A stack of warm, syrup-soaked pancakes is always a welcome sight. The pancakes at these top-rated places, however, take things to delicious new heights. From sweet and salty pillowy piles to plates packed with innovative flavors, we’ve scoured the US to find the best pancake house – or diner or café with a reputation for great griddlecakes or crêpes – in every state and DC.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover America's top pancake houses – have you tried the best stack in your state?
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
Specializing in classic Southern dishes, Blue Plate Cafe in Huntsville prepares scratch-made, hearty food using generations-old family recipes. The enormous pancakes are among the must-orders and keep people coming back for more. Be sure to try the Very Berry pancakes (pictured), piled high with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and whipped cream.
Snow City Cafe is a popular downtown brunch spot, and the pancakes here are particularly good. They only serve one kind – golden buttermilk – although you can have them as part of a huge breakfast, or add bananas, blueberries, or chocolate chips (or all of the above, if you like). There’s also usually a pancake of the month, such as pumpkin or red velvet, with cream cheese icing and strawberries, too.
Some of the lightest and fluffiest pancakes in Arizona are served at this Phoenix favorite. Their no-frills griddlecakes are mixed by hand, day in and day out, and the results are magic. There’s no need for fancy toppings, instead they come with or without blueberries in the batter and are served with creamy, sweetened butter and Vermont maple syrup, letting their fluffy perfection speak for itself.
Downtown diner At The Corner is a brunch spot known for its super-fluffy pancakes. The house offering comes topped with fresh seasonal berries and bacon, while there are often specials like lemon, ginger, and ricotta, or strawberry oatmeal. There's an equally delicious sweet potato variety, served with spiced pecans, bourbon-maple syrup, ginger whip, and a side of crispy bacon. They’re pretty generously sized, too – something to bear in mind if you’re ordering them on the side.
If you're a cupcake lover, this Los Angeles café may just serve the best pancake option ever. The Griddle Cafe offers an array of exciting stacks, but it's perhaps best known for its Red Velvet PanCAKE, which sees fluffy red velvet–style griddles topped with cream cheese icing and powdered sugar. It's indulgent, but we promise every mouthful is worth it. Other favorites include The Golden Ticket (pictured), which sees banana-studded pancakes filled with butterscotch, walnuts, and streusel – a crumbly topping usually baked on top of cakes.
Miracle Mile Cafe, which featured in Yelp’s Top 25 Pancake Spots in the US 2024 lineup, is renowned for its big breakfasts and even bigger pancake plates. There’s plenty to choose from, but arguably the most popular (clue is in the name) is the Famous Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. Available in three sizes, the pile comes slathered in extra syrup and cinnamon.
Snooze staff encourage diners to customize their own breakfasts, particularly when it comes to pancakes. If you prefer to order from the menu, there's a host of tempting options to choose between. Highlights include the Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes, with vanilla crème anglaise and cinnamon butter, and the Cinnamon Roll Pancake stack, topped with caramel, vanilla cream, cinnamon butter, and candied pecans. Snooze also boasts branches in a few other states, including Texas, Nevada, and Georgia.
Cute local favorite Cristy’s offers a wide range of specialty pancakes, including oatmeal and raspberry, and a crispy-topped banana and crunch stack. You can always guarantee the quality to be superb, with some customers saying they're some of the best in the state. People also praise the warm, attentive service and cozy atmosphere.
Egg has garnered a loyal following thanks to its attentive service, excellent food, and homey atmosphere. A Rehoboth Beach must-visit, everything on the menu here is consistently good, but locals say you just can’t beat the buttermilk pancakes, which come served with your choice of breakfast meat, butter, and real maple syrup. Prefer your pancakes French-style? Opt for the Lemon Curd Crêpes, complete with house-made lemon curd and fresh blueberries – they're melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Retro diner Ted's Bulletin serves up a range of all-day breakfast favorites, as well as American classics like country-fried chicken and house-made meatloaf. It's the pancake stack that really gets people talking, though. It comes with two eggs and hash browns and is best enjoyed drenched in sticky maple syrup. If there's a seasonal pancake special, it's well worth ordering as they’re consistently delicious and use the freshest, quality ingredients.
