Cafe Ladle

There is a café called Cafe Ladle in Ibaraki, Osaka, known for its delicious pancakes. Opened in 2013 in the Kasuga Shopping District near JR Ibaraki Station, the café is not particularly well-known, but it has received high ratings on Tabelog and other food blogs.

“Let’s try the pancakes, which are the specialty of Cafe Ladle!” So, I decided to visit the place on a certain weekend. What kind of place is Cafe Ladle? And how do the pancakes taste? I’ll be sharing all of that with you, so please keep reading until the end…

A cozy, slightly fairy-tale-like space run by a couple who love mountain climbing… Cafe Ladle is a shop like this…  

The cafe I’m introducing today, Cafe Ladle, is a cozy little place run by a couple who love mountain climbing. There are only six tables, seating a total of 16 people. Located on a quiet alley with little traffic, the interior is very peaceful. However, while the name “mountain climbing enthusiast couple’s shop” might give the impression of a rather serious atmosphere, that’s not the case at all. It seems that a frog is the shop’s mascot, with frog figurines and illustrations scattered throughout the interior. The background music playing when I visited was a music box piece by Joe Hisaishi, and overall, the café has a fairy-tale-like atmosphere, with a touch of whimsy. So, it might be a great place to visit with young children…  

You can tell how fluffy it is just by touching it with a knife and fork… How was the mango and berry pancake at Cafe Ladle?

Now, let me introduce the mango and berry pancake I ordered at Cafe Ladle that day. After waiting for about 20 minutes after ordering, the cake was brought to me…

There are three classic pancakes topped with a few pieces of mangoes and whipped cream on top. Blueberries are drizzled as a sauce, but considering the size of the pancakes, I felt like there could have been a bit more blueberry sauce…

Anyway, let’s move on to the tasting… The pancakes are fluffy just by touching them with a knife and fork, and when putting them in the mouth, they’re surprisingly light and refreshing… They’re classic-style pancakes, but they’re incredibly easy to eat. The whipped cream topping is also not too sweet and light. So, it doesn’t weigh you down at all and you can really eat it all in one go.

Well, personally, I felt it was a little lacking. I really wanted more blueberry sauce. The sauce was a bit sparse, giving the whole thing a slightly dry impression… In that context, the few pieces of mango on top were a welcome addition. Putting it in my mouth helped quench my thirst… 

As for the hot coffee I ordered as part of the set, it had a strong bitterness and acidity, with a slight grassy aftertaste. The flavor is quite robust, so drinking just one cup gives a significant sense of satisfaction. I didn’t expect this before ordering, but in the end, the coffee became the main focus and the pancakes were just a side dish… 

Other pancake menu items at Cafe Ladle (prices include tax)

• Plain pancakes: 700 yen
• Cinnamon sugar pancakes: 700 yen
• Caramel custard pancakes: 950 yen
• Chocolate banana pancakes: 950 yen
• Nuts & dried fruit pancakes: 990 yen

Note: Order any pancake menu item with a drink and receive a 150 yen discount on the pancakes.

Perfect for leisurely reading… Access to Cafe Ladle is a short walk from the nearest station, JR Kyoto Line Ibaraki Station.   

Cafe Ladle is a very quiet place, so I think it’s perfect for bringing a book and reading leisurely. After all, there are bookshelves inside the place, so you can stay for a long time without any problems. If you’re lucky, you might be able to stay for two hours with just one cup of strong homemade roasted coffee. By the way, there’s no Wi-Fi, so I wouldn’t recommend bringing a laptop for work.

Here are the details of the store…