New Yorkers take breakfast seriously, especially when it comes to pancakes. From fluffy buttermilk stacks to creative fusion flavors, the city’s pancake scene is sizzling hot!
Whether you’re craving traditional comfort food or Instagram-worthy creations, these spots have locals lining up before the griddles even heat up.
1. Clinton Street Baking Company’s Blueberry Pancakes
Holy flapjacks! These legendary pancakes have caused sidewalk lines since 2001. Wildly fluffy yet somehow still crisp-edged, they’re studded with plump blueberries and topped with warm maple butter that melts into every heavenly crevice.
Pancake aficionados whisper about these with reverence. What makes them special? Perhaps it’s the secret recipe or maybe just breakfast magic.
2. Sunday In Brooklyn’s Malted Pancakes
Gravity-defying and thicc (yes, with two c’s), these malted pancakes stand tall like a delicious tower of breakfast glory.
Hazelnut maple praline cascades down the sides, creating an edible waterfall that’ll make your taste buds dance the cha-cha. Locals recommend bringing a friend—not for company, but because finishing this magnificent beast alone is nearly impossible!
3. Chez Ma Tante’s Crispy-Edge Pancakes
Ever wondered what happens when French technique meets American comfort food? Wonder no more! These controversial pancakes are practically deep-fried in clarified butter, creating edges so crispy they actually crackle when your fork hits them. Beneath that audibly crunchy exterior hides a tender, cake-like interior. Though simple in appearance, these bad boys have sparked heated debates about what constitutes pancake perfection.
4. Bubby’s Sourdough Pancakes
Zounds! The tangy kick from Bubby’s 100-year-old sourdough starter transforms ordinary pancakes into extraordinary mouth parties.
These tangy-sweet discs have been delighting Tribeca locals since before brunch was even cool. What if I told you they’re equally delicious with savory toppings? Adventurous eaters sometimes pair them with their famous fried chicken for a mind-blowing sweet-savory combo that’ll rock your breakfast world.
5. Jack’s Wife Freda’s Rosewater Waffle Pancakes
Though technically a waffle-pancake hybrid (waffcake? panffle?), these rose-scented beauties deserve a spot on this list! Lebanese yogurt and honey syrup create a Mediterranean twist that’ll transport your taste buds straight to the Middle East.
Fragrant rosewater perfumes each bite without tasting like grandma’s perfume cabinet. Hence, brunch enthusiasts regularly pack this SoHo hotspot to sample these uniquely floral morning treats.
6. Cafe Luluc’s Perfect Plain Pancakes
Simplicity reigns supreme at this unassuming Cobble Hill joint! No fancy toppings or gimmicks—just impossibly light, cloud-like pancakes that prove sometimes basic is best. The batter-to-fluff ratio here defies the laws of pancake physics. Locals protect this secret spot fiercely.
“Where did you get those amazing pancakes?” “Oh, just some random place,” they’ll say, hoping to keep the weekend wait times manageable.
7. Shopsin’s Mac & Cheese Pancakes
Bonkers? Absolutely! Delicious? Surprisingly, yes! These culinary mavericks at Essex Market stuff actual macaroni and cheese INTO pancake batter, creating a savory-sweet mashup that shouldn’t work but somehow does.
Though they sound like something invented during a 3 AM refrigerator raid, these quirky flapjacks have earned cult status. Brave souls who try them often become evangelical converts, spreading the gospel of carb-on-carb breakfast innovation.
8. Russ & Daughters’ Latkes (Potato Pancakes)
Though not sweet, these crispy potato pancakes from the legendary Lower East Side institution deserve recognition! Crackling exteriors give way to tender, onion-flecked interiors that have remained unchanged for over a century.
Jewish grandmothers citywide reluctantly admit these might be better than homemade. What’s their secret? Perhaps it’s the perfect potato-to-onion ratio, or maybe just the heritage of a business that’s been perfecting them since 1914.
9. Veselka’s Ukrainian Pancakes
This East Village institution has been flipping their legendary Ukrainian-style pancakes since 1954. The secret? A dash of sour cream in the batter creates an impossibly tender texture that melts in your mouth.
Morning regulars claim these pancakes have magical hangover-curing properties.
Served with traditional cherry compote or maple syrup, each golden-brown disk maintains a slight tang that perfectly balances the sweetness.
10. Upside Down Cake’s Soufflé Pancakes
“I waited 45 minutes and would do it again tomorrow,” declares Samantha, a loyal customer of this tiny Japanese-inspired bakery in Hell’s Kitchen. Their cloud-like soufflé pancakes jiggle hypnotically when the plate hits your table.
Standing nearly two inches tall, these airy wonders require patience – each batch takes 20 minutes to prepare. The texture resembles a marriage between cotton candy and cake, dissolving into sweet nothingness.