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Whenever I think of a quintessential American breakfast, pancakes are the first thing that comes to mind.
Interestingly enough, pancakes have their roots in Ancient Greece! The first documented pancake in the world is Tiganites, which dates back to the 6th century BC.
Photo by mygreekdish.com
So, how did pancakes become such a beloved breakfast staple in the US?
It all started in the 17th century, when Dutch settlers brought their pancake recipes to America.
Throughout history, pancakes have gone through quite a few iterations and terms. Johnny cakes have their origins with Native Americans, who would use ground corn, water, salt, and cook them on hot rocks. Hoe cakes, which are very similar to Johnny cakes, became popular during the enslaved period, where Black slaves were given a weekly cornmeal ration and would use the back of their hoes as a baking tool.
Baking soda had been around long before the 20th century, but it was during this time that leavening agents gave birth to the modern pancakes we know today.
In the mid-20th century, eating out with the whole family, something that was considered upper-class, became accessible with the boom of diners and family-friendly restaurants. America’s most popular pancake house, International House of Pancakes (IHOP), was founded in 1958 in Toluca Lake, California.
Carousel Pancake House in Delano, California.
Sambo’s Pancake House in Goleta, California
Pancake mixes also gained widespread popularity. Now you could recreate your favorite restaurant’s pancakes at home! Overall, pancakes became a symbol of family union and love, bringing smiles to millions of households across the US. If you made pancakes for your family, you were gold. Aunt Jemima’s pancake mix was introduced in 1889, but when Quaker Oats acquired the company in 1925, they tweaked the formula.
A good pancake should be fluffy, bordered with crispy edges and a slightly moist center. Not to mention that the batter also has to be flavorful!
However, making the perfect pancake is not as easy as it sounds. There’s a side of science and math that goes behind it, like mixing dry and wet ingredients separately, and most importantly, balancing their ratio.
Many places overmix the batter, which leads to gluten development, resulting in a rubbery texture. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten these in restaurant chains. Flat pancakes are often the result of the batter being too runny, where flour is unable to trap the bubbles from the baking soda. To get that perfect golden brown color, the pan can’t be too hot. It’s a whole process, and understandably so, not every place gets it right.
One of my favorite restaurants in Long Beach is Jongewaard’s Bake N Broil. They’re known for their delicious diner food and homemade pastries, but their lemon blueberry pancakes were too thin!
In 2021, I thought I had found the perfect blueberry pancakes at Clark Street Diner, housed in the former and iconic 101 Coffee Shop, but this changed when I took the first bite of the blueberry pancakes from Clutch and Coffee in Torrance.
The truth is, you can find pancakes in nearly every breakfast place in LA, but a memorable pancake? Those places are few and far between. Here are the pancakes I’ve tried over the last 7 months!
Buttermilk pancakes from Du-Par’s
📍 Beverly Grove
I can’t believe that I only found out about Du-Par’s last December after almost 10 years of living in LA. I’ve gone to The Grove and the Farmer’s Market countless times but for some reason, I always thought Du-Par’s was a run-of-the-mill diner. Little did I know about its lasting legacy!
In December of last year, my friend Cintia bought a strawberry pie and we were all in awe of how good it was. She said she got it from Du-Par’s and when she went to pick it up, there was a really long line. Cintia is a pancake aficionado, and when I brought up my upcoming pancake article, she said that Du-Par’s buttermilk pancakes were the best in Los Angeles.
Du-Par’s original location opened in 1938 at the Original Farmers Market. At one point, the restaurant expanded into other locations across like LA that have closed since, like Miracle Mile, Pasadena and Studio City — but thankfully, the original one is still standing strong. The interior maintains the classic old-school diner atmosphere with a carpeted floor, upholstered booths, and servers decked up in formal uniforms.
After trying Du-Par’s signature buttermilk pancakes, I’m a convert. These are the BEST buttermilk pancakes I’ve ever had, including the boysenberry syrup, which added the perfect touch of tartness with its dark color and robust taste.
I’ve had my fair share of buttermilk pancakes across LA, but none of them hold a candle to Dupar’s.
If you watch videos on YouTube of people trying their pancakes for the first time, most of them had the same reaction I had. We were rendered speechless.
