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Atrium’s buckwheat banana pancakes
Sydney Yorkshire

17 Mind-Blowing Pancakes in Los Angeles, 2019 Edition

Where to get the best griddled flapjacks in Los Angeles

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Atrium’s buckwheat banana pancakes
| Sydney Yorkshire

There’s nothing quite like a leisurely morning with a heaping stack of flapjacks and all the nostalgia that comes with it. Luckily for the breakfast lovers of Los Angeles, the city is full of some pretty outstanding pancake varieties.

If it’s classic buttermilk stacks on the radar, old school diners like The Original Pantry fit the bill, and with 24-hour service at that. The City of Angels is also home to some outrageously decadent versions, most notably from West Hollywood’s iconic The Griddle. Here now are the very best pancakes in Los Angeles.

Added: Atrium, CJ’s Cafe, Lincoln, S&W Country Diner, Tesse

Removed: A-frame, Blu Jam, Cici’s Tarzana, Joan’s On Third, Jacks N Joe, Jist Cafe, Little Ruby, Musso & Frank’s, Pie & Burger, Poppy & Rose, Rossoblu, Square One Dining, Sycamore Kitchen

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

John O'Groats

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This down and dirty family-run restaurant has been serving West LA since 1982. That homey feel comes across in the pancakes, the no-nonsense buttermilk flapjacks that come golden and relatively thick.

Uncle Bill's Pancake House

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There’s nothing quite like the quaint beach bungalow-turned pancake house Uncle Bill’s. The Manhattan Beach mainstay is quite the local hangout, with serious weekend lines. But when pancakes come with ocean views, who can really complain.

Uncle Bill’s Pancake House
Banana nut pancakes
Nova H./ Yelp

S & W Country Diner

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The family-owned S&W Country Diner operates in Downtown Culver City, and is completely retro with the 1950s-esque counters, decor, and longtime cash-only policy. Its old-school feel even filters through the menu with the pancakes. Four fluffy platter-sized cakes come in one stack, and it might be best to share unless truly hungry.

S & W Country Diner
S & W Country Diner
Camila D. via Yelp

The Original Pancake House

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While all the pancakes at the Original Pancake House are excellent (shout out to the extremely popular chocolate chip), the real specialty here is the oven-baked Dutch Baby. This airy pancake somewhat reminiscent of a crepe is about the size of your face, and comes with lemon and powdered sugar.

During weekend brunch at West Hollywood’s hit charmer, Tesse, order chef Raphael Francois and pastry chef Sally Camacho Mueller’s Limoncello pancakes. The pair combined the Italian lemon liqueur with marscapone, maple syrup, and chantilly cream.

Tesse
Tesse’s Limoncello pancakes
Jenni Hwang

The Serving Spoon

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Drive past this Inglewood institution, and find hoards of locals trying to get a fix of South LA food staples. It’s best to avoid the place on Sundays after church, when the 1982-born restaurant is especially swarmed with hungry diners looking to get their hands on the butter-laden flapjacks.

The Griddle Cafe

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The Griddle is the king of outrageous, Frisbee-sized pancakes. The menu has nearly twenty varieties of cardiac arrest-inducing options, from the Black Magic filled with crushed Oreos to the Saturday Morning Fever with Bailey’s and Kahlua batter. The Saturday and Sunday morning lines are no joke, but is worth the wait after one bite of these cakey monstrosities.

Jon & Vinny's

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Loaded with more butter than one really wants to think about, Jon & Vinny’s has made itself a serious contender for best pancakes in LA. They’re as straightforward as they get with light, fluffy buttermilk pancakes served with the usual accoutrements of maple syrup, a generous helping of salted butter and berries. The real feat is the mastery of such simplicity.

Jon & Vinny’s
Buttermilk pancakes
Crystal Coser

Du-par's

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These are LA’s true OG pancakes. Nicely crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside with conspicuous buttermilk flavor, these are pancakes prepared just right. It doesn’t hurt that they are served with a side of salted clarified butter that facilitates a solid drenching.

