Kitanoya Souffle is bringing Japan’s famous fluffy pancakes to Westwood.

The newest addition to the sweet treat scene, Kitanoya Souffle is a Japanese specialty dessert shop located on 954 Gayley Avenue serving freshly made souffle pancakes, taiyaki desserts and a selection of drinks. Although individual souffles range from $6 to $14 – a steep price for a smaller dessert compared to other Westwood shops – their unique flavors and careful preparation suggest they may be worth the splurge.

Neighbored by In-N-Out Burger and dipnmix, the shop’s space has limited bench seating, while the interior has colorful neon signage and decorative personified souffle plushies. The large refrigerated display case immediately greets customers and is full of cold souffles and beverages, available for immediate purchase, while hot souffles require about 30 minutes of waiting time.

The minimal seating, absence of tables and largely contactless ordering experience show that Kitanoya is intended more as a grab-and-go dessert stop than a place to settle.

The $15.95 small gift box contains three souffles, each individually held upright in a small tray and nestled into a pink box with a built-in handle. The thoughtfully designed packaging earns points for both presentation and sustainability, relying on paper materials and forgoing printed receipts.

The mango pomelo souffle, priced at $6.75, comes with three small slices of mango garnished atop a pale orange fruit-infused whipped cream, all sandwiched between two souffle pancakes. The cream was light, and its flavor was mango-forward with a hint of citrus and floral from the pomelo. Though stingy and somewhat misleading with the amount of fresh fruit, the confection on the whole was delicate, pillowy soft, and quite delicious – especially since it had come freshly chilled from the display case.

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The fresh strawberry souffle was prepared similarly to the mango pomelo and also priced at $6.75. Pink strawberry cream, topped with three strawberry slices, rests between the fluffy souffle pancakes. Aesthetically, the dessert was reminiscent of the popular Japanese convenience store strawberry whipped cream sandwich, and its flavor resembled a classic strawberry shortcake. With sweeter and slightly less fruity cream than the mango pomelo edition, this souffle was also extremely tasty and made for the same satisfying experience that felt like biting into a weightless cloud.

Lastly, the black sesame – with gray sesame-flavored whipped cream hugged between puffy pancakes and dusted with sesame powder, was priced at $6.49. Unlike the fruit souffles, the black sesame cream leaned savory, with the sugar in the pancakes providing nearly all of the dessert’s sweetness. The flavor was rich, nutty and earthy, lending a depth that contrasted nicely with the pillowy cakes. While its restrained sugar content may not satisfy those with a sweet tooth, the balance allowed the toasty sesame flavor to shine and made for a delightful nuanced finish.

The souffle pancakes themselves deserve just as much praise as the fillings they enveloped. Exceptionally spongy and fluffy, the cakes compressed with each bite before springing back into shape, a testament to the air whipped into the batter. Their flavor was similar to that of a traditional breakfast pancake but far lighter, with a subtle chew that gave them structure and prevented sogginess without sacrificing their delicate quality.

Kitanoya’s display case also contained a vast selection of Japanese beverages, including fruit teas, milk teas, various milks, juices, Calpico and more. The sampled peach oolong tea, priced at $3.99, proved to be the most underwhelming item of the visit. It was refreshing but the oolong flavor was largely overshadowed by the peach, making it too sweet and almost indistinguishable in flavor from a Snapple Peach Tea.

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At roughly $6 to $14 per souffle, Kitanoya’s desserts fall on the average to high end of the Westwood sweets spectrum. A cookie from Insomnia Cookies costs just a few dollars, a cookie sandwich from Diddy Riese is $5, and a single scoop from Van Leeuwen costs about $8. But Kitanoya is offering treats unlike anything else currently available in the neighborhood.

Though the desserts are relatively small, their quality, presentation and diverse selection of flavors make them a worthwhile splurge yet an impractical purchase for students on a regular basis. While the offerings are unique to the area and the souffles themselves are decadent, if a student is simply searching to satisfy a sweetness craving, then cheaper, equally convenient alternatives exist.

The thoughtfully designed gift boxes make the souffles an easy choice for birthdays or other small celebrations, but even without a special occasion, Kitanoya offers Bruins a refreshing departure from Westwood’s usual dessert rotation.