The Absolute Best Pancakes In Every State

Nothing says breakfast comfort food like a towering, syrup-drenched stack of delicious pancakes. Although you can make your tall or short stacks at home with any inventive pancake toppings you want or even try some wackily delicious TikTok trends like pancake spaghetti on for size, there's something about diner pancakes prepared fresh and ready to order that hits all the right nostalgia notes.

Fortunately, pancake fans don't have to go too far to find tasty hotcakes. Every state in the country has at least one phenomenal pancake joint that will satisfy your sweet tooth and take you straight back to those hazy, carefree breakfasts of your childhood. Some of them are so good that you might want to cross state lines and take a mini foodie destination trip just to get your hands on a stack. From the traditional to the outrageous, these are the best pancakes in all 50 states.

In the far reaches of Anchorage, Alaska, Gwennie's Old Alaska Restaurant serves up tasty breakfasts all day, which is good news for non-early birds and people who want to get their pancake fix in the afternoons or evenings (via Fodor's). According to AK Missions, this down-to-earth restaurant has mammoth pancakes and local faves like reindeer sausage.

Tripadvisor reviewers laud Gwennie's Old Alaska Restaurant for its rapid service and sumptuous sourdough pancakes, making this joint one you'll be happy to brave an Alaskan winter to visit.

The Pancake Shop in Hot Springs nails the art of the perfect pancake thanks to homemade ingredients, light-as-air butter, and real maple syrup. It's a humble and utterly welcoming spot that Tripadvisor reviewers warn tends to get pretty busy, but it's all completely worth it. The pancakes are colossal, easily reaching the edges of the plate (via Tripadvisor).

Each one comes with a generous serving of whipped butter and plenty of maple syrup that you can slather on to your heart's content.

Snooze, with several locations across a handful of states, was born and bred in Denver, Colorado, and still has an excellent following. According to The Denver Post, this city staple opened its doors back in 2006, featuring flights of pancakes and other brunch staples.

The pancake flights took off — pun intended — since they allow you to sample several different flavors of pancakes simultaneously. Those craving a singular stack can also go for blueberry danish or pineapple upside-down pancakes.

Drip Café has two locations in Newark and Hockessin. As the name suggests, you can get excellent, robust cups of coffee there, but you should also arrive hungry. According to Only in Your State, the caramel apple pancakes are uniquely tasty.

Plus, visitors can expect hefty portions. According to Tripadvisor, the pancakes are massive, and you'll get them almost as quickly as you get your cup of coffee. Although the caramel apple pancakes are exceptional, Drip Cafe offers more standard varieties as well.

West Egg Café might just be worth making the trip to the Peach State for. Famous for its Southern cuisine, like fried green tomatoes and grits (via Road Food), this Atlanta favorite also features some of the most innovative breakfasts in the state, including a savory spin on pancakes. The sour cream pancakes are robust and hearty, coated in spicy butter and maple syrup.

The juxtaposition between the savory and sweet is a hit, prompting Tripadvisor reviewers to exclaim in all caps that the pancakes are "soooo good!"

Stop by Smitty's Pancake & Steak House in Idaho Falls for what Tripadvisor reviewers call the "best potato pancakes." Yelp reviews note that it is the place to share a giant German pancake with a friend. Although the potato and German pancakes certainly keep customers coming back, what put Smitty's Pancake and Steak House on the map is the sourdough pancakes.

According to Only in Your State, Smitty's Pancake and Steak House hasn't changed its sourdough pancake recipe in 100 years. So if you're a pancake purist, you'll want to eat there.

Indianapolis, Indiana's Milktooth has a warm, bright ambiance and some amazing Dutch baby pancakes. According to Fox 59, this garage-turned-restaurant specializes in fruit-crowned Dutch baby pancakes with seasonal ingredients.

One of Milktooth's more exciting aspects is that you can get your Dutch baby pancake either savory or sweet, putting it a cut above in a state known for its breakfast excellence (via Original Newsbreak). If you consider yourself a pancake aficionado or simply want to try something different, head to Milktooth.

