Best local Wilmette spot! Great Mexican inspired breakfast. Pancakes are great too. My go to place

I'm not sure why I come back to this place, but I do every once in a while in hopes that it's gotten better because of its convenient location being in downtown Wilmette, and there not being a ton of other choices in the Wilmette area for breakfast/brunch that we haven't frequented. I've gotten breakfast and lunch items here, come with and without children, and every time I leave underwhelmed. The food is pricey for what you get, what we've gotten (pancakes, breakfast burrito, smoked salmon scrambler, toluca skillet, rico tacos, tuna melt, reuben) has always been on the blander side of things, and the service isn't great. We had to ask for water and coffee refills several times, and if we did ask for anything felt like we were asking for a favor. The owner of the restaurant is pretty friendly but the waitress under her employ is not so much. They also only accept cash but have no ATM on premises. Random note, but they also don't have a kid's menu. read more

I've been going to hotcakes for probably 10 years and it's still my absolute favorite pancake spot. The buttermilk hotcakes are the perfect amount of fluffy and delicious. All the servers are incredibly kind. It's a wonderful environment and a great breakfast or lunch spot! read more

I used to enjoy Hotcakes, frequented it quite regularly with family and friends. Then, for various reasons, stopped going to it. Today my daughter suggested it for a quick lunch. I joined her there, looking forward to what I expected to be good, basic, diner fare. The place was very quiet (which was fine but puzzled me), our service was fine, but our food was not fine. Not at all! My daughter had coffee (which she pronounced "good"), two scrambled eggs, and a short stack. She found her food "okay". I sampled her meal and was not impressed with the pancakes, which I found bland, over fluffy, and close to tasteless. The eggs were scrambled eggs; not bad, but I make tastier ones at home. Now for the real problem--my meal. I ordered what I thought was a simple, basic breakfast. A fried egg sandwich with one firmly cooked egg, on an English muffin, a bit of butter on the muffin, and a bit of cheese on the egg. That's it. I had water to drink. What I received was two large eggs, each (!) with a slice of American cheese, on a buttered English muffin, the eggs so large that they were hanging off of the muffin, with the cheese, all of it oily, very salty, and cheesy. Much too oily and cheesy. A side order (that came with the meal) of potatoes done very dark, mushy, and also too oily for my taste. And a side of bacon (that also came with the meal) that arrived very dark, leathery, hard to chew, and extremely salty. I ate about 1/3 of my meal that cost me $15! I did not want to consume more! What has happened to Hotcakes? It moved, of course, years ago from its original tiny location just down the block, now occupied by the (good!) taco place. But is it under new ownership? It obviously has much more competition than it used to, with Wilmette's ever-ballooning restaurant scene. Has this hurt it? I don't know. But I do know that I will not be back to it for a long time, if ever. I walked out of there really not pleased, particularly after plunking down about $45 (in cash, no less) for what was a truly unhappy meal. read more

I just visited this place earlier this week with a friend who lives in Wilmette. I had never heard of the place and he suggested Hotcakes or some other place. Having never been here, I picked Hotcakes. It's a quaint little place just off the main intersection of downtown Wilmette. We arrived just after they opened and were able to choose where we sat. We chose t sit towards the back away from the entry as it's not a double entry so the cold air can come in fast and furious. When we sat down, they turned on the holiday music and my companion, in Spanish, asked them to turn it down as we were the only ones there and they specifically turned it on for us (it was nice, but not needed). He ordered a coffee and a simple omelet. I ordered the typical eggs, hash browns, bacon, and toast. I will say this, Hotcakes was incredibly fresh and delicious. I always ask for scrambled eggs (dry), bacon (crispy), and hash browns (not well done) and toast (toasted meaning crunchy-ish). Their eggs were fluffy and dry. Nothing runny. When I mean dry, they are scrambled on the cooktop with no oil or butter and Hotcakes nailed it. Next, I want my bacon crispy - not dried out - and so many places dry out the back to make it crispy and that's not what Hotcakes did, they kept it crispy without drying it out, so they just melt in your mouth. Many people ask for their hash browns well done. All that does is crisp up the top layer. I just like mine cooked the way the restaurant does it as I don't need the potatoes crispy. I want to taste them as they absorb the butter, salt and pepper like a shredded baked potato. Overall, the food was good. I was a happy camper and was well fed. This is a great little hidden gem in Wilmette well worth the visit. read more

