Simply amazing everything is great especially the honey butter pancakes and the chicken wings

It's hard to rate this place by the 5-star method. The food was surprisingly good - better than you'd expect, given the basic descriptions of the dishes. Our group had the breakfast burrito, the homemade granola with very delicious yogurt, the eye-popping (to the kid who ordered it) pancakes, the KFC, and the chicken katsu club. All very tasty, generous servings, and served quickly, by a friendly waiter. However: we sat outside, on a warm Friday morning, and I swear to whoever decides these things that this was by far the most unpleasantly deafening dining experience I've ever had. Between the trains running immediately overhead and the constant fire trucks and ambulances blaring sirens just feet away...never again! There's great food all over this city in places where you don't have to scream at your table mates! read more

I've said it before and I'll say it again--these are still my favorite pancakes of all time, which shouldn't surprise anyone at this point. I'm updating my review after my last two visits. By now, everyone knows GD has reached near-god status on social media, and with that kind of attention comes real pressure. To their credit, they've taken it seriously and made a clear effort to make the experience more accessible to the public by adding: * Walk-up reservations * Online reservations * Expanding their signature pancakes to another location The servers are still friendly and efficient, which hasn't slipped despite the hype. On our last visit, we had a great conversation with Norah, who gave us a helpful tip on where to go while waiting for a table and which days are a little slower (and easier to get seated). Bottom line: the hype is real, but more importantly, they're doing the work to manage it. BB read more

Golden Diner - Honey Butter Pancakes! - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Were these amazing pancakes? YES! Would I wait 2 hours to have them again? Probably not. While the pancakes were very delicious, I find the wait time too extreme, it does discourage me from coming again. We were told that our wait time would be between 2-2:15 hours, but we were seating 1 hour and 40 minutes later. We chose to sit outside because it was a beautiful day, but I would like to point out that when the train passes overhead, it is very loud. Now to the star of the show, the pancakes! We got a double stack and I have to say that it is a little too big. I also don't think anyone would be able to finish the whole thing if they ordered other food with it. One funny issue I had was that the table was tilted my way, so all the honey was pooled on one side of the plate, but we asked for more honey and they brought us some. I appreciated that it was real honey and not the cheap and ultra processed syrup. read more

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The hype is real, the hype is real, the hype is REAL! When it comes to the pancakes....the hype is real. This was one of my bucket list of places to go after seeing it on social media and I must say I was not let down. Of course I didn't have reservations, so I tried to come early but the wait was 1.5 hours at 9:15 am. That was ok because it gave us time to walk down to canal street to do some shopping. We ordered the pancakes, eggs, bacon, home fries and wings. I had to take small bites of my pancake in order to savor the flavor because my pancake was quickly coming to an end. The diner is really small but they have setups outside for some extra space. We sat outside because inside was another 30 minute wait. Sitting outside can be noisy because of the train that passes above and it literally shakes the ground. But it wasn't as bad as it may sound after sitting out there I quickly got used to it and just paused the conversation until it passed. Met some nice folks that sat around us - really can't help being friendly because the tables are so close. Again not a bad thing. The sever was really nice and the food came out quick. Highly recommended spot. read more

Golden Diner - Hot coffee - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Went early during the week and didnt have a long wait maybe 10 to 15 minutes. The service was not great from the host to servers they had bad attitudes and weren't welcoming. The yuzu drink was really good the burger was pretty great it had great flavor and was cooked well the salad didnt have much taste but looked pretty and the pancakes were the star. I also ordered delivery after visiting since I enjoyed the drink and burger but it doesnt taste the same when you get it delivered and I wouldn't recommend delivery. read more

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Worth the hype! Extremely small space that definitely requires a reservation. Staff was so nice, helpful, and attentive. We had already had a day full of food adventures, so we stuck with the viral pancakes, and yummm. They are fluffy and light but dense at the same time. I wasn't able to finish mine. Also had a yummy passion fruit drink that had orange sake. If love to come back and try more items...or to get those pancakes again! read more

Golden Diner - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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So... I wasn't true to my word because the next time I visited (today), I did not get the Golden cheeseburger. Instead my partner and I shared the chicken katsu sandwich and the pancakes. The honey butter pancakes were rich, delectable, and wonderful. The chicken katsu sandwich was good! Those pancakes are well worth the hype. read more

