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Mon. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Gotta love their crazy plastic crepes on display but does anyone honestly get the savory ones? Because they look like they belong in an Easy Bake Oven kitchen.
Service is stellar, it's a tiny cute place and you get a free wee cup of coffee/tea/chai with your crepe. Unwrap as you go or you'll find a lapful of whip cream and strawberries. Wayyyy delicious after stuffing yourself with other I.D. delicacies. and they're open late!
Gripes: The strawberries are too syrupy. Their bananas are legit (as in peeled and sliced) but their strawberries are basically the sticky sugary pulp you get at Baskin Robbins. Lameee. The batter isn't the best I've ever had, a little more crispy would be to my liking but it's one of my fav dessert places to hit up in terms of price, hours & convenience!
If you are in the ID and want some cute sweet food, go to one of the many other surrounding cafes and get some cake and tea for the same price as you'd pay for a crepe- which were unfortunately smaller than I expected and not very tasty. I think I got the strawberry daifuku, and it wasn't excellent.
But if you go here, go here for the charm of the place. Cute, small (very small, sometimes you can't expect to occupy a table as there are only 2), bright, a large display of plastic crepes, j-pop looking boys servers, and a very nice bathroom. I love that bathroom. But it does appear as if they try a little too hard, you know what I mean?
It's open late as well!
PROS
--lots of options
--plastic/rubber models to choose from
--opens late
--free cup of tea or coffee
--cute crepe maker (last time i was there)
CONS
--soft, and not crispy crepes
--canned sugary fruits (ie. strawberry)
--can get crowded once a group stumbles in (more annoying if they're..uh young)
--price.. could be cheaper
When I walked in, I was stunned by the amount of choices I had at 10:30 at night. Simply put, it was crepe heaven! I stood in awe of the sign for a few, had some very friendly people help me with my decision and off I went.
So I ended up with a banana choco whip. And it was delicious!
I'm always fearful of my crepes tasting eggy (probably as a result of a really bad experience as a kid) but this was perfect. Light and smooth and just awesome. The free coffee and chai deal with my crepe was a bonus on top of it all as well.
There is a 5 dollar threshold to meet before you can you your credit card without a charge. My crepe was $4.95, but the guy at the counter just rounded up to $5.00 instead of charging me the 50 cents that it would have cost to ring up the original transaction. I really appreciated that!
Excessively saccharine J-Pop, a bright, cheery color scheme, slightly off phrasing of menu items (like "choco whip") and young smiling male staff paint a very directed image. No vending machines with questionable clothing items, although I was half expecting to see one next to the tea, cup included, dispenser of which one can partake with crepe purchase, but in general I feel like Unicorn is an adequate representation of a 12 year old white American Hello Kitty-obsessed otaku girl's view of Japan.
Moving on to matters of fluffier substance, we shared the strawberry + choco + almond + whip crepe cone (~$5) and it was sweet, sugary, slightly crispy, shareable and satisfying, a fitting end to an earlier savory dinner of hot pot. On the other hand, the plum chai tea issued by the bonus machine was overly sweet and we left it behind.
Was I unhappy I took a later bus to stop here for dessert? No.
Did I enjoy the main purpose of the visit? Yes.
Was I slightly uncomfortable by the creepy positive energy that pervades it? A little.
Would I do it again over trying to expand my rotation for sweets in the ID? At some point.
The "Banana choco ice almond crepe" was great! It's wrapped Japanese style, and you eat it in its cone shape. There are NO Plates at the location, so if you are used to french style... try to learn to eat it a new way.
Bonus: Free cup of Coffee or Tea with your Crepe Order. :)
These crepes are more filling than you'd think! I ordered a savory and a sweet one, and could really only get through one. The staff here is really friendly and gives a lot of suggestions in terms of their extra large menu...and the final product? One helluva crepe, with toppings you couldn't even imagine tasted as good as they do. The display case with the crepes in them remind me of Japan (not that I've been)...or at least what I imagine things would be like in Japan.
Tried to get a strawberry whipped cream crepe but they ran out of strawberries, then bananas. I ended up getting a blueberry one but it wasn't very tasty-it tasted as if they just unfroze it. I really wanted to enjoy it... at least the eye candy was good ^^
My first couple of experiences here were *loathsome*.
Time passes, though, and sometimes i'll try a place again. At some point since opening they've improved and improved a lot. I've been back three times, enough to form a five-star opinion, and their crepes have become consistent, tasty, and not too sweet. The crepes themselves are just a little bit crispy, like you'd find in Tokyo but not most of the rest of Japan, but they're much bigger here and the price ends up being about the same. Score! Plus you get free milk tea, coffee, or chai with your crepe, which makes it about the perfect dessert.