Urban Egg in Overland Park, Kansas, gets rave reviews on Tripadvisor for its amazing breakfast offerings. Between the pancake sampler platter and the innovative spins on traditional cakes, Urban Egg takes pancake excellence to a new level, and you'll get speedy, friendly service to boot.

According to a Yelp reviewer, Fred's Hawaiian Pancakes are an excellent choice, but picking a bad egg on the menu would be tough. If you can't make it to Kansas, there are a few Urban Eggs in Colorado as well.

The whimsically-named Ruby Slipper emerged after Hurricane Katrina and quickly established itself as one of the best brunch spots in New Orleans (via NOLA.com). According to Tripadvisor, the breakfasts are substantial, the staff is incredible, and you must try the pecan bacon pancakes. Other standout pancake stars include the cinnamon swirl cakes and the white chocolate bread pudding pancakes.

If you want to stick closer to more traditional fare, the buttermilk pancakes at Ruby Slipper are absolutely scrumptious too.

Miss Shirley's Cafe, which has a few locations in Maryland, serves up a variety of classic and specialty pancakes that keep Yelp reviewers looking forward to the next pancake of the month special. According to the Daily Hive, Miss Shirley's Cafe is the best way to get your day started, and its reputation for excellence has earned the Baltimore institution many awards over the years.

If the fan base and rave reviews are any indications, Miss Shirley's Cafe's sterling status is well deserved.

Sophia's House of Pancakes has a considerable following in Michigan, with eight different locations to serve its hungry clientele (via Michigan Live). Breakfasts are a big deal at Sophia's House of Pancakes, with a particular focus on the blueberry pancakes.

Rise and shine by 6:30 a.m. to be first in line for these excellent pancakes (via Tripadvisor) paired with a steaming hot cup of coffee or some of Sophia's freshly squeezed orange juice.

Big Bad Breakfast franchises are predominantly in Mississippi, but there's also a location in Nashville. What these franchises have in common across state lines are their enormous and ironically named short stacks of beautiful fluffy pancakes deluged in toppings and fruit (via Tripadvisor).

Not only will you get more than generous portions for your buck, but according to Nashville Lifestyles, Big Bad Breakfast specializes in homemade meals and pancake stacks that rival your favorite dessert.

At Toodie's Cafe in Glasgow, Montana, it's not just the scratch-made pancakes that keep customers running back; it's the toppings. According to Only in Your State, Toodie's has a regular rotation of seasonal and classic pancake offerings, enough to make the restaurant a contender for our list.

The combination of homemade cakes and gooey, from-scratch jam is a decadent home run (via Restaurantji). Crowned with a dollop of whipped cream and some powdered sugar, they're a masterclass in breakfast.

Mr. Mamas in Las Vegas, Nevada, has a ginormous menu of comfort food goodies, but there's something sinful and special about the pancakes. According to Tripadvisor, these cakes are super airy and flavorful, and you can order a short stack or go whole hog with a full stack.

If you're feeling really adventurous and hungry, get the Mamas Stack and eat enough pancakes, meat, and eggs to fill you up for a whole day. Per Fox 5 Vegas, Mr. Mamas is one of the best places to take your mama for Mother's Day, even more so if she's a pancake lover.

Montclair's The Corner is a bright and unassuming little breakfast spot that just happens to serve up some stellar pancakes. According to NJ.com, The Corner's cloudlike, balanced, dessert-adjacent stacks of cakes come with various fruits, specialty syrups, and the right amount of whipped cream and sugar.

These sweet treats keep The Corner's clientele coming back, and there can be a worth-it wait on the weekends (via Yelp) for the moistest, tastiest pancakes in all of New Jersey.

According to Yelp reviewers, New York City's Clinton St. Baking Company is a consistently crowded, beloved bakery in the heart of the Lower East Side that serves some magical blueberry pancakes.

The Infatuation concurs, noting that the expertly executed pancakes at Clinton St. Baking Company are why there are lines out the door during the weekend. Although you might have to wait for a table, dining at Clinton St. Baking Company is an experience any pancake-loving New Yorker or visitor should have at least once.

