I’ve always thought the problem with a lot of desserts isn’t that they taste bad, it’s that they’re too sweet. This crepe cake shop in South Yarra really gets the Asian palate.
I’d had it on my list for ages, and this time I finally got to try it. I’d actually gone to South Yarra for Tone Cafe, and walked past a crepe cake shop and got drawn in.
The shop
It’s comfortable inside, with warm yellow lighting that feels cosy. There aren’t many seats, though. We got there around 3pm and the cakes were almost sold out, so go early. There’s coffee too, and it’s a good place to sit down and rest after shopping with friends.
The little cakes really are pretty, and the crepe cakes really are layered.
The crepe cakes
The crepe layers are thin, and the cream is light and not cloying. It’s not very sweet, which suits Asian tastes, and the price isn’t expensive. One spoon cuts through cleanly and goes down smooth, and it’s very satisfying.
Matcha crepe cakes. My personal favourite. It’s rich but not bitter, and the tea flavour and the sweetness are balanced just right. The matcha cake isn’t kept long in the display case, to stop it oxidising. It’s not out on the counter, but you can order it.
Black sesame crepe cakes. A lot of black sesame desserts have it in the name, but you can’t really taste it. Here the sesame is obvious and smells roasted. The recipe has been updated. I left a comment before saying the black sesame had an oily taste, and now it really doesn’t.
Pistachio crepe cakes. Really good.
Durian crepe cakes. Not very sweet, but the durian flavour wasn’t strong enough.
Blueberry and mango crepe cakes. The ones I’d recommend, with a matcha latte. Perfect.
Chocolate crepe cakes. It comes with orange peel, which is brilliant for cutting the richness. I love it.
Banana crepe cakes. Four stars.
Caramel biscuit crepe cakes. It was a new flavour. Four stars.
The other cakes
Chocolate banana chiffon. Soft chiffon with banana cream, light, like eating banana milk.
Light cheesecake. It has three textures: sour cream, cream cheese and a Belmont biscuit base. It’s light and smooth and not cloying.
How sweet is it?
For Chinese stomachs it’s a little sweet, but not deadly sweet. It’s the natural sweetness of the cake itself, and I could accept it. The cake base is very soft and tender, and the crepe layers are really good.
Drinks
The signature drinks are the jasmine matcha cloud and the Mont Blanc, and both are good. The matcha latte is good too, and you can tell as soon as you drink it that the matcha is high quality.
Would I go back?
Yes. I’d really recommend trying it. Next time I want to come early.
Where it is
Emotional Oranges Crepe Cake & Cafe, 367 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC 3141. I was told it’s open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, so check before you go.
More dessert finds: Dear Florence in Sydney, and more in our dessert cafes category.