Soufflés Cafe

Not open on Mondays. My family and I really like this place, especially the kids. Their menu is extensive, and we always order the soufflés upon arrival, as it takes at least 15 minutes to make. Every time we come here, there's a guy and a gal. They're meek and hardworking, extremely attentive.

We love the ambiance, it's charming. I tend to forget we're in Chinatown along the busiest streets of Powell/Broadway with sirens going off from the nearby Firehouse. No matter what time of day, we order a pot of tea to relax. Last time, we went all out and ordered two bowls of tangyuan, sweet hot tofu, red bean drink, shrimp chowmein (omg, fresh & tasty), chicken wings, eggettes, tea sandwiches, and milk tea. I'm craving a purple yam soufflé as I type this. I will go back tomorrow after dim sum and before Brenda's Soul Food, followed by Cioppino in North Beach or the Wharf if time allows. It's my typical Sunday Funday adventure(s) with the fam bam in SF!

Drink tea & keep calm! Pinky up =)

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/souffl%C3%A9s-cafe-san-francisco-3?select=c_HcI21OSu3gDmg3hejuVw
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/souffl%C3%A9s-cafe-san-francisco-3?select=eeBaztkQbpzwQ4b7ywzrPw

My friends and I had been in the area exploring and wanted to get some tea and snacks. Yelped Souffles Cafe and headed over. The place is small, crowded with mismatched furniture and the decorations are borderline tacky. Soooo much stuff on the walls and surfaces!!

We had the green tea souffle with the tea set, durian sago and mango sago. The mango sago was very very sweet, mangos aren't fresh. The durain one was yummy, but the tapioca part wasn't durian flavored. The souffle took 30 minutes to make and it was pretty good! Not too sweet, fluffy. The tea set was adorable too.

Service is a bit slow, there's really only one person doing everything and they have so many items on their menu ranging from savory asian cafe food to desserts to japanese food that it makes sense that it takes a while to get anything.

CASH ONLY.

*Puts Overcritical B*tch Hat On*

THIS PLACE IS A JOKE!

1) IF you're going to call yourself, "'Souffle' Cafe", you better create and execute your house specialty flawlessly.

2) IF you're going to charge the same price for your souffles as a $$$ restaurant but in Chinatown, you better use top notch, quality ingredients.

3) Most importantly, IF you're going to state on the menu that it takes 25 minutes to prepare a souffle, stand by your word.

Souffle Cafe FAILED miserably at ALL of the above items (and more).

My friend and I had such a disappointing and frustrating experience at Souffle Cafe last night that I just had to skip 7 reviews just to write this one.

Souffle Cafe is located just before the Broadway Tunnel across the way from Kam Po Kitchen (Chinese BBQ Restaurant). Their specialty is French Souffles ($9.75 each) but they also have a vast amount other items especially HK cafe items: Salads, American Sandwiches, Egg Puffs, Snack Balls, Sago, Smoothies, Brulees, Waffles, Puddings, Shaved Ice, Ice Cream Sundaes, Sweet Tofus, Milk Teas, Coffee Drinks, Fresh Squeezed Juices and Herbal Teas.

As recommended by our waitress, we ordered the Almond Souffle and the Chocolate Souffle; the top sellers.

A solid French Souffle should have a delicately crisp exterior with a light and airy texture like a fluffy, puffed up custard. Normally a bit bland in flavor, the accompanying creme anglaise imparts a rich, creamy sweetness to the souffle.

The menu states to allow 25 minutes to prepare the souffle.

25 minutes later...
35 minutes later...
45 minutes later...
55 minutes later...
59 minutes later...*Almond souffle arrives* and we think to ourselves, "This better be a damn good souffle."
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/IWv5YHPnWm5s2FS1e89eiQ?select=FRAzToVZqZO76E95wy6BIQ

As soon as we scooped into the slightly crisp souffle, we were disappointed to find that our soufflé was ALL air (caused by having too much fat/egg yolk in the egg white foam). http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/IWv5YHPnWm5s2FS1e89eiQ?select=g0c4j9qu-IB1U33H91Cn-g
Two tablespoons each and one minute later, the almond extract flavored soufflé "disappeared".

