The name of Manchester’s newest dessert haven literally means ‘fluffy fluffy’ and is serving up the thickest, lightest, fluffiest pancakes - you’d have a good mind to think you were eating clouds.
Fuwa Fuwa opened on Whitworth Street on Saturday, October 8 - and with 100 free drinks to give away, there’s no wonder it was seeing queues down the street. When I arrived at 12.30pm on Friday, it was slightly quieter than their opening day, but before long, the queue had reached the door. Word spreads fast in this city.
There are eight different pancake toppings to choose from including souffle, signature, strawberry, tiramisu, matcha, nutella banana, fruit forest and raspberry banana, with prices between £7.95 and £8.50.
For those who aren’t a fan of pancakes, there’s also a delicious looking French Toast offering too - but let’s face it, you’re going to Fuwa Fuwa for their giant Japanese-style souffle pancakes.
I ordered the strawberry pancakes, alongside a raspberry lemonade from their colourful drinks menu, which includes interesting lattes, and exotic sodas. Maybe you’d be interested in a matcha strawberry latte, or a yuzu soda?
I headed into the kitchen with general manager Hussein, who was whipping up the pancake mix that creates the Canadian chain’s signature puffy pancakes. The secret method to Fuwa Fuwa’s Instagrammable desserts is by whipping up egg whites into soft peaks - essential to their light and airy qualities - before being cooked low and slow on a covered hot plate.
It was a military operation in the kitchen, from whipping the perfect mix, to scooping them onto the pan before waiting for them to turn golden, ready for flipping. In fact, the pancakes are so voluptuous, they roll over in the pan, with Hussein joking: “You just let the pancake do the work!”
Meanwhile, behind me at the toppings station, another member of staff was getting the various fruits and garnishes ready to top the pancakes with, so that they leave the kitchen standing tall and proud. Each dish that left the station looked more mouthwatering than the next.
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Originating in Toronto, Fuwa Fuwa Manchester is their first branch in the UK, meaning it’s currently the only place you can sample their fluffy dish. The reaction from social media has already been huge, with one fan tweeting: “OMDSS they’ve opened a fuwa fuwa in Manchester. Who’s coming with me????”
The hashtag #fuwafuwa already has 56.5million views on TikTok, making it certain to be a viral sensation in the coming weeks.
My strawberry pancakes arrived at my table and I was stunned at the doorstop dessert, which was almost as tall as it was wide. Topped with cream, strawberries and strawberry sauce, I couldn’t wait to dig my fork in, which slid through the pancake like a hot knife through butter.
The pancakes themselves were so light, spongy and soft - it was the closest thing to eating an actual cloud, and didn’t leave me feeling stodgy after, either. It was amazing to see the culinary masterpiece and Manchester first come to life from start to finish, and the results are so worth it.
The smallest shake of the plate would see the pancakes jiggle, proving just how bouncy the delicate brunch dish is. And at around £8 a plate, it’s pretty great value for the city centre, too.
Benson Lau, Business Development Director of Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes said: “Fuwa Fuwa is all about spreading happiness through food and we are thrilled to bring our signature dishes, drinks, and fluffy pancakes to Manchester as our first store in the UK.
“We are so excited to finally be able to take food lovers in Manchester on this sweet journey and see the unique dining experience we are famous for flourish here.”
Well, Fuwa Fuwa definitely brought a smile to my face with their souffle pancake stacks. I’ve never had anything like it before, and they’ll be a welcome addition to Manchester’s thriving food and drink scene.
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