Original Pancake House Reviews

just get there early to beat the crowds, it's a VERY popular place and I've never been where I didn't have to wait a bit, but it's definitely worth it!

I first ate here 50 years ago. And It’s been 16 years since my last bite of pancake. I’m ecstatic the quality of food and service remains. They are Consistent in every respect. Delicious, unbeatable taste. Ursa & Reagan were most friendly & personable hostesses who welcomed & seated us. And Asia was a delight as our server taking care of our every need. We splurged on buying the souvenir coffee cups to take home- but $18.00 each is steep. The fond memory & the “taste” of one of our favorite restaurants will stay with us for a long time.

I always have the banana pancakes with bacon. It's the best thing ever. I'm not rating excellent because the restaurant is noisy, pricey, and has little room. But the service is very fast, and the food extraordinarily good.

The portions are huge, the prices are the highest breakfast house numbers I've ever seen, to go orders can't be called in advance, they only take cash, there is often an hour wait at peak times and not enough places to sit while waiting, not wheelchair accessible........so why are there people waiting an hour to easily spend $30.00 per in a breakfast only eatery that doesn't serve hashbrowns???? ANSWER: Everything is off-the-chart-stupendous. The juices are fresh squeezed on premises, they cure their own meats, and every ingredient - even down to the cinnamon, (except, sadly the coffee) is the highest quality known to man. The omelettes are creative, fresh, huge and perfectly finished every time. I've tried them all and suggest the mushroom with sherry wine sauce, the green chili and The Irish. There are a dozen items unique to this restaurant and although the apple pancake is probably the most popular (with good reason) there are many, many other original menu items to make you rave. I have friends that drool for the crepes with various liquors and exotic accouterments, or the wheat germ, potato, Palestine or Swedish pancakes. Seasonally, they offer the highest quality fresh, local berries and fruits with hand whipped cream for simple-but-perfect waffles. A waffle, smothered in fresh, jumbo, juicy premium boysenberries and whipped cream, bacon, juice and coffee will run you at least $30 with tip. Considering the quality, they under charge. I 've been eating here over 50 years and the quality has never, ever varied 1%. Everything is perfect, every time.

This used to be the place to go after concerts or after a night of drinking. The pancakes seemed to have a magical quality of lessening the hangover that came after the previous night's excesses! The pancake house is an icon.

. . .this is the place to do it. The size of the crowds alone give you a big clue that this place is the real deal - fat, sugar, eggs, cholesterol and of course delicious. Be prepared to wait knowing it's going to be worth it. All the pancakes from plain to blueberry and beyond are great. The banana pancakes are near the top. Then there are the baked ones, the Dutch Baby and the apple one. Don't tell your doctor before you go and be sure to get a check up after. You'll have a big smile when you do.

From the moment you walk in wonder greater, sat down almost immediately ( unheard of for a Sunday morning) The staff is all uniformed in 50 style warm inviting just like going to grandmother 🏡. table setting was stellar from wonderful white curved saucer plating, ceramic creamers, even the syrup had a spill plates and silver flatware. Did not stop there the food selection and portions where from small size to lumberjack status. Flavor of the pumpkin 🎃 pancakes mind blowing. For sure make it a fantastic regular place to come.

We visited as a group of 6 plus a little one at about 10 am on a Thursday. The restaurant has a homey feel to it, but is on the smaller side, with tables packed in somewhat close. Add knotty pine walls, wood floors, and a packed restaurant and you have a pretty noisy place. It wasn't unbearable by any means, but it definitely was noticeable. Generous portions of of quality food, and a great selection of different pancakes. Side order of bacon was 4 thick sliced pieces that were very tasty. You can substitute on the menu, I had sourdough pancakes instead of buttermilk with my eggs. I think I would have preferred buttermilk. They don't take debit or credit cards, but they do have an ATM machine in the waiting area. Seating for 2 is pretty quick, but you are at a community table in the middle. The waiting area is sizable with a view outside. Parking is good although a little tight entrance. Service was friendly, although food delivery seemed slightly slow. Restrooms are behind an unmarked door in the back left side of the restaurant.

We went to the Original Pancake House in Bend, Oregon and really liked it. Then next day we went to the Original Pancake House in Portland. This was a huge mistake because the Original Pancake house in Portland was nothing like the one in Bend, Oregon. The one in Portland was so small that you could hardly walk through it because it was cluttered and crammed with tables. It was cold and noisy in the restaurant. The worst thing about the Portland Original Pancake House was that when we were done eating I attempted to pay the bill, just like I did on the previous day in Bend, with my ATM card and the waitress tells me that, "Oh, we do not take ATM/Credit Cards". She said, "We only take cash or checks". I looked at her dumbfounded. This place has to be the last place on Earth that does not take an ATM debit card! I had to go and find an ATM machine (one that does not charge a fee to get your money) and then come back to the restaurant and pay the bill. I should have never come back. I was so pissed off. After being able to pay my bill with my ATM card at the Original Pancake House in Bend I did not think that this place in Portland would be any different. I will never go the the Original Pancake House again in Portland. What a horrible experience. While I loved the Original Pancake House in Bend and would return there if I am in the area, I hate the Original Pancake House in Portland!

Do not go there. The waitresses cry at the slightest issue. They told us not to come back after the waitress cried. We especially do not like being ignored while the waitress has a very long and loud animated chat with the other customers at the next table. They said we could not return unless we called the owner and asked for permission to return. What? Is this called service? Also, the noise level is very high, with small children running around, screaming and crying.

Great food served fast. Recommend the Dutch Baby with a side of Bacon. There bacon definitely passes the bacon test. Breakfast places with cheap, thin bacon NEVER serve good food. OPH serves deli style thick bacon.

Been to several of their franchises in other towns. Not the same. Also, come prepared with plenty of cash. Nothing else accepted and prices are mid range, but worth it. Menu has changed little since I first came in 1955. Excellent Swedish pancakes and blintzes but the Dutch Baby is to die for. Fantastic corned beef, but chopped fine and best with poached egg (the fried egg is not browned, so a lot like a poached egg, but firmer white). The apple pancake is a meal for 2 or 3 people. Grapefruit and orange juice is fresh squeezed. Coffee would be great by most standards, but this is Portland, so skip the coffee and go to and go to the Ace Hotel after breakfast. Best to come early. I frequently arrive at 7:00 and can get a seat, even on Sunday. Waitresses are less harried then as opposed to 10:00. If there is a wait and only 2 of you-sit at the common table. The décor has not changed since it opened, but somebody is maintaining it well. Good cooks. Everything made fresh, so don't come here with less than 90 minutes to spend, 45 if you arrive at 7:00

This is the type of place people who travel a great deal generally go out if their way dine at. No credit cards-just cash. If you want a treat, order the Dutch baby pancake. It easily feeds two. Their bacon is great and in berry season, they have he best from the shoulders of the cascade mountain range.

Very small space & very loud! Waited 20 minutes while tables sat empty - greeter totally incompetent. Food was good & portions large, but would never return. Sign said no one seated until party complete, but greeter seated one & forgot about her when companion arrived. Small sign said no credit cards - nothing has changed in 70 years?