Went on a cold winter day and I was so lucky that I scored a reservation. I had to sit at the counter, which was fine. When you walk in, it's very cozy! Honey Butter Pancakes brought me here, they were everything I imagined and more. Light, fluffy, sweet, savory, and so very filling. Drink of choice was a very refreshing Yuzu Ade. Grabbed some Korean Fried Chicken Wings as a side . They were also delicious, crispy, and seasoned with a slight spiciness to it. The shareable has plenty, I had to take some to go. Would not hesitate to return! read more

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Food: Incredible! The avo toast is packed with flavors and beautifully presented. High in processed for portion size. Honey butter pancake was rightfully hyped (if you plan to eat the pancake as a dessert i recommend waiting to order when you're ready since it gets cold quick & the syrup thickens), the kimchi was absolutely delicious (highly recommend!) Service: Host was welcoming & friendly. Server gave bare minimum energy and was hard to flag down (even though this space is tiny) Ambiance: we were at a two top outdoor table, average ambience. read more

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FANTASTIC. I'm obsessed with the pancakes here -- they taste just as incredible as they look. Perfectly fluffy, slightly caramelized on the outside, and not overly sweet. Easily the star of the table. We also tried the katsu, which was solid and well-executed, but nothing comes close to those pancakes. Be prepared for a wait (we waited about 2.5 hours), but if you're a pancake person, it's absolutely worth it. I'd come back again just for that plate alone. read more

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We came here on a Thursday night with four people and didn't have to wait for seating outside. We shared everything and got the pancakes, chicken wings, and the chicken katsu club. Everything was good. The chicken in the katsu club was perfect and the sauce brought the sandwich together. The chicken wings had a korean sticky sauce that was addicting. The pancakes were good but go in with the expectation that it's more cake like. It needed maybe slightly more syrup. I think it was good but I personally wouldn't wait hours to get in. read more

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If you're in Chinatown and craving the ultimate diner experience, do yourself a favor and visit Golden Diner. This place absolutely nails that awesome old-school diner ambience while sitting right in the heart of Chinatown. It's cozy, lively, and just has that perfect neighborhood energy the moment you walk in. But the real star? The pancakes. Hands down the best pancakes I've ever had in my life--perfectly fluffy, rich, and unforgettable. Every bite was incredible. Amazing vibe, incredible food, and a spot that totally lives up to the hype. I'll be thinking about those pancakes for a long time. Highly recommend read more

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The viral honey butter pancakes So let's talk about this whole experience. This was one of the places on my New York trip that I had to come that has been all over my social media the past two years. These pancakes, I have seen in video after video on my TikTok and Instagram page even to the point where people were doing mock recipes to make these pancakes at home. I always held back cause I knew one day that I would actually get them and here we are. I was first in line on a Sunday and I showed up around 45 minutes before they opened. I did not have a reservation and by the time that they were opening, the line was around the block. Since I was the first one in line they sat me right away even without a reservation, which was awesome! The entire establishment filled up within two minutes, and the place was jumping right at 9 AM. The restaurant is set up like a cute little old school coffee shop, where they have counter seating and little tables. Staff was very nice and they let me take my time ordering to figure out what I needed. I did not feel rushed at all. I ordered the pancakes of course, and the chicken Katsu club. My review on the pancakes is a 10 out of 10 possibly one of the best pancakes I've ever had in my life. They were unbelievably fluffy, but dense at the same time where they were very filling. The honey butter was so tasty and made every bite so enjoyable where it just like melted in my mouth. I'm glad that I did not get the single because these were so good. I would've been upset if I had to order it again and I think price wise it made more sense to just get the full stack which is 2. The chicken Katsu club sandwich was really good too, even though I enjoyed it for breakfast! It had a really good fresh taste with the slaw that was on there and gave it a really nice crunch. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and fried really thin, which was so nice and pleasant for this club sandwich. I would wait in line here for these pancakes again I really want to try their wings so if anybody goes, definitely get the wings if you're feeling up for it. I don't know if I would wait you know two or three hours in line so I would just suggest arriving before opening and waiting it out and then I think you will have a great experience. I visited here before going to the Statue of Liberty and it was a perfect place to grab breakfast before going there. Since it was located on the same side of town. read more