The staff is very nice (as they have been all along) and there's a pretty endless selection of yummies when it comes to your flavor choices.
it has the Japanese charm that i enjoy. example 1, they have a display of all the fake crepes you can choose from. i love that and helps give a visual on what to decide cuz there are so many choices.
example 2, they have a random yet cool coffee/chai machine in the corner that dispenses to you a FREE tiny cup of coffee with the purchase of a crepe.
and this place satisfies my sweet tooth for under $5. and the staff is friendly. i love how the crepe comes in a cone shape like an ice cream cone. too cute to eat, but i enjoy every bite.
Also OPEN LATE. what is there not to like?
It's really a 2.5 stars for me, and that's mainly because the people who work here are nice. I'm going to be brutally honest. I've had crepes in Japan and so maybe I'm spoiled, but these crepes are nothing like the crepes in Japan (even though that's what they're going for?) The crepe itself was a bit too soggy, even though they make it right in front of you, I think either their technique or the batter recipe is the culprit for this. Also, the fruit I was was canned, a big no-no for me when it comes to crepes. Even the whipped cream tastes... off. I'm not surprised with the $5 price tag, but the quality of the crepes bums me out. Boo
Fast and tasty. Most of the crepes are much too sweet for my tastes, but they are loved by all of the sweet-lovers I know. The spicy tuna is my favorite of the savory crepes, but would be even better with more egg (I should just ask for more egg next time...).
I love the idea SO MUCH... freshly made crepes crafted right before your eyes by guys with super cute smiles. *sighs* But you know, I haven't been in a while because I just... don't really like their whipped cream. Something about it reminds me of Cool Whip which I absolutely abhor.
At one point in time, my BFF was totally addicted to their crepes and would drag me with her every chance she got. Her favorite was and probably still is, the Banana Chocolate crepe, however, my favorite is the simple but delicious Blueberry-filled crepe.
Unicorn? As in out of a magical fairy tale? YES, YES, YES!
Oh my gosh. I have not been able to find crepes like this since I was in Japan. In general, I see crepes as a container of goodness. They contain things like nutella, whipped cream, red bean, custard, and ice cream. However, all the American/French ones that I have had crepes that are too thick, overcooked, or too egg-y.
Unicorn Crepes makes them PERFECTLY!
They are thin, crisp, and light. Boyfriend and I both ordered a sweet crepe with red bean, whipped cream, strawberries, and tapioca/mochi balls. SO GOOD! Served in a cone, it is portable and easy to eat. No need for a knife, fork, and plate!
The shop is small, nothing fancy except for the glass display of all the different types of crepes so you know (visually) exactly what you're getting before you order. They have at least 20 choices of sweet and savory crepes, each for $3 - $5. They also offer a little machine in the corner with free milk tea and coffee! :) YAY for free!
One of the few places that lives up to the hype. It's love at first bite :)
Guest reviewers today are my 10 year old daughter ("D") and 7 year old son ("S"):
S: They have the best crepes in town and the wierdest crepes in town.
D: I like them because...I just like them!
S: ...cause they make it fast. When I take off some of the ice cream I feel cold air.
D: They have the greatest dessert crepes ever. I love the ice choco whip, which has ice cream, chocolate chips chocolate sauce and whip cream.
Dad: what about the Spicy Tuna flavored crepe?
D: YUCK! It's so disgusting [Editor note: this opinion is based on kid assumption only]
In summary...
S: Unicorn crepes is a great dessert for kids but not for every kid.
D: ...but I get it every time we go to the international district. Next time, well get the Strawberry daifuku witout the strawberries.
Five Stars...so sayeth the young generation.
I totally dig the idea of a crepe being rolled up into an ice cream cone or "Unicorn". Makes it easy to eat and great for on the go.
I have not ventured out of the two favorites which are strawberry chocolate with corn flakes and banana custard chocolate with corn flakes. When my sister first told me about the corn flakes I was a bit hesitant. Cereal on my crepe? Really?
Their free mini coffees that come with a crepe tastes like instant foldgers but it's so cool to watch it being dispensed from a machine that looks so foreign (well it is Japanese).
The crepe with corn flakes turned out to be so delightful.
The kids that are behind the counter are really friendly too.
Wow! This place blew me away! My friends have been talking about Unicorn Crepes for months, and some even stop in once a week. I've always liked crepes, but over the years I've probably had more breakfast crepes than dessert crepes. Well, that's about to change.