This place is special. Like SPECIAL special. The food is so good I asked the owner - why does everything taste so magical here ? She said because it's all homemade with love. I hesitate posting this bc I don't want this secret gem to get to popular and we won't be able to get a table ;). But, alas, the world needs more of this... If you need a little magic on your life, an experience, and not just another run of the mill churn em and burn em breakfast joint, just go. Just. Freaking. GO !!! Xo read more

CASH ONLY. I have been wanting to try this place since moving to the North Shore. From the outside this place looks comfortable and inviting with the warm woods and small size. The overall ambiance is... country living? I was the first person to arrive on a Saturday morning after making a deliberate trip to the bank to pull out cash. That trip to an ATM has always been the deterrence for me to visit. They don't have an ATM inside. I decided that since the place is named "Hotcakes" to see if the food was worthy of the name. Sadly, it is not. The hotcakes were fluffy, but undercooked in some of the middle parts. The syrup is pancake syrup. They apparently don't keep maple syrup. There wasn't enough butter for the stack of 3 and the little cookie is for what? The pancakes were pretty flavorless. The bacon was good. The price is the other reason I don't think it was all that great. My handwritten bill for pancakes, bacon and iced tea was just over $22 plus tip. read more

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Cash only. We t at noon on a Sunday. Huge breakfast and lunch menus. Omelets were very good, comparably to other breakfast spots. Potatoes were lukewarm and just ok. Service was somewhat erratic. read more

I stumbled upon this gem this morning and can't rave about it enough! I ordered the banana pancakes and they live up to the hype! Lots on bananas baked inside. But I have to say that their corned beef hash was the best I've EVER had, SO DELISH! I'll definitely be going back. But note, they only take cash to stop at the bank first! A new favorite! read more

Hotcakes - Delicious crispy corned beef hash - American Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Great service, good meals, reasonably priced. I highly recommend the breakfasts, especially the corned beef skillet.

been coming here for years. the food is typical american style, with a few menu items taking on a little mexican flair. most things on the mean are at least decent. really good portion sizes, but none of the juices are really worth your money. read more

We were really excited to try this cute place in downtown Wilmette. "Average" might by overselling this place. Nothing special at all. They advertise "fresh squeezed" OJ on the menu (and charge like it is) but it's definitely generic packeted juice. That's not cool. Potatoes are over/seasoned and a mushy mess. Over easy eggs were over-cooked. One of our two pancakes was burnt and hidden under the non burnt one. With a name like Hot Cakes, you would think, at the very least the pancakes would be something special. You'd be very wrong. Bland and forgettable. AND to top it all off, it was $52 (cash only BTW) for 2 people for a very basic breakfast! No. Just no. Too many other good bfast places around that actually make an effort. We won't be going back. read more

Very average breakfast. If your sick of waiting in line at Walker Bros then come here where I'm pretty sure you won't have to wait. We sat outside at one of two tables and had good, friendly quick service. My Denver omelette was good, you know ok, average, nothing to write home about. The hit on my plate was the potatoes. My wife omelette was stuffed with spinach and not enough feta for her liking. Myself, that sounds and looks like a terrible combination. Simply 3 stars A-OK read more

Hotcakes - Salt & pepper shakers - American Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

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We've been coming here for years since they opened. Even through covid, we sat outside, braved the weather. Food & service was decent, cost reasonable. We've noticed the prices are getting a little bit higher, but today was the final straw. My buddy and I each had the same thing, two eggs, side of potatoes 8.95. Hold the potatoes, add some fresh fruit, $1.50. Blueberry short stack pancakes (2) $11.95. One coffee $4, four bucks???. Total w/10% tax, $40!! Is it worth 40 bucks for 4 eggs, 2 fruit cups, 2 pancakes, 1 coffee?? Not anymore! Adios hot cakes!! P.S. So granted, going out to breakfast is fun, but I just made the same breakfast I had at Hotcakes yesterday. . . 2 eggs 33¢, fruit 25¢, OJ 25¢, coffee 25¢ = $1.08. vs. Hotcakes $23 read more

