The Original Pancake House Review

Food is ok, but overpriced. Huge portions of just pancakes. I don't want 8 pancakes, I want a couple and some other stuff. Side of meat was $8. No real meals. $50 , with tip, for 2 people was totally not worth the long wait in a cramped area. Seating is packed in tight. Also did not know it was cash or check, yes check, only. Fortunately we heard someone else say it before we were seated. Husband had to go get cash. There is a tiny hand written sign at the check in desk. There is also one on the register at the back near the kitchen.

Our table was crammed up against the register so everyone paying came and stood right next to my husband to pay. Very loud and uncomfortable.

Not worth it. Won't return

Large portions, great food, fun atmosphere, and despite the odd parking lay out, still return for breakfast regularly.

The best breakfast you have eaten in Portland, iresh omelette, apple pie pancake (so delicious), Fruit berries season, and pancakes. It s very yummy

I ran into this restaurant by conquincidence and stopped by for a bite. Well the only thing that threw me off at first is they don't accept debit cards or credit cards, so be prepared for cash or checks accepted only. They have an ATM there, which is convenient for a fee of $1.95 I ordered a vegetarian omelet with ham, along with 3 buttermilk pancakes that came with the order. The omelet was huge and very tasteful with the unique aged cheddar cheese they put in it! I enjoyed it along with a togo box, due to the serving size was quite large lol! I loved the small warm homey look inside atmosphere. I'll be bringing friends and family back here soon. :)) Thanks.

THE BEST Breakfast in North America. PDX is the original start. Must eat here. Yum!!!

A complete jumbled mess. They didn't get our take out order correct, the food is cold, and the process 1 hour and 3 mins to complete. The worst part being that they were not that busy. Worst of all is they sent us without any utensils. Disappointed to say the least, I don't plan on giving them my business again.

This is the best place in portland , hands down. Fresh squeeze OJ. OMG.

Long wait and fully worth it! Delicious! So yummy that I forgot to take photos of my actual food (lol) ordered the peppers monterey jack omelette with a side of avocado. Mmm... it came with 3 pancakes and those babies were the BEST!
server was delightful and attentive. Everyone had genuine smiles and happy attitudes. That says something about a place, in my opinion ;)

Don't get the corned beef hash, or the Irish omelette that has it. It seems to canned ground beef, incredibly oily, and not worth the stomach issues that follow. Stick with pancakes, they're good at that.
Also, cash only?? This is 2017...

Wide variety of pancakes, crepes, waffles, etc...
They don't except debit/credit cards though. They do have an ATM to get cash.
I enjoyed my bacon pancakes, service was good, friendly atmosphere...

Small, but great breakfast. Also, CASH only, but there is an ATM inside.

Outrageous wait and prices. Additional 2$ per plate if your party is 2 people or less. The corned beef hash looks like dog food and is paired with greasy potato pancakes. The banana pancakes hardly taste like banana, or like rotten bananas where used. I would not recommend this place to anyone. My husband is not a picky eater and he was not happy with his food at all. We will never be returning here.

Food and hostess were very good. Tall blonde waitress was impersonal, rude and didn't make eye contact. Get a job that makes you happy...

You will wait, be prepared for that. The staff is friendly and pleasant in the midst of crowds. Food is delicious, but bring a friend with a hearty appetite, portions are huge.

Good food, but be prepared to wait, pricey, good. service.

It was not long before closing so I got my order to go in no time. People were friendly and the food yummy.

Good, simple diner breakfast s with generous portions. Expect a wait as it is very popular and can get noisy.

Food and service are both excellent. Staff are super nice. Try the bacon & aged white cheddar omelet and the cherry kijafa crepes -- you'll thank me later.

Serving sizes are much too big. I estimate that the omelette had six eggs - big enough, IMHO, for two people. The pancakes tasted okay, nothing great, but somehow I didn't feel good afterwards. Service was very good - I commend the staff, but the recipes are not to my taste.

Great food. Very small seating area for the crowd waiting to eat.

They don't take credit cards or it would have been a 5...

Love this place! Food is great. They only do cash or check.

Consistent performer. Fresh squeezed juice, savory thick-cut smoked bacon, fresh fruit, and an apple pancake that is out of this world. I've tried lots of things over the years but I always go back for this lineup on the table. If you like corned beef hash, these guys make their corned beef solely for their hash, it isn't used anywhere else on the menu, it is a seared hash of meat and onion, no potatoes, briney and delicious in its own right, but not your usual find. Omelet are huge and puffy but not my style so I won't say much more. The Swedish pancakes with their tart lingonberry compote are also phenomenal, crispy sweet on the edges, soft and thin middles. This location in particular has the best presentation of pecan waffle I've ever encountered, a small mountain of pecans included, nut lovers rejoice. The only drawback is they are small and the wait can be long if you choose a peak time.