The first thing you'll see when you enter is the L-shaped glass display case showing the countless varieties they offer. I didn't count, but I'd estimate around 50 choices, even more if you add toppings or customize yours. Apparently each of the crepe models are handmade wax sculptures that cost a couple hundred each. Well worth it, in my opinion.
My advice is that if you get a crepe with ice cream (listed as simply "ice") you'll want to eat it a bit faster than I did. Otherwise, when you get down to the last third and unwrap it, the melted ice cream will get all over your hand/arm like it did mine. I guess I was taking my time and savoring it just a little too much.
You also get a tiny free cup of milk coffee or tea, which is perfect for washing down the very sweet crepes. I'll be back soon...
Oo, crepes that are actually thin! I was pleasantly surprised when I saw them making these, because I can't remember the last time I've been to a creperie that made these properly (granted, I haven't been to THAT many in the last few years). My coworker and I had passed Unicorn on our way to Green Village, and decided to save some room for dessert after our lunch.
Despite that, we still ended up eating too much, and considered splitting one, only to find out after ordering that these aren't quite served in a way that makes sharing easy. So we ended up getting both a strawberry custard as well as a choco banana crepe. And you know what? My strawberry custard was darned good. My only qualms were that I wish they had a bit more substance (too much cream, not enough strawberries) and that they used fresh(er) fruit. But hey, for $4.95 and a free cup of coffee/milk tea/chai, it's not bad, not bad at all.
Goodness and niceness envelop your joyous spirit, running through meadows of whipped cream and berrylicious filler.
Yeah, it was nums and they did not laugh at our japanese language skills, serving us close to closing without bitching.
5 horns all the way.
I think I might move to the ID just so I can go to Unicorn Crepes more often. Seriously, I could eat one everyday.
If you're looking for the authentic Japanese experience this is it! Plastic food displays, bright colors, cramped spaces -- the only way to get more authentic is to hop a flight to Tokyo.
Anyway! The crepes are served Japanese style (duh), with the fillings wrapped up in a cone -- easy to eat and share on a date! There's a huge variety of sweet crepes and a small selection of savory. The quality is good -- most of the fruit is, I think, canned pie-filling-y. But that's appropriate for this type of dessert, so I'm definitely not calling that a negative. The custard is SUPER rich, also. So be prepared to feel FULL if you attempt to eat one by yourself. (Hint hint!) This is THE place to take your date if you're in the ID.
Bonus! The crepes come in some very fabulously 80's white, teal, and pink wrappers.
Hand it to the Japanese to make cool things even cooler.
I walked in and met two friendly, cute Japanese girls wearing booty skirt school outfits!
They were nice, offered me some advice and I left with a banana, custard crepe wrapped up like an ice-cream.
YUMMY!!!!!!! and for only $4.50........
I LOVE LOVE Unicorn Crepes, and I have ever since I first walked through their doors a little longer than a year or so back. The place was interesting, a cute name, a nice neon unicorn gracing its front, and always open late. However, the thing that interested me was the Japanese style crepes! I've been forever wanting to try them, so one day I toted my friends in and finally decided, after probably about 10 minutes of trying to decide because there was so many delicious looking crepes, to get the Banana Daifuku Crepe. It was heaven. Big pieces of lovely mochi, a bit of cold whipped crepe, a nice layer of anko, I just couldn't believe it. Since then, I've tried an abundance of their flavours and I always get a hankering for it when I need a sweet fix (or when I'm down in the International District area!)
Definitely hit it up. If you love sweets as much as I do, you will melt into a pile of sugary sweet goodness CB
Ok I must be the only yelper alive that doesnt like this place...We went here yesterday after dinner and got 2 crepes, the chocolate banana w/ maple and the chocolate whip with cornflakes. We both took one bite and said, HUH? Maybe it would have been better if we were super hungry, idk. The whip is dry, fake tasting and tooo sweet, the flavor of the crepe itself bland. For me, it just seems like a kids treats. Not for me. The chewy texture of the crepe was decent I guess. It was well prepared. The only reason I give this place a 3 is because of the excellent service. Very sweet kids working there who seem to enjoy what their doing. Very refreshing to see such a young yet professional warm staff. Good job on that. Oh Its super cheap as well, I guess I should factor that in. A ok for me, Sorry guys! :(
Craving some sweetness during the ID Street Fair, we ventured to Unicorn for a quick snack. Let me just say, I love the coffee machine.
With that said, the crepes were original and delicious. They have both sweet and savory crepes and I opted for the corn flake, choco whipped combination. At first I thought it was going to be folded and plated just like other crepe places, but when they said it was ready and I saw this cone-like, paper wrapped structure awaiting me, I was both confused and delighted to try something new.