Keke's Breakfast Cafe has locations throughout Florida and, although they do serve lunch, it’s the morning favorites that keep people coming back for more. Pancakes are far from an afterthought here; in fact, there’s a whole menu dedicated to them. Expect everything from classic buttermilk to Florida pancakes (pictured) topped with fresh berries, banana, and powdered sugar.
With a pancake list this lengthy, it’s no wonder Jealous Fork is known state-wide (and beyond) for its fluffy stacks. The operation started out as an artisan food truck before opening a bricks-and-mortar store in Miami, and success just keeps coming. Go traditional with maple syrup and whipped butter, or step outside your comfort zone with the Chicken Thigh High, a giant plate complete with grilled corn, pulled chicken, black bean salsa, chipotle cream, and fresh cilantro.
Ria's Bluebird has perfected the recipe for light-as-a-feather, fluffy pancakes. The buttermilk short stack comes served with maple syrup and butter, but we'd recommend adding on a side of crispy bacon to satisfy any sweet and savory cravings. Enjoy alongside a warm cup of coffee and you’ll have yourself a breakfast that’s hard to beat.
Pancakes are the main attraction at this family-friendly spot in Kailua. This beloved breakfast joint does things a little differently, with a range of exciting batter options to choose from, and that's what customers love about it. Choose between a short or full stack and enjoy everything from pastel-hued pistachio pancakes (pictured) with a thick pistachio cream and chopped nuts, to the sticky Cinnamon Roll dusted with powdered sugar and extra cinnamon. There's classic buttermilk, too, if you'd rather keep things simple.
People don’t come to The Original Pancake House for fancy surroundings or fussy food. They come for the stacks and stay for the friendly service and big portions. With over 15 pancake-based dishes to choose from, there’s plenty of delicious options. House favorites include the Pecan Pancakes, which come filled and topped with toasted pecans, Three Little Pigs in a Blanket (special links wrapped in light buttermilk pancakes), and Swedish lacy pancakes, served with lingonberries from Sweden.
The house pancakes at Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe are, unsurprisingly, berry themed. Designed with berry lovers in mind, the Signature Berry Bliss stack comes with berry mascarpone filling, fresh berries, vanilla crème anglaise, and blackberry coulis. There are plenty of other tempting options if sweet fruits aren't your thing, including the Oreo S'mores (buttermilk pancakes with marshmallow spread, Oreo crumbs, and white and dark chocolate chips) and the Banana Coconut Cream Pie (banana cream filling, fresh banana slices, shredded coconut, cookie crumbs, and caramel sauce). There are two locations in Chicago and others in the suburbs of Schaumburg and Libertyville.
Buttermilk pancakes swimming in sweet strawberry compote and topped with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and powdered sugar is the order of the day at Wild Eggs, a small breakfast chain renowned for its hearty portions and friendly staff. The cozy joint also boasts a more standard option with whipped butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup, as well as seasonal specials throughout the year. Home to seven Indiana locations, you’ll also find Wild Eggs in Kentucky and Ohio.
Breakfast is offered all day at this delightfully retro diner, and it's the fluffy pancakes, which are made to a house recipe, that keeps customers coming back for more. The classic buttermilk or gluten-free stacks can be ordered with all the usual embellishments like syrup, whipped cream, griddled bananas, walnuts, pecans, chocolate chips, and blueberries. There are often inventive specials on offer too, with previous favorites including chocolate cherry or s’mores.
Hanover Pancake House dishes out some serious treats from its griddle. There’s a choice of buttermilk, wholewheat and pumpkin, or – for something different – various pancake wraps. This genius idea sees pancakes topped with breakfast mainstays like scrambled eggs, bacon, corned beef, and hash browns, then wrapped up in one irresistible package.
Pillowy blankets of goodness, the pancakes are an absolute must-order at quirky brunch spot Josie's. They're enormous, and you can choose whether you want your stack with fresh berries, scattered with pecans or chocolate chips, or simply slathered with real maple syrup. You can also go down the savory road and add bacon, sausage, or ham.
Ruby Slipper, with locations in New Orleans and across the state, serves great Southern-style breakfasts and hearty pancakes. Everything from the griddle is irresistible, but it's the Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes that really steal the show. Filled with cinnamon and sugar, these come topped with cream cheese icing and applewood-smoked bacon. Another crowd favorite is the Berry Chantilly Pancakes, filled with a sweet blueberry compote and layered with Chantilly cream and macerated strawberries.
