Luffy pancakes. It sounds exactly like it tastes. Airy, fluffy. There’s a play on words between “lucky” and “fluffy” in the name – happy and easy, fluffy. The operators call the pastries “soufflé pancakes,” which rise so wonderfully and have a completely different consistency than the more crepe-like pancakes that are otherwise often served or prepared in local kitchens. “Japanese Soufflé Style” is the subtitle of the café’s name. Because that’s where the sweet pancakes originate from, in the Far East. They are called miracle pancakes, “Kiseki,” and are considered lucky charms at weddings.
These Japanese pancakes are about the size of a beer mat and two fingers thick. The hectic city dweller is warned on the clear menu: preparation takes about 20 minutes. Rushing is a foreign word in the café with its large window fronts and bar garden on Pestalozzistrasse. The waitresses are all young, friendly and fast. But the egg tarts need time to cook through and all the protein has to set properly.
This happens in the open kitchen, which guests pass as they walk in – once they have mastered the queue that often forms in front of the café, which began as a pop-up near the university before moving into the former rooms of the Aroma coffee bar in the Glockenbachviertel moved. At the beginning of the roasting process, the dough balls rest on grill plates; at some point a lid is placed on them so that the heat can be distributed well.
The audience is diverse. Two mothers are sitting at a table, calmly breastfeeding their babies. Next door, an American texts loudly to his date and then finds the fruit in his “Fruits, jolis jolis” too healthy. Many friends can be seen discussing the important issues of the world over breakfast or dessert.
Even if there are only seven different variations of the soufflé pancakes on the menu – the choice is not easy. If you don’t want to decide for yourself, you can take the surprise from “Le Choix du Chef”. The menu promises that it is seasonal, lovingly put together and always new. Most of the side dishes for the pancakes come with fresh or cooked fruit, the aforementioned “Fruits, jolis jolis” with various berries and banana pieces, the “Poire belle Hélène” with pears in syrup, chocolate sauce and almond slivers, and “Le Banana Split” with banana slices , almonds and sauce. “Mon Tiramisu” comes to the table with mascarpone cream and cocoa powder, “Oh la la Matcha” with green whipped cream and fruit.
Two pancakes are served each, prices range between 10.90 euros and 13.90 euros. And if that’s all too sweet for you, you can also opt for the hearty French tart, which is made during the week with tomatoes and cheese.
Luffy pancakes Pestalozzistrasse 24, 80469 MunichOpening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.