As I held my crepe, I gave it a good once over to determine how I was going to attack it. I decided to just go for the big first bite. What happened afterward was delightful.
The soft crepe on the outside held all of the crunchy, sweet, and creamy goodness together like magic. Yes it was just chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and corn flakes...yes corn flakes, but trust me, simple is best.
They also offer savory crepes as well, including a chili dog crepe which I am going to try next time. Did I mention the coffee machine was way cool. Check it out for yourself.
Went here when our sister-in-law from Japan was in town. Otherwise I never even would have noticed the place.
I love the crepe displays - it makes you want to try them all!
Unfortunately they were out of mochi, but I had a crepe with blueberries and yogurt instead.
So tasty! I would definitely go here again.
I absolutely adore this place! Excellent service, wonderfully delicious crepes, and free coffee/tea!
I always go for the Strawberry whip, soo yummy. I just moved here from the East coast, and I have to say, nothing on beats this place.
Definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys sweets!
Super friendly staff, free tea with purchase! Warm and delicious!
This is thee best place for crepes! I'm in love with this place! The staff is super nice and friendly. I had my first crepe in japanese town in the bay area. I yelp this place. I LOVEEEEEE this place. i could marry a crepe if I have too! The best one is the ice cream with cornflakes and strawberries!
I give all my kudos to this place. Anyone down to go? I'm willing to there everyday!!!!! ;p
I'm definitely a fan of savory crepes. I've only had savory crepes in Vancouver and Asia so when I saw this place, I had to try it.
I got the ham, egg, lettuce crepe. Very yummy. Also tried ta bite of the Strawberry crepe for dessert. I liked the fact that it came with a little cup of coffee, chai, or plum juice out of the little machine.
Cute little establishment. I got my crepes to go and they were wrapped well, just don't wait too long to eat it as they can get soggy from the whipped cream!
After eating sushi, I was craving dessert. We walked around ID looking for bakeries or dessert places and didn't find much until we came upon Unicorn Crepes. I've never had crepes before (or I did and they weren't too good so I can't remember). My boyfriend said he was too full to help, and he's not a big fan of sweets either, so it was all up to me.
I wanted mochi, but they were out :( so I went with Banana Pudding - whip cream, banana, banana pudding, carmel (? or some syrup) for 4.50 (4.95 with tax). OH. It was good. They wrap it in a paper cone so it doesn't get too messy. It wasn't difficult to share at all, we just tore the paper bit by bit. Turns out, my boyfriend ate at least half! We left feeling good, it satisfied our (my) needs, and we didn't feel weighed down by it as we would had we eaten cake, ice cream or a smoothie.
Will definitely be back for more :) Price was reasonable I think, were else can you get something yummy and satisfying for two people for $5
Was really tasty, but a 5 star review completely overrates this place.
Their crepes are pretty pricey (nearly $6 a piece) and the way they are served make it pretty much impossible to share. So you're stuck with either stuffing yourself, throwing a bunch of it away, or awkwardly trying to share it with someone else.
Having said all of that, it's definitely worth trying. I guess I was just expecting more based on all the rave reviews!
I've been to this place many times and like them, but chances are, it a new Japanese crepe shop came to town, they'd be better.
I had many crepes from many different shops in Japan so when I came back to the U.S., I wanted to find a similar shop. The crepes are similar to those of Japan because of the way they are served, the display and many of the flavors. But a huge drawback I found was that some of the fruit was made in to a compote rather than served fresh. The compote is a great way to hide imperfections, old, and sour fruit. Unfortunately one time I went I found the compote to taste like it was going bad that day. The crepes have been very hit or miss for me. I've found that the chocolate sauce on the crepes is to thin and to much so it leaks out of the bottom and creates a large mess on the table. Other than that I enjoy the crepes and try to get one whenever I'm in Chinatown, the price is very fair for what you get and it is a fun, enjoyable treat, I'd recommend anything with banana.
For the set-up, the place desperately needs more seating. I've gone in when there was already three groups of two and there was no place to sit.
Dude, chicks love this spot...especially Asian ones!!!
If you're looking for somewhere to take you're cute Asian girl on a quick lunch date during work, here's the spot. It's quick, girls think it's cute and it's inexpensive. Just make sure you walk with her because the crackheads are restless that time of day. But that's the International District, ain't a damn thang changed!!!
The crepes are good. Only problem is, as a young man active and in his prime, this place doesn't come close to fillin' a brotha up! It's just not that type of spot. You're girl will love it because it's like eating desert for lunch. But I hated it because I got three of them and felt like I was going to boot because it was like I ate cake for lunch...and a lot of it.