Love this place and have visited for years. The pancakes and crepes are flavorful and tender (favorites are the coconut pancakes with loads of toasted coconut, the French crepes with strawberry compote topped with orange tropical syrup and the enormous warm apple pancake). What sets the "original" Original Pancake House apart beyond the delicious pancakes themselves is the very retro and cozy atmosphere coupled with attention to details such as good strong coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice, real whipped cream to accompany large bowls of juicy berries, and tasty artisan bacon. A wonderful west side tradition.

So, I have eaten at OPH since I was in a high chair. My parents were friends with the owner. The food is ALWAYS great. Their signature Dutch Baby and Apple Pancake are legendary. Best bacon. Best potato pancakes. Fresh handpicked fruit year round. Order ANYTHING and you will leave happy, and return often.

The FIRST Original Pancake House is located in Portland, OR, and if you enjoy a raised batter pancake with fresh apples and a wonderful cinnamon syrup baked to perfection in a skillet for about a half hour before served piping hot at your table, then you will be in paradise at this family-friendly restaurant.

It seems to me that this place is popular out of nostalgic reasons rather than its merits. The food is plain, greasy, and overpriced. People wait in line for hours for this mediocre food. In addition, they don't take credit cards.

I came in and it was extremely busy. There was an issue with my order amd Austin not only personally made sure everything was right but he personally delivered it. Thank you Austin because you are the ONLY reason I would come back. You are appreciated ☺

Everything is good here! Pancakes are wonderfully fluffy and light. Staff are kind and friendly. We often come here for dinner - Breakfast for dinner. Open 24 hours so Breakfast any time !

My dad brought me to this place in the 1960s. I brought my kids here and look forward to bringing my grandchildren. Excellent food, excellent service. Highly recommended

My family loves the Original Pancake House at home, so it was fun to go to the "Original" Original to see where it all started. I give it a higher rating purely based on the novelty of the experience, not necessarily the food. The restaurant is incredibly small.. I would say it would seat 50 comfortably, but... there were probably 70 of us in there at the time, so it was very crowded and loud. I think the charm of it is I felt transported back to a time where restaurants were much simpler and weren't out to bring in the masses. So, I wasn't so annoyed that I had to pay with cash. The food was, to be honest, not as good as the OPH back home. Can't really figure out why, but it just didn't have the full flavor I am accustomed to. Anyway, I would still recommend the experience.

I eat here at least once a month and don't even look at the menu. I usually get the bacon and eggs (served with 3 of the best pancakes ever), monterey jack and green chile omelet, cherry crepes or one of a few other items. I have never been dissapointed by the service or food at this fine place. It can get a little loud as the place is small but the food more than makes up for the noise. If you go early or late, it is a lot quieter. It has a community table so that will cut down on your wait time if you don't mind sharing the table. Don't pass this place up if you want a quality meal, it's worth the time and money spent.

No better place for breakfast if you are not in a hurry. They have the most awesome pancakes ever.

There are several places to get good pancakes in Portland, especially with the city's love of breakfast places but the Original Pancake House is one of the best. Some places try to be great at everything and are mediocre at most but the Original Pancake House has the recipe down pat so when I'm craving a pancake, this is where I usually go.

I have eaten here several times and each time my food was superb and tasty. The omelets are perfect and huge! Crepes are lemony and decadent. This place had been here forever, is easy to find, and had pretty decent parking. Love this place

This is such a special restaurant. A small old-time dining room, wonderful coffee with real cream, and amazing entree items. We had a Dutch Baby, scrambled eggs and ham, banana pancakes, and a bowl of fresh peaches with whipped cream and powdered sugar. This is not a stop for the Portland hipster—just well-prepared, excellent American breakfast food served here. Be prepared to wait unless you get there at opening. They only take cash and checks—a throwback to an earlier era that only adds to the charm.

I grew up in Eugene and Original Pancake House was a staple there. From Sunday morning breakfast to 6 am breakfast while going through initiation with my sorority at the U.O. I have fond memories of this place and their absolutely luscious breakfasts. You can’t get a bad meal. Every kind of pancake imaginable. YUM! Now I live in Portland and have been a patron to the one here for 30 years. You gotta try it. Coffee is delicious, crepes are incredible, so many choices.......

It's the Original Pancake house. Parking is small, always crowded, unpleasant wait help, but the food is very good. The Dutch Babies are very good. It is also very difficult getting in and out of the small parking lot. It's very dangerous, actually. I'm not likely to go again.

People are stacked up outside this smallish breakfast place in SW Portland on the weekend, waiting to work their way inside. Are they lining up for the variety of pancakes? Or for the inflated prices? They get both. $28.25 (not including tip) for two plates of pancakes and two iced teas is way too much. The apple pancakes were eggy and good. The Nebraska corncakes were decent. But no meat and nothing else. We've lived in this neighborhood for 26 years and once every eight or ten years we try the Original Pancake House again to see if anything's changed. Nope -- still small, still overpriced, with a large number of pancake options. And they still don't take credit cards. It's OK, but nothing more. I just don't understand the long weekend lines.

This is my favorite breakfast spot - BY FAR! I've been coming to the Original Pancake House for over 25 years and still crave the Apple German Pancake and tea.

I have visited number of pancake houses over the last few years. They all have had good service and high-quality food. The Portland Oregon original pancake house is the original pancake house and for that it is also a landmark. You can't go wrong at the pancake house!

I live in Illinois but visit Portland on a yearly basis. OPH as we refer to it is incredible! We plan our trips around eating here. Fresh ingredients, with the fluffiness eggs and omelets I've ever had. We have tried everything on the menu and we share so that we can try a little of everything. We plan our trips to fit in visits to OPH. This is the best breakfast place I've ever eaten at. Swedish pancakes, Dutch baby, apple pancake are all so special too, it is just such a treat. One other thing I love is that they have the freshest fruit. When you order berries you get an assortment of very fresh berries with whipped cream. It is so refreshing,

Fittingly, when we decided to go out for breakfast on the 4th of July, we declared our independence from boring breakfast fare by visiting this restaurant. We arrived about 10am and the hostess quickly met us, gave us our numbered ticket, and told us it would be about a 15 minute wait. There is room for about 20 people in the foyer, and some covered walkways outside, so it was a comfortable wait. My son made friends with a nice woman who had been coming here for more than 30 years, and her advice when asked what to order: "It's all good." The dining area is crowded but convivial--it really feels like an old house that was remodeled into a restaurant, and it probably only seats about 50, which explains the lines waiting to get in. The coffee was a cut above--a nice middle of the road proprietary blend that was served in heavy cups and saucers, not mugs. I thought it was a nostalgic touch, along with the pink-aproned servers. We had an apple pancake, pigs in blankets and a southwestern omelette. All were hot, fresh, huge, and delicious. For those who have been known to sneak a slice of apple pie for breakfast, the apple pancake is a socially-acceptable replacement, with the 'cake' being a thick, almost custardy base for thick slices of cinnamon apple gooey delight. Mmm-mmm good. The service was quick but not rushed. And just to complete this step back in time, do remember that it is cash or check only.