Many places add the butter on the side, but Du-Par’s pancakes are already infused with AA melted butter. This is the highest quality butter you can get, yielding a pleasantly sweet flavor. Add the fluffy texture and the warm boysenberry syrup and you’re in pancake heaven. They were so good I had to call my friend afterward.
Whenever I think of Du-Par’s, I think of a deep-seated nostalgia for Americana: classic cars, soda shops, and vintage ads of housewives preparing supper for the family. We’re so lucky to have this remaining institution, which beautifully represents a quintessential, old-fashioned American pancake.
Excerpt from Du-Par’s website: “Du-Par’s pancakes are world famous and the recipe is under lock and key. The “secret recipe” is known by few, and the step-by-step process to craft the batter involves hours of preparation. Still the same recipe since 1938, Du-par’s pancakes remain a best-seller.”
Esquire Magazine deemed Du-Par’s pancakes the “Best Pancakes in America”. I don’t know if I agree with that statement, for one would have to try a lot of pancakes — but they’re definitely the best buttermilk pancakes I’ve had in LA!
Du-Par’s has a second location in Las Vegas, which has also received accolades and been covered extensively in articles and TikTok videos on where to get the best pancakes in Sin City.
Du-Par’s: Website and Instagram
Blueberry pancakes with lemon butter from Clutch and Coffee
📍 Torrance
Located in charming Torrance’s historic downtown, Clutch and Coffee is a local’s breakfast favorite. The interior sports a biker theme inspired by the classic American roadside diners.
Whenever I do an article guide, I do some serious research. I found out about Clutch and Coffee on a thread from years ago on HungryOnion. When sharing breakfast options in LA, user @fattydumplin wrote:
“If you’ve ever been to Locanda Verde in Tribeca, it’s the closest thing I’ve ever found to their lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes, which I love and miss dearly.”
In this upscale Italian spot with regulars like Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Jay-Z, their brunch lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes are generously topped with Meyer lemon curd and garnished with blueberries.
Similar to Locanda Verde, Clutch and Coffee’s blueberry pancakes are topped with a dollop of lemon butter, blueberry compote and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
If you love blueberry pancakes, I urge you to drive to Clutch and Coffee. Good is a huge understatement. Why aren’t people talking about these pancakes? I don’t know. If your mouth is watering right now, know that they are as good, if not better, as they look in the pictures.
These were by far the best blueberry pancakes I’ve had in Los Angeles: crispy edges, a soft yet dense texture, and a perfectly achieved golden brown color complemented by its flavorful batter, which was bursting with luscious blueberries. Spreading the lemon butter completely took them to the next level, adding a tang of citrus and creaminess. The blueberry compote was also stellar, but it didn’t need it.
When I congratulated the waiter on the pancakes, he told me that they used pancake batter, flour and sugar to make them. Easy, right? I believe there was a secret hack, either an undisclosed ingredient or the cooking technique, because I’ve never had blueberry pancakes as good as these. Thank you so much @fattydumplin for this stellar recommendation!!
Clutch and Coffee: Instagram
Strawberry cheesecake pancakes from Cici’s
📍 Tarzana and Westlake Village
People might be surprised to know that the two breakfast mainstays in the San Fernando Valley, Cici’s and Bea Bea’s, are owned by Bangkok native sisters, Sawarai “Cici” and Bea Chanchaisri.
In 2006, Chef Sawarai opened Cici’s in a Tarzana strip mall, offering a whopping variety of breakfast options with homemade recipes. To say that the menu at Cici’s is extensive is a big understatement. There are currently 51 pancake offerings at Cici’s, not to mention their panoply of crepes and French toasts. It’s breakfast galore.
In 2016, Sawarai opened a second Cici’s location in Westlake Village, which is run by Cici’s daughter, “Pammy” Chan. In an interview with The Acorn, she shared that part of their success was their ability to listen to the customers’ feedback. Pammy also credited the extensive menu to her mom’s never-ending creative streak and her ability to come up with new dishes all the time.