CJ's Cafe

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For over 20 years, CJ’s Cafe does a daily and hearty breakfast and lunch. With two locations in Baldwin Hills and on the south end of Mid-Wilshire, CJ’s has the most reasonably-priced breakfast on this list, with three well-sized pancakes for $5.51.

CJ’s Cafe
CJ’s Cafe
Jamal H. via Yelp

Breakfast by Salt's Cure

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The Salt’s Cure saga is one of musical chairs. The once-beloved breakfast spot moved to a more expansive location in Hollywood, but later reopened a breakfast spot right back in its original Santa Monica Boulevard address. But the cult favorite oatmeal griddle cakes remain, still slathered in maple cinnamon butter, and as delicious as ever.

Olympic Cafe

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Long considered one of the best pancakes in town, the incredible griddle produces some of the crispiest, fluffiest pancakes you’ve ever tried. A Mid-City legend.

Atrium’s creative duo chef Hunter Pritchett and pastry chef Gregory Baumgartner experimented and developed a platter of buckwheat banana pancakes with french butter and maple syrup. It’s a solid addition for everyone, even those adhering to a gluten-free diet.

Atrium
Atrium’s buckwheat banana pancakes
Sydney Yorkshire

Little Dom's

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Blueberry ricotta pancakes are the name of the game at Little Dom’s. Albeit their relatively petit size, these flapjacks pack a punch.

Little Dom’s
Ricotta cheese and blueberry pancakes, maple syrup
Anthony N./ Yelp

The Original Pantry Cafe

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Those who like their pancakes served with a side of nostalgia will find a happy home at The Original Pantry Café. This no-fuss 24/7 diner opened back in 1924, and has probably been serving these straightforward buttermilk pancakes since its opening day. There’s not much that needs to be said about these flapjacks – eating them at the restaurant’s worn counter just feels right.

The Original Pantry Cafe
Buttermilk pancakes
BananaSplit S./ Yelp

Kitchen Mouse

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The vegan and gluten-free pancakes at this Highland Park cafe come with toasted coconut and a dram of Vermont maple syrup. Light, flakey, and topped with fresh berries, the butter won’t be missed.

Lincoln

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Owner Christine Moore pumps out casual breakfasts and lunches at both Lincoln and Little Flower Candy Co. in Pasadena. At Lincoln, buttermilk pancakes are permanent menu favorites, but the black sesame coconut pancakes with black sesame whipped cream, coconut caramel, and toasted coconut are a balanced seasonal addition.

Lincoln
Lincoln’s buttermilk pancakes
Aura M. via Yelp

John O'Groats

This down and dirty family-run restaurant has been serving West LA since 1982. That homey feel comes across in the pancakes, the no-nonsense buttermilk flapjacks that come golden and relatively thick.

Uncle Bill's Pancake House

There’s nothing quite like the quaint beach bungalow-turned pancake house Uncle Bill’s. The Manhattan Beach mainstay is quite the local hangout, with serious weekend lines. But when pancakes come with ocean views, who can really complain.

Uncle Bill’s Pancake House
Banana nut pancakes
Nova H./ Yelp

S & W Country Diner

The family-owned S&W Country Diner operates in Downtown Culver City, and is completely retro with the 1950s-esque counters, decor, and longtime cash-only policy. Its old-school feel even filters through the menu with the pancakes. Four fluffy platter-sized cakes come in one stack, and it might be best to share unless truly hungry.

S & W Country Diner
S & W Country Diner
Camila D. via Yelp

The Original Pancake House

While all the pancakes at the Original Pancake House are excellent (shout out to the extremely popular chocolate chip), the real specialty here is the oven-baked Dutch Baby. This airy pancake somewhat reminiscent of a crepe is about the size of your face, and comes with lemon and powdered sugar.

Tesse

During weekend brunch at West Hollywood’s hit charmer, Tesse, order chef Raphael Francois and pastry chef Sally Camacho Mueller’s Limoncello pancakes. The pair combined the Italian lemon liqueur with marscapone, maple syrup, and chantilly cream.