My favorite place to eat since I was a little girl. I'm now 27 and living in Georgia. Every time I go back home to Oregon I always make a stop here. It's the best. Takes me right back to my childhood. I always a order the Dutch Baby (the best on the menu). I'm never able to finish it because it's huge.The breakfast potatoes are also a must. I always leave a happy girl. The nostalgia!

Glad I had some. Buttermilk Pancakes were fine. They got my buddies egg order wrong but they brought out the right eggs pretty quickly. I ordered mine over medium and they were over easy. I thought the service was prompt. They have been in business since the early 50’s so they must be doing something right. It is an interesting, funky Portland place. Pretty busy for a Thursday morning.

First time there and our family of seven enjoyed and wonderful brunch! Lots of food so you can split with no charge.

I had a great time hanging out with a friend here and the pancakes are huge and delicious. The atmosphere is relaxed, simple and has a cool jukebox and very casual demeanor. Prices are really good and definitely worth a visit when big pancakes and easy eating are what you're after.

Great service and outstanding food, especially the '49 plate size pancakes. Handled our group of 9 very efficiently.

The baked German pancakes are amazing here! And the sides are huge. If you ask for whipped cream you'll get a bowl full. The food is delicious, prices are decent, and remember to bring your cash as they do not accept credit cards. If you forget there is an ATM in the lobby. Expect to wait for a table if you come later in the morning.

Great place for breakfast or possibly brunch. Copious amounts of coffee and the pancake portions were huge. You can order sides instead. Good place to eat and you can watch the world go by.

Waited for 45 minutes after being told the wait was 20, then we got called only to wait for another 10 minutes while four other tables got seated. Waited ten minutes to order, another 45 minutes on the food. Portions are large. Food is serviceable. Bring cash or check, they don’t take card.

This is one of Portland's iconic restaurants -- the best pancake restaurant in the U.S. I've been going since it opened. (We used to sell them eggs when I was growing up on a farm outside Oregon City. The food's great, best ingredients and the best place to eat a Dutch Baby. (And the lines are still long.)

Great food and very much an experience one has to have after a late night at the club. Food is fresh and homemade with great ingredients. Be sure you are READY to order when you get up there- the employees are nice enough but are used to getting through the crowds so dont hold up their line (and frankly- be careful not to go off at any of them...you'll regret it).

Happy molten apples on carb delivery platform. Actually left some on the plate... Like going back in time, cash only, big milk dispensers, staff fun and attentive.

I really wanted to like this place, I had heard it was a cant miss breakfast spot so my wife and I went on a Sunday around 10am. Disappointed in so many ways. First, we were told there was a 25min wait so we walked back up to the parking lot to look around. We checked back 10 mins later to find they had already called our name and given our table to the next person in line. We were told we would be next in line but watched two other couples get seated so we asked when we would be seated and were somewhat abruptly taken to the dining area with no comment. Awkward. The restaurant is VERY small and as a result very loud. The menu looked ok but I noticed there were no potatoes or sides really to choose from, you got pancakes as a side with everything even the waffle dishes! So after ordering I noticed on the menu it was cash only. Small print on the far right side - how embarrassing for people who don't know and think they can use debit/credit when the bill comes. Who doesn't take plastic in 2017?! Big jar of sugar on the table, had to wait ten minutes for Splenda for my coffee. The staff were overloaded, they couldn't keep up with the fast pace and we got someone else's order by mistake. They ran it back to the other table but it was another ten minutes for ours to come. I will say this, the bacon was extraordinary but overall that was the only positive note about the whole experience. Go to Elmer's, its less expensive, the food is much better and the restaurant is appropriately staffed for big crowds. And you will wait 5-10 minutes for a table.

Fantastic food and service! We love going here for the incredible Dutch baby, 49ers pancakes, or crepes. The bacon is superb and worth the $8. I'd give 5 stars if they took debit cards since we never seem to have cash on hand.

Omlette - white cheddar and bacon - will fill you up with a wonderful blend of flavors, even if they do bust the calorimeter. The "dutch baby" (baby not because of its size) is a special treat, which would suit for a late-night dessert or as a scrumptious breakfast or brunch delight. Ingredients are what make this food terrific. All of them are of the freshest and highest quality,down to the fresh-squeezed orange juice.

We went here for breakfast with Portland friends - the meal was really nice - massive portions BUT the whole place is just plain grotty. Needs a good spring clean then at least a 4 star rating.

Got seated right away (thought I'd mention that, as a lot of people have complained about the wait time; that said, our party of four went on a Friday morning around 8:30, and I'm guessing weekends are busier). Massive portions, good food (blueberry pancakes, apple pancake, veggie omelet--though the only ding was that it had way too much cheese), fair prices for quality and quantity of food, and sufficient service. Nice ambiance, and free parking (though it can be a tad tight).

We had breakfast first thing at 0700 on Father’s Day when we had to leave early from our Pearl District hotel. A gay pride parade was going to shut down the street outside our hotel unless we left by 0630AM (nearly $300/night). Even at 0700 there were over 20 people waiting for the doors to open. The wait staff was very efficient and got all the orders in quickly. The food was piping hot, and tasted great. Remember they ONLY take cash at this location. It has been years since our last visit, but the Original Pancake House was good as ever.

It's a chain and we are in 2015 yet they do not accept credit cards shall I say tax avoidance? The food, people have referred to this as home cooking, if that is the case I am truly sorry for them. To much baking soda, sugar volumes like you would never believe and the Mae syrup is mixed up in the kitchen using flavor-chem brand nasty maple syrup type stuff. Word of advice seek out one of the many local and independent eateries.

First off, this place has charm. It hasn't changed since the 50's, down to the pink aprons for the waitresses. So the downsides: Cash only. No soda. There's an ATM in the lobby, and they make a point to note that they receive none of the ATM fee. ($2-$3 per transaction). The pros: This place has some of the best bacon I have ever tasted. There's delicious pancakes, quick service, and a charming ambiance. The pancakes are soft, fluffy, and a little sweet. Very tasty. Go slow and savor the experience.

This is not your typical Village Inn or IHOP, this is a for real pancake house. Everything is made in house and it’s so fresh. A huge variety of pancakes as well as other breakfast entrées. The pancakes are so light and fluffy and delicious, huge portions. It’s a rather small facility so plan your arrival times well as there could be a wait and I don’t think they take reservations, but I could be wrong. We most definitely will go back again.

This place is buzzing and it is not surprising - the food is good, the service is good and there is a wide enough range to please everyone.

Oh my! That says it all. I have been coming to the Original Pancake House for years. I love their fresh fruit crepes. But my friend had the fresh fruit waffle and raved about the flavor. In the winter, I order their pecan waffle with a lemon syrup. WOW. But also their chocolate chip pancakes are the best, if you are a chocolate lover. You cannot go wrong with anything that you order. The staff is pleasant and friendly. They always wear a smile and genuinely enjoy their job. The restaurant is noisy. But the customers leave smiling.

