Absolutely love Pancake House. Have been coming here for years and they never disappoint. A great place to take out of towners as well for that Midwestern diner experience. There is almost always a line - last Saturday we waited 40 minutes although it can be up to an hour if it wraps past the restaurant. Interior is cramped and loud but the ambiance is very charming. The service is a well oiled machine. They are also great with kids and provide color mats, crayons, and kids cups. Portions are absolutely massive. You could split a full pancake order for three to four people easily. The pancakes are fluffy and come with generous toppings. They are known for their Dutch baby which is a much lighter option. I love their crepes as well which have a huge serving and are very eggy. A neighborhood staple for a reason. read more

Original Pancake House - Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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food: some of the best brunch i've had in the city so far, the pancakes were perfect, love the variety from sweet to savory that they nail. my meat lovers skillet ale hit the spot and portions are big enough to have leftovers service: staff was very nice ambiance: it's nice interior, gets very busy so it will be loud and packed read more

Original Pancake House - Meat Lover Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My favorite breakfast place in Chicago downtown in the Gold Coast. My favorite entree is the Apple Pancake (but make sure you have at least 15 minutes for them to prepare it). Add a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and you are golden. You can't make reservations, so you may have to stand in line (especially on a weekend). read more

Original Pancake House - Apple Pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a cute neighborhood! I loved walking in this neighborhood then happened upon the cutest pancake shop. It was a bit of a wait, but nothing too crazy. I ordered strawberry pancakes with coffee, and almost ate the whole stack they were so good. The pancakes were served with syrup but also this delicious warm strawberry sauce. They had a lot of other breakfast options as well with veggie omelets, Benny's, and traditional breakfast. read more

Original Pancake House - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place has the best pancakes I've ever had & super quick service! I wish I could've ordered more from the menu but the calorie count for the menu items was high so I stuck with getting silver dollar pancakes with bananas. Their maple syrup is to die for & leaves you wanting more! The restaurant space makes you feel like you're eating at home & my waitress was very knowledgeable & able to answer my questions about the menu. 10/10 recommend & can't wait to eat here again! read more

Original Pancake House - Banana Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This small breakfast restaurant is a charming place to enjoy a late morning brunch. The food is delicious and the service is quick. We've been here twice now and have had a great experience both times. You know it's going to be great when people are waiting in line down the sidewalk to get it. The wait is worth it though! read more

A pretty busy spot with old school diner vibes, we came in at 9:15AM on a Sunday to see a small line- by 10:30AM, the line was 30+ groups so come early. They have indoor and outdoor seating and the seating is tight. I will note, their AC was dripping water at times - make sure your seat is not underneath one of these. They won't seat you until your whole group is present. We all ordered something different- I went with the swedish pancakes, my husband got the buttermilk pancakes and sausage, my friend got the skillet with eggs and ham/peppers, with a side of chocolate chip pancakes, and we also got the corn beef hash. The pancakes were quite tasty and I see the hype. The chocolate chip ones were a bit overly chocolate for my taste. I will say the biggest rip off were the swedish pancakes. They were really tasty but they gave you 3 tiny thin basically crepe style pancakes, while everyone who got normal pancakes got up to 5. I feel like they could have easily given more for the $15 price. Coffee cups were cute, prices weren't cheap but you got a lot of food, and they only have one bathroom stall per gender so expect a line there too. read more

Original Pancake House - Tasty but only 3 Swedish pancakes for $15 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a highly recommended location to try. Seating was quick as we called ahead and we're told it wasn't a long wait. Andouille sausage skillet: ooooh it was steaming hot and sooo delicious. It comes with a side of three buttermilk pancakes which were buttery soft and just melted in the syrup. A very relaxing and laid back spot. There is outdoor patio seating as well. Prices are super reasonable and portions allow for leftovers. Other recommendations: apple pancakes read more

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I've been going to the pancake house in Orland Park and Oak Forest since the late 90's so I'm well aware what their food should taste like. Unfortunately this locations apple pancake was not the same. It tasted as though it had too much nutmeg and not enough cinnamon. The skillet was over peppered to the point of it being too spicy. The seating is super tight and the inside is small. Service was ok. read more

