Solid breakfast spot. Nothing fancy but it's dependable. I had the country fried steak and eggs breakfast. The steak itself was standard probably frozen patty but the sausage gravy on top was definitely scratch made and better than average. Eggs were cooked a perfect over medium as requested. I chose the fried potatoes that are cooked with onion rather than the hash browns and asked if they could be cooked crispy and they were perfect. My little cousin had the chocolate chip pancakes. They weren't the standard buttermilk with chocolate chips in them. The batter itself is chocolate as well and he really liked them. He said they had a good flavor, but not too sweet nor too rich. The service was on point for a breakfast place. Friendly and quick with plentiful coffee refills. The decor is a little dated but not ratty. It's pretty 80-ish with dusty rose colored booths and rose and teal colored wallpaper and fake marble counters but it gave it a kitschy vibe that I enjoyed. read more

The Pancake House - Chocolate chip pancake, breakfast with eggs and bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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This place is great for breakfast. Here is well where you will get the best service. We're getting poached eggs, cottage cheese, and English muffins. The ambience here is American coffee shop style. Like the good old days. read more

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Service was good. Greeted upon entering with a smile. About three waiters waiting tables and self seated immediately. The ambiance is like a country hometown feel. The menu is massive & I got analysis paralysis from looking at it all. It was hard to make a decision which most of the time is good but this was crazy huge including the inside of menu and back. Below is what we ordered. They definitely give more than enough portions for the price. I would suggest that a little more care go into the preparation of eye presentation. We were bummed they don't offe any other breakfast meat options like turkey bacon or turkey sausage. I ordered the Philly omelette and omelette wasn't quit folded over but two pieces of cheese slapped on top to cover the apparent eye sore of a mess of an omelette. They give more than enough hash brown wish it was browned more and less oil used. I mean if you're gonna use that much oil, then fry that baby on up! Hash is not white!! Hence the word "hash brown" lol The pancakes that came with the meal were definitely buttermilk but the pancake batter was on the really salty side. I thought it was the butter but it wasn't for sure. All the family agreed. One son had the Philly steak sandwich. He said it was alright with a head and shoulder shrug but states that it was safe but the fries were good. My other son ordered the traditional breakfast 3 pancakes, 2 eggs, and hash and stated the pancakes were definitely salty. My spouse order the steak and egg meal and said the steak was nothing to talk about as it lack flavor it was just salted. The mile high hash, eggs, softened the blow. He also stated the pancakes were on the salty side as well. I think when places like this are established for a good length of time over many many years, the staff and cooks tend to over look the importance of why people would want to feel like "care " was put into the service as well as the food. It makes all the difference in the world, & why people would want to come back & support local diners. I think this place could definitely use some improvement in the kitchen and instead of having a massive menu to take some things off and perfect the craft of taste and presentation. The reason I gave this two stars the staff waiters were really nice & waited on us attentively. I cannot say I will be back. 58 years celebrating as seen on menu should definitely be better. read more

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The prices are good, the portions are large and the servers are friendly. It's not the newest place or the fanciest but for breakfast it's great. read more

I think the secret is to come at the end of the day. We went Saturday night around 5:30 and it was practically empty. Having said that I'm sure they must get packed for breakfast! Candace was our server and was very pleasant. The place is huge and has a true old fashioned feel. With a little update it could feel like a real fun retro location. I wonder if it ties in with the car show?! Mom had the strawberry pecan pancakes and honestly I don't think I've seen her it that much in a very long time! She practically finished her plate of 3 gigantic pancakes. We'll definitely bring her back! Dad had the short stack buttermilk pancakes and he enjoyed them(but for some crazy reason prefers iHOP - I'm thinking it's because of habbit and not food). I has the border inlet which came with hash browns and pancakes. The inlet had meat cheese and avocado. Perfect size, not grease and not too dry, just right. Added Tabasco for some flavor. I had asked for well done extra crispy hash browns, they were average, not quite as expected. No room for the pancakes but had to try them and was very pleasantly surprised. They tasted like real homemade pancakes like mom used to make - not at all like IHOP! Much much better. Do for a dinner/breakfast place, this place scored for us. We'll be back read more

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Great hamburgers and fries for lunch on a cold day. Coffee is good too. Service always with a smile and some friendly conversation. Ambience is diner style. read more

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Ordered the Sampler Platter with over-easy eggs, and it was exactly what I needed. You get a little of everything--bacon, sausage, ham, potatoes, and three fluffy buttermilk pancakes. The eggs were cooked perfectly with a nice, runny yolk, and the pancakes were soft and buttery. Everything came out hot and fresh, and the portions were generous for the price. The service was fast and attentive. Solid breakfast spot with a cozy, retro ambiance, good food, and great value. Will definitely be coming back. read more

The Pancake House - Sampler Platter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

