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A stack of pancakes covered in granola and garnished by whipped cream and berries.
Blackberry bliss pancakes at M. Henry in Andersonville.
M. Henry

Where to Eat Pancakes in Chicago

The best stacks of those sweet morning carbs in the city

by aimee.levitt and Eater Staff Updated
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Blackberry bliss pancakes at M. Henry in Andersonville.
| M. Henry
by aimee.levitt and Eater Staff Updated
1 comment / new

When it comes to breakfast or brunch, there are sweet people and there are savory people. The pancakes on this list are for the first group. There are plain and simple pancakes here, the no-nonsense stacks that hit the table with nothing more than a pat of butter and a drizzle of syrup. These are comfort. And then there are the decadent piles of fruit and cream and chocolate and other garnishes under which a pancake or two may be detected. These are dessert. Either way, they’re all an excellent way to start the day.

As of August 20, the city has mandated that everyone wear facial coverings while indoors. For updated information on coronavirus cases, please visit the city of Chicago’s COVID-19 dashboard. Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; the latest data about the delta variant indicates that it may pose a low-to-moderate risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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Walker Bros Original Pancake House

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No Chicago pancake map would be complete without mention of the Walker Bros. original oven-baked apple cinnamon pancake. Sweet and enormous, this baby will cure your pancake craving for weeks. Best to be shared with the entire table… and maybe even the table next to you. For a less decadent option, try the puffy Dutch baby. Both pancakes are available at all Walker Bros locations, as well as at the eight local outposts of the Original Pancake House.

153 Green Bay Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-6000
(847) 251-6000

Also featured in:

Honeybear Cafe

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This Rogers Park neighborhood spot serves a range of pancakes, from the simple buttermilk stack to the enormous seasonal special platters, covered in so many toppings, you’ll have to take it on faith that there are pancakes somewhere in there. Both styles can be made gluten free.

7036 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 754-7450
(773) 754-7450

Also featured in:

M. Henry

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The blackberry bliss cakes are the classic here: two medium sized fluffy hotcakes are separated by layers of warm blackberries and vanilla mascarpone then topped with a sprinkle of brown sugar and oat crust. There’s also a gluten-free version. But don’t pass on the seasonal specials or the Japanese souffle hotcakes.

5707 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 561-1600
(773) 561-1600

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Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club

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If pancakes are made with whole grains instead of white flour, they must be healthier, right? The multigrain pancakes at Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club also come with blueberries — a superfruit — which probably makes them extra nutritious. Keep an eye out for hotcake specials in flavors like sour cherry and mango. There’s also a second location in Belmont Gardens.

3348 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
(872) 208-7079
(872) 208-7079

Also featured in:

Tre Kronor

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Light and lacey are the “Pannekaker” pancakes at the Albany Park Swedish bistro, Tre Kronor. Dusted with powdered sugar and served with traditional lingon jam, these air-thin crepe-like cakes are a simple, sweet, and satisfying alternative to the all-American buttermilks.

3258 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 267-9888
(773) 267-9888

Also featured in:

Southport Grocery and Cafe

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This Lakeview cafe takes the “cake” part of “pancake” seriously: the pancakes here are made from gluten-free cupcake batter and served with vanilla butter and syrup. There’s also a bread pudding option, with cinnamon-sugar butter and vanilla creme anglaise.

3552 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 665-0100
(773) 665-0100

Also featured in:

Wheat's End Cafe

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Everything at Wheat’s End is gluten free, and many items, including the pancakes, are also available dairy free or vegan, which makes this a good choice for anyone who has those particular dietary restrictions.

2873 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 770-3527
(773) 770-3527

Frances' Deli and Brunchery

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Frances’ has been serving breakfast on Clark Street for more than 80 years, but chef Derek Rylon transformed it into a “brunchery,” which means the pancakes are now decadent fancycakes, in flavors like cinnamon roll, bananas foster, and banana Nutella. They’re also available gluten free.

2552 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-4580
(773) 248-4580

Also featured in:

CARIBELLA

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Caribella serves brunch with Caribbean flavors, and that extends to the guava pancakes, which come topped with guava syrup and slices of guava — a nice taste of the tropics in a cold, dark Chicago winter.