Original Pancake House - Apple pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My first trip to my partner's hometown. We had breakfast here and I was not disappointed. The pancake, eggs, bacon, everything was soooo delish!!! Can't wait to go back. read more

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I wish I had come here more often when I worked around the corner because this place was delicious! It is a very small venue and it's kinda hot inside for the summer, but I wasn't too uncomfortable, and I still enjoyed myself. Again, I'm pretty basic so I stuck with the buttermilk pancakes with the side of bacon and let me tell you they are VERY generous with their portions. I got six pancakes and like four slices of bacon. I was very happy. Our server was pretty nice, as well. All of the staff seemed very kind. At the end, you do get a receipt and go up to pay at the front. There wasn't a line when I went, but I can see how it can potentially get backed up vs paying at the table. Also, I wasn't given the option or asked if I wanted to split my bill with my friend, so I don't know if that's just something they don't do or offer. Overall, I loved this place and whenever I'm in the area or looking for another breakfast place, this is definitely on my list . read more

Stayed at The Thompson Hotel across the street and I'm so glad that they had a location there! Ordered the pigs in a blanket because I just wanted a taste of their food before heading back to NY and I was not let down. Tasted amazing. The pancakes and sausages were cooked perfectly and the whole experience gave me "Experienced Diner" vibes. I would definitely visit again and try something a little riskier like the Dutch pancake. Service & Ambiance was cool, also gave me extra syrup. Although I was just coming to pick things up, it was packed and people were entering the same time I did. read more

Original Pancake House - Pigs in a Blanket with Pecan Pancakes ... 5/5 BUSSIN! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food is amazing, fast service, and great ambiance. We try to visit every time we're in Chicago.

The junior plate was so simple but perfect and exactly what I wanted -- something sweet + savory. read more

Original Pancake House - Junior Plate with Sausage Links - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Just ok! I was here visiting for a work trip and decided to make the 20 minute walk for my favorite breakfast meal (a DUTCH BABY) Wait was about 15-20 mins. Server was friendly but the food was just mediocre, the OPH in the SoCal area is 100x better! read more

This place is super small and no rhyme or reason to the way people are sat. They don't take names just go off the honor system. I'm quite aware all the restaurants are not owned by the same person(s). I always order the same thing when I go to Ohop. This is my 1st time to this location. I get the corned beef hash with jalapenos. When I tell you there was absolutely no taste to my food. Service was fine. read more

I enjoyed breakfast at Pancake House before heading to the airport. My daughter had told me about it, and I was just as impressed as she is. I had the Belgian Waffle, which was melt in your mouth light and fluffy. My daughter had chocolate chip pancakes, and the two of us split an order of bacon. Everything was so yummy! read more

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The pancakes that came with the omelet were very good. The syrup was also good, not the cheap goopy stuff. The pancakes bumped my review rating from 1 to 2 stars. While it was fluffy and perfectly round, the Irish Omelet was incomprehensibly bland... like eating air. It also just sat by itself on a plate with no garnish of any kind or anything to make it look appetizing, it looked as bland as it tasted. Service was mediocre. Our young server was attentive and smiled when we ordered but afterwards, had no observational skills at all. It wasn't for lack of effort because he certainly tried but he clearly had no (or inadequate) training--I blame the restaurant's lack of mentorship for his underperformance... I could tell he was trying but this young guy just didn't know what he didn't know. Although I did not see any mention of the surcharge before being seated, there was clearly a sign on the table that said they were imposing a $0.50 surcharge for each egg (which is $2.00 for my 4-egg omelet). Except on this exact day (April 17, '25), the price of eggs (according to eggprices-dot-org) was $3.11 a dozen, less than the price back on July 31, '24 ($3.20). The cost of eggs has stabilized to pre bird-flu shortage prices but this restaurant is choosing to be opportunistic by continuing with a now, unwarranted surcharge. This is just insulting to the customer. The bill also had a suggested tip ranging from a minimum of 20% to 28%. I realize it's just a suggestion but the audacity to ask for 28% with mediocre service and bland food is, again, insulting. Yes, I know this is just their suggestion and I am free to ignore it but it does reflect, in my opinion, a lack of respect to their customers. With so many choices in the neighborhood, I'll doubt I'll be back. (To avoid being overly harsh or unfair, I try to sit on my reviews for a couple weeks before reviewing & editting a last time before posting. My visit was April 17, '25. I have no idea if they are still imposing an egg surcharge.) read more