Hotcakes - Homemade breakfast for only $1.08. Ok, so no pancakes. . . - American Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Great food, great service and a friendly small town ambiance. Favorite place for brunch with standards and new exciting dishes. Just remember to bring cash! No credit cards accepted. read more

They have the best homemade potatoes anywhere! And are a perfect compliment to eggs. Wonderful breakfasts, no matter what you order! Warm atmosphere and friendly service. Best breakfast in Wilmette. Order a Cheddar and Chihuahua cheese Omelette with homemade potatoes -- My favorite! read more

Good food and love the hot cakes. People complaining about prices clearly are not seeing what is happening today...businesses need to stay aloft when prices of food got up. Support local! read more

Way too pricey and gave it 2 tries to see if I could order less to reduce the cost and failed. Food is great, but I'd rather spend my money for dinner than a high cost breakfast. read more

Best local Wilmette spot! Great Mexican inspired breakfast. Pancakes are great too. My go to place!

BEST FRENCH TOAST/BREAD PUDDING EVER! Just heavenly and so fresh. Coffee and omelette were delicious too. Will definitely be back!

Giving it three stars because I want small businesses to succeed. BUT, it was not a great breakfast. First, their coffee was VERY strong & bitter - couldn't drink it. The menu has some fun items like banana bread French toast (which was tasty & my husband liked). My Mediterranean omelette was very basic & bland. Their "make your own omelette" selections are scant on vegetable choices - spinach, peppers, onions. That's it. Also, be sure to bring cash since Hotcakes is a cash-only business. We and the couple next to us missed the one sign at the front door. And the servers won't remind you when you order. There are some fantastic places to eat in downtown Wilmette. It would be great if this place could be fantastic, too. read more

Something to be said about trying something new... service was slow and unfriendly and food was meh.

Yeah, it's fine. That's all really. Hotcakes were decent, but took a little time to come out. Fruit was fresh. Eggs were okay. Overpriced avocado add on! No clue where they're getting their avocados, but at their valuation it is about $7 per avocado. $2.45 for like 3 slices. They weren't even ripe. Restaurant is also cash only. read more

I love this place all food from scratch, great service it's my new Saturday morning biking stop. Then to farmers market.

WARNING WARNING WARNING.Stop and turn around now. Wanting to try hotcakes several years now. even though 3 star rating finally gave it a try. Could be worst breakfast I have ever had. Ordered hotcakes which were unbelievably bland and dense. Waitress was kind enough to take them away. I then had smoked salmon scramble. Three time more green onions than salmon. Eggs were way overdone. Also took 20 minutes to get my orders when there were only 10 other people in entire restaurant. If you really want a great breakfast with a Mexican twist like this one go to Ovofrito in Evenston. read more

This is my "go-to" for breakfast out. The staff are always solicitous and on top of customer needs. The food is outstanding. My favorite is the corn meal hotcakes. My friends usually have one of the egg based breakfasts and have always been extremely happy. Their coffee is good. The ONE downside is that you have to be sure to have cash on you. They do not take credit cards. Once you are aware, this isn't a problem. I will continue to use them for breakfast as long as they are here. read more

I can't lie - I have some damn high brunch standards, so when horchata french toast pops up on the specials menu and I order it, I expect more than just some cinnamon powder on top of some regular ass french toast. Sadly, that's what I got, and explains this place in a nutshell. Just ok, cash only, and in the end expect to have your convo interrupted so they can grab the check off your table and count their tip in front of you. Good times. read more

People come here for the cornmeal hotcakes. And with good reason. They're amazing. At first, it seemed kind of strange putting salsa and sourcream on my "pancake", but once I tried it, it was great. There are a lot of Mexican-influenced breakfast items on the menu (such as the hotcake) which makes complete sense as most of the staff is Mexican. The place is tiny, but we were able to be seated right away on a Sunday morning. read more