Since I wasn’t familiar with the wide-ranging menu, I made sure to study it before I went. Enticed by the beautiful strawberry pancakes I saw on Yelp, I was set on ordering them. A few days later, when I inquired about them, the waitress replied, “Which one? We have strawberry velvet, strawberry cheesecake, strawberry dulce de leche… but our strawberry cheesecake is our most popular”. So I settled on a half order of those alongside a hot chocolate.
Admittedly, I didn’t have any expectations when I ordered these strawberry cheesecake pancakes, but they’ve become one of my favorites in LA. When it comes to flavored pancakes, many places use artificial sweeteners to make them taste like the real thing. But Cici’s pancakes blew me away with how shockingly reminiscent they were of a strawberry cheesecake.
These pancakes were on the thinner side yet fluffy and filled with delicious cream cheese. They were not overly sweet as the smooth and intense flavor of the strawberry sauce did all the heavy lifting, pairing beautifully with the airy whipped cream. The almond crumbles were the perfect touch, bearing a strong resemblance to graham cracker crust, one of the best parts of the cheesecake. It was a delight to eat it with the tender and macerated strawberries. Just incredible in every bite.
If you like hot chocolate, do not miss their Azteca Chocolate, a Mexican spiced hot chocolate with cinnamon. It was another winner!
Ricotta pancakes with blueberries from Cafe Telegrama
📍 Melrose Hill
Cafe Telegrama is the sister restaurant of ÉTRA, known for its Italian fare and dimly lit ambiance opened in December 2024.
Although finding parking in this area is like winning the lottery, the hassle is worth it for these ricotta pancakes!
Owner and chef Evan Algorri, who spent years developing these pancake recipes and worked in NYC restaurants, shared with Eater LA, “I’d put these pancakes up against anybody in LA.”
At first, I was hesitant to try these pancakes due to the burnt-like appearance, but once I took the first bite, I was pleasantly surprised! They were on the thinner side, with charred, crispy edges and drenched in a maple syrup that wasn’t cloyingly sweet. The bright blueberry compote added a nice tartness to the syrup, complementing the creamy ricotta inside and plump texture. Don’t forget to pair the pancakes with a frothy matcha latte!
Other notable items at Cafe Telegrama are the tuna sandwich, their Chinese salad and like I said, their matcha! Their pastries are from the Hollywood bakery Friends and Family.
Unlike most places on the list, Cafe Telegrama has very limited seating and gets busy very fast, so plan accordingly!
Cafe Telegrama: Website and Instagram
Green Monster pancakes from Bea Bea’s
📍 Burbank
📍 Glendale (opened in 2019)
In 2008, Cici’s sister Bea opened her namesake restaurant in yet another no-frills Valley strip mall.
I still remember when I introduced my friend Cintia to Bea Bea’s back in 2017. I discovered this breakfast haven through an Instagram food account that posted their signature Green Monster pancakes. I was really excited to try them!
These pancakes were soft with vibrant hints of green tea inside and perfectly dispersed semi-sweet white chocolate chips, yielding a subtle vanilla flavor. However, the slight bitterness from the matcha mascarpone and airy whipped cream tied everything together, making every bite a creamy mouthful delight.
If you like matcha, you can’t miss these pancakes – and even if you don’t drink it, I’m sure you’ll love them. They were so big that I wasn’t able to finish them all, so I offered them to Cintia, who ordered something different. It was love at first bite. “Oh my God, WOW. These are delicious. Can I take them off your plate?”, she said. 😂 Since that day, Cintia goes to Bea Bea’s regularly to indulge in these pancakes, and she’s not even a green tea matcha person!
In this decade, Bea Bea’s and Cici’s will turn 20, and it’s no wonder why they continue to be longstanding breakfast staples in the San Fernando Valley: consistent quality and great customer service. If you go during the weekend, try to go as early as you can.
Bea Bea’s: Website and Instagram
BLD’s blueberry ricotta pancakes from Redbird
📍 Downtown LA
This reel came up on my feed just a few days before this article was published, so I didn’t get to try them, but I’ll make sure to include my review once I do.
Located inside Vibiana, a cathedral-turned event-venue, Michelin-Recommended Redbird offers modern American cuisine on a relaxed outdoor patio. Redbird’s famous pancakes are the BLD’s Blueberry Ricotta, crafted by veteran chef Neal Fraser, former owner of BLD on 3rd Street, which closed its doors in 2017.
