Thick caramel and powdered sugar sprinkled on the pancakes — yet somehow not overly sweet?!

Text & photos byPaine Little

This ELK pancake shop is right across from やよい轩 (Yayoiken) and next to 魁力屋, so we had our eye on it for a while. After dinner, we headed straight to ELK (エルク) for some pancakes.

We actually decided to go in after passing by and seeing the mouthwatering food photos displayed at the entrance.

Since we came after dinner, there weren’t many customers, so we were seated downstairs on the first basement level.

There were quite a few seats available.

Here’s a simple look at the menu — everything is clearly listed, making it very easy to order.

We ordered based on the photos: a savory curry pancake, a sweet banana chocolate pancake, and two drinks. Please note that if you want a latte with latte art, it costs a bit more.

The latte art was decent, going for the cute style — nothing unique, as Taiwan has plenty of those too. We just ordered it for fun.

But the main focus, of course, is how good the main dishes are.

The curry had a slightly Southeast Asian flair with Thai influences — quite rich in flavor.

We really liked these pancakes. They’re not super thick, with a soft and slightly chewy texture. The pancake itself has a cheesy taste, leaning toward a savory-sweet profile.

Great-tasting pancakes — highly recommended again.

Here comes the banana chocolate pancake — now this is the real dessert.

The first sight of the banana was a bit of a shock — why was half a banana served unpeeled? Quite a surprise, haha. And the caramel on top was seriously thick.

This is the sweet version of the pancake. I initially thought it would be the same as the savory one (since in Taiwan they often use the same type of pancake for both), but this shop actually puts thought into the flavors. Aside from the different appearance, the taste is also distinct. This one is a lightly sweetened pancake without any cheesy or savory taste, slightly thicker than the previous one, and has a mild sweetness.

The banana slices paired with the thick, crispy caramel — absolutely delicious.

Overall, I personally prefer the savory pancake with its distinctive cheesy saltiness and unique texture, which differs from regular pancakes. The sweet one is more like your typical pancake. I’d recommend going for the savory one.

ELK (エルク) Kyoto Sanjo Shop
Shop Info:http://cafe-elk.com/2014/01/09/elk-kyoto-6/
Address: 435-5 Hisucho, Kawaramachi-dori Sanjo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075-231-9221
Business Hours: 10:00–22:00
Coordinates: 35.009146, 135.769158
 

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