This place now accepts credit cards! I love the pancakes here. They're always delicious and I haven't found a variation on the menu I don't like. Definitely a weekend treat.

Overpriced and minimal flavor. I'm not a local so...

Excellent food, and service. Apple pancake is my all time favorite, eat half for breakfast, the other half I heat up and add ice cream for desert later.

Pancakes were awesome and service was fast but it was 7:45 am. But, to not accept debit cards and to not have that fact posted on the front door seems ridiculous. Fortunately we had enough cash to cover it. Have no idea what they do for folks who don't

While the service is great and the wait for food once you actually sit down is minimal, the serving size is very small and the prices are very big. Also due to it being a small establishment and very busy, it's not a good place to eat if you want a relaxing meal, very loud.

I dropped in early for breakfast and it was delicious

The 45+ minute wait time to be seated (FCFS) was worth it! The fresh squeezed OJ was cold and refreshing and the food was delicious! I would highly recommend TOPH! Just make sure that you have plenty of time to wait in line and hope that it is a nice day!

One of my family's mainstays. Such a classic! Off the charts with breakfast staples, fabulous service. So old school that they dont even take credit cards .... CASH ONLY!

It's a bit of a timewarp. Classic Oregon Americana.

The Dutch baby is the size of a medium pizza!

This is the true original. All other pancake houses must bow down to the master

Food was a 5 out of 10. Wait was way too long. Food took really long to get and just getting cashed out took 20 minutes

Very tight seating. Everyone gets several dishes to further crowd the table. Overwhelming number of items on the menu. Huge portions of omelets. $10 for one regular waffle. $6.25 for two pieces of bread (toast). Cash or check only?

Can you get a better tasting breakfast in Portland? I doubt it. Will it come as fast as theirs does? Definitely not. This place ranks high in speed, taste, efficiency, and friendliness. Perhaps that is why it is so busy all the time. One drawback is it is CASH ONLY, but they do have an ATM.

Delicious food and very nice staff. It's been around a long time.

Great breakfast items
A bit pricey
Note: Cash only !! They don't take credit or debit cards. Period

We had to wait over an hour for seating and food. There was no communication that one part of or order took 45min to cook. Dutch baby was eggy and needed fruit. Coffee was good, fast and plentiful. Apple pancake is delicious but takes forever to cook so don't come hungry. Community table is fun and a nice way to meet people. The staff is very friendly.

The *original* Original Pancake house, where it all started, is right here in Portland. Stepping inside this converted house is like walking back in time to 1953. The decor, cosy wood paneling, and the exceptional Americana breakfast Staples have not changed since. The best no-fuss breakfast/brunch in town. Excellent diner-style coffee. Fresh handmade whipped cream on the best hot chocolate I've ever had in Portland. The apple pancake is to die for, as is pretty much everything else on the menu. Come hungry, the portions are huge. They also don't accept credit or debit cards, but there is an ATM in case you forget.

The Pancake House is an institution among locals, proving that exceptional food doesn't have to come on a tiny geometric slate plate with a $20 price tag; sometimes it's a perfectly fluffy shortstack with a side of bacon and unlimited warm ups in your coffee mug.

Credit cards are not accepted. I was disappointed in the pancakes that come with the ham and eggs scramble. The pancakes were thin and a little doughy. Two breakfasts with tip $50. A little expensive for pancakes. My husband had the potato pancakes and enjoyed them. Not sure we would be back.

Always quite a wait because it s small. The food is SO good. It s the best breakfast ever. That bacon is the best bacon I ve ever had. The pancakes and eggs are delicious too. They do take credit cards now also.

Everything from the freshly squeezed orange juice to the Apple pancake is good here. The bacon is thick and lightly seasoned, the pancakes are light and fluffy, but flavorful and capable of soaking up a good amount of syrup. I don't think I've ever had a better breakfast than what I've had here.

Great food but HUGE servings, I recommend splitting with others when you order

cash only*
Although it's a chain it feels very Portland-y. Take a regular item and douse it with the sugar->That's this place.

If you love the chocolate on the cake more that cake, then this place is right up your ally.
also this place is cash only, very small and has a long wait. It's an area favorite, but not my cup of tea. menu is mostly overpriced sides and toppings with a side a under cooked pancakes.

This is the original, Original Pancake House. One of our favorite breakfast places in Portland. Pancakes, waffles, crepes, and other breakfast treats from all over the world. In many ways it is like going back in time with the decor and the waitstaff. Exceptional quality, friendly staff. Highly recommended.

