Sometimes in the morning nothing is more satisfying than a simple, quintessential breakfast. Nothing tends to fit the bill more perfectly than a plate of some of the best pancakes in Chicago– especially after an aggressive night. Yes– French toast is bomb and it doesn’t get much more cool than waffles, but pancakes equal happiness in its simplest form. From buttermilk to sweets infused and bacon loaded, Chicago does not have a shortage when it comes to pancakes.
Best Pancakes in Chicago :
The Bongo Room
Multiple Locations
$$
All you need to know and I all I ned to say to get you to visit your nearest The Bongo Room are 3 delightful words: Red Velvet Pancakes. Anything Red Velvet is splendid and these are just right. For something even more unique, the white chocolate salted pretzel pancakes are drenched in a white chocolate sauce and drizzled with caramel. Boom.
Breakfast House
1800 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 997-2400
$$
Sour Cream Pancakes or their Multi-Grain Pancakes– both loaded with fruit– is one of the best ways to begin your day. Satisfaction of a perfectly grilled pancake, with the freshness of fruit to compliment.
Jam
3057 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 292-6011
$$
Jam may be known for serving one of the best waffles in Chicago, but if you enjoy sweets with your morning coffee– then they have some of the best pancakes in Chicago as well. Lemon Curd, Indian Sugar Brûlée and Citrus Rind will make your jaw tingle and wake you up.
Kingsbury Street Cafe
1523 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 280-1718
$$
For something a little unique, but utterly satisfying– look no further than the whole wheat carrot pancakes. Topped with maple cream cheese, pecans and pure maple syrup.
Better yet, go with someone and have them order the lemon pancakes as well.
M.Henry
5707 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 561-1600
$$
If you are wanting a morning full of bliss– M.Henry has it. The Blackberry Bliss Pancakes not only includes their fluffy pancakes, but vanilla mascarpone, granola and a combination of berries and juice for extra flavor. It’s a parfait of a pancake. (I do have a thing for mangos though)
Meli Cafe
Multiple Locations
$$
When it comes to some of the best pancakes in Chicago, Meli Cafe serves multiple worthy of the list. Most notably, their Granny Smith Apple Pancakes and Bread Pudding Pancakes will invigorate your tastebuds, but their buttermilk and multi-grain still have full capacity to satisfy.
Mindy’s Hot Chocolate
1747 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 489-1747
$$
For a standard, wholesome, epitome of a pancake– the buttermilk pancakes here hit the spot every time. The whipped honey butter is something of magic, while the locally-sourced blueberries don’t hurt either.
Original Pancake House
Multiple Locations
$$
With a name like that, you would hope that their pancakes would live up to the hype. It isn’t a secret that they do. They really do. A long list, from standard buttermilk to Swedish inspired flapjacks, will fill your eyes– the hardest part is committing to just one type. Anything with pecans, bacon or bananas really do it for me.
Pancake Cafe
1292 Rickert Dr #168, Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 637-1010
$$
With a specialty in pancakes, this Naperville located cafe earns its spot among some of the best of the city. With a healthy (as in a lot of) variety of choices, the one that always tends to stick out to me is their pumpkin pancakes. It’s like eating a flat pumpkin pie– and for some reason it makes it oh-so much more enjoyable than the real thing on Thanksgiving.
Pannenkoeken Cafe
4757 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 769-8800
$
Their menu may be loaded with delightful variations of French Toast, but don’t let that fool you. They only serve up pancakes in the simple fashions of buttermilk or buttermilk with fruit. That is really all they need to offer though. Don’t mess with perfection.
Rise N Dine Pancake Cafe
102 S Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 541-4900
$$
This pancake cafe should be sought after by those that have an undeniable affection for chocolate chip pancakes. The chocolate chips may just be sprinkled on top– rather than in the batter the way I am use to– but they melt quickly and add that much wanted sweetness to fluffy cakes. Tastes like childhood.
Southport Grocery & Cafe
3552 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 665-0100
$$
Southport Grocery & Cafe has made their mark with some of the best pancakes in Chicago by thinking outside the buttermilk. Perhaps their best (and most popular) are their bread-pudding pancakes. Seriously– these are a must try. Topped with cinnamon-sugar butter and served with a side of vanilla anglaise, it hits every spot. For something else a little different, their cupcake pancakes are made with legitimate cupcake batter. Who says you can’t eat cake for breakfast?
Uncommon Ground
Multiple Locations
$$
Both Uncommon Ground locations have a specialty pancake that is worth traveling to– regardless of which is closer to you. The Edgewater location serves up a pancake that is the perfect balance of sweet and salty. It is a combination of bacon, blackberry compote and goat cheese. Those three ingredients without a pancake are delicious– but now you can essentially eat your plate.
The Lakeview location serves up some simple bacon buttermilk pancakes. What really sets it off though is the Bourbon infused maple syrup.
Wild Berry Pancakes & Cafe
130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 938-9777
$$
Wild Berry Pancakes. Remember that and put it at the forefront of your mind. If you enjoy fruit on your cakes, I challenge you to try and not enjoy these as they put a smile on your face. They also have other specialities, such as Caramel Apple Pecan, Tiramisu, Oreo S’more and Banana Creme Pie (there are even more than this though, oh boy).
Wishbone
Multiple Locations
$$
The part of Wishbone’s fruit pancakes that I enjoy, is the fact that they give you a choice of 5 different fruits (mango, peach, blueberry, banana or strawberry). There aren’t many places that offer mango on pancakes and that right there is enough to claim it as one of the best pancakes in Chicago. Of course, the pancake in itself is spot on as well.
We are well aware that there are other phenomenal restaurants that serve some creations that deserve to be on the best pancakes in Chicago list. If we listed them all– this would be one hundred or more deep!
Feel free to comment and let us know who your goto pancake parlor is– we’re curious.
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