This is the original restaurant in the "Original Pancake House" chain. Nowhere else can you find pancakes that are this good, unless it is at your grandmother's house! I like the simple buttermilk pancakes but there are much more exotic (and good) pancakes available too, such as a great "Dutch Baby." I love the atmosphere and the good and efficient service. The only reason I didn't give this a 5 star is that it is noisy and can have a long wait, especially on weekends.

They don't tell you an omelette has 6 eggs! Too big, should share. A dinky glass of milk was 2.95!! The food is good, but we could have split an omelette, and forgot the milk. If I remember correctly, they don't take credit cards?!*#

So the cutest little house with a kind of Swedish feel. I always get a perfectly made ham and cheese omelet; it comes with three pancakes that I can not eat. I am too full, but they warm up nicely. Great butter, coffee, cream and a full proper pot of tea. About 20 kinds of pancakes. Go early or wait. The parent restrain for the other all over the US like Plano Texas.

This place is just cute! The waitresses are wearing pink aprons and ponytails. Like eating at your grandma's in 1954. Good food, friendly people, sweet little pancake house.

Waitress was the worst racist I've seen in a long time. Took my order, brought subpar food,then 2minutes after taking the order came and gave me the check. She never came back rmto my table until I had finished some 40 minutes later.

I can't say anything that anybody else hasn't already said. I've lived in Portland my entire life and have visited the pancake house for almost five decades. It remains the best although not the least expensive place for breakfast anywhere in the USA. I have visited other Pancake House locations especially around Oregon and Nevada but they do not compare to the original! Not for the cholesterol faint of heart.

Foods really good but the people who serve you are not! Had a young girl wait on me who was nasty rude for no reason. Where do they find these people!

This is the "Original" of the now chain franchise called the "Original Pancake House." It is an actual house (or once was). The food is pure quality, through and through. Home made, carefully thought out, tested over the years. That the food is good is testified to by the fact that the bow not quite 100 or so places franchised to carry the same name have consistently packed houses round the clock every where I've tried them (about 15, that I've been to). But this is where it started. The Apple pancake, Dutch baby, fluffy omelets ("secret" is that pancake batter is added to the egg mixture), fresh squeezed OJ … all just steady, really good, never disappoints. But, HERE, the PLACE is special. I admit to a special feeling because I grew up here, came there so often that they new us by name when I was a kid. Here's how special this place is: My dad encouraged us to practice using math, and so let us look at the bills at restaurants to see if they added up correctly (a different era, I know). If we detected an error, he would pay his the amount of error we found. When the OPH waitress, "Ona," heard about this, she always made sure to make a 10-15 cent error (with my father's agreement) se we could earn a bit of money. I ended up inviting her to my Bar Mitzvah. Special people. Special place. I promise you'll think so too.

Wow. That is all I can say about the Coconut pancakes. I have never heard of this place (apparently its a chain and is all over the country) and part of me wishes I hadn't since I don't know if I can control myself around pancakes that are this delicious. The variety is plentiful, and they put just about anything in or on the pancakes. They also offer waffles, omlettes, crepes and some other items as well. The restaurant is small, so expect to wait. We got there around 830 and had to wait about 10 minutes. Not bad. Cash only. so make sure you bring cash! Or a friend that has cash. The restaurant is small and cozy. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. I thought the pancakes were reasonably priced considering the plate was really full. However, a coffee cost over $3, and an orange juice cost over $4. I believe 1 side egg was also over $4. So depending on what you are getting, the value may or may not be good. If you like coconut, I would highly recommend the coconut pancakes. They come with a tropical syrup that is kind of pineappley tasting. It was pretty good on the pancakes, but so was good old fashioned maple syrup. My friend got the apple pancake and it looked amazing as well. (She said it tasted as good as it looked). I can't imagine anything being bad on this menu. I will certainly be going back to try some other items.

They are famous for these big poufy pancake things, I did not have that, but saw and smelled them going to A Lot of other patrons. I would recommend this for a big family breakfast, but it is apparently always crowded, so plan for that. Good food, reasonably priced.

The portions were huge, but the food quality was unremarkable. If you go, order the puffed pancake and skip the other options, in my opinion.

I've had breakfast at Original Pancake House restaurants in Honolulu, San Diego, and Salem, Oregon, and the food and service was first-rate every time. Now that I'm back in Vancouver, I knew exactly where I wanted to go for my birthday (which is today): the "original" Original Pancake House in Portland. What a disappointment! After checking in at about 12:40 pm and sitting down to wait our turn for a table, we watched the entire waiting room empty out. After another 10 minutes, a lady popped out and said, "Oh...are you still waiting?" After being informed that we were, she said, "Are you waiting for a special table, or will you take anything?" Against our instincts, which we would pay for later, we decided to go in. We were then seated near the entryway. Our order (a Dutch Baby and an Irish Omelet) was taken pretty much immediately, and about 10 minutes later condiments (lemon/butter/powdered sugar) were placed on the table. After about 20 more minutes, our waitress (a young brunette) came out, stopped suddenly at our table, and said, "Oh...I need to find out what happened with your order." Evidently, she had been too busy flirting with the guy at the check-in counter to pay attention before then (yes, we noticed...we were sitting RIGHT THERE). About 5 minutes later, she came back and said, "They're just waiting on the lemon thing (whatever that meant)...it'll be right out". She came by three more times over the next 15 minutes to tell us "the orders are going into the oven right now", followed by "the orders haven't gone in yet because they had to wait in the rotation" (although the restaurant was over half empty by this time), and finally "your order will be out in 5-7 minutes). At the 7 minute point, we looked over at the other side of the restaurant and noticed a young woman who had come in 10 minutes before was being served her order. We got up, paid for our coffee, and left, although we did notice that our waitress became much more attentive at that time as she followed us to the door asking us to come back. However, it was nearly 2:00 pm by then and we needed to go somewhere that would feed us. Needless to say, we will NEVER go to the Portland Original Pancake House ever again. I'm not even sure we'll ever go to any of the other ones we used to enjoy. Thanks for ruining my birthday.

this place is very spendy for the food you get,we ordered pancakes and they were cold,some of the food was good and hot but not the pancakes plus the sausage links were burned complained but was ignored,won't visit again

It's just a cool hangout for late night dopers or whatever who have the munchies. The food is meh, and, like most breakfast fare, about 10x the cost of the materials- easy to cook. So I guess the convenience and hangout-ability is the deal. Bleh.

We always visit the Original Pancake Houses in Washington so it was quite familiar to us. Staff was friendly.

Definitely a breakfast type place. All pancakes about $10.50. Seemed high for what you get. My wife thought it was a different restaurant or wouldn't have eaten there. Pancakes, blueberry and buttermilk were very good. Service ok. They have omelette so too. Juice was $3.50-$5 or so also high.

He always orders the apple pancake, and is never disappointed. It takes about 1/2 an hour to cook, so you can order it as soon as you come into the restaurant. There is frequently a wait on weekend mornings. Myself, I like to try various options. Some of my favorites are the "Joe" and the mushroom or veggie omelettes. We love the coffee also!

