With a perennial queue out the door, you know the pancakes at J.S. Foodies won't disappoint. As the F&B offshoot of Japanese fashion brand Journal Standard, J.S. Foodies only uses Japanese eggs and flour to make their pancakes. From a bijou stack draped with pistachio cream to a decadent black tiramisu pancake, there's something for every palate here. Don't miss the rich, buttery Kiseki pancakes either, using the same recipe from Flipper's (see below).

J.S. Foodies, Shop 2608-2609, 2/F, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, 3-27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

A Happy Pancake gets a worthwhile mention for making some of the most delicious stacks in the city, and it’s not hard to see why: there are not many places devoted to offer pancakes that are cooked fresh to order and made with all-natural ingredients. 

Though their unique recipe is kept as a secret, we are told that those puffy pancakes are made of premium creamy Manuka honey from New Zealand, shipped butter from raw milk, and most important of all—no baking powder is added but only with fresh eggs are used for a softer, fluffier texture and richer aroma than usual. Guests can expect a diverse array of sweet toppings and sauces such as pancakes with cheese mousse and berry sauce, milk tea sauce and homemade granola to name a few. The brand also offers savoury pancakes with salmon, avocado and mushroom cheese omelette served alongside.

A Happy Pancake is also offering takeaway menus at its branches in Tsim Sha Tsui and Sha Tin, where diners can enjoy all the signature sweet varieties and savoury options such as pancakes with salmon, avocado, mushroom cheese omelette and more.

A Happy Pancake, various locations across Hong Kong; ahappypancake.hk

Read more: Food obsessions: The best pistachio dishes in Hong Kong

Originally from Osaka, Gram Café & Pancakes is one of the most popular destinations for local foodies to get their pancake fix. Aside from the classic three-layer fluffy soufflé creation that is served with syrup, butter and cream, the restaurant also offers house-special varieties such as baked apples with red tea cream, purple sweet potato, strawberry with sake, and many more. 

Gram Café & Pancakes, Shop L408, 4/F, The One, 100 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, +852 2368 4588; café-gram.com 

This popular Tokyo-originated restaurant is best known for their airy, super fluffy Kiseki pancakes, which are crafted with a secret recipe to satisfy even the most discerning pancake eaters. Using only the freshest and most authentic Japanese ingredients, such as premium maple-butter cream and Miyagi eggs, Flipper's features an impressive selection of sweet flavours, ranging from signature plain to green tea with red beans, and strawberry, blueberry with banana.

After having your sweet tooth satisfied (one of those might not be enough), treat yourself to savoury options like bacon and egg pancake, salmon and avocado pancake. Long queues are expected, but we just couldn’t find a better way to “flip” your mood with these lovely soufflé pancakes.

Flipper's, I.T Blue Block, 6/F, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; + 852 2367 2133; flippers-pancake.jp

Don't miss: The Best Cantonese Desserts to Try in Hong Kong

Exuding Japanese-style minimalism with its simple, cosy interiors, this new café is helmed by a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, so guests can look forward to delicious offerings prepared with quality ingredients and refined recipes.

The energy here is focused on the souffle pancakes, which are all beautifully presented and freshly served in an innovative array of flavours, such as vanilla strawberry, yuzu matcha, banana and speculoos cookies, as well as hojicha hazelnut. Their baked goods are also worth digging into, such as madeleines with lemon curd, homemade lemon tart and mango coconut pandan parfait.

Tera Pancake Café, Shop 4, G/F, Po Fat Building, 273-285 Temple Street, Jordan, Hong Kong; instagram.com/tera_pancake

Boasting five branches in Causeway Bay, Sheung Wan, Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mid-Levels, it’s no secret that Elephant Grounds is one of the city’s most popular go-to spots for quality coffee, scrumptious breakfasts and brunches—and their pancake are certainly delight. Three pieces of buttermilk pancakes are served with their caramel butter, hot syrup and cream, where diners can also enjoy these stacks with a scoop of the restaurant’s homemade ice cream.

