Japanese Pastries Take Center Stage in West Town | Eater Chicago

"In West Town I discovered a recently opened bakery and coffee shop called Puffy Cakes that specializes in Japanese cheesecake with a fluffy, jiggly texture described as a cross between a soufflé and brioche French toast. Founders led by Julian Coltea focused on making a lighter, less-sweet cheesecake and spent months perfecting the recipe—folding in the egg-white meringue by hand proved crucial—and the airy cream-cheese batter is placed in ramekins and baked low and slow in a water bath. The 4-inch cheesecakes (designed for one to two people) come in traditional, matcha, and ube, with 6- and 8-inch versions available by advance order, and housemade sauces (caramel drizzle, dark chocolate, matcha, Nutella, and strawberry) plus candy toppings are planned. Beyond the cheesecakes, the menu includes petite Japanese cheese tarts made from a mix of cream cheese, mascarpone, and Parmesan with seasonal jams and fresh fruit, traditional baked tarts such as a lemon blackberry meringue with a brûléed Italian meringue dome, a curated macaron selection and Asian-inspired cookies coming soon, and a bread pudding that repurposes leftover cake pieces topped with garnishes like pecans, white chocolate, and walnuts. A partnership with La Colombe Coffee Roasters provides specialty coffee drinks, including cold brew on tap, and the cozy 950-square-foot interior—with couches, round tables, a banquette, lantern-like light fixtures in red, yellow, and black, and a fireplace planned for winter—reinforces their goal of being a dessert-first, warm, inviting place to hang out or work. It is located at 1651 W Chicago Avenue and is open 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed Mondays." - Lisa Shames