Flipping great things on its griddle since 1991, Becky's Diner has become renowned for its brilliant breakfast options, and the pancake menu is hard to resist. Located on Portland's waterfront, the classic spot serves plain buttermilk, chocolate chip, and blueberry stacks, but it's the Mickey Mouse–themed pile, finished with fresh fruit, that keeps children and Disney lovers coming back for more. Make a real meal of it and enjoy pancakes with your choice of sausage or bacon, eggs, home-fries, and toast.
Miss Shirley’s Cafe, which has three locations in Baltimore and one in Annapolis, has become renowned for its stellar brunch options and with a menu as stacked as this, it's hard to know what to order. Pancakes are always a brilliant idea, and the team serves up eight different options including a new flavor each month. They're often seasonal, with red velvet for Valentine's Day and a festive stack with broken candy canes and chocolate in December. Whatever the toppings, they’re always a real treat.
The Paramount doesn’t have an extensive pancake menu. In fact, it’s just classic buttermilk on offer. They come stacked with whipped butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup as standard, and you have the option to add on blueberries, strawberries, banana, or chocolate chips, but when they're this good, that's all you need. People praise the savory breakfasts, too, as well as the attentive service.
The Hudson Cafe, a local hotspot loved for its lengthy breakfast menu, knows how to pull in the customers – and that’s with ridiculously tempting pancakes like the Oreo and the Chunky Monkey, a moreish combination of caramel, white chocolate chips, and banana. Prefer crêpes? The joint, which has locations in Downtown Detroit, Troy, and Northville, offers a selection of sweet and savory options, with everything from Nutella and banana to pesto chicken.
Taking inspiration from South American cuisine, Maria's Cafe is a restaurant packed with heart and soul – and this energy transposes into the kitchen. You'll find the team serving up an innovative selection of stacks including Penélope's Rip Plantain Pancakes, a crowd favorite which goes great with Cotija (Mexican cheese). Classic options can (and should) be drenched in Maria's house-made syrup.
A Jackson mainstay, this all-day café serves up excellent seasonal fare sourced directly from Southern farmers. It’s upmarket without being fussy and offers an excellent day menu stacked with brunch favorites. On the specialties section you’ll find a pancake option that’s destined to impress – fluffy pancakes come piled with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and chopped walnuts, and can be made all the better with a side of bacon.
The colorful décor at fun, relaxed spot Succotash perfectly complements the vibrant menu, which comes packed with things that make customers happy. It's known for its huge slices of rainbow cake, but the pancakes are possibly even bigger – and equally delicious. Choose from giant buttermilk pancakes, a short-stack platter, ‘Sweedish’ pancakes with lingonberries, or the Cake & A Smile with its sunny-side-up eggs for eyes and a bacon grin.
From thick, fluffy pancakes served in a stack to gossamer-thin crêpes with cream cheese or chocolate-hazelnut spread, there’s something to please pretty much everyone at Running Bear Pancake House. This homey spot has been around since 1966 and, according to some fans, serves the best pancakes you’ll find anywhere. You can add pancakes to pretty much every savory breakfast, too. The Pancake Sandwich, which sees bacon or ham sandwiched between two cakes and topped with an egg, is particularly popular.
The pancakes at Le Peep, which has several locations in Omaha, are bigger than your head and even bigger when it comes to flavor. The restaurant has been cooking these hand-spun cakes since 1963, and there's a reason people still line up outside of the door to get their hands on a plate. There's a style for everyone, including blueberry and granola, lemon and ricotta, and blueberry-studded stacks.
BabyStacks, with five locations in Vegas and another in Henderson, is the perfect place to cure a hangover in Sin City – or just to treat yourself to a really decadent breakfast. The red velvet pancakes (pictured) are as delicious as a dessert. They come topped with whipped cream, chocolate crumbles, and cream cheese syrup and are the most popular thing on the menu for good reason.