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This place was 1000% worth it. You do need to a reservation or you have to wait for a while but it's so good. The service was amazing even though they were busy. The pancakes omg the pancakes are not overated at all. They are heavenly. Wish I got a stack of 3. The wings are also super bomb just a little too much skin on them for me but other than that they are good. read more

Golden Diner - Honey Butter Pancake - Single Stack - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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The famous Honey Butter Pancakes definitely lived up to the hype--the lemon flavor in them is really what makes the dish for me. That said, they are incredibly rich; you only need a few bites so definitely get an order to share. We also tried the Chicken Katsu Club and fries, which were just okay. While the pancakes are a standout, I don't think I need to come back since they're really the only must-have item. Pro-tip: Get there early. We arrived at 8:30 am and were 20th in line; by the 9 am opening, the line was 40 deep. On the plus side, the coffee is great and they are excellent with refills! read more

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I came one Sunday early in the morning and the wait was 3 hours long. Tried again Saturday night around 830 and the wait was 30-45 minutes long Everyone raves about the honey butter pancakes but I'm honestly not sure what the hype is about and I would definitely not wait 3 hours?? The pancakes are fluffy, yes, but otherwise, not the most mind blowing pancakes I've ever had. Definitely underwhelming and did not meet my expectations The vegan grilled and kimchi tomato soup on the other hand... this I would wait 3 hours for. The crispiness of the bread, with the melty cheese, dipped into the kimchi tomato soup is just the most perfect combination. The kimchi tomato soup is more like kimchi jiggage with a hint of tomato. But sooooooo soo so good and I would come back here in a heart beat for this My server was very nice and the inside is very old school diner vibes which is super cute! read more

Golden Diner - Honey Butter Pancakes (Dinner) - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Friday night around 7:30pm: Arrived and immediately found parking. Saw no line. I got so excited. Walked in to check in. Gave the hostess my number and she said an hour and thirty minute wait. I have my number and received a texted. Approximately 30 minutes into the wait, I received a text asking if I was still interested in dining. "Yes" was my answer. Lol 45 minutes into the wait, I received a message stating I should be seated in 15 minutes. At this time, we walked into the covered door area and waited. Exactly an hour, we were waited on. We were seated at the bar area. We ordered the double stacked pancakes, the Korean wings, burger and fries. Initially I didn't want to sit at the bar however it's in front of the cooks so we didn't mind watching them cook/prep the different orders. 9 I prefer a crispy edge pancake and these were opposite. They were flurry, drenched in syrup and delicious. The lemon zest was different nonetheless it gave it a great flavor. 9 out of 10 The wings were crispy and definitely spicy. I liked them, 8 out 10. I didn't eat the burger however the review is it was good. Rated a 7 out of 10. I wouldn't definitely go back however I will make a reservation. Reservations are online resy.com and they book 30 days out. read more

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So far I have had food from Golden Diner several times in 2021 as I use to live across the street. I first ordered takeout at the register on a fairly crowded day and it was delicious. I have only ever ordered the pancakes with berries here. I haven't been back since 2021 because their reservations are lousy. read more

Golden Diner - Breakfast line. It's 20 mins before they open. - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Pro Tip: You can order one pancake. It's very large and I couldn't finish We've all seen the viral buzz on social media over Golden Diner. Here's my experience: Leave my house on Long Island at 7:30am Get to the restaurant at 9am Give my name/cell to the front desk, set my reservation for noon 10am Go to the optometrist to get my new glasses 11am Go to Dominque Ansel Bakery for coffee and a Cronut (Remember those?) 11:15 get a text that I have to reply within 10 minutes or I'll lose my reservation 11:35 respond to text and don't get a reply Noon Drive back to Chinatown and explain my careless behavor by answering late. My son and I are seated at the counter We each get a menu. I'm excited because I want to try some funky menu items. My son? He's saying the Cronut filled him up and tells me he's only going to order a single pancake. In my mind, I know he's right. Except I order a single pancake with Pat Lafrida Sausage links and the blueberry pancake. Uno. Now as far as viral places in NYC, my son and I have brute forced ourselves into some crazy places. Cronuts? We have arrived at 6:30am in January on a Sunday morning for a Cronut back in the day. Dominque came out and gave everyone on line free madeleine cookies. Clinton St Baking Company? Both my sons were home from college and we were the first in line to try their pancakes back in the day. So when you tell me a veteran of Momofuku, Torisi and Noma opened a classic diner serving pancakes, I will find you. Now Golden Diner had this buzz for years. I still see people posting their happy dance when they get their double pancake order. So I'm sitting at the counter and watching those chefs cook at lighting speed. I saw a chef pour Matzoh Ball Soup? This truly is a New York Diner. Everything comes at once. I see the big slab of butter melting into the pancake. There's lemon zest on top of the butter also sliding around. I spoon some of the blueberry compote to the side and cut up my sausage. I take bite. I don't know what happened, my brain is telling me this is something extraordinary. It's not a typical pancake, the one large pancake has height over a typical pancake. And the honey butter syrup? It changes the dish to something I've never experienced. Someone from West Virginia is reading this review saying, you waited all day for a pancake? I can go to my local Dennys and get a grand slam in under 10 minutes. New Yorkers are fools! Golden Diner? The best pancake I had my life. No foolin'. read more