64 minutes later...*Chocolate souffle arrives*
(Yes, I was bored and antsy enough to time it.)
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/IWv5YHPnWm5s2FS1e89eiQ?select=GMjYAQ6oXsRQKZb1dn7_aw

Again both my friend and I scooped into the slightly crisp soufflé. This time, we found a Great Dane's pile of chunky diarrhea instead of air. MmMm, sounds appetizing huh? http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/IWv5YHPnWm5s2FS1e89eiQ?select=dAmHJYTo6EUIdlCDcpASDw The chocolate souffle was so horrid that I wish I was eating air instead. Cooked at too high of a temperature, the texture was that of raw scrambled egg whites colored and flavored with a generic hot cocoa powder mix; disgustingly soggy, mushy and very artificial tasting.

In my opinion, a "French" souffle is incomplete without creme anglaise. Though it was shown on the menu, we never received any. When we inquired about it, our waitress said, "We no longer serve condensed milk because it made the souffle soggy". Yah, NO sh*t Sherlock. You don't serve condensed milk with a souffle. It's too rich and heavy for a delicate souffle and would instantly annihilate it.

Did I mention Souffle Cafe was basically dead with just two other tables there? We also ordered two Ice Cream Red Bean Drinks (equally as bad) that took 20 minutes to make. WTF are they doing back there? Harvesting eggs? Making homemade double-churned ice cream?!?!

TIP: If you come to Souffle Cafe on the weekends, place your order when you arrive at Chinatown/Broadway at 11 PM, get drunk at SIP (bar/lounge) down the street. Before last call hits, come back and just maybe your souffle will be ready. Things normally taste better when you're smashed yah?

Souffle Cafe doesn't need a prayer but a MIRACLE to survive.

*Takes Off Overcritical B*tch Hat*

OTHER NOTES:
*Free WiFi
*Seating for 34
*Minimalist decor with baby blue walls with two lighted menu screens
*Same rotating 90s hits from *NSYNC, Aerosmith, Carrie Underwood and Starlite Singers.
*Nightmare street parking (nearest garage is on Vallejo/Mason Streets)
*Cash Only
*$2 to use the restroom if you're a non-customer. No joke.

P.S. - I *pinky swear* that I'm not an overcritical b*tch in person.

I always wanted to try a souffle after watching Hell's Kitchen. So I convinced my boyfriend to get the Living Social deal for this place. After reading multiple reviews, I figured 30mins isn't that bad of a wait. Yeah 30 minutes wouldn't be bad at all since I waited 1 hour and an half for my souffle. I do not know how souffles are suppose to taste like, but the souffle I got here was just meh. Also go the avocado "party" smoothie. I have no idea why it has the word party in it, because there is no party in the drink nor at this place.

Place consisted of fobs everywhere. I was literally surrounded by fobs since I was seated somewhat in the middle. The waiter was a guy who looks like he wants to beat you up for no reason.

To make things just worse. Our Living Social deal covered the cost of 2 souffles, and 2 drinks. And that was exactly what I got. At the end, we were told we owe $8.-- . Why? Tax and tip IS NOT included in our deal. Tax I understand. but why. the. fuck. are. we. paying a 15% tip for a guy who never came over other than to take and give us our order, or the 1.5 hour wait for our souffles? We were also a party of 2, so it's not gratuity either. (Excuse my language.)

Go spend your money and time on something else. You can probably learn how to make a souffle by watching youtube videos before you even get your souffle.

I watch a lot of Hell's Kitchen and I know that soufflés are really hard to make and to find out that there's a soufflés restaurant so close to my work is awesome!! I had to try this place out!!

The inside decor of this place is very cute but the outside looks iffy!

My friend and I happily ordered the almond and the grand marnier soufflé. When the waitress gave us the soufflés we were pretty much wowed at how pretty it looked...until the soufflé sanked into the middle when we tried to eat it with our spoon! Then we realized it was UNDERCOOKED!!! WTF?!?!?!

We also ordered the tonkatsu cha sui ramen and the chai sui (pork) was really tough and hard to eat! At least the broth was good! But damnit! I wanted the meat to be good too!!!

For drinks, we got the mango and avocado tofu smoothies and they were delicious!

