Hatsuzakura

"Great ambiance that closely resembles the vibes in Japan. Nicely decorated and the place is pretty cute overall. The service was top notch too. But the food I would say was slightly priced higher than what I would expect to pay for this genre of food. But it’s a place to try for sure!"

"A cozy and cute cafe! Very well designed and perfect for a brunch with a friend. Customer service is top notch! Definitely a small place though, so I wouldn't recommend coming with a huge group of people. My favorite item on the menu is the daifuku! Honestly I would go as far to say... this is a MUST ORDER! The perfectly chewy mochi, sweet anko, and fresh strawberry is balanced well. No complaints here! The best way to end a meal. The guratan was just okay to me... Considering the price, it was not worth it. It was more cheese than anything. Lacked chicken and mushroom for me. The tamago sando also fell short for me. Needed more cucumber and egg, less onion. Very creamy and good quality bread though."

"I was delighted to finally visit Hatsuzakura, a charming Japanese cafe in University Heights that specializes in traditional Japanese desserts, dishes, and beverages. And let me tell you, it was absolutely incredible! Fun fact: Hatsuzakura is actually the sister restaurant to Soichi, and it's owned by the daughter of Soichi's chef. During our visit, we ordered a variety of items including mouthwatering onigiri (tuna mayo, salmon, and seaweed), a delightful Tamago Sando, Chef Soichi's Karaage, heavenly Matcha Kakigori (Japanese shaved ice), and the oh-so-delicious Ichigo (strawberry) Daifuku. Everything we tasted was absolutely delectable, but the real standouts for me were the phenomenal matcha latte, Chef Soichi's Karaage, and the refreshing Matcha Kakigori. One thing to note is that the onigiri at Hatsuzakura are very large, so it's best to order just one if you want to leave room to try other items on the menu. The cafe itself has an inviting and authentic Japanese ambiance that adds to the overall experience. However, the best part of our visit was definitely the friendly and exceptional service. The staff eagerly engaged with us, providing information about the cafe and the menu, and ensuring that we had a delightful experience. I can't wait to go back to Hatsuzakura and try more items from their mouthwatering menu. It's truly a gem of a place!"

"A quaint minimalistic-designer restaurant which seats about 25 people. The dishes are beautifully presented. The Dori Rice casserole had distinct flavors of mozzarella cheese, parsley, bits of chicken, and rice. Long baking time so be patient, it’s worth the wait. The Yakisoba noodles delicious. If you are a ginger fan, you will like it. The atmosphere was great. My only ‘not so great’ feedback is the condition of the menu. For a place which seems to meet all the details of perfection, the paper menus were creased and tattered and if you come to the restaurant on a Sunday when the doors open at 11am, you may have to wait for menu."