3311 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 360-8873
(773) 360-8873

Bongo Room

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A sugar lover’s utopia, Bongo Room has become notorious for its “undercover pancakes,” hidden to the human eye beneath heaps and heaps of toppings. The selections vary with the seasons, but there is always something rich and gooey on the menu, in both the Wicker Park and Andersonville locations.

1470 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 489-0710
(773) 489-0710

Also featured in:

Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe

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Pancakes have their own special section of the menu at this local mini-chain, including Key lime pie, blueberry danish, Oreo s’mores, and the signature berry bliss, with berry mascarpone filling, blackberry coulis, and fresh berries. There are also crepes, and keep your eye out for seasonal specials.

130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 938-9777
(312) 938-9777

Also featured in:

Little Goat Diner

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Want to know the best part about the pancakes at Little Goat? You can get ’em all day long, perfect for those looking to start their day on a sweet note or end their night with a bang. There are three varieties: plain sourdough, blueberry, and dark chocolate chip crunch that are so sweet, you don’t need to add anything else besides the chocolate malt butter that comes on the side.

820 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 888-3455
(312) 888-3455

Also featured in:

Hanabusa Cafe

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Originally from Toronto, Hanabusa specializes in tall, fluffy Japanese souffle pancakes, served with sauces that incorporate Asian flavors such as matcha and taro. But there are also Nutella, mocha, custard, and plain old seasonal fruit.

29 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 584-0455
(312) 584-0455

Also featured in:

Peach's Restaurant

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Chef Cliff Rome specializes in Southern cuisine and his hangover wings are justly famous, but his pancake lineup is entirely respectable, with a full range of buttermilk and gluten-free options, plus the extra fluffy 7-Up pancakes served with lemon cream cheese frosting and seasonal specials like red velvet for Valentine’s Day.

4652 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 966-5801
(773) 966-5801

Also featured in:

Tom’s Place Pancake House

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Tom’s Place is as much a community center for Back of the Yards as it is a restaurant: it’s staffed by students from the culinary arts programs at local high schools and Kennedy-King College, and after serving hours, it stays open for neighborhood gatherings. But its name is no lie: it does serve pancakes, in plain, gluten-free, and seasonal varieties, as well as its signature orange nut.

1509 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60609
773-823-9335
773-823-9335
A plate with two blueberry pancakes garnished with blueberries and butter and two fried eggs
Blueberry pancakes at Tom’s Place.
Fatima Salgado/Tom’s Place Pancake House

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5 Loaves Eatery

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The Jean Bachet-honored spot in South Shore is best known for its fried chicken, but don’t neglect the pancakes, especially the lemon zest option, which comes with a side of homemade buttermilk syrup.

405 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 891-2889
(773) 891-2889

Also featured in:

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Walker Bros Original Pancake House

153 Green Bay Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091

No Chicago pancake map would be complete without mention of the Walker Bros. original oven-baked apple cinnamon pancake. Sweet and enormous, this baby will cure your pancake craving for weeks. Best to be shared with the entire table… and maybe even the table next to you. For a less decadent option, try the puffy Dutch baby. Both pancakes are available at all Walker Bros locations, as well as at the eight local outposts of the Original Pancake House.

153 Green Bay Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-6000
(847) 251-6000

Honeybear Cafe

7036 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626

This Rogers Park neighborhood spot serves a range of pancakes, from the simple buttermilk stack to the enormous seasonal special platters, covered in so many toppings, you’ll have to take it on faith that there are pancakes somewhere in there. Both styles can be made gluten free.

7036 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 754-7450
(773) 754-7450

M. Henry

5707 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660

The blackberry bliss cakes are the classic here: two medium sized fluffy hotcakes are separated by layers of warm blackberries and vanilla mascarpone then topped with a sprinkle of brown sugar and oat crust. There’s also a gluten-free version. But don’t pass on the seasonal specials or the Japanese souffle hotcakes.

5707 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 561-1600
(773) 561-1600

Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club

3348 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60659

If pancakes are made with whole grains instead of white flour, they must be healthier, right? The multigrain pancakes at Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club also come with blueberries — a superfruit — which probably makes them extra nutritious. Keep an eye out for hotcake specials in flavors like sour cherry and mango. There’s also a second location in Belmont Gardens.