Original Pancake House - On my visit, eggs weer $3.11 /dz, the same price as ±7/31/24. Yet, this restaurant still imposes a 50-cent surcharge PER egg. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a disappointing attempt at a breakfast restaurant. Ordered food to-go and it's clear by the quality of the food, the hair found in both the pancakes and the syrup, that the staff do not want customers to return. The omelette I ordered was well overdone and dry, as well as unseasoned. Hair was found in the pancakes and the syrup. The hashbrown potatoes were soggy. Even the coffee was burnt and watered down. Do yourself a favor and dine elsewhere. read more

Long wait but worth it! The quantity of food and freshness of the potato's and pancakes were amazing!! read more

Original Pancake House - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Adult daughter and l went to the Original Pancake House. It was a busy Friday morning, but we got right in. Bigger inside than we thought. We're from Michigan and it reminded me of an ihop, but in a good way. German themed decor. Very homey and cozy, tables are very close together. Very economical prices. Daughter ordered the Corn Beef Hash and Eggs. Eggs were good, but hash was tasteless. It looked like it came out of a can of Mary's Kitchen Hash-which we actually like! Mary's is generally salty, but OPH version had no flavor. I ordered the Minced Ham and Eggs which was great! They really did mince the ham, good portion, not skimpy. One option for my side that came with my order were the pancakes. If you are at Original Pancake House, you gotta order pancakes, right? So so good! I wonder if there was a malt flavoring, which l like, but there was something in it that made it better than what you make at home. Highly recommend! Only one bathroom, but very spacious inside, although the door is very narrow l'm not sure a wheel chair could get through it? Very clean bathroom. Our server was Mario. Nice guy, appropriately attentive, good service. All their staff were hustling to serve customers. We were seated near the kitchen and could observe the comradely amongst the staff. Other than the hash, we were very happy with our experience snd will definitely go back. read more

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Decent line out the door but moved very fast. Even thought it's just one small room, they pack plenty of people in and turn tables quickly. Eggs were up charged due to the flu but still fair pricing. I got the turkey sausage and egg plate with a side of banana pancakes. The turkey sausage was decent. The eggs were a soft scramble which I really liked even after accidentally over salting them. The pancakes were light and fluffy. Bananas inside them and on top providing just enough sweetness where I didn't feel like adding syrup. My dad got the southwestern skillet which was good. Potatoes could have been a little crispier but the rest of it meshed very well. He also got the original pancakes which even though slightly raw were still good. The same light and fluffy texture but needed syrup for the sweetness. Overall, very cozy vibe and great service. Will try the Dutch baby next time! read more

Original Pancake House - Turkey Sausage Links and Eggs, Banana Pancakes, Buttermilk Pancakes, and Southwestern Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been going to the Pancake House since I was a kid (60+ years) and the place is just beautiful, Tiffany glass windows and light fixtures, beautiful woodwork. Unfortunately, what used to be a consistently good experience has gone downhill. On our most recent visit, the waitperson got our order wrong and also served pancake that weren't cooked all the way through. The poached eggs on the eggs Benedict were hard boiled and the hash browns had no color and were tepid. I asked to have them cooked through and they came back a second time still undercooked. That's the second bad experience that we've had in a row so we assume that the restaurant just isn't that great anymore. So sad. read more

I truly enjoyed this place! My husband and I were able to walk in as soon as we arrived and were seated inside! The flower arrangements in the patio were beautiful but were attracting bees so we stayed inside! The waitress immediately came to us to take our orders. My husband had the 49ers and hashbrowns. I had the Two by four and an order of cheese grits.The grits were a great consistency and had the perfect amount of cheese in them. The pancakes and the eggs were fluffy and tasted amazing! So glad we choose this spot will definitely return! read more

Original Pancake House - 49er 49'er Flapjacks, cheese Grits, Two By Four, Southern Style Hash Brown Potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a gem in the city! A friend and I popped in after a Rumble class and were so thrilled to have so many delicious options. The staff was friendly and the food absolutely delicious. read more