Here’s what Jenn T. said about his pancakes on a review from May 2016:
“I have only ever been to BLD for breakfast, but it’s definitely one of my favorite breakfast places in LA.
Listen to all of the reviews and order the ricotta blueberry pancakes. They totally live up to the hype because they are amazing. Ricotta cheese makes such a difference in these pancakes. They have a crispy texture on the outside, but are extremely moist, fluffy, and loaded with ricotta on the inside.”
On the reel, Neal said that once they ran out of pancakes, people didn’t even stay to order something else; they just left. The BLD’s pancakes are ONLY available on their weekend brunch!
Redbird: Website and Instagram
Oat griddle cakes from Breakfast by Salt’s Cure
📍 West Hollywood and Santa Monica
These oat griddle cakes are one of the most influential breakfast treats in NYC via Los Angeles.
It all started in 2010, when Salt’s Cure Deli opened on a tiny corner in West Hollywood as an ethical animal butchery.
A few years later, Chris opened his farm-to-table restaurant Salt’s Cure. The pork chop became one of his most sought-after menu items, receiving praise from the late LA Times writer Jonathan Gold, who named it the best pork chop in the city. Luckily, it’s still available at their Hollywood location on Highland Avenue!
Besides the sustainably-sourced meat options, the talk of the town were Chris’ oat griddle cakes, a breakfast he had been eating since he was 4 years old. The recipe was passed down from his mother: a moist griddle cake, bordered with crispy, lacy edges, and a moist, soft interior — topped with a dollop of cinnamon butter. These aren’t meant to be eaten with syrup as the batter already contains molasses. The lore behind the added sweetener is that Chris’ mom didn’t want to deal with the hassle of cleaning sticky surfaces from the syrup.
Served in a stack of three, the oat griddle cakes come in five flavors, but in my opinion, the OGs are the best.
In 2017, Breakfast by Salt’s Cure opened its first location in West Hollywood. Soon after, they expanded to Santa Monica and two locations in New York.
After doing some research, I concluded that the oat griddle cakes have a much stronger presence in the NYC breakfast scene, where an hour wait is to be expected on the weekends. Food blogger @shawnthefoodsheep went to one of the NYC locations and mentioned that these were his favorite pancakes in the United States – which I think is a pretty bold statement!
Breakfast by Salt’s Cure: Website and Instagram
Malted milk pancakes from Claudine Kitchen & Bakeshop
📍 Encino and Porter Ranch
Opened in 2016, Claudine Kitchen has become a neighborhood staple thanks to its delicious morning fare using high-quality ingredients sourced from local farms. The owners are two longtime friends, chefs Anthony and Lea, who grew up in LA and wanted to open a restaurant rooted in integrity, persistence, family and gratitude. A second location in Porter Ranch, which is also in the Valley, opened this past Spring.
The eggs and sausages I saw on the table next to me looked absolutely delicious, but I went there specifically for their famous malted milk pancakes, not to be confused with buttermilk pancakes!
Malted milk powder is what gives diner pancakes that pleasantly sweet and nutty flavor. I’m currently writing an article about the best malted milkshakes in LA. Most places in LA use ice cream and milk, but the malt makes all the difference!
These pancakes were like biting into a cloud. They were fluffy, very crispy and slightly sweeter, boasting an incredible toasty flavor due to the malted milk powder inside. The maple syrup was dark and robust, enhancing the flavor of the pancakes. You may add blueberry compote for an extra $3, but they don’t really need it.
About a week before this article went live, Claudine Kitchen posted an Instagram reel where chef Anthony went into detail about these pancakes. He said:
“Our pancakes might seem simple, but they have a greater backstory than you think. This is actually the first recipe I worked on when we launched Claudine. Don’t tell anyone, but I worked at it at my previous restaurant I worked at when I was an Executive Chef! We add malted milk powder, which helps crisp up the exterior of the pancake and keeps the interior nice and fluffy.”
“We always serve it with real maple syrup. They taste like what you grew up with, but there’s just a little wink to something different. These pancakes are like no other. Try them next time you’re here.”
