up the game with their signature brown sugar tapioca pearls stack. Putting warm, intensely chewy boba on top of an incredibly pillowy, soft soufflé pancake is a texture contrast that works
If you’ve ever walked past Chinatown or Soho in the evening and noticed a queue stretching down the block, you've likely found Hefaure. This cafe treats the soufflé pancake as the ultimate, indulgent comfort food. Specialising in the twin arts of freshly flipped Japanese-style soufflés and decadent bubble tea, they have become the go-to destination for those looking to satisfy a serious late-night sweet tooth.
Their open kitchens fill the air with the aroma of sweet vanilla, drawing a steady crowd eager to watch the theatrical flip of their ultra-thick, golden stacks, which include flavours like matcha, strawberry, and more.
Hefaure is a bubble tea and pancake shop.
4. Fluffy Fluffy
- Locations: Baystwater (113 Queensway, W2 4SJ), Wandsworth (Unit 109, Southside Shopping Centre, SW18 4TF), and Walthamstow (251 Hoe Street, E17 9PT)
- Price: £
- What to order: pistachio soufflé
- Why I recommend: if you're feeling naughty, I can't recommend their Oreo pancakes enough - the crushed biscuits on top give the dessert such a wonderful texture and chocolate crunch
True to its name, Fluffy Fluffy has transformed a delicate, artisanal pastry concept into an all-day dining experience that stretches across the country, from major London hubs to high streets in Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, and beyond.
At the core of the brand is an exact, time-honoured culinary process where each pancake is cooked incredibly slowly at low temperatures. This slow-cooking method is what yields that quintessential, airy middle ground between a traditional pancake and a delicate soufflé - resulting in a final product that is remarkably soft, bouncy, and light.
You can find Fluffy Fluffy across the UK.