But that's because I never eat desert. Mostly just ramen, rice and chicken. Also I eat fried chicken. That's about it. No desert, that's for sure. So eating here was a body-shock for me. Such is a Japanese Crepe!!!
Anyway, they do a great job here and you can read all the Manga you want. But don't get too excited about that unless you can read Kanji...that's real.
I'm not sure what all the fuss is about, maybe we came on an off night, but my crepe was just average. We were excited to try this place and seeing all the crepes displayed in the case just made us want to get everything. I got the banana crepe with mochi and red bean paste with ice cream. Sound delicious? We thought so until we tried it. Everything tasted artificial, including the bananas. Maybe next time I will try the custard ones to see if they fair any better.
I enjoy the crepes here because they are so delicious! My favorite kinds are the ones filled with blueberries. They are generously filled with whatever you want in them. You also get a free mini cup of chai tea. They have plenty of different crepes to choose from! Service is friendly too. Mmm I think I want one again.. :)
After hearing so many good things about this place I really, really wanted to try it. Every time I've been to France I've practically lived off of crepes (and fromage and baguettes and wine) and even though these crepes are different from the ones I'm used to, I knew I had to try them. So, I was so excited when Drie C. made plans to grab a crepe here.
Based on the high praise from Katie and Charlie about the Chocolate Banana Ice Crepes I knew I would have one of them. The crepe texture was a little thicker than what I prefer, but it was tasty nonetheless. The bananas managed to be perfectly ripe and soft and the ice cream was a great consistency. The ice cream was way different than what I was used to. It almost had a slightly "chewy" consistency. Sort of like taffy mixed with ice cream?
I want to deduct two stars from the way in which the crepes were actually made. There were only two workers (one taking the orders and the others making the crepes and assembling them) which made finally receiving the crepes a long process. I could see my crepe being made, but the employee making it would put one item on it, go make another crepe for another customer, let that crepe sit getting cold, and then put another item on my crepe. It took about 10 minutes By the time I finally got my crepe it was cold and slightly soggy. Sort of disappointing.
They redeemed themselves though with their coffee/tea machine. Pretty sweet. You get a free beverage with the purchase of a crepe and the machine it comes out of supplies the cup and everything. Pretty sweet.
I'll definitely be trying this place again and hopefully will receive a fresher made crepe.
Yum...is all I can say about Unicorn Crepes. The crepes here are so good. Yesterday I had the Strawberry Custard Whip crepe and it was great. I was told by one of their kind servers that the custard is made in house so I just had to try it. My friend opted for the Blueberry Custard Whip and she enjoyed it as well. With our crepe purchases we got a free cup of chai or milk coffee from their handy beverage machine that looks like it was made in Japan. My chai wasn't bad considering it came out of a machine.
In the past I've also had their savory crepes. And, I really liked the pizza and chili dog crepes.
I like that the crepes are rolled up when prepared and can be eaten on the go. Their staff is really nice and helpful and their bathroom looks really cool. The only downside to Unicorn Crepes is that they have limited seating with only two tables and some stools facing the window. So, you may have to eat your crepe on the go. But at least you won't make a mess when eating it. =)
Delicious crepes stuffed with ridiculousness.
Custard = good, okonomiyaki = good,
chili dog and corn flake crepes = yesssss
I really want to buy the plastic displays.
Great customer service. A couple crepes makes a good meal, one a great snack. Watch for falling custard from the bottom, sidewalk custard is a sad, sad thing.
The kind of crepes a unicorn would go for.
I had never tried a Japanese-style crepe before I went to Unicorn. I was used to the slightly crunchy, nutella or cheese-filled crepes of Paris' Latin Quarter, and I think that's what I was expecting. These are entirely different. But not in a bad way at all.
I had the strawberry, chocolate, and custard crepe. It was good. The strawberries were the frozen kind, which was a bit of a disappointment, but it was still quite delicious. The crepe itself was softer than what I was accustomed to, but it worked.
Overall, I would come here again. Maybe I'll try a savory crepe, and not feel so guilty about eating dessert for lunch!
I love this place. I really do. The crepes are really good, and service is always friendly. and it's cool to watch them make each individual crepe with love and care. I've only had the dessert crepes here, and haven't dared to venture into the savory options, but they've all been super tasty.
and it's always nice to get free coffe or chai tea with your crepe. It's not super high quality stuff, but it comes out of a cute machine and free stuff rocks.
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Creperies
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Category: Creperies
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: International District
Category: Desserts
Neighborhood: First Hill
Category: Food Stands
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