Glenelg just scored a new dessert hotspot, and it’s Japanese-inspired. Need we say more. Soft, cloud-like Japanese soufflé pancakes have arrived on Jetty Road thanks to Momo, a playful, Japanese-inspired pancake and drinks bar built almost entirely by hand by Glenelg local and former engineer, Eli.
These aren’t your standard pancakes. They’re the fluffy, wobbly, melt-in-your-mouth creations that took over Japan, then the internet, and have now made their way to the bay – whisked to order using free-range eggs, premium Japanese and European ingredients.
Eli’s love affair with Japanese soufflé pancakes started on a Japan trip a few years ago. “They stood out to me as something both fun and delicious,” he says. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, he took the inspiration and ran with it, creating a menu at Momo that’s intentionally small, refined and obsessively tested.
For the uninitiated, soufflé pancakes get their height and wobble from whisked egg whites folded carefully into batter, the meringue giving the cakes their signature height and jiggle. Each Momo soufflé is made with free-range eggs and no seed oils, as well as no artificial flavours and no store-bought sauces. Everything is house-made, from the toppings to the gels.
Eli says each pancake is cooked low and slow to protect its delicate structure. Cut into one and the centre gives way to a soft, custard-like interior that melts in your mouth. The flavour sits in a sweet spot between egg, vanilla and toasted sugar.
Here’s the cheat code on what to order. Eli’s top picks include the Strawberry Belgium Chocolate, a dairy-free number (but so melt-in-your-mouth-decadent you wouldn’t even know) and the Blueberry Yuzu Cheesecake, a dairy-free twist on the classic cheesecake infused with Japanese yuzu. But perhaps the most drool-worthy is the Sicilian Pistachio.
“I import pistachios from Sicily to make this, as they are considered the best. It’s like no other pistachio dessert I’ve had in Australia,” Eli says.
There are multiple dairy-free options across the menu, including Momo’s own house-made dairy-free vanilla gelato.
To pair, the drinks list focuses on Japanese specialties. Matcha lattes, hojicha lattes, sparkling yuzu are constants, but there’s also creative seasonal hits like the torched Banana Latte and the Uji Chestnut Latte, an iced ceremonial matcha layered with roasted nutty notes from house-made chestnut cream.
“You’ve never had a drink like this before,” Eli says.
The Momo concept is simple. Choose a soufflé, choose a drink, and enjoy a high-impact flavour moment.
The fit-out is full kawaii, a pastel daydream of soft lanterns, clouds, Tokyo neon lights, bamboo and cherry blossoms. A koi mural by a local artist lifts the main wall, adding to the dreamy, Japanese-inspired aesthetic.
“I wanted the space to have a fun and quirky Japanese twist without taking itself too seriously,” Eli says.
Like the soufflé pancake shops that line Tokyo’s streets, Momo is designed with an open kitchen.
“Guests can watch their soufflés cook and see the craft that goes into making them perfectly fluffy and jiggly!” he adds.
Opening in Glenelg was always the plan. “I’ve lived in Glenelg nearly my whole life,” Eli explains. “I’m very proud to finally be a part of making Glenelg the place to be.”
After officially opening on Monday, the local response has been immediate – and enthusiastic.
“People told us they’d been watching the construction for months and couldn’t wait to try it,” he says. “Then they say they’re the best pancakes they’ve ever had… you can’t help but smile when you hear that.”
Momo is the new sweet sensation down the bay that’s set to become an after-beach sugar fix, a cute date-night stop, a family favourite, or the perfect takeaway treat for a stroll under the Moseley Square lights.
Each soufflé is whisked to order, so Momo notes to allow 20 minutes cooking time (normal for this style).
Momo Japanese Soufflé Pancakes
When: Mon to Thur 4pm-10pm, Fri to Sun 1pm-10pm
Where: Unit 16/7 Moseley Sq, Glenelg (Halfway down the Moseley Square alleyway, near Zambrero)
@momosoufflepancakes