Unusual dining offerings in the apple pancake which is a must try! share with friends though, because there is enough here for three! The apple pancake takes about 45 minutes to prepare, but it is an experience well worth the wait. Pancakes prepared in ways that will wont see anywhere else! something here for everyone, and an unforgettable dining experience!

The Original Pancake House has been a family favorite for a long time. But with a tight parking lot, slow but very friendly service, long lines and cash only it’s just too hard to take our young kids. The corned beef hash is AMAZING however!

VIsited the OPH to Celebrate a birthday. It had been about 25 years since the last visit. Somethings never change and this restaurant hasn't since the 50's when it opened. It's a cash only restaurant. The food is good but expensive considering. It's a pancake house- flour,eggs,milk,and baking powder. The coffee is served in a cup that contains no more than 4oz. so your continuoslly requesting a re-fill. The cost of breakfast for 3 # 53.00 plus a tip... definetly not worth the MonEY......

A good place for breakfast, with a huge selection of choices on their menu. Can get crowded.

Who doesn't love a dutch baby.....theirs are absolutely the BEST! Bring your newspaper and plan to wait a while, it's worth it.

I'd eaten at the OPH in Sioux Falls several times-incredible. Unfortunately, my experience at the Original, Original was lacking. Food is a bit high but well worth the quality. It was incredibly, noisy, I mean really loud and there is just one small room. When I went to pay, by then I was in a hurry, the waitress mngr. informed me they only take cash or checks....uggghhh! (Really? Your telling me now?). I had looked well at the outside door coming in and read their hours, etc. This is a typical breakfast type place like 98% of all others that take cards, except they don't. With the prices they charge, couldn't they "pay the man" the small % $ in order to make the customer's experience one in which I don't need to leave my friend there, travel 3 miles down the road, leave my card in the machine by accident (I live 20 miles south), come back and pay cash? By the way, the sign that says "cash or check only" is on a desk, in the corner, about 3" x 5", handwritten in colored pencil-really? It is very easy to miss. Now Monday morning I will have to travel another 20 back to the bank, and pass the Original Pancake House. Guess where I won't be having breakfast again?

We arrived at about 10:30 on a weekday and still had to wait. There is only perhaps seating for 50 people inside. Prices were a bit on the high side for the meals- yet all were large enough to share. Portions were huge. A special request was accommodated easily for changes on toppings on one of the pancake orders.

One of our stops when in Portland. It's all about the food. Hubby had his favorite pancakes - basic with maple syrup which he reported were great. I love the Lingonberry syrup and lacy Swedish (I think) pancakes, but on this occasion it was omelet time - cheddar cheese, onion and tomato to be specific.Very satisfying. You know what you are going to get when you arrive at The Original Pancake House. A long wait- it's a popular spot. Crowded and not particularly comfortable seating and a bit understaffed. Worse yet cash only please! Hey its all about the food which is well worth the wait, crowding and being prepared to pay with actual money.

My family regularly visits the Original Pancake House in my hometown. I was very disappointed that the quality and service we are accustomed to was not available at this site. My husband and I took my dad out on Father's Day - very crowded, long wait, which we expected. However, when we were seated, my dad ordered eggs, hashbrowns and toast - standard breakfast fare. "We don't have potatoes," the waitress informed us. Restaurant focused on breakfast, with no potatoes. First disappointment. Forty-niner flapjacks, too cold for the butter to melt. Bacon - thick and delicious. Coffee - excellent. And when it was time to leave - cash or checks only, no debit or credit cards. The last bad surprise from a franchise restaurant that I thought I was familiar with.

I really hate the seating in the pancake house, especially when the pace is packed. The tables are on top of each other. The best way to avoid that is simply come in when they are not busy, which is rare. The pancakes are the reason why I go there and they are fantastic. Made from scratch, which drives the price up. The important thing is that it's not processed.Come with cash or check, credit and debit cards not accepted!

We pretty much order the same thing every time we go here. Their apple pancake is something everyone should try at least once. Any time we have guests in town, we take them their and make them have the apple pancake. If possible try to go on a week day when they are open. Not as busy and quieter. Weekends there usually is a waiting line for a table. If you don't mind eating with strangers request the community table and you may get seated quicker than waiting for a private table. Also be aware the place is very noisy when they are full. We checked the sound level this morning and it was around 90db!

This is a great pancake house and so many choices it is difficult to decide. Saturdays and Sundays are Packed. We went during the weekday and it was pleasant and no long wait. It is a small restaurant but the selection is amazing!! The potatoe pancake was delicious and so was the lingenberry!!! Tasty. Reasonably priced but don't go when it's crowded with kids, the wait will drive them and you crazy!

Went for breakfast. Was a bit of a wait but it was a Saturday morning food was excellent and more than enough food. Server was very friendly and offered suggestions

We have been eating at this restaurant for at least 30 years. We have learned because of its popularity to arrive on a weekday Wednesday - Friday when they open at 7:00 to avoid waiting (there are no reservations) and get a good parking spot. They do have a large waiting area, which was probably a porch to the house the restaurant occupies. If we go on a weekend, we just grab a Starbucks and a paper to read while we wait for our number to be called. The service is top notch. My husband always orders the Apple Pancake for $12, which is so delicious. (It's more like a rich dessert.) It comes out of the oven very hot and remains so for quite a long time. I like to change it up on occasion and order something else such as the White Cheddar and Bacon Omelette for $13.50, which I had today. I was hoping there would be some onions, garlic or other veggies also in the omelette, but it just had what was listed on the menu. The omelette was very light and fluffy, but I thought the cheese was a little overwhelming. (They must put in a half a pound or more!!) The omelettes also come with 3 buttermilk pancakes. In any event, anything you order will serve at least 2 people, so you could easily share. We will both have one or more breakfasts with the leftovers. The only complaint I have is their coffee. To me, it tastes like it is made with chicory. I normally skip their coffee when eating here or drink hot tea. The wooden chairs are not the most comfortable seating, however, they are so busy that they probably don't want people to linger for hours. The noise level can be obtrusive during peak hours, which is again why we go very early. We look forward to many more years of dining here.

Of course, breakfast is my very favorite meal. And The Original Pancake House never fails to put a smile on my face and a happy feeling in my tummy. So many choice of pancakes. I want to try them all. One friend loves the waffles and another prefers the corned beef hash with eggs and potato pancakes. The apple pancake feeds more than one, as do most of the meals. We pretty much always have enough to take home for dinner or the next morning. The staff is very friendly and are always around to fill your coffee cup. Frequently there is a wait for a table, unless you want to sit at the community table (where you can meet new people)enjoy the But even with a wait, it is totally worth the visit!

Hearty breakfasts are the only thing I eat here. Open whenever you get hungry. Parking isn't too good, sometimes there's a line (because others want to eat the hearty breakfast too), and the decor is limited. But the breakfast are always filling diner style fare.