A Mason institution, Parker's Maple Barn is a family-run spot that opened in the 1960s, when it was just a small sugar house. Today, it has grown into a much-loved breakfast and lunch joint, with fans traveling from far and wide just to get a taste of the house-made maple syrup – best enjoyed drizzled over pancakes, of course. Choose between old-fashioned, blueberry, chocolate chip, pumpkin, buckwheat, or the pancake of the month.
Renowned for its hearty portions, make sure you take your appetite along when you visit Brownstone Pancake Factory. Established in 1968, this hugely popular spot serves giant buttermilk pancakes and has become so established it's even featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. There are now four New Jersey locations – in Edgewater, Englewood Cliffs, Freehold, and Brick – and there’s often a line of people wanting to get their teeth into treats like the brownie sundae pancakes and bacon, egg and cheese pancake wraps. They even serve stacks with wedges of cake or pie perched on top. Indulgent? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely.
Since opening in 2006, The Grove Cafe & Market has become Albuquerque's favorite breakfast and brunch spot thanks to its friendly, relaxed atmosphere and focus on local and seasonal ingredients. You can order breakfast at any time of day and the pancakes – crêpes topped with fresh fruit, local honey, crème fraîche, maple syrup, and edible flowers – are always a winner.
You can order pancakes at any time of day – or night – at Clinton St. Baking Co. & Restaurant, where the griddled stacks often attract lines around the block. Fans reckon it’s worth the wait to tuck into the fluffy, perfectly crisp pancakes topped with everything from banana and walnut to wild Maine blueberries and chocolate chunks. There's even a tempting savory potato variety with caramelized applesauce that customers recommend sampling.
With a place on Yelp’s Top 25 Pancake Spots in the US 2024 list, Campfire Grill certainly lives up to the hype. Customers seriously rate the attentive service, as well as the fully loaded, syrup-slathered stacks. The Cinnamon Roll Homemade Hot Cakes (pictured), finished with a cinnamon roll center and vanilla icing, is the house favorite.
Customers describe the pancakes served at Joey’s Pancake House as the best they’ve ever tasted, especially when served with wonderfully crispy bacon. The restaurant, tucked in Maggie Valley with a striking backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains, has a full menu of pancake options. House favorites include lemon poppy seed, apple strudel, and chocolate chip.
Darcy’s Cafe in Grand Forks has a small but mighty pancake menu, with its griddled cakes sold individually or as a stack and with a choice of blueberries, chocolate chips, pecan or cinnamon roll flavors. The options don’t stop there, though; you can order a side of light, perfectly prepared pancakes with pretty much anything on the menu, from sunny side-up eggs to the chicken-fried steak.
Who said pancakes had to be round and flat? At Katalina's, a quirky spot in Columbus housed inside an old gas station, they're always served round. Katalina's Original Pancake Balls are a true favorite and have even been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. They're made to a traditional recipe with local stoneground flour and are served filled with Nutella, dulce de leche, or pumpkin-apple butter. Drenched in locally produced maple syrup, they're also great with the house sweet and spicy bacon.
Said to be the best in the area, Dilly Diner’s griddle cakes are the menu item regulars seek out. Drenched in melted butter and maple syrup, you can choose a short stack or upgrade to a toweringly tall seven-cake pile. You can embellish your plate further with the addition of Nutella buttercream and chocolate chips, or bourbon-caramel sauce and sliced banana.
Portland's Stepping Stone Cafe does its pancakes a bit differently. They’re called ‘mancakes,’ and each one is the size of a dinner plate. They’re so huge, they even featured on eating challenge TV show Man v. Food. Classic buttermilk and wholewheat varieties are flipped on the griddle all year round and topped with berries, bananas, or whipped cream, while seasonal options can feature everything from mint to dulce de leche.
Home to three Pittsburgh locations, Pamela's Diner is loved for its retro design and brilliant breakfasts. Customers return here for the famous hotcakes, which come crêpe-style with perfectly crisped edges and toppings such as bananas, chocolate chips, walnuts, and whipped cream. You can also order them savory, with a choice of thick bacon, hand-carved ham, sausage links, or turkey sausage patties.
Complete with a rosy red exterior and vibrant décor, The Corner Café is a cherished Newport spot. People come here for the healthy wholegrain pancakes, which are loaded up with berries, sliced almonds, and yogurt or scrambled eggs, roasted red peppers, onions, and feta. For something a little different, there’s the Alpine: three pancakes with sliced sausage, caramelized apples, and Cheddar.
