There's cheesecake, and then, there's Japanese cheesecake. It's fluffy, puffy and oh so very delicious. And now, you can try it right here in Collin County.
Located in Far North Dallas, just across the county line, Mr Puffy Japanese Cheesecake opened late last summer. I live near Mr Puffy and would often pass it, but never had a chance to visit. Until now.
Mr Puffy has coffee, taiyaki and other sweets like macarons, but if you're going here, you're going for the Japanese cheesecake.
What, Exactly, Is Japanese Cheesecake
Unlike the dense and richer New York-style cheesecake, Japanese-style cheesecake is airy. "Japanese cheesecakes are totally different from other cakes," Mr Puffy's chef and manager Mike H tells Local Profile. "You need to be careful when you bake Japanese cheesecake.”
Egg whites and egg yolks are separated during the whipping process, giving Japanese cheesecakes their signature, airy consistency. The baking process is two steps: During the first step, the cake pans are put in the oven on a tray filled with water, and the top of the cake is browned; the cakes are then removed, taken out of the tray and baked again in the oven. The closest baking process might be the one for angel cake — another cake with a light, airy and spongy texture.
"Japanese cheesecakes are totally different from other cakes."
How Authentic Is Mr Puffy
In Japan, the most famous Japanese cheesecake bakery is Rikuro's. The bakery was established in Osaka in 1957, making traditional Japanese sweets, but in 1984, it began baking its famous jiggly cheesecakes. There are only 11 Rikuro's in Japan — and all in Osaka. They're famous! People will travel to them just for the cheesecake. When I lived in Japan, I lived in far north Osaka, near Kyoto. The area was rural — and in centuries past, so remote that Japanese Christians would go there to hide from persecution. But, we did have one of the few Rikuro's in the prefecture (so yes, I have eaten a lot — I mean a lot — of Japanese cheesecake), and people would drive out just for the dessert.
Rikuro's cheesecake is eggy, due to the higher percentage of eggs used. For the Japanese palate, it's perfect, but for Americans, this might be a little too eggy. Mr Puffy tweaked the recipe, and appropriately so, I think. Its Japanese cheesecakes are still puffy and fluffy, but less eggy, making them more suitable and approachable for American tastes, but still remaining true to authentic Japanese cheesecakes. As a connoisseur of Japanese cheesecakes, Mr Puffy's cheesecakes are very, very good.
Like the cheesecakes I had in Japan, Mr Puffy's doesn't use additives, and the cakes are stored at room temp because they are so fresh. The cheesecakes only last a few days — not a problem, because they are devoured quickly.
For Those With Dietary Restrictions
As of writing, Mr Puffy hasn't yet rolled out a gluten-free cake, but is in the process of developing one that it hopes to introduce in the coming weeks. "We want it to live up to our high standards for Japanese cheesecakes," says Mike, "and not break what constitutes a Japanese cheesecake."
New Flavors For Japanese Cheesecakes
"Some of our customers requested syrups for the cheesecake," says Mike. And syrups, Mr Puffy has a lot — a total of 24 — with flavors including lychee, passion fruit, black cherry, pineapple, chocolate, guava and Nutella.
"Personally, I eat my Japanese cheesecake without syrup, but with a cup of coffee," says Mike. I agree. That's how I like mine, but adding syrup does create a new Japanese cheesecake experience. Our advice: Try it with and without syrup. But just try it.
Hours And Location
Mr Puffy is located at 17390 Preston Road, suite 243 in Far North Dallas. It opens at 9 a.m., seven days a week and closes at 9 p.m., except on Friday and Saturday, when it stays open until 10 p.m.
What's Nearby
Mr Puffy is in the same shopping center as La Hacienda Ranch and Banana Leaf Thai Cuisine, making it a possible spot for a to-go dessert. Shelton School is catty-corner — afterschool snack time!
We thank Mr Puffy for hosting and treating us.
Hungry for more? Check out our dining guide.
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