I've been hearing about this place forever and been trying to go for months. Problem is... It's a super long wait on the weekends. Then I kept forgetting that they were closed Mondays and Tuesdays, which always seemed to be the day I planned to head over. Finally went last Wednesday just before 10am, party of 2. Still had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. Then as I was sitting there, I noticed the sign "CASH or CHECKS only!" Seriously??? In this day and age? My son and I were scrambling through our wallets and had about $40 cash between us so we thought.... OK, we're covered. Turns out it was barely! The menu is really all about the pancakes, with a few not-very-exciting egg optioins thrown on for good measure. But $12 for 3 specialty pancakes and no side? The Dutch Baby features are even more. Again...no sides...just cakes. 1 link of house sausage (one!) is $8 extra. We wanted to try 2 types of pancakes plus get an egg dish so it wasn't all sugary. With the cash we had on hand, that wasn't an option. So we ordered the Eggs and Sausage with a side of pancakes for an upgrade price. The egg plate by itself would have been an embarrassing entree at any other restaurant. Can't believe they even charged extra for the pancake side. In the end, the pancakes were delicious, but the overpricing, long wait, limited payment option and small food quantity made us leave the place pretty sure we'd probably not come back.

First - they do not take credit or debit cards, so bring cash! I've been on the hunt for good corned beef hash in Portland, and finally found a place with good hash! It is finely minced corn beef with just a little onion and potato. Not greasy at all. You can order it a la carte or with 2 eggs and potato pancakes or any other type of pancake. They serve real maple syrup, and the only word to describe their whipped butter is sublime. The service was great and the food arrived quickly. I definitely plan to return and try more of their menu items.

Went here over 30 years ago, and I still remembered how fantastic it was, so with my husband on a road trip, I told him I had to take him there...we arrived about 1030 am which allowed us to squeeze in with no wait between the breakfast and lunch rushes. Loud with laughter and conversation and crowded inside, the waitress was truly a delight and we were soon sharing the illustrious apple pancake..still delicious and perfect after all these years. We also shared some perfectly cooked poached eggs. Havent seen this many happy people in one place in a long time. Go and enjoy. I hope this place is around for a long time to come. Wish they'd close off the kitchen just a bit so we didnt have to watch the dishwashers slave away. They work very hard to take care of us though!.

I am biased because I grew up a few miles away and came here often. A true original though and nothing's not good and quality. A real one time house. Incredibly well trained cheery staff. Apple pancake is the famous dish, and but the Spanish omelette has been my favorite. Everything fresh with quality ingredients. A 20 minute drive from downtown.

Don't let the long line dissuade you--it's worth it. If you are alone or traveling as a couple, sit at the "community table" for faster service. Every pancake is amazing, in my experience, so just pick what looks appealing at the moment. The portions are huge, so either share or plan to take leftovers. If you want to really go for it, order the Dutch Baby--there's nothing like it anywhere else.

Note: They do not accept credit or debit cards, so bring cash. We had been to the Original Pancake House in Eugene, and were surprised that this one is so much smaller. We arrived around noon on a Wednesday, and the place was packed. I had the apple pancake, which is the size of an apple pie (no top crust). It's enough to feed 3 or 4 people. I at about a third and brought the rest home. My husband had the corned beef hash and eggs with potato pancakes. Again, a huge serving, with plenty to bring home for another breakfast the next day. The food is good, and the service is friendly.

Ever notice the people waiting in line for 45 minutes at seven in the morning? There has to be a reason for this kind of devotion, and the reason is that this is THE Original Pancake House. The "Dutch Baby" (among many other offerings) is worth the wait.

I have one of two things here. One they call shells, which are like thicker crepes, rolled up and empty. I get a side of Orange Suzette Sauce! To die for! Today I split my second favorite item with my husband...the Apple Pancake. Yes, I can eat the whole thing, but the last 3 bites are hard to get down and then I'm always sorry I ate the whole thing! Half was ideal. Delcious, filling, rich, sweet, hot, fresh, and I was content without being stuffed! The wait at 9am on a Saturday wasn't even 10 minutes. The service is fast, efficient, happy, and uniformed. I love this place! It is truly old style perfection! OK, I don't like their bitter coffee! Thanks to Starbucks and my travel mug, I was happy as a German Pancake!

Absolutely wonderful pancakes and waffles, with many seasonal fruit options. Downside is the long waits on the weekend (no reservations taken), and make sure to bring cash or check.

I went with a group and we were seated in a timely fashion. All present enjoyed their meals. If anything quantities were larger than expected.

We came in on a Friday around 11:00 and had at least a 20 minute wait. Once seated the service was very good and the waitress was very helpful. Any of the pancakes can be made gluten free for an additional $1.50. My husband and I both got omelets. He got the Irish and I got the Vegetarian without cheese. I will say the omelets are HUGE and neither of us ate all of it. There wasn't a lot of flavor but mine was packed with veggies. The gluten free pancakes were okay and they substituted gluten free for the regular for no extra charge. Our two omelets and one cup of coffee came to $29. I thought this was spendy for an average tasting omelet. We've had a lot of breakfasts around town lately and this wasn't one of our favorites. I will say that if I return I would get one of the fruit pancake choices as they looked amazing. The strawberry pancakes, apple pancakes and dutch baby all looked delicious.

You can get any type of pancakes, crepes, etc. with lots of choices of syrups. This was the first pancake house in the Portland area. Going there means having patience because there is always a line waiting to get in!

The parking lot was free but tight. They are known for long wait for seat at popular times. Dutch Baby pancakes are famously delicious. The bacon was thick and wonderful. The over easy eggs were cooked to perfection. Old school restaurant.

We met up with friends to try this amazing pancake house. Not only were we seated immediately upon arrival (9:00 am on a Saturday), we were served coffee immediately and the water glasses were always full. When you order "bacon and eggs", you get 3 of their amazing pancakes as well. I heard they make their own syrup. I don't drink coffee, but the others in our party said it was excellent coffee. Our meal was less than $30 including tip. The food was served quickly and hot. The waitresses were dressed in pink and white. It reminded me of the times when life was slower and simpler. Be warned though, cash or check only. No debit or credit cards. Wonderful way to start a Saturday.!

"Fresh" and "delicious" are the first words that come to mind. In addition to regular visits, my daughter and I make an annual pilgrimage during peach season to order the peach and blackberry crepes. Although a single order would be plenty to fill our tummies, we wouldn't think of sharing. I don't know where they source their fruit, but it's always the best, and it helps that they focus on in-season fruit when possible. And the fresh whipped cream is to die for--just the right hint of sweetness to complement the crepes. If you fall on the "meat eater" spectrum, don't despair. My husband loves their links, accompanied by nice crisp-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside hashbrowns and cooked to order eggs. The wait can be pretty knarly on the weekends, so be prepared, or stop by during the week and avoid the long delay.

We really enjoy going here for a special breakfast treat... Love the puff pancake, cherry crepes and sausage and pancakes.

My family lives in Portland & I always try to get to this place when I'm in town. I don't eat eggs. so many breakfast places don't offer much for me. There's lot of variety here. Everything is fresh & the maple syrup is the real deal.

