From Osaka to Hong Kong: Famed for its ricotta cheese pancakes, popular Osaka restaurant Micasadeco & Café opens its first overseas flagship in Langham Place in Mong Kok.

Look & Feel: The cafe fills the open area in the second basement level of the mall that was previously occupied by a branch of Pacific Coffee Company. Featuring plenty of pastel shades and even fluffy white cloud installations hanging from the ceiling, Micasadeco & Café is cute and twee, but not overwhelmingly so.

On the Menu: Think Japan-ified Western cafe options, from sandwiches and salads to pastas and all-day breakfast options like omelettes and eggs Benedict. There are rice dishes such as omurice and rice bowl sets on the menu, too. The highlight of the menu, however, is the pancakes — both fluffy souffle pancakes and regular pancakes — in a variety of flavors. The food is complemented by an array of coffee-based drinks, Western and Japanese teas, and other soft drinks.

Jeng: The signature ricotta cheese pancakes ($118) were a dream — light, fluffy, eggy (but not too eggy) and melt-in-your-mouth. Even among the plethora of Japanese souffle pancake joints that’ve opened in the city lately, these pancakes still manage to stand out, which is saying something. The Japan-imported ingredients, Italian ricotta cheese, and delicate whipped cream made from Hokkaido milk definitely help.

Not So Jeng: The savory lunch dishes we tried were satisfying, but not exactly something we’d write home about. Certain dishes, such as the Micasadeco brown rice Japanese bowl with mentaiko ($98), could have stood to be a bit more flavorful.

Great For: Cute dates; indulging your sweet tooth; grabbing a bite to fuel up after a shopping trip.

FYI: Look out for seasonal specials such as pumpkin spice pancakes for fall and caramel pancakes in winter.

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This writeup was based on a complimentary media tasting. The Loop HK doesn’t guarantee/sell restaurant review coverage. See our editorial policy here.