Elephant Grounds, various locations across Hong Kong; elephantgrounds.com 

Whether you are looking for fluffy soufflé pancakes, or stacks that are topped with rich layers of fresh fruits and ice cream, Pan de Pain will not disappoint. Run by chef Muse Leung, who takes inspiration from a number of pancake restaurants in Japan, we can find an enticing quality selection of sweet temptations there.

Satisfying to just look at, Pan de Pain‘s signature—regular pancakes layered with ingredients like crème brulee, tiramisu, chocolate dorayaki and caramel apple are not to be missed. You can even opt for freshly-served fluffy hot cakes in caramel apple and berry cheesecake flavours (drizzled with maple syrup, of course). These beautifully handcrafted pancakes also come with savoury flavours such as smoked salmon and avocado pancake and all-day breakfast pancake.

Pan de Pain, B111B, Basement 1, K11, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong; +852 2576 1968; facebook.com/pandepain

Read more: The Best Places for Lunch in Wan Chai

The Pantry & Chips Republic is best known for their hearty and scrumptious dishes including burgers, pasta and waffle benedicts, and their pancakes deserve special mention, too. Food lovers come far and wide for the signature flavour with honeycomb butter, maple syrup and mixed fruits, but you shouldn’t miss out on the other two decadent varieties, including banoffee crème brulee pancake with vanilla custard and caramelised sugar, as well as matcha cream pancake with sweet red beans and matcha mochi.

The Pantry & Chips Republic, Shop 436-438, 4/F, MOKO, 193 Prince Edward Road West, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, +852 2955 5662; instagram.com/thepantryhk

PHI Coffee & Pancake is not only one of the most popular cafes for exceptional brunch eats in Hong Kong, but also a stylish spot offering beautifully crafted pancakes for the discerning sweet lover. Here, guests will be treated to souffle pancakes featuring a variety of scrumptious flavours, including tiramisu, matcha red bean, chocolate and Awayuki strawberry. If you’re after a richer buttery taste, they also offer the premium original flavour.

A wide selection of toppings such as mixed berries and vanilla ice cream is also available to customise your pancake and make the dish even more delicious.

PHI Coffee & Pancake, various branches across Hong Kong; instagram.com/phi.coffee_pancake 

Don't miss: 24 of the Best Japanese Cafes in Hong Kong

An overseas branch of Nagoya’s most beloved pancake destination, HoiHoi Pancake House, this place has a reputation for serving up premium Japanese soufflé creations and American style pancakes that come in a rich array of flavours.

Apart from crowd favourites including soufflé pancakes with toppings such as maple cream, caramel banana and strawberry, you can choose from different unique varieties like macadamia cream and crème brulee. If you’re feeling adventurous, their Hawaiian pancakes are not to be missed. Also worth mentioning is that the restaurant is currently offering a new, Instagrammable creation, which is topped with a sunny-side-up egg-alike layer featuring mascarpone cheese and custom-made custard. 

Hoi Hoi Pancake House, Shop 19-20, 1/F, Enterprise Square Five, Megabox, 38 Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, +852 2461 7000; instagram.com/hoihoipancakehouse_hk

Read more: Where to Find the Best French Toast in Hong Kong

Time slows down once you walk into Years—a cosy Japanese-style cafe nestled amidst the hustle and bustle of Sham Shui Po. Besides offering a tempting menu of vegetarian dishes, the café also serves pancakes that will impress both your eye and taste buds. Made fresh-to-order, their signature vegan pancakes are served with fresh poached pear, syrup and whipped cream to give a refreshing aroma and indulgent sweetness. 

The Park by Years, G/F, 132 Yu Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, +852 5336 4000; yearshk.com 

This article was originally published on March 8, 2019 and was updated on February 21, 2023.

NOW READ

The Best Hong Kong Chefs to Book for an At-Home Gourmet Dining Experience

How to Create Your Own At-Home Cafe

How to make Mirror-image pancakes, according to food stylist Gloria Chung