All the "original's" are terriffic, but this one, as well as the one in Eugene Oregon are the best! 49er flapjacks, all the meats, as well as the great Pancakes are better then anywhere else. Period.

What you should know: Cash only, expect a wait...because this is a genuinely great place to eat. The food is hot and fresh and the portions are huge. Leftovers are to be expected and I usually get two more breakfasts from my original meal. The servers wear pink dresses, so 1950s, and service is smart and fast. There is a communal table. The place is sparkling clean. The old house also has a well maintained garden.

Best breakfast!! Loved the Dutch baby and the bacon was delicious!! A little in the expensive side, but well wort it!!

Might have to wait for a table, but it was worth the wait for us. The pancakes were good, but the overall meal was excellent. Large portions and well prepared. Offers more than pancakes. I had bacon, eggs, and pancakes which included more an better bacon than I can ever remember for a single portion.

We really were looking forward to eating here as we've hear rave reviews about how good the pancakes are here. I had the banana pancakes (my favorite) and my wife had pumpkin. The pumpkin had a very subtle amount of pumpkin spice but it was very subtle. Mine allegedly had bananas inside but I'll be a monkeys uncle if I could find any, all I saw were to or three sitting on top. My wife could definitely make pancakes that were at least as good, if not better. With the crazy wait and cramped quarters, I don't think we will be going back. I'd rather eat pancakes at home or go to Sckavones or Petite Provence.

Food was great. Waiters were friendly. Portions were huge and reasonably priced. Only set back was we had to wait before we could be seated.

Portland tradition with a huge group of regulars. You will likely wait but they are fairly quick, huge portions, wide selection, comparable pricing and good food.

Six of us came here for breakfast and it had probably been 10 years since my last visit because I am not a breakfast person. We all ordered our own meals and we probably could have shared 3 or 4 because we had so much food that no one could finish theirs. Great service and quality of food and the fresh squeezed OJ was fantastic.

If you come here, come with an appetite! This is a terrific breakfast spot, though there are often lines. We just went on a Thursday morning and there was no wait. Come during the week if you can. This is the mother ship of the Original Pancake House chain. Like all restaurants in the chain, it has a huge menu of breakfast items to choose from. You won't go wrong selecting from their specialty items which include Dutch Babies and Apple Pancake. The Dutch Baby pancake fills an entire dinner plate with fluffy, eggy excellence. It comes with whipped butter, powdered sugar and sliced lemon. Delicious!! The Apple Pancake is pretty much the same, but topped with a huge serving of baked apple slices and cinnamon. It's kind of like having apple pie for breakfast. Portions are so large that splitting one order between two people makes sense and neither person will leave hungry.

I would imagine this place looks the same as when it opened decades ago. That is part of its charm. Bustling, low tech ; no credit cards(!) vintage uniforms, tickets to call your table, community tables. Expect to wait for a table. Expect to be glad you did. Huge portions, but delicious!

overpriced pancakes...the potato pancakes were greasy and tasted like old oil. this plave was a let down. The corn beef hash was OK but that's about it. plus the fact you have to use an ATM on site to pay if you don't have cash is really annoying. expensive breakfast with little appeal.

Best pancakes, waffles and crepes for l breakfast lunch or dinner. Doesn't look like much from the outside but Cosy and warm inside. Aanrader!

It gets crowded, so go early or on a weekday. I love their sourdough pancakes. They also have pumpkin pancakes, gluten free options, and amazing omelets. The veggie omelet is the best deal on the menu and comes with a side of 3 small pancakes. It's less than $15 and could easily feed 2 people. Service is always friendly and nice. They only take cash, so stop at the ATM before you go!

This used to be my Friday breakfast place. Really, every Friday I'd eat at the Original Pancake House. It's that good! I never get tired of the 49'ers. But, I also will venture onto other menu options. Even their oatmeal in perfection. Yes, they are expensive. No, they don't take reservations (and the wait can be long). But you won't be disappointed. Bring a cup of coffee with you if there is going to be a long wait and read the paper or chat with your neighbors until you are seated at your table; then you can enjoy one of the best breakfast's that Portland has to offer.

We frequent Portland, OR and this is our go to place for breakfast when we are there. In fact, it is one of the places we look forward to when we are planning our trip out there. The restaurant is quaint, clean, bright and the waitstaff provide outstanding service. Oh yeah, and the pancakes (of every kind) and other BF items are outstanding as well! Only possible complaint is the parking area is small but then maybe that's because the place is always crowded so almost always you will have a bit of a wait.

This is the very first Original Pancake House, the rest are franchises. It looks the same as it did from the start and the service and food is the best in the US. The only take cash or checks no plastic but an ATM is in the lobby.

Some successful restaurants lose focus, cut corners or compromise. Not this one. I ate there 30 years ago and just revisited this month and all expectations were exceeded. We showed up on a Saturday morning and, just like 30 years ago, had to wait about 20 minutes to get seated in the cramped little dining area. We asked the waitress if there was something our 1 year old could snack on and she quickly brought a bowl of fresh blueberries. We ordered Tahitian Maiden's Dream, Apple Pancake, the Fresh Fruit pancakes and the Buckwheat Pancakes. Everyone should try at least one bite of the Apple Pancake in their lifetime and on our visit it was perfectly prepared - the consistency is unbelievable. the Fresh fruit pancakes featured their perfect (not soaker!) pancakes smothered in fresh blueberries, black berries and peaches, topped with plenty of full fat whipped cream. Yet each bite was delicate and delicious. The coffee is super strong. Cannot recommend this breakfast spot enough!

Very good food, Very good waitress. Clean. Good value for the money. Like most places in Portland, it gets busy so be prepared for a wait. It is worth the wait.

This restaurant is highly overrated. In years past it was decent, but they have cheapened the ingredients in the pancakes. They are like hockey pucks and they taste and smell like the griddle they were made on. The value for your money is not there. Way overpriced for what you get. The only thing for children is a lame meal costing $9.25. That's atrocious!

Excellent breakfast in the oldest operating pancake house, and they make the stop worth it. The crowds agree. Very worthwhile experience for great pancakes and omelets. Parking is tight and at a premium due to this "original" location where the town and highway have built up around it.

I have grown up eating at The Original Pancake House in Michigan, so when in Portland, Oregon I had to stop and try the original Original Pancake House. It was absolutely excellent! The food is delicious, it is presented beautifully, and is brought to the table nice and hot. They use REAL whipped cream and the coffee is strong and wonderful. My favorites are the Big Apple Pancake, the 49er Flapjacks, the Fresh Strawberry Crepes, and the Dutch Baby. This is a great place!

The Orginal Pancake House was started Portland in the early 1950's. Although it is a franchise, the restuarant requires training at the Portland based to ensure quality and consistency. This approach has paid off. I seek out OPH's whenever traveling and have never been disappointed. The Dutch Baby and fresh fruit waffles are high points, and buckwheat pancakes are a great gluetin free choice. Their coffee is always excellent and the staff friendly. The Portland OPH is somewhat small and very popular, so be prepared to wait on Sunday mornings if you arrive after about 8:30 a.m. OPH's are very family friendly, but also great for business meetings. Their website (www.orignalpancakehouse.com) includes menu items and a downloadable list of locations.