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The waitress, middle-aged brown-blondish woman, was asked 3 times throughout the time spent there to provide a small bag of ice to keep my leftovers fresh while I was out shopping on this warm winter day. We waited until it was evident she had no intention of bringing it. My dining companion thought that if we got up from the booth that it might finally get her attention. I was at the register talking to the cashier about their 4% card charge when the waitress approached from behind and said something about the ice. It took 4 prompts for her to care about a request from a customer! Too late! No tip. Will not return there ever again. DO NOT RECOMMEND! read more

No waffles after 2 o'clock. I was going to have breakfast so I wanted a tomato juice. The waitress said well we only have small glasses if you want a big one I'll have to charge you twice, but what I didn't know was that it was four dollars for each small ones so eight dollar glass of tomato juice. You know prices are ridiculous nowadays but that's Nuts. Karen really had a taste for some waffles today and so we went to the pancake house which serves waffles, only to find out that waffles are not served after 2 PM. I wish we'd gone to IHOP instead. We had a simple breakfast, but after eight dollars for a tomato juice and seven dollars for 2 cups of coffee, the bill was $50, plus a $10 tip. The whole world's gone crazy with these prices. read more

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I had been craving Cheese Blintz after seeing it on a commercial. Last week I went to IHOP one morning & Original Pancake House the next morning. Though what I ordered was delicious it wasn't what I wanted. Today I went to The Pancake House. I received friendly greetings and was seated right away. My server, Gayle, is a great conversationalist and is well known by the customers. I opened the menu and saw Cheese Blintz at the top and shed a tear of joy. Ordered it as suggested by Gayle: fresh strawberries, whip cream and sour cream. It was a generous serving, beautifully presented, and so delicious!! I love the restaurant set-up and just listening to the happy conversations around me. I will be bringing my family back soon! Thank you, Gayle & Pancake House Crew for making my MLK week! read more

The Pancake House - Cheese Blintz with Fresh Strawberries, whip cream & sour cream - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

Today, a very nice woman served me a mediocre breakfast at The Pancake House. The experience wasn't terrible, but, except that the waitress reminded my of my favorite aunt, who I miss very much, there's no reason for me to return to the place. The Pancake House is set in a large, clean space that's past its prime. When I sat down at 8:45 a.m., the restaurant was nearly empty; when I left, more than half of its numerous tables were occupied by working-class diners and retirees. While many of my fellow customers seemed to know one another, I'd bet that those folks have only ever met there, over coffee and eggs. It seems The Pancake House, like many such eateries, serves a secondary purpose as a community gathering place. My breakfast, chosen from an extensive menu, consisted of: - Bacon and ham, both of which were overcooked, which rendered them overly salty; - Over-medium eggs, cooked just right; - "Country" potatoes, sliced thin, dotted with bits of white onion and nicely crisped on a flat-top; - "Country" gravy - a very peppery and glutinous white sauce laced with bits of yesterday's sausage links and bacon; and - Three 4-" buttermilk pancakes, properly prepared, but served with some sort of butter substitute and a sugary syrup that might have included maple flavoring, but that had certainly never been near a maple tree. An order of coffee delivered a cup and an entire pitcher of coffee for the table, a labor-saving measure, of course, but a nice touch, nonetheless. If I lived nearby and wanted occasionally to fuel up on familiar foods (and didn't care much about their quality), and wanted to be treated kindly by staff and my fellow diners, then The Pancake House might be my default breakfast spot. But, as nice as the nice parts were, the restaurant is a bit of a hike from my house, so I doubt I'll dine there again. read more

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I have eaten here many times over the years. Since this may be the last time I am in the San Diego area I decided to have breakfast here. It was a good meal with friendly service . Definitely a good place to eat. read more

Me and my mom had mother daughter day here and it was really good!! I got the traditional breakfast with pancakes with sliced avocado and cheese on my scrambled egg it was so yummy and my mom got a Belgium waffle with strawberry and banana and nut and whipped cream and coffee. The server was really sweet and nice to us and I always loved the diner feel too!! read more

The food was delicious, and the waitress was spot on, and there were 10 of us! The portions were huge and well worth the money. We ordered a variety of things and everything looked delicious. read more

I love to go there. Like going to an old fashioned diner. The food is good and the staff is friendly.

The food is good. The service is good. I overheard some disturbing political talk amongst the staff, which was very disturbing, if not beyond factual. I had a out of town freind with me, so it was extremely upsetting to both of us. I may or may not come back there for food. I highly stress NOT COMING BACK!! I wanted to send a contact directly to the restaurant but I see thier website leads me to some sort birthday thing. read more

Absolutely amazing!!!! Great food and even greater service. Pancakes are perfect. Try the boysenberry syrup!! You will not be disappointed.(pour the syrup slow. It comes out fast) Pricing is pretty good compared to other diners I've been to. Been here a few times and it's our new weekly spot! read more

The Pancake House - The Hungry Jack Favorite Breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

Absolutely divine food, atmosphere & waitstaff. Very friendly, attentive and they remember you. Love the photos around the restaurant. Been going here for years. I remember eating at tables under tents during the Covid Pandemic months. Fish fry was just as delicious as it is now. Just don't talk politics - no one needs to hear other customers talking about that stuff across the room. read more