Little Cottage Cafe in Bismarck, North Dakota, doesn't shy away from the classics; it just does them exceptionally well. According to Only in Your State, this beloved Bismarck diner sticks to timeless recipes and continues to uphold the standards of excellence that put it on the map in South Dakota.

The pancakes are a true standout: substantial, homemade, and smothered in toppings. According to Tripadvisor, it's clear that breakfast is the star at Little Cottage Cafe.

Pancake lovers have a new reason to visit Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: syrup. According to Tripadvisor, syrup. is the place to get pancakes in OKC, with lovely, moist pancakes drenched in steaming maple syrup. Add in some homemade sides, and you've arrived in true breakfast nirvana.

The Oklahoma Gazette confirms that syrup.'s sweet breakfast offerings live up to the hype, specifically the cinnamon roll and sweet potato pancakes. However, you'd have to really try hard to go wrong with anything on the menu.

Pennsylvania's Hershey Pantry, in the incredible chocolate-making town of Hershey, offers gigantic pancakes and sweet coffee concoctions that will make your morning. According to Foursquare reviewers, it's the ideal breakfast spot in the state and well worth waiting for.

Yelp reviewers love the homey, welcoming feeling you get the second you walk inside. If you want pancakes that are more like an enormous breakfast dessert in a cozy atmosphere and don't mind significant portions, you'll love the Hershey Pantry.

Harry's Breakfast Pancakes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, specializes in pancakes, landing on Myrtle Beach's USA Today's Best 10 list. Between the hot, delicious pancakes and the homestyle, friendly feeling, it's hard to go wrong at this Southern restaurant. According to iHeart, Harry's Breakfast pancakes are the absolute best in the state, fully coated in a luxe layer of maple syrup and plenty of butter.

There are also specialty pancake varieties with cream, fruit, and different artisanal butters.

The Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a delightful little eatery that Tripadvisor reviewers refer to as a "banquet hall for pancakes." While you can expect a wait, service goes pretty quickly, and soon you'll find yourself in the heart of pancake heaven.

According to The Smokies, hungry customers can look forward to a serious stack of cakes, and it's both a joy and a challenge to polish off the plate. The from-scratch pancakes and fixings at The Pancake Pantry make this place special and keep the customers coming back for more.

Stacked is Utah's premier pancake house. Located in Logan, Stacked specializes in (what else) stacks of pancakes, which are anything but a small portion. According to Tripadvisor, you'll have trouble finishing the pile, but it won't be from a lack of trying. These pancakes are that good.

Only in Your State applauds the bevy of creative creations at Stacked and the fact that hungry consumers can choose from savory or sweet variations. With homemade cakes and whimsical toppings, it's no wonder that Stacked makes Utah's finest pancakes.

Pocahontas Pancakes in Virginia Beach consistently draws in both locals and tourists with its fat stacks of premium pancakes and incredible service. According to Tripadvisor, the breakfast in general and pancakes specifically are to die for, and Only in Your State notes that there's no mystery as to why people flock to Pocahontas Pancakes for their first meal of the day.

If you're looking for solidly good, heavily garnished pancakes served with a smile, head to Pocahontas Pancakes in Virginia.

If you're a pancake lover with a huge appetite, the Poky Dot He-Man Challenge in Fairmont, West Virginia is here to test your resolve. The Poky Dot is famous for its delicious, hearty pancakes and massive portions, and the He-Man Challenge is the eating contest to end all eating contests. You'll get four huge pancakes, eggs, biscuits, home fries, and several types of meat (via Only in Your State).

The sheer portion size of the He-Man challenge and other breakfast entrees, plus the premium pancake quality, put the Poky Dot on the top of our list.

The Bunnery in Jackson, Wyoming, serves seriously good rise-and-shine eats, and Tripadvisor reviewers proclaim that its pancakes are a must. The Bunnery's O.S.M. (oats, sunflower seeds, and millet) pancakes are tasty, robust, and perfectly prepared, served alongside maple syrup and toppings (via Yelp). You won't find gimmicks at The Bunnery; just excellent pancakes prepared right, with great service and attention to detail.

Pancake purists take note; the Bunnery is the best in Wyoming and a contender for finest in the region.