Original Pancake House - H - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was a great price and a classic wonderful breakfast! Everything seemed pretty customizable. Pancakes were my favorite! I didn't get a reservation but the wait wasn't too long. Nice family atmosphere. read more

This has always been a solid breakfast place in Gold Coast but recently they food is not as tasteful as before. I always get egg benedict with potato pancakes. The cakes used to be good but recently they are simply nasty. It looks like the cooks take hash browns and turn them into potato pancakes. For the love of god, take some pride in the quality of food you are serving and stop cutting corners. You have unbelievable location with no other pancake houses within 5 block radius. Service was good. The waiting staff do a great job all the way around. If you still planing on eating here, keep in mind that the dinning room area is small and fill out fast. It's very common to stand in line to get a table. After my last experience with the potato pancakes, I would not recommend wasting your time in line. read more

Original Pancake House - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am NOT a chain person but convenience trumped! After reading the history, I'm impressed and happy I chose this spot. This is an old diner-style spot. I had the build your own skillet with feta, broccoli, jalapeños and spinach. It was fresh and delicious and perfectly spicy. The server was so fast on those coffee pours. Betcha I drank an entire pot. Oooopppps! History: This spot was started in 1953 in Portland, Oregon by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke. It is currently a second and third generation family business, maintaining those old ingredient standards. These are required....93 score butter, pure 36% whipping cream, and fresh grade AA eggs, along with their special recipe sourdough starter. Today, there are over one hundred-thirty restaurants worldwide, each with its own menu, owned privately and designed uniquely. read more

Original Pancake House - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Old school diner with large portions. Service was fast. Get there early or expect to wait on the weekends.

My husband and I were staying at Thompson and had breakfast here twice. The food and service were wonderful, however, upon the second visit we witnessed a concerning transaction between a customer and employee. A male server was conversing with an older gentlemen. The conversation was inappropriate, to say the least, and there seemed to be an exchange of a large quantity of cash from the older to younger gentlemen. I don't believe this kind behavior to be appropriate in such a setting, let alone one's place of work. It was extremely uncomfortable for my husband and I to overhear and witness. If you visit here, be aware you are in close proximity to other tables and might hear things you wish you did not! read more

The Original Pancake House has all the attributes of what I look for in a breakfast/brunch establishment. Good traditional breakfast items like corn beef hash and eggs and awesome pancakes plus zero ambiance or the ambiance of a fast food diner. With a side of fast and brusk service. One would think I would absolutely love this place. First off, they don't take reservations so the hierarchy is just to show up early or wait in a long line. There's little to no space to spread out and if you're a small party, be grateful you're not you don't wind up sharing a table with a family of four kids. There's no pretense with the menu, if you want healthy go somewhere else. If you want hearty then this is your place. I got the corn beef hash and eggs over easy with buttermilk pancakes and a side of salami. Not great for the diet, but definitely will keep you warm on a chilly spring morning. Corn beef hash is corn beef hash and it should taste like it came out of a can, but not really come out of a can. This did. However, be advised that normal breakfast sides like hash browns or potatoes does not come with the meal, so my plate was literally corn beef hash on one side and eggs over easy on top with the pancakes on a separate plate and the salami as well. The pancakes were definitely the star of the show. You can taste the buttermilk and with the addition of syrup and butter, it felt like childhood on a plate. The salami however was overcooked to the point of being charred. It had no taste at that point, which was disappointing. The coffee was too watery for my liking, but the orange juice might or could have been fresh squeezed. Overall, Original Pancake House doesn't pretend to be anything it's not. We were lucky to have gotten there early as we were staying right across the street, but had we gone any later I'm sure the experience would have been very different, especially by the long lines that we saw on our way back from a run. read more

Original Pancake House - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Probably my favorite breakfast place in the city. Food is very very good, I like the atmosphere a lot, but it is so small of a place for how popular it is. read more

Delicious breakfast! I highly recommend the apple Dutch oven. Service is always fast. On a weekend you might have to wait for a table.