Tesse
Tesse’s Limoncello pancakes
Jenni Hwang

The Serving Spoon

Drive past this Inglewood institution, and find hoards of locals trying to get a fix of South LA food staples. It’s best to avoid the place on Sundays after church, when the 1982-born restaurant is especially swarmed with hungry diners looking to get their hands on the butter-laden flapjacks.

The Griddle Cafe

The Griddle is the king of outrageous, Frisbee-sized pancakes. The menu has nearly twenty varieties of cardiac arrest-inducing options, from the Black Magic filled with crushed Oreos to the Saturday Morning Fever with Bailey’s and Kahlua batter. The Saturday and Sunday morning lines are no joke, but is worth the wait after one bite of these cakey monstrosities.

Jon & Vinny's

Loaded with more butter than one really wants to think about, Jon & Vinny’s has made itself a serious contender for best pancakes in LA. They’re as straightforward as they get with light, fluffy buttermilk pancakes served with the usual accoutrements of maple syrup, a generous helping of salted butter and berries. The real feat is the mastery of such simplicity.

Jon & Vinny’s
Buttermilk pancakes
Crystal Coser

Du-par's

These are LA’s true OG pancakes. Nicely crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside with conspicuous buttermilk flavor, these are pancakes prepared just right. It doesn’t hurt that they are served with a side of salted clarified butter that facilitates a solid drenching.

CJ's Cafe

For over 20 years, CJ’s Cafe does a daily and hearty breakfast and lunch. With two locations in Baldwin Hills and on the south end of Mid-Wilshire, CJ’s has the most reasonably-priced breakfast on this list, with three well-sized pancakes for $5.51.

CJ’s Cafe
CJ’s Cafe
Jamal H. via Yelp

Breakfast by Salt's Cure

The Salt’s Cure saga is one of musical chairs. The once-beloved breakfast spot moved to a more expansive location in Hollywood, but later reopened a breakfast spot right back in its original Santa Monica Boulevard address. But the cult favorite oatmeal griddle cakes remain, still slathered in maple cinnamon butter, and as delicious as ever.

Olympic Cafe

Long considered one of the best pancakes in town, the incredible griddle produces some of the crispiest, fluffiest pancakes you’ve ever tried. A Mid-City legend.

Atrium

Atrium’s creative duo chef Hunter Pritchett and pastry chef Gregory Baumgartner experimented and developed a platter of buckwheat banana pancakes with french butter and maple syrup. It’s a solid addition for everyone, even those adhering to a gluten-free diet.

Atrium
Atrium’s buckwheat banana pancakes
Sydney Yorkshire

Little Dom's

Blueberry ricotta pancakes are the name of the game at Little Dom’s. Albeit their relatively petit size, these flapjacks pack a punch.

Little Dom’s
Ricotta cheese and blueberry pancakes, maple syrup
Anthony N./ Yelp

The Original Pantry Cafe

Those who like their pancakes served with a side of nostalgia will find a happy home at The Original Pantry Café. This no-fuss 24/7 diner opened back in 1924, and has probably been serving these straightforward buttermilk pancakes since its opening day. There’s not much that needs to be said about these flapjacks – eating them at the restaurant’s worn counter just feels right.

The Original Pantry Cafe
Buttermilk pancakes
BananaSplit S./ Yelp

Related Maps

Kitchen Mouse

The vegan and gluten-free pancakes at this Highland Park cafe come with toasted coconut and a dram of Vermont maple syrup. Light, flakey, and topped with fresh berries, the butter won’t be missed.

Lincoln

Owner Christine Moore pumps out casual breakfasts and lunches at both Lincoln and Little Flower Candy Co. in Pasadena. At Lincoln, buttermilk pancakes are permanent menu favorites, but the black sesame coconut pancakes with black sesame whipped cream, coconut caramel, and toasted coconut are a balanced seasonal addition.

Lincoln
Lincoln’s buttermilk pancakes
Aura M. via Yelp

Related Maps