It's pretty good and had no wait at 9 pm on a Thursday. There's like 5 tables + bar seating so now I know why the line is so fucking long all the time. The pancakes were really fluffy and soft but honestly idk. I felt like they were missing something by. Very honey flavored maybe could've been more buttery. But I think it could've done with whipped cream or smtg to cut it. Definitely overrated. Hot take I like breakfast by salts cure better. I like the katsu sando but it's just a sando. But pretty good probably a little worse than taku sando. Thai tea tres leches was good and actually tasted like Thai tea. Very moist. read more

Golden Diner - Thai Tea Tres Leches, Chicken Katsu Club, Honey Butter Pancakes (Dinner) - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Best to make a resy, but they accept walk ins! Usually and 1 hour+ wait though. I thought the chicken katsu sando was just okay and generic. Pancake was worth the hype but super sweet. My friend and i only ate about half bc of how sweet and big it was. They have outdoor seating which is nice when the weather isnt too hot read more

Golden Diner - Katsu sando & pancake - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Unfortunately, I had a very subpar experience at Golden Diner. I ordered the tuna melt, which was your typical diner style sandwich, but the exorbitant price was not justified by the quality of the meal. It should at least be paired with a side if this is all you get for what you pay. Please look at their menu and photos ahead of time if you plan on visiting this restaurant. read more

Golden Diner - Sam's Tuna Melt - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

This review is specifically for the honey butter pancake. I first heard about it through social media, where people were constantly raving about it. First off--be prepared to wait. We arrived at 12 PM on a Friday, put our names down, and were told it would be a 2.5-hour wait to be seated. As for the pancake itself, it's good--thick, fluffy, and soft in the center. But honestly, it's not the best pancake I've ever had, and definitely not worth that kind of wait. If the wait were around an hour, maybe it would feel more reasonable. But spending that much time for a pancake just isn't worth it, even for someone like me who loves pancakes. I've had better ones without the long wait. That said, I did really enjoy their Yuzu Ade with iced tea. It had a tangy, refreshing, and unique flavor that stood out. Verdict: try it if you're curious and patient, but manage expectations. The hype doesn't quite match the wait. Also, they do have an online reservation, but it is hard to get. So prepare weeks if not months in advance if you want to make a reservation. read more

Golden Diner - Yuzu Ade with ice tea - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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Golden Diner absolutely lives up to the hype. The pancakes alone are worth the visit; fluffy, perfectly balanced, and honestly some of the best I've had in the city. You can tell why people rave about them. The space is small and intimate, which adds to the charm. It feels cozy and lively without being overwhelming. Service was solid, friendly, attentive, and kept things moving even though it was busy. If you're a pancake person (or just love a great brunch spot), this one is definitely worth checking out. read more

Golden Diner - Honey Butter Pancakes (Brunch) bacon eggs - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

came here on a friday afternoon and to my delight, no wait! i was immediately seated at a two-top inside and ordered the pancakes, with the syrup and berry compote on the side. my pancakes came out shortly after. they were so fluffy and hot, and topped with lemon zest. the pancakes were airy, buttery, and the tiny hint of salt enhanced the sweet flavors of the syrup and berry compote. while i wasn't too too hungry, i did finish both pancakes. having the syrup and berry compote on the side was the right call, otherwise it'd get too soggy/heavy imo. overall, an okay visit, definitely not worth hours and hours of wait. read more