While buttermilk pancakes are ubiquitous in LA, Claudine Kitchen is one of the very few places that offer malted milk pancakes. Highly recommended!
Claudine Kitchen: Website and Instagram
Lemon Ricotta pancakes from Mike and Anne’s
📍 South Pasadena
When Lincoln closed during the pandemic, it felt like a punch in the gut. Not only was it my favorite breakfast spot in Pasadena, but it was also highly favored by Jonathan Gold – who wrote a glowing review when the restaurant opened in 2015.
Thankfully, Pasadena has no shortage of beautiful restaurants with charming outdoor patios, and one of them is Mike and Anne’s, a mainstay in South Pasadena.
Out of all their breakfast options, they’re best known for their lemon ricotta pancakes. I went there on a busy Saturday morning and ordered them with a side of chicken sausage.
In some places, the lemon flavor is very mild, but these pancakes were bursting with zesty flavor — so much that even the interior was bright yellow!
I wasn’t particularly impressed by the caramelized blueberry compote. It was too sweet and the blueberry flavor was very faint. Although these pancakes didn’t make my jaw drop to the floor like some others on this list, they’re a solid option for lemon ricotta pancakes, which aren’t as easily found. Most places in LA offer lemon blueberry ricotta.
The side of chicken sausage (not pictured), was actually really good!
Note: Speaking of lemon pancakes, it should come as no surprise that Bea Bea’s serves lemon blueberry ricotta pancakes, which bear a strong resemblance to the ones from Locanda Verde in NYC. I can’t wait to try them!
Also in Pasadena
Whether you’re celebrating someone or just looking for a little comfort, swing by for our Sticky Toffee Pancakes– medjool dates, toffee caramel, whipped coconut cream. We’re grateful to serve ALL members of our community 💕🙏🏼
Since 2021, Agnes has redefined Pasadena’s food landscape, earning a spot in the Michelin Guide recommendations. I recently discovered that on their brunch menu, served from Friday to Sunday, they offer their signature sticky toffee pancakes, which seem to be a favorite!
Banana pancakes from The Pan
📍 South Bay (Gardena, Torrance, Lomita) and Long Beach
With multiple locations in the South Bay and one in Orange County, The Pan offers your classic breakfast fare, including Southern comfort dishes like corn cakes and shrimp and grits. Although their breakfast is served until their closing time at 3 PM, their lunch menu is also very extensive: salads, tacos and even pizza!
Out of their 11 pancake varieties, they’re best known for their banana pancakes, named “the best banana pancakes ever” on their menu.
These fluffy pancakes are loaded with ripe bits of banana, topped with a dollop of butter, walnuts and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
At first, I felt like the pancakes needed syrup, but then I realized how big of a difference it made once I ate them with the bits of banana. Since they were so ripe, they were also sweeter.
The server told me, “You may add syrup if you like, but there’s already banana purée inside, so they really don’t need it. Most of our customers prefer them without syrup.”
Overall, this is a prime example of a good banana pancake. Every bite was bursting with banana flavor from the purée. The crushed walnuts and the ripe bits of fruit truly elevated the pancakes without overpowering them — adding a perfect balance of textures.
The Pan: Website and Instagram
Dutch baby pancake from The Original Pancake House
📍 Torrance and Whittier
Photo by carbthoughts
In May, on my way to Joshua Tree, I stopped at Elmer’s in Palm Springs to try their famous German pancake. This billowy soft pancake is baked in a cast iron skillet and its main star is the visually striking golden brown, high puffy crust.
Despite the name, the Dutch baby (sometimes called German) pancake originated in the early 1900s in Manca’s Cafe, located in Bellevue, outside of Seattle. Blogger German Girl in America did a great write-up on its backstory.
“A Seattle restaurant called Manca’s served pancakes using a batter that originated in Germany. Instead of cooking them on the stovetop, they put the pans into the oven. WHY? Most likely, the answer is “efficiency”. It’s much easier to set a pan of batter into the oven than it is to watch and flip on the stove.”
“And the name Dutch? The story claims that one of the owner’s daughters mispronounced the name “Deutsch” and that the word “baby” referred to the miniature versions of the pancakes that the restaurant specialized in.”