Who doesn't like pancakes? Gotta have it at least once.

Hadn't eaten there in 40 years. Gave it a try. Friendly staff. Food was good. Price tag meant I won't be going back any time soon. 28 dollars ( tip included) for pancakes and bacon with a very small grapefruit drink.

Best pancakes outside of your grandmother's kitchen. And probably better than hers, just don't let on.

Great food made my day 10/10
Service in this crazy world was also 10/10

Their gluten free pancakes are absolutely amazing along with their omletts. I wish there was a location closer to my house!

I went here one or two times. If you are in a pancake mood, do go here over IHOPs. In the mood for anything else? Go somewhere else. It does have good pancakes and a creative variety that makes for an interesting time whenever you go. The waiting time is really long usually and the waiting area is cramped, so get there early. It's got a "community" seating vibe to it, so be wary of that. Overall though, not bad food and a decent experience.

This is, without question, the best breakfast you can get. I ve tried a good 75% of their considerable menu by now, and it s all been fantastic. The perfect fluffy pancakes. The colossal Dutch Baby. The delicate crepes, the mouth-watering bacon, the always-perfect eggs, and the immense omelettes. If you like caveats, though, read on!

- Their sourdough silver dollar pancakes don t sit quite right with me. Seems to just be an issue specific to myself, so no worries!

- There will be a wait, because this place is amazing and everyone wants to eat here. Can t be helped! Walk to the front and wait to get your number ticket. Parties of two get served the quickest, and there s a communal table option as well if you re not picky who you eat with. If you have a party of five, you will probably never ever get a table within your lifetime. Reform into a party of two and a party of three.

- Cash or check only! They do have an ATM, but I often see people caught off-guard by not being able to use a card (Understandably so). Forewarned is... forearmed? Probably butchered that expression. How about this one: Knowledge is power.

Strawberry crepes! With warm strawberry sauce! Need I say more?

Hands down the best breakfast in Oregon. That's all ya need to know!

Best pancakes. Original restaurant been in many franchises

Had the fresh fruit crepe with real whip cream. Fabulous! Best coffee ever, too.

My first time eating here at the one in Bend. I liked it so much that I went to the one in PDX and had the same thing. The service and food are just a little bit better at the Bend location in my experience. But both are for sure worth going to.

Great customer service, good food, but they don't take cards. Bring cash.

Very nice staff to compliment the yummy food.
Bring cash.

Bigest selection of omelettes and/or pancakes I've ever seen. Very tasty stuff. Love the green chillies and cheese omlet. Pecan, blueberry, or apple Betty pancakes. The wait staff uniforms and the decor are old fashioned, but not in a self conscious way.

Great service, family owned, yummy food, and warm feelings.

The original lives up to its name... apple pancake ALL day

So fantastic. Good service and very willing to accommodate any wish. The pancakes were so fluffy !!!!! Yum.

Really yummy Pankakes, must try the baby German Pancakes

The pancakes are great. The problem is that this establishment actively discriminates against those with mobility problems. The two entrances to this restaurant are by stairs alone and neither of the restrooms are ADA accessible. The manager states that this restaurant is grandfathered and does not need to comply with the American Disabilities Act, however, that does not mean that they should not comply with the needs of the disabled community. An access ramp from the street would be a simple matter and of low cost to the restaurant. The conversion of the two restrooms to be at least partially accessible would be more expensive, but would convey an essential message to the low mobility community and would pay for itself in just a few years with a higher volume of customers - at least partially fueled by a friendlier restaurant experience. Providing access to those with wheelchair needs helps all of us - the elderly - the very young and those who are overweight. No one should have to use a restroom as small as the ones at The Original Pancake House. The owners just need to knock out the fireplace - remodel the restrooms for ADA access and put a wood stove in the corner across from the restrooms. Not doing any of these things is short sighted, shows the greediness of the owners and is a disservice to the community this restaurant claims to be an integral part of.

Huge servings and great customer service! A great breakfast spot if you are in the mood for diner food.

Cash only restaurant, first time I experienced that.

First, the buttermilk pancakes are super tasty. Loved them, even though the cost $10 (for some pancakes...).
Sadly, that was the only thing I liked. I ordered a $14 omelet that had nothing but cheese and bacon bits in it, a pecan waffle that was about a half inch thick waffle piled high with about 3" of pecans on it (who in eats that many nuts!), and bacon pancakes that were supposed to be "sprinkled" with bacon but where actually about 70% bacon and over cooked bacon at that.
The wait staff was friendly but the people cleaning the tables came around with tubs just loading in dishes with no care for all of the clatter and sharp noises they produced. It made for an unpleasant meal.