Hand a down the best pancake I've ever had. The lemon zest and honey butter make the lightest pancake the perfect trifecta. We put our name on the waitlist at 1:30pm and took out first bite at 3:30pm. We visited the Brooklyn flea market under the Dumbo bridge while we waited. Starting in April they added a parklet for additional seating. The servers are great. Worth the hype. read more

Golden Diner - Classics - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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OMG amazing ! honey Butter Pancakes are fluffy and not too heavy ! If you are ever in the area I say go ! Cute little diner vibe and they played hip hop thru the speakers what else could You ask for ! If you can make a reservation, Me and cousin go there around 9 something got our name on the list around 9:30 and got sat around 11:30 due to resy not working read more

Golden Diner - Chinatown Egg Sando - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

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My son and I have been wanting to go here forever, for the pancakes of course. It's very hard to get a reservation since the restaurant only seats about 28 people, so we settled for what we could get - Sunday night at 8pm. I will admit - the pancakes were good. But there was a LOT of butter and honey. If I visit again, I would ask for it on the side. We also had the Korean wings, which were really good. All in all, it wasn't worth the 45 drive we took just to go here. It is poo in if I was already in the neighborhood. read more

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Yelp Review 2025 #265: Golden Diner is overhyped. It's one of the toughest places to reserve a table. You'd think the food would be THAT GREAT but we left underwhelmed. Everyone's raving about their pancakes. Every influencer video collection wouldn't be complete if they didn't shoot a video of Golden Diner's pancakes. And we fell for it! We had reservations but we still had to wait 20 minutes for our table. They have tables outside in the cold and tables inside the diner. Our table was in the small diner. We already looked up their menu online so, we knew what we were going to get. Our server was fab. Honey Butter Pancakes: Available all day. Fluffy pancakes served with honey maple butter with lemon zest. It looks nice and fluffy. The flavor was just ok. Not the best/ most special pancake I've had 2.5/5 Thai Tea Tres Leches Cake: It was toss up between this and the Green Tea Coffee Cake. I figured there's so many green tea/ matcha desserts out there, I might as well go with a Thai tea dessert. Chantilly cream, toasted coconut, lime zest. The lemon zest and the coconut overpowered the flavor of rather Thai tea. 3/5 We were going to try their chicken wings but we struggled to finish our pancake and Thai tea cake. We didn't finish our food before leaving. They have a sister restaurant called Golden Hof which is so much easier to get a reservation at and they serve their most popular menu items like the pancakes and chicken wings aside from Golden Hof's menu. read more

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I was very excited to try out this place as I heard soo much about it from social media. I got here at 9:30am on a Monday morning ( not on a holiday either). Was told the wait would be an hour and 5 min... just 30 min after they opened. The hostess asked if I wanted to put my name down on the waiting list so I did. Luckily there was a coffee shop not too far away that, I hung at to wait for the text to say my table was ready. I got the text 15-20 min in. So, I did not have to wait that hour and five min. When I was seated it was for a bar stool that looked right into the kitchen. It was kinda cool though, I wish I was told before hand that I may be getting a bar stool and not an actual table. I of course took it as I wanted to try this place out. I sat down and not even like 3 seconds while seated the waiter comes over and asks if I was ready. I was caught by surprise. Luckily I did know what I wanted that fast. My waiter was nice. I ordered the viral pancake which has honey butter and lemon zest shavings on top and I ordered the Chinatown egg and cheese sando which is scrambled eggs, hash brown I got avocado on it and america cheese. It comes on a sesame scallion milk bun. I honestly could live without this sandwich. The Pancake was the star of the show! I highly recommend putting your name on the waitlist. This place is alot smaller than I thought so it can get a bit crazy. It is a bit on the pricey side for this food but I would pay anything for these Pancakes that is for sure! read more

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My children brought me here for my birthday breakfast. The honey butter pancake and Korean bbq wings are fire!!!! The BEST pancake I have ever tasted!!!! Service was good, too! Be prepared to wait to get seated. It is sooooo worth the wait. We had a 2.25 hour wait, but it was changed to 45 minutes after a while. They keep you updated via text. Very hospitable from beginning to the end! read more

