If happiness was a dish, it would be souffle pancakes – you can’t help but feel immense satisfaction when you catch a glimpse of the fat, fluffy stacks arriving at your table. Whilst the culinary curiosity is not an entirely new concept, Raijin’s owner Fuji hunted high and low to find them on the Gold Coast to no avail. So when COVID-19 put an abrupt pause to his popular Japanese food stall that toured the country on the festival circuit, he knew exactly what his next venture would be – a bricks-and-mortar space dedicated to the not-so-humble souffle pancake. As you may have guessed, the menu is based around the pancakes with four different varietals to tempt your tastebuds, including original with a hefty dollop of whipped cream and maple syrup, the tiramisu, which comes with a cheeky shot of espresso and ice-cream, the carbonara for those who prefer savoury over sweet and the Super-Feed that is piled high with your choice of smoked salmon or hickory bacon, smashed avo and house salads.

You can choose between a two stacker or go all out with a triple (we highly recommend) and – rather than using a knife and fork like regular pancakes – the recommended technique for souffle pancakes is to use two forks to gently pull the pancake apart to keep it fluffy. Pancakes not floating your boat? There’s a selection of savoury-style crepes that are made using Mochi rice flour, which results in a slightly chewier texture than regular crepes, topped with some tasty combinations including bacon, egg and spinach and kransky roll with egg. Those in the mood for lunchtime bites can tuck into the seared salmon drizzled with mayo and teriyaki sauce. As for the drinks, Raijin brews Sydney’s speciality Seven Miles Coffee alongside Melbourne’s Proud Mary Coffee as well as ten different teas, freshly squeezed juices and matcha lattes. Fuji and the team have big plans for the small space including a liquor license as well as exciting new menu additions.

If you’re keen to stick a fork in, roll over to our Stumble Guide for opening times.