Food is great.. specially the Pancakes.. The New York steak & eggs with pancakes meal is delicious. read more

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So yummy! Affordable prices, good location, cute vibes!! The service was quick and good and overall I loved this place! The food was amazing, I will definitely be back. No frills, just good vibes and good food. read more

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We have been coming here for amazing breakfasts for over 15 years. It's a small hometown feel right here in San Diego. The wait staff are friendly, and attentive, and the food is affordable. The portions are huge! read more

Thank you for an awesome brunch, Gail and staff at Pancake House! Our family felt welcome our entire visit and left with hearts and bellies full. The food was delicious, the service was speedy, and we will certainly be back. The 25 minute drive is definitely worth the welcoming environment and yummy breakfast spread. read more

We were on a trip up to meet some friends and a local recommended this place. Very unassuming on the outside and probably a place I would have just drove by. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the nicest staff who got our large party a table fairly quickly. The food: everything on our table looked fantastic and got rave reviews. They give very large portions of food which most of us couldn't finish. I had the German pancakes with a berry infused butter. It was cooked to perfection and was so delicious. This place rates up there with all the best of pancake houses! read more

The Pancake House - Swedish pancakes with lingonberry - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

I've been here a couple times over the years. The food is decent, I had the turkey and bacon melt with the seasoned fries. The sandwich was pretty bland but not bad. The service was friendly but very slow. About 20 minutes from the time we were seated until we placed our orders. And another forty minutes until we got our food. The place is pretty classic looking, pink booths and faux marble, but it's kind of cute. The staff is friendly. read more

I wanted to try something new but I was very disappointed with the service and food at this location. Spend $45 dollars on two plates, Dennys down the street is better. I even found bugs crawling all around the table. Not coming back here. read more

The Pancake House - Bugs crawling on the table - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

Came back to the pancake house and enjoyed a good lunch and my dad enjoyed a country fried steak if you want to enjoy good food come and stop by the pancake house and enjoy a good lunch breakfast dinner read more

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It's a very classic diner feel with the complete visual aesthetic. The prices reflect this as well. Pancakes were awesome, and that only enhanced my experience, given it was my first time there. I will visit it again in the future and hope they are restocked on the berry syrup! read more

Great service love the food here!! Help ur local business love this place!! Food hot and always with best flavor....

It looked dirty, they're pushy and food was ok. Would not come back. Fake customer service smiles. The only good thing was the sweet potato pancakes. read more

The food was fantastic and the service was really great. Overall, my experience here was fantastic.

I tried this place during COVID-19 and ordered fish to go. It was frozen cod it tasted like frozen fish it wasn't good at all. The service was really slow and the place inside looked like it needed new carpet it just looked old inside. I haven't been post COVID so hopefully it is a lot better. read more

Excellent quality and outstanding decor. I recommend the Chili Fries & the Chocolate Tower. read more

Nice waitress but MAN was the food bad. My wife and kid both hated their breakfast. Gross inside too. Go to a McDonalds or Waffle House, you'll get better grub there. read more

There was a long wait to get my breakfast after I ordered and the restaurant was not very busy. And then one of my basted eggs had an obviously broken and deflated yolk and never should have left the kitchen. The waitress did offer to replace the eggs but then the rest of the breakfast would've been cold by the time they came out. I was definitely not impressed. read more

Live close ,but had not eaten here in 20 years. Now I remember why. Spent $44 for breakfast And it was really,really bad. Coffee was like water and grey, Had chicken fried steak . The gravy tasted like paste. My wife loves pancakes,but could not eat the sweet potato pancakes. She said they tasted "funny" . Very disappointing . read more

Don't you just love it when the water taste good. My server was extremely helpful and nice thats always a plus, i had the steak and eggs and i must say i really enjoyed it, "it is a pancake house" as my server stated, yes the pancakes are good here. read more

The Pancake House - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - El Cajon, California

When to have breakfast at 6:30. Place was dark no one was there. If you changed your hours post them. You owe a breakfast

Love this place. Everyone is always so nice and inviting. Servers are quick and funny!

This place was closed during Covid and I had been wanting to g to try it. It is now open. They have a lot of locals in here right now and the waitresses seem to know them by name which was a great first sign. My waitress is so sweet. I ordered the bacon , egg and pancake breakfast. The serving sizes are very large (easily a share plate) I like my potato's a bit crispier but I should have asked but forgot this time. My eggs were perfect. The pancakes were very good and the perfect size. I don't like gigantic pancakes because it feels like a waste. Not sure why this quiet little place doesn't have a higher rating. It could use a freshened up look but with this economy you can't blame them. It's a diner . I think some people think these small home cooked diner feel places should be fancy but that is not the case. Sometimes you just want that homey feel and this place has it. My waitresses name was Debby and she was great! read more

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Food was awful not worth the 41 dollars spend on .... service was ok ... I would not return to this place. read more