Fans of thin, crisp-edged pancakes will adore Breizh pan Crêpes. This cute, colorful spot specializes in French Brittany (Breton-style) crêpes, which can be made with white or buckwheat flour and are simply perfect either way. There’s a range of sweet and savory fillings to choose from, with vegan and gluten-free options available too. Customers say everything on the menu is absolutely delicious.
Open day to night, with breakfast served until 2pm, Tally's Silver Spoon in Rapid City has a loyal following and fans say you really can't go wrong with the syrup-drenched stacks. The blueberry pancakes are described by customers as superb, while all varieties flipped on the griddle are huge and come perfectly fluffy. There are a few savory options, too, with accompaniment including eggs, bacon, sausage, and ham.
The Pancake Pantry is one of the most famous breakfast spots in Nashville. Each of its two locations serves up more than 15 pancake options, with the banana bread batter with pecans a particular favorite. Other highlights include old-fashioned buttermilk, and the Smoky Mountain Buckwheat, which features four dark wholegrain pancakes with a touch of sweetness. All plates come stacked high, so it might be an idea to share…
A popular Austin chain, with a restaurant in San Antonio, San Marcos, and Round Rock, Kerbey Lane Cafe is the place to brunch in the local area. Pancakes are the signature dish and they’ve been made to the same recipe since the café opened its doors in 1980. Diners can choose from classic buttermilk, gingerbread, chocolate chip, or blueberry. But fried chicken fans will always plump for the Chicken & Pancakes, featuring fried chicken strips, cinnamon beignet pancakes, and sweet and spicy Buffalo sauce. They're crispy, crunchy, and all-round delicious.
Penny Ann's Cafe, which has four locations across Utah, calls its pancakes 'Heavenly Hot Cakes,' and there are plenty of people who agree with that shimmering description. The batter is made with sour cream, giving them a light, fluffy, and flavorful finish, and they come in a range of stack heights with just butter and syrup, or as a substitute for bread in a bacon sandwich. You can order them on the side of the breakfast plates, too.
Where else would serve the best pancakes in Vermont than a sugar house? The state’s famous syrup is still made at Maple Sugar & Vermont Spice in Mendon, along with maple candy. Thankfully, the pancakes are equally matched in taste and quality, with some customers saying they're the best they've ever tasted. The house stack is perfection, with just maple syrup and whipped butter, though there are weekly specials and blueberry options for the more adventurous.
Rustic spot The Little Grill has a long history and, despite changing hands over the years, it's consistently rated as a top local breakfast hideout. It has a cracking lineup of pancake options to choose from, whether you fancy regular buttermilk or gluten-free variations. The Cinnamon Roll stack is absolutely delicious and comes complete with a cinnamon swirl and cream cheese glaze.
The pancakes at Portage Bay Cafe are anything but ordinary. The menu has Swedish-style pancakes, made with rice and tapioca flour and served with lingonberries, as well as apple cinnamon pancakes and vegan options served with bananas and powdered sugar. All pancake orders include a trip to the café’s breakfast bar to load up on fruit, whipped cream, and organic maple syrup. Portage Bay Cafe boasts five locations across Seattle.
Housed inside a converted church, this Fayetteville favorite is an artsy breakfast spot and bookshop that constantly turns out great wholegrain buttermilk pancakes. They're packed with whole oats and come served with a choice of blueberries, bananas, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Paired alongside a warming brew, it's easy to spend hours at this quirky joint.
Pancakes with a side of meatballs? The griddles at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant & Butik come with exactly that, and it works brilliantly. There are plenty of sweet options if that doesn't take your fancy, though, and they’re equally delicious and consistently raved about by customers. Being a Swedish spot, you can expect the sweet plates to come piled with lingonberries, butter, and syrup. If that isn't enough to win you over, the goats grazing on the living roof will.
The Bunnery Bakery & Restaurant in Jackson makes its exceptional O.S.M. pancakes with oats, sunflower seeds, and millet. They’re wonderfully light and fluffy and can be topped with strawberries, blueberries, or huckleberries. You can buy some of the pancake mix to whip up a batch at home, too.