Made of milk, flour, sugar, and a handful of eggs, the Dutch baby pancake is much lighter than old-school American pancakes. Although Manca’s Cafe is long gone (it closed in 1952), many places in Seattle still serve them! You can even get it at one of the four Original Pancake House locations outside of Seattle.
The Original Pancake House, not to be confused with IHOP, is a chain founded in 1953 in Portland, Oregon. With 29 locations across the United States, there are currently 14 in California and two in Los Angeles: Torrance and Whittier.
This beloved chain is one of the last pancake houses that were so prominent in the 20th century: a quirky exterior, family-friendly atmosphere, hefty portions, and a welcoming cartoon logo. Going to the Original Pancake House also allowed me to see firsthand the power that pancakes wield among middle-agers and large families.
Their menu offerings include 18 pancakes, but they take the most pride in their two specialties: the Dutch baby and apple pancakes.
It’s important to know that the flavor of the Dutch baby pancake will not blow you away. The base is very eggy, and the interior has a custard-like texture: soft and tender. That’s why the condiments play such a big role in amplifying the flavor. It is typically served with fruits, but if you order them plain, they come with a side of butter and a few lemon wedges.
My photo
After you smear the whipped butter and squeeze a generous amount of lemon juice, you slice it like a pizza. The airy crust was absolutely delightful, and the lemon and butter complemented the delicate egg-based texture. Next time, I’ll take the plunge and order it with fruits! For first-timers, I’d recommend keeping it simple so you can better appreciate the pancake on its own.
If I had to choose the Dutch baby pancake between Elmer’s and The Original Pancake House, the latter is the winner for me. At Elmer’s, the pancake was a lot bigger but the texture was too thin, whereas the one from TOPH had a better consistency. It looked like the picture below. Given the thicker texture, it had a stronger eggy flavor but it wasn’t overpowering!
Once you park in the lot and leave your car, your nostrils will be tantalized by the smell of melted butter! I went there on a weekday, but weekends are notoriously packed – so going as early as you can is strongly encouraged!
The Original Pancake House: Website and Instagram
Also in the South Bay
📍 Manhattan Beach
It would be remiss of me not to include Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, a South Bay institution established in 1961. I ultimately decided to go to The Pan instead because none of the pictures I saw of the pancakes at Uncle Bill’s on Yelp caught my eye.
While I was doing some research on Uncle Bill’s, I came across THIS article from tastystacks, where the author said: “I don’t agree that these pancakes should be on a “Best Pancakes in LA” list, but a lot of people on Yelp disagree with me. If you want cute ocean view pancakes (and who doesn’t), you should go here, but temper your pancake expectations.”
If you’ve been to Uncle Bill’s and you disagree with this statement, let me know in the comments!
Shoop’s Delicatessen
📍 Santa Monica
On a Reddit thread from a year ago about the best pancakes in Santa Monica, six users vouched for Shoop’s Deli.
Opened in 2001, not only does Shoop’s Deli serve delicious sandwiches, salads, and gravlax toasts, but they also sell Scandinavian products including German sausages, candy, chocolate and other imported non-perishable items.
What I loved about this place was the classic mom-and-pop feel, which is harder to come by these days. A blonde, blue-eyed middle-aged host warmly greeted me. It was quite interesting seeing Urth Cafe right across the street, with a line that almost went around the block, versus the tranquility at Shoops, where most people who walked in were middle-aged patrons. This might be the best open secret in Santa Monica!
I decided to order two different pancakes, banana and cinnamon, alongside a Bratwurst sausage. Texture-wise, the pancakes were perfect, but they didn’t sweeten the batter, so after eating the bits of cinnamon and banana, unless you added the syrup, the pancake had no flavor – so it was very light.
As you read at the beginning of this post, a flavorful batter is one of the hallmarks of a perfect pancake. Instead, the batter flavor was completely muted. Either way, Shoops gets bonus points for the amazing customer service, the homely feel, and that Bratwurst sausage, which was incredible.
Shoop’s Deli: Website and Instagram
Thank you for reading! What are your favorite pancakes in LA?