Funny how the only two (til now) reviews are from people living in L.A. This place is pretty good; unassuming, clean, decent and cheap. Just like I try to be... Though I arrived toward the end of their day (earning a poorly hidden grimace from the counter lady when asked if they were still serving---minus a star), I got comfy and got down to bidness. Ordered the Wilmette Scramble. Spinach, toms, basil, and cheddar. Pretty good though I'm getting spoiled with west coast produce. The salsa was a help, if reminiscient of jar, football-party style salsa. Rye toast, fine. And they regained the 4th star when the same counter lady overheard my request for orange marmalade that was otherwise denied by a busboy. The marmalade tasted fresh; straight from the fridge. No sight of cupcakes, etc. Phew. At least one temptation averted. For quick and cheap and good, Hotcakes does just fine. read more

Was very disappointed after reading all the rave reviews. Coffee very expensive for just plain old coffee and not made very well. Ordered an omelette with spinach and received scrambled eggs with spinach. Asked for my English muffin to be really toasted. Received it not even toasted. read more

Place does NOT accept credit/debit cards. They didn't tell us this until after we were done with our meals. The place itself was small and had a very home like feel. They have good specials and good food and friendly staff. I went around noon for lunch and it was busy but we still got our food in good time. There was nothing really special that stuck out other than the environment of the small restaurant. read more

Hotcakes - Hot chocolate - American Near Me - Wilmette, Illinois

Horrible horrible. Cheap ingredients, $3.25 for low budget coffee and they never refill your cup. Cheap bread that is inferior. Skillet is shallow and sloppy. Yikes could go on and on. Stay away!!! read more

Excellent breakfast spot with natural wood tables. Service can be a bit slow but it is worth it if you have the time. The hotcakes were tender and flavorful. They only serve pancake syrup - not maple syrup so be prepared for that if you are a maple syrup aficionado. Cornmeal cakes had just enough cornmeal to give them great flavor without being too gritty. Bananas Foster French Toast was chock full of bananas although not as syrupy as expected given the name. The Santa Fe (or was it another SW sounding name?) was a good mix of eggs, home fried potatoes and a tortilla. Coffee was decent. We will return. read more

Had brunch there last Saturday. SO SO good! The owner sampled the pumpkin spice French toast while we waited-Yummy! Will definitely go back when I am in Chicago next! Also had the best shrimp taco ever from owner's other establishment down the block-TrendyTaco. Needless to say-I am now dieting!!! read more

Hot cakes pumpkin pancakes never disappoint. I used to ride my bicycle from LB LF just to dine in there smaller corner spot. Since they e moved to bigger place few doors down. Yes Now I live in Wilmette. This place makes me smile read more

Poor service. Average food. Cash only. Couldn't believe they would charge $1.75 for a hot water with lemon??? read more

The Toluca skillet is fantastic, the fruit is always fresh, and the English muffins taste like they just came out of the oven!

Mediocre at best Service leaves a lot to be desired. If cash only, make sure people can see your sign, a handwritten sign is insufficient. read more

I was early and scheduled to officiate a basketball game at New Trier. I wanted to check out the downtown area and grab a bite to eat.. Walked into Hotcakes Cafe and experienced a wonderful meal and wonderful Down Home service. Had a typical breakfast and it was delicious and they brought it out in minutes. Can't recommend enough ! read more

I'm not a pancake eater and I avoid carbs but I stopped in here for a quick cup of coffee one day and thought I'll "try" a pancake out of curiosity. OMG! The buttermilk flair is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Seriously. BY FAR THE BEST PANCAKE I've ever had in my life. The thick cut smoky bancon, whipped butter and a cup of REALLY GOOD COFFEE was all a welcome surprise I wasn't expecting. I'm a California girl who doesn't eat carbs! But this is well worth the splurg! ABSOLUTKEY DELICIOUS! I'm hooked! read more