I have been a walker brothers lover my whole life & since this is the original one, I was excited to go. I don't like that they make the pancakes in peanut oil, but otherwise this place does what it's intended to. It's essentially a small diner type place & it works. The food comes out insanely quick, the waitstaff is lovely & kind & it's kind of the perfect hangover meal. I got the vegetarian skillet with sourdough & it was both incredibly greasy & also good. Eggs were good, but potatoes were pretty mushy - I like them crispy. However, the pancakes look insane & I'd return tbh read more

Original Pancake House - Vegetarian Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The worst corned beef hash ever. It was a flavorless mush. Pigs in a blanket were pathetic. The pigs were very tiny. The pancakes were average. Good fruit salad. Our friends bacon and eggs looked good. The service was excellent which made the experience three stars not two. read more

With a name like Original Pancake House, I was psyched for the tastiest pancakes ever, but this ain't no IHOP. They may be the Original Pancake House for Chicago, but they are not International! It's super cramped, we sat at a table with people we did not know, next to a lady who kept blowing her nose! Nothing screams breakfast time like the sound of snot! We got our drinks after the meal, and I paid almost $5 for a regular cup of coffee that couldn't compare to the coffee in 7-11, that would be an insult to 7-11! The bacon was perfect, the eggs were fresh and tasty, and the waitress was trying to make it a good experience, and very nice. Once we deciphered the menu, the egg specialty was the only thing that made sense! Paying for their sides individually will have you taking a loan out geez! Where's Denny's when you need em? read more

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We vacationed in Chicago with the family and absolutely loved this place. The food was incredible--our kids couldn't get enough of the pig in a blanket, and I really enjoyed trying different variations of the Dutch baby. The service was impeccable, and the overall vibe was warm, welcoming, and family-friendly. I'd highly recommend this spot to anyone who considers breakfast a staple meal! read more

Original Pancake House - Vegetable Dutch Baby. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is great for "eat in " OR "take out"-my parents and I ate in and were seated immediately on a Saturday morning in March. The food is solid and the portions are colossal!!!! It appears that they do a large carry out/delivery service as well. The place is well managed and organized for both eat in and take out/ delivery which is good. The food-just OK. read more

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We came here around the time they opened and it was small yet so many people already there we were lucky to get a table. They have fresh squeezed orange juice and that was great. I decided to go with the southwestern skillet with a side of the seasonal pumpkin pancakes. This was a lot of food and I could not finish it. The skillet mix was good but the pancakes were fantastic. Also here you get the check and pay at the counter. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a big breakfast. read more

Original Pancake House - a plate of pancakes with a fried egg on top - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The wait was not too terribly long and if it had been, it would have been worth every second of anticipation. We had the Swedish pancakes, blueberry pancakes and eggs and bacon. I'm a Swede, have had the real Swedish pancake in the recipe's homeland and these were extraordinary. Uncomplicated, eggy, weight and substance without being stodgy. Served with excellent lingonberry jam and butter (?). I was transported.... The pancakes... legitimate buttermilk pancakes with a crisp ... the slightest bit... caused by the perfect balance of butter and good old fashioned sugar. They have real maple syrup (I know, is there anything else?) And, if you question this comment please do your taste buds the favor and ween yourself off the corn syrup gunk that most breakfast places still serve. The real stuff, as you will experience here, brings griddle and batter to the next level. The eggs - a perfectly prepared scramble. The expert breakfast chefs stirred and pulled the egg as it cooked... they didn't cook a sunder then chop into pieces which is far too common with the hardy breakfast restaurant model. And then, there is the bacon. From the East Coast and Sweden, it is REALLY hard to find a nice cut and taste profile. The manager kindly shared their brand with me and I'm obsessed with filling my freezer for end times. We could go on for days about the efficient, friendly and still all business service.... Really great and I'm sad this can't be a regular experience due to geography... Lastly, if you have written a less than perfect review of the "breakfast to go" experience... get your ass to the restaurant and what the hell is wrong with you for ordering quality food in November and expecting a fine dining experience???? My family and I are currently making up excuses to save money, buy a flight JUST to have breakfast there again... Than you team OPH for nailing it and restoring my faith in the breakfast restaurant experience and business model. read more