Would I go here again? Probably not, unless I have a coupon/deal of some sort....

OMG love love love. After years of saying, "I need to try this place," I finally tried it! My experience was just divine. Very small place. Victorian tea time feel. The decor and tableware were very elegant. Check in for free scoop of ice cream with $15 purchase. Also, from 3pm-7pm, 6 piece California rolls for $2.99.

One odd thing was that on every table, it had a sign that said "reserve for party of 4"... does that mean full house? But we got sat down so... troll much? There were hardly anybody after 6pm...

Anyways, great place for dessert and snacks. White Chocolate Souffle was my favooorrritteee!!! Also, the Honey BBQ Chicken wings were delicious too. The flavors were marinated well and meat was tender. Will be coming back for tea time!! And tea sandwiches...

A solid 3.5. I don't really get the negative reviews for this place! It's cutely decorated, with lots of tea sets and hats and bonnets! There's a very Victorian feel to the place, similar to England Rose Garden in Newark! The place has an extensive menu from different types of tea (fruit, black, green white) to various Asian desserts to food (sushi, Chinese food, etc.) to its most famous soufflés!
On the Saturday Super Bowl City reached max capacity, we stumbled upon this place after watching the Warriors game at a nearby bar and were pleasantly surprised to see it open at 9pm (till 2am according to Yelp!). The place was still pretty packed, and had reservation placards on some tables. We were seated immediately and served water in plastic goblets.
We only ordered soufflés so that's all I have to go on.
I chose the Victorian soufflé which had the description of rose, vanilla and chocolate flavors, while my friend had the green tea (matcha) soufflé. Both were $11.95. Waitress was pretty nice and friendly.
Btw, if you want the bathroom, ask for the key!
The menu warned the soufflés would be dine-in only (obviously) and around a 30-minute. Despite the restaurant having people, it wasn't crowded. However, our soufflés took way longer than 30 minutes. Both had lovely presentation with a small pot of creme anglaise and powdered sugar sprinkled over the entire plate.
My Victorian soufflé did not have chocolate in it, and didn't seem as 'full' as my friend's matcha one when I dug in. It seemed too airy without much substance. However, it was still delicious! It was definitely very rosy, so if you like rosewater flavors, you'd like this! My friend's matcha one, while good, was surprisingly sweeter than mine. I believe it was to compensate for any bitterness the matcha might have. However, it was a tad overwhelming for us, that she didn't even need to use her creme anglaise.
Really cute place overall, and I will be back!

Late night dessert place that will satisfy your midnight munchies. This place is cash only so come prepared.

Their soufflé are pretty good... soft and freshly made to order, and not super sweet. I liked the strawberry soufflé and the purple yam soufflé. The tea selection is pretty good too if you're in the mood for some hot tea.

The service here is almost nonexistent. You definitely have to flag people down to get their attention.

soufflé yay!

Came across this Groupon deal and I must say that the food here was surprisingly yummy! Had the Japanese beef teriyaki plate and it was delicious. It was a nice size steak with yummy teriyaki sauce and rice. The soufflé came made to order and piping hot! yummy, we had the chocolate. The meal came with tea and salad. The menu had lots to choose from. The Groupon deal was actually an excellent deal for first timers... it fed two - one appetizer, two entrees, and one soufflé for two... perfect! The service was friendly but slow but it's okay... we dined here on a Sunday evening around 9:00p and the restaurant was filled mostly with young college kids. Open late... till 2:00a and as we paid we were given a soufflé reward card... great first experience! We'll be back! Also, if you check-in here on Yelp you get a coupon for 10% off a soufflé :)

Review #0135

Came here to use the $22 for $46 Groupon deal. Arrived at 6:25pm. Was going to order 2 meals of the rib eye at $14.95 each but they said they sold out over the weekend. So we ordered a salmon entree and the ramen. The menu they have is filled with permanent marker marks and pen marks signifying price increases. Not visually appealing at all. They should just make up a whole new menu with the updated prices.

Ordered the takoyaki, that took 15mins, good timing. Good amount of octopus, however batter was a bit mushy. The soufflé took another 25-30 mins. It was just ok. Not worth the long wait.