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I hadn't heard of this place before, but all my friends wanted to go since it's been blowing up on TikTok. My friend's partner went around 1 PM to put our names on the waitlist, and it ended up being about a two-hour wait. We were finally seated around 2:30-3:00 PM. The long wait makes sense because the space is so small -- only about three tables inside, five outside, and six bar stools. If you're in a party larger than four, it would be tough to eat here since they don't take online reservations. I wanted to try the Thai Cobb Salad, but it turns out they don't serve it before 5 PM on Sundays, so I went with the breakfast sandwich. One friend got the butter pancakes with a side of chicken, another ordered the chicken wings, and their partner had the vegan grilled cheese with kimchi tomato soup. For the table, we ordered the green tea coffee cake and the Thai tea tres leches. Food took a long time to arrive -- at least 30-45 minutes, possibly longer. On top of the two-hour wait just to sit, you should be prepared for another wait after ordering, especially if you're in a larger group since it seems like they want everything to come out at once. The food itself was a mix. The breakfast sandwich was good, though the milk bun felt dense with all the fillings instead of fluffy. The pancakes were huge and definitely worth the price portion-wise, but they were soaked in syrup and overwhelmingly sweet -- even as someone with a big sweet tooth, it would have been too much after a few bites. The vegan grilled cheese wasn't for me (I'm not a fan of vegan cheese), but the kimchi tomato soup was decent, just missing the creaminess I usually like in tomato soup. The fried chicken wings had a good crisp, but flavor-wise they were disappointing. They leaned heavily on gochujang and felt like they needed another layer of seasoning or sauce to stand out. The biggest letdown was dessert. The green tea coffee cake didn't taste like green tea at all and was dry, crumbling apart when we tried to eat it. It also looked dyed green rather than having that nice natural matcha tone. The Thai tea tres leches was worse -- it was completely soaked, giving the cake a soggy, gooey texture, and it had no Thai tea flavor. It tasted only of condensed milk, and none of us at the table enjoyed it. Overall, I'm glad I got to try this diner for the experience, but I wouldn't return. The wait is long, the food takes a while to come out, and while some dishes were okay, nothing stood out as great. The desserts especially were a complete miss. read more

Golden Diner - Honey Butter Pancakes (B&L), Vegan Grilled Cheese & Kimchi Tomato Soup, Korean Fried Chicken Wings, breakfast sandwich - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

Golden Diner takes the classic American diner think comfort food, casual vibes, and approachable eats and infuses it with contemporary creativity and subtle nods to Korean-American flavors. You'll find a bright, lively space (and often a wait for a table on weekend mornings) where New Yorkers and visitors alike come for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner with a twist. The Pancakes A Cult Favorite One of the most talked-about items on the menu is the Honey Butter Pancakes: Two pancakes (standard order): about $16 a double stack of extra-fluffy cakes topped with honey-butter maple syrup and whipped honey butter, finished with lemon zest. Many love the pancakes for what they are: rich, sweet, and decadent, with an unforgettable first bite. Crispy Korean Chicken & Other Savory Eats While Golden Diner is famous for its pancakes, its savory offerings are equally compelling. A standout is their Korean Fried Chicken Wings (8 pieces, typically around $18) juicy wings tossed in a garlic-gochujang glaze and served with pickled daikon. Personally I give the Holden Diner a 7/10 we had to wait an hour and 1/2 to get a table, the only available spots were outside. The immediately give you a ton of water which was great as it was hot out. Service was great, food came out pretty fast. The pancakes were definitely worth the wait, and the flavor of the chicken you can't get anywhere else. read more

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Put our name on the list and the hostess said the wait would be an hour / hour and a half but only ended up waiting 30ish minutes. Servers were friendly and the food came out fairly quickly. The pancakes were by far the best pancakes I've ever had. The honey butter glaze on top is next level! read more

