After Scarlett Zhao first tasted Gram’s thick and wobbly souffle-pancakes at its original Osaka outlet, she returned to Sydney with one mission: to find something that tasted just as good. Nothing rivalled the taste and texture of what she’d tried at Gram, which launched in Osaka in 2014 and now has more than 60 stores worldwide. So, she took matters into her own hands and took on the task of bringing the chain to Australia.

Zhao, now owner and CEO of Gram Australia, opened Gram in Chatswood in 2020, and says the diner sells more than 5000 pancakes a day. In October 2021, it launched an outpost on the ground floor of The Galeries shopping centre – with three more stores to come in the next two years.

“The Galeries location is young, fashionable and dynamic – all the traits we wanted for our second location,” Zhao tells Broadsheet. “We were also looking to be more central and give people from surrounding suburbs the opportunity to try our pancakes without travelling too far.”

Stay in the know with our free newsletter. The latest restaurants, must-see exhibitions, style trends, travel spots and more – curated by those who know.

SIGN UP

Gram’s Galeries menu features the original souffle pancakes, as well as several other flavours (think matcha, Biscoff, tiramisu). There are also savoury pancakes (including an eggs Benedict version), French toast and a variety of drinks, such as coffee and smoothies. A Galeries-only addition to the menu is perfect for a mid-shop snack break: a stack of three fluffy pancakes, filled with Nutella cream, and topped with banana and hazelnuts. It’s aptly christened The Galeries Premium Pancake.

A special to-go menu, including a box of mini pancakes, has also been created with the busy CBD crowd in mind.

Zhao’s favourite way to eat the pancakes is with a side of strawberries, a scoop of matcha ice cream and a piping hot coffee.

To ensure the pancakes’ unique taste and texture, the chefs at Gram follow a secret recipe which combines precise measurements of flour, milk and eggs. The egg-white-heavy batter is whipped, steamed under specially made metal domes, then cooked until golden to achieve the cloud-like texture they’re famous for.

The Galeries space was designed by Adesigneory Studio and seats 80 people. It continues with the dark-green theme of its Chatswood counterpart, with plants hanging from the ceiling, forest-green banquettes and graphic green shapes streaking across the walls. Stacks of fake fluffy pancakes are positioned across the room, and neon lights illuminate the space.

Gram Cafe & Pancakes The Galeries
Shop RG016, Ground Floor, The Galeries, 500 George Street, Sydney

Hours :
Mon to Thu 11am–8pm
Fri to Sun 11am–8.30pm

gramaustralia.com.au
@gram_pancakes_australia