3348 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
(872) 208-7079
(872) 208-7079

Tre Kronor

3258 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Light and lacey are the “Pannekaker” pancakes at the Albany Park Swedish bistro, Tre Kronor. Dusted with powdered sugar and served with traditional lingon jam, these air-thin crepe-like cakes are a simple, sweet, and satisfying alternative to the all-American buttermilks.

3258 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 267-9888
(773) 267-9888

Southport Grocery and Cafe

3552 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

This Lakeview cafe takes the “cake” part of “pancake” seriously: the pancakes here are made from gluten-free cupcake batter and served with vanilla butter and syrup. There’s also a bread pudding option, with cinnamon-sugar butter and vanilla creme anglaise.

3552 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 665-0100
(773) 665-0100

Wheat's End Cafe

2873 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657

Everything at Wheat’s End is gluten free, and many items, including the pancakes, are also available dairy free or vegan, which makes this a good choice for anyone who has those particular dietary restrictions.

2873 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 770-3527
(773) 770-3527

Frances' Deli and Brunchery

2552 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Frances’ has been serving breakfast on Clark Street for more than 80 years, but chef Derek Rylon transformed it into a “brunchery,” which means the pancakes are now decadent fancycakes, in flavors like cinnamon roll, bananas foster, and banana Nutella. They’re also available gluten free.

2552 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-4580
(773) 248-4580

CARIBELLA

3311 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Caribella serves brunch with Caribbean flavors, and that extends to the guava pancakes, which come topped with guava syrup and slices of guava — a nice taste of the tropics in a cold, dark Chicago winter.

3311 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 360-8873
(773) 360-8873

Bongo Room

1470 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

A sugar lover’s utopia, Bongo Room has become notorious for its “undercover pancakes,” hidden to the human eye beneath heaps and heaps of toppings. The selections vary with the seasons, but there is always something rich and gooey on the menu, in both the Wicker Park and Andersonville locations.

1470 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 489-0710
(773) 489-0710

Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe

130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Pancakes have their own special section of the menu at this local mini-chain, including Key lime pie, blueberry danish, Oreo s’mores, and the signature berry bliss, with berry mascarpone filling, blackberry coulis, and fresh berries. There are also crepes, and keep your eye out for seasonal specials.

130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 938-9777
(312) 938-9777

Little Goat Diner

820 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

Want to know the best part about the pancakes at Little Goat? You can get ’em all day long, perfect for those looking to start their day on a sweet note or end their night with a bang. There are three varieties: plain sourdough, blueberry, and dark chocolate chip crunch that are so sweet, you don’t need to add anything else besides the chocolate malt butter that comes on the side.

820 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 888-3455
(312) 888-3455

Hanabusa Cafe

29 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60602

Originally from Toronto, Hanabusa specializes in tall, fluffy Japanese souffle pancakes, served with sauces that incorporate Asian flavors such as matcha and taro. But there are also Nutella, mocha, custard, and plain old seasonal fruit.

29 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 584-0455
(312) 584-0455

Peach's Restaurant

4652 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60653

Chef Cliff Rome specializes in Southern cuisine and his hangover wings are justly famous, but his pancake lineup is entirely respectable, with a full range of buttermilk and gluten-free options, plus the extra fluffy 7-Up pancakes served with lemon cream cheese frosting and seasonal specials like red velvet for Valentine’s Day.

4652 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 966-5801
(773) 966-5801

Tom’s Place Pancake House

1509 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60609

Tom’s Place is as much a community center for Back of the Yards as it is a restaurant: it’s staffed by students from the culinary arts programs at local high schools and Kennedy-King College, and after serving hours, it stays open for neighborhood gatherings. But its name is no lie: it does serve pancakes, in plain, gluten-free, and seasonal varieties, as well as its signature orange nut.

1509 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60609
773-823-9335
773-823-9335
A plate with two blueberry pancakes garnished with blueberries and butter and two fried eggs
Blueberry pancakes at Tom’s Place.
Fatima Salgado/Tom’s Place Pancake House

Related Maps

5 Loaves Eatery

405 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619

The Jean Bachet-honored spot in South Shore is best known for its fried chicken, but don’t neglect the pancakes, especially the lemon zest option, which comes with a side of homemade buttermilk syrup.

405 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 891-2889
(773) 891-2889

Related Maps