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I heard this place gets super packed so we came during an odd hour AND we came when it was gloomy and rainy which was a great idea. There was still a small wait but the line is significantly shorter. We also ordered to-go which allowed us to put in our order right away. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. The interior space is quite small which probably contributes to the long wait time. The food was amazing and lives up to its hype. We ordered: Honey butter pancake with berry compote - the berry compote is packaged separate which was nice as we could try the honey butter pancake by itself. It is so fluffy and lightly sweet with honey. An order comes with 2 fluffy pancakes. The berry compote was cold, sweet and tangy adding a different layer of flavor to the warm fluffy pancakes. Very enjoyable. Highly recommend! Chicken katsu club sandwich - WOW so good. It has a good crunch and the purple cabbage coleslaw adds another depth of flavor that works so well with the crispy chicken katsu. We finished it on our subway ride home. Chinatown egg sando - eggs were super fluffy it was like eating a warm cloud. Kind of reminds me of eggslut in California and Vegas. The flavor is lighter than the other orders but still very satisfying and highly recommended. Overall, great food and would recommend ordering to-go to skip the long line. read more

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This is my second time at Golden Diner and I have to say it never fails to impress me. The first time we sat outside in the sidewalk shed Mid November I believe.... it was COLD. The shelter itself had no windproof shielding (think clear plastic sheets to prevent wind from blowing through) Although they did have heat lamps, They were ineffective when the wind picked up. This time around I sat inside. The restaurant itself is SMALL. Like 8-10 tables of 2-4 people small. Plus a breakfast bar of maybe 5-8 seats? I'd say capacity at any given time is around 30-40 people MAX. Atmosphere is super chill, it's low key hipster with a touch of LES punk. The decor is just there to make the walls look less empty. Food itself is pretty good, menu is small and honestly the perfect size. They don't have too many items which makes for quick and seamless eating. *** Do yourself a favor. GET THE PANCAKES. I am not a pancake man. I honestly could not care less about pancakes. But these pancakes are AMAZING. The wait in the summer is 1-2 hours, its worth it. trust me. They drown the pancakes in Honey butter, and you can get some compote fruit (Get it on the side) for $4.00 It's pricey and honestly I don't find the fruit to be necessary but if you want to go for the real pancake service, get the fruit on the side, get a side order of sausage, some bacon and share it with another person. Get a few other items too, We sampled the Chicken Ka†su sandwich and the red cabbage slaw they make in house was amazing. The daikon radish served with the chicken wings were also made in house. The wings themselves were pretty good, I don't think i'd come here necessarily for the wings, but if we're here, I'd get them. All in all the service is hit or miss, don't be offended if they don't bring you any plates to eat off of. Just do what I do, use the saucer for the berry compote as your eating plate and plan accordingly. The tables are small also so don't over order. *key note - you can order pancakes to go if you really love them that much. They can package the honey butter and berry compote separately so you can reheat them to exactly how they make them in the restaurant. read more

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Absolutely worth the hype and I'm already thinking about that food again! I saw the pancakes online and knew I had to try them. We got there really early so we could either get a seat or be quick to put our name on the reservation queue. We had to wait about 45 minutes for a table but I'm glad we did because I really enjoyed my pancakes and eggs, and my friend REALLY enjoyed his burrito. The flavors were great and my only regrets are not trying the orange wine, and getting a stack of two instead of one. I was able to break down the second cake later on in the day but I think two was two many for me (and that's a shock because I can eat a lot!). Overall a great spot with nice employees and tasty, filling food. read more

Golden Diner - Honey Butter Pancakes (Brunch)2 Eggs Breakfast Burrito - Diners Near Me - New York, New York

I'm giving them a 3.5! Small cozy diner with friendly staff, quick service and location is out of the way. I went in to try out their famous fluffy pancakes and their Korean fried chicken. The food is tasty but it gets overwhelming. I had the single stack pancake and I couldn't finish it due to the amount of honey syrup. I will say the lemon zest butter was a good idea. The fried chicken had a great crisp but again the ginger garlic sauce was too much. I did see other dishes that looked yummy but I think it's a one & done for me here. read more

I tried the viral honey butter pancake and I'd do it again. I got inline when they doors opened and had to wait a little bit to get my name on the list, maybe 10 minutes. They told me once I had my name it would be 30 minutes but it only took 15 minutes. In the future I would make a reservation online so you don't have to wait, not that it was bad but something simple to do to save some time. I thought that the pancake was soft but crispy in the outside with a ton of flavor. I can see why people like it and that it's gone viral but personally I could use it a tad less sweet. read more

Golden Diner - Honey Butter Pancakes (B&L) - Diners Near Me - New York, New York