Cafe Kaila, the restaurant that came over from Hawaii, has moved from Asakusa to Harajuku. Apparently the lines got so long that the neighbors complained loudly. When business is that good, moving up to the major leagues is the right call, I suppose. Harajuku is what you might call the pancake battleground, with more than twenty pancake specialists packed into the area. Judging by the lines of customers even after the move, they seem to have plenty of competitive edge.
Mango juice
I dithered over what to drink and ordered a tropical mango juice. The flower garnish is lovely, very much a Hawaiian cafe. The new place is far bigger and cleaner. There are more staff too. Turnover is faster, so even on a weekend we got in after about 30 to 40 minutes. Considering the hassle before, that is a real relief.
Pancakes
It feels like there is a bit less fruit piled on top than the old pancakes, but anyway the pancakes themselves are really delicious. The taste has not changed much since the move.
Spinach quesadilla with a side of herb potatoes
I was going to order the eggs Benedict again this time, but they had just sold out by a hair, so I ordered the quesadilla instead. It has spinach in it, so the color is a bit green. You can also choose the kind of ham that goes inside, and I played it safe with bacon and prosciutto. A freshly grilled, piping-hot tortilla could hardly be anything but tasty. Add the herb potatoes I enjoyed so much last time, and it made a perfect meal.
Four of us went and ordered two dishes, and the portions were just right. We went for a late lunch, so with dinner in mind this is about the right amount to eat. I hear the lines are shorter on weekdays, so if you are interested I recommend dropping by for a weekday lunch. The world of pancakes runs deep too.