If you are a foody looking for an excellent breakfast this is the place. An established landmark with charming decor. Top quality breakfast items in generous portions. Prices are noticeably higher than standard coffee shop but is warranted by the quality. They DO NOT accept debit or credit cards. It is obvious that they have a loyal following of locals that lends to a "Love it or leave" mentality. Good service.

This nation-wide pancake house was started in Portland. There are so many wonderful items on the menu that it is hard to have a favorite but worth the effort to try.

If you have heart issues, make sure you taken your statin pill before and after and then enjoy a breakfast that overwhelms in terms of taste. For anyone in the know, this place solely focuses on high quality ingredients. Know that there will probably be a wait, so bring something to read or someone into intelligent conversation because there will be a culinary reward once seated.

This restaurant has been a family favorite for decades! We are never disappointed! Excellent food and superior service!

We've gone to other locations of Original Pancake House, but never to this "first" one. The same menu with wonderful choices... absolutely delicious food. Our favorites are the cherry crepes, forty-niner flapjacks, and their to-die-for bacon. This location, however, is much smaller and cramped. And their parking lot is very tight. It tends to be very crowded.

Super ingredients and perfectly made omelets (baked) and pancakes. I've been eating there for, let's see, 40 years now? This OPH on Barbur Blvd. is the original original! The owners lived in the apartment above for many years. They really do not cater much to those restricting calories, so I don't often go.

Their Dutch baby dough is the best thing they have we go there and wait for long time just to get to eat it. The last time we went there we also ordered some pancakes for some reason it tasted like rotten bread and we couldn't eat it. Their prices are a little bit more than it should be. But it's worth the experience

Went here once, don't get the deal or ratings. Bland, nothing remarkable, never went back.Food was blase, noisy, lots of families, a wait for food that can be beat most anywhere.

Big portions! Fast Service and the BEST Dutch Baby pancake. It is almost always crowded so bring your Sunday paper and be prepared for a wait. Breakfast or brunch. There is a community table if you come alone.

I have fond memories of this as a kid, so when I got to take my husband here, it was another fabulous family memory. Remember to take cash, this is really like the old days in here...hasn't changed a bit!

Always a line but so worth it. you will be floored by the portion sizes...huge!! The dutch baby or apple pancake are the way to go. Our favorite!!

Great place to eat. Poor parking but the food is worth it. You order at a window. Coffee good. Really dated and scarce furnishings and no decor. Nice full menu. Staff very pleasant. Real good prices. I will return

Food is always great, and they have so many choices on their breakfast menu! Service is always good, and the food is delicious! Be prepared for a long line or wait, especially on weekends, but it is worth it.

I was surprised to see the Original Pancake House on the America's Classics list since I see it in so many cities and always viewed it as "just another chain", but this is the original, family owned location (the others are franchises). We showed up at around 1 pm on a Sunday and there was about a ten minute wait. You are given a number, then they have an area up front with benches for people to wait. I can see this getting really crowded earlier in the day, but ten minutes was no problem despite my being famished. The menu is massive. It was really difficult deciding what I wanted. Being the Original Pancake House, I definitely wanted pancakes, but the egg and omelet dishes come with 3 buttermilk pancakes, so that didn't really narrow the menu down except to remove waffles as an option. After hemming and hawing for a while, I finally decided on the two by four (two eggs and four buttermilk pancakes) with a side of links. A bit boring of a choice, but I love eggs and buttermilk pancakes and tasting the original would help me better compare it to other pancakes. My bf went for one of the "specialties" - the apple pancake (oven baked with fresh granny smith apples and pure Sinkiang cinnamon glaze.). To drink I had the iced tea, which comes in a very small glass (free refills) and was a bit bitter for me. I usually like iced tea raw with maybe just one or two sugar packets, but here needed a lot more sugar. They must make most of their money on drinks and sides.. the coffee/iced tea for $3.25 is pretty expensive for this kind of spot. But, my bf did say that the coffee was pretty good (and he's a snob about his coffee). A side of eggs was $5-$6 which is a bit outrageous, which is why I went for the pancakes that came with eggs for $10. Now here's my breakdown of the food: Eggs - nothing special here. I had them scrambled and they weren't much different than the scrambled eggs I'd had at the Doubletree breakfast buffet the day before. But, they were just fine as a side for my pancakes. Sausage Links - a smidge greasy (but aren't they always) but really good. Cooked so that they are just slightly crispy on the outside. 4 small links, which I prefer to one large one, since there is a higher ratio of crispy outside to meaty inside. Buttermilk Pancakes - light, fluffy, and delicious. Exactly as thick as they should be and soft enough to cut through with my fork. As pancakes should be. The fluffy butter on the side was the best part. Hard to say if they are the BEST pancakes I've ever had, or if I'd go out of my way to get pancakes here vs somewhere else, but they did not disappoint me. Apple Pancakes - holy moly. This was like the size of an entire apple pie. It is barely a pancake. There is perhaps one pancake hidden under that pile of warm apples and cinnamon. This would have been way to sweet for me to eat as my sole breakfast, but for stealing a few bites, it was perfect. I can see why they are famous for this.. it's something else. I'd recommend sharing a couple of things if you are going to opt for one of the really sweet pancake options. All in all, it was worth the visit, and the specialty pancakes are definitely what makes it different. Tip: CASH ONLY.

I had an unsatisfactory experience at THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE in Portland (124 street location). Ordered the corned beef hash and an Irish omelette. Totally disappointed. Let's start with the corned beef hash. Runny mush with no flavor. Clearly not homemade, or if it was, it was run through a blender! It must be made with mashed potatoes to be so soft. Not even fried or browned. I have had more flavorful, nicely textured corned beef from a can and some amazing corned beef hash from other local restaurants! The Irish omelette was another disaster. Layered with the same corned beef mush and mashed potatoes (menu just says potatoes but a reasonable person would assume diced), it was 2 inches of bland, zero taste, soft tofu textured disappointment. Sure it was big (about 7 inches across) but the thing actually jiggled on the plate. My guess is too much cream or way undercooked eggs. Needless to say, I could not force down even a quarter of it before pushing it aside and just eating the pancakes that came with it. The buttermilk pancakes were laughable. For a place with "pancake" in their name, they should be able to make good ones! Maybe the other specialty pancakes are better but these were undercooked and thin. Really, really thin. The sugar free syrup had a very odd taste so we used the table syrup. A little bit on the pancakes and the pancakes just fell apart. you couldn't even get them to stay on a fork. Four dollars for a cup of coffee is robbery. Asked for cream three times to two different servers and it was never brought. Place was about 2/3 full but I had to get up and get my own coffee refill since the only times the server came by were to bring the food and the bill. So, a horrible, expensive breakfast ($45 for two). We will never return.

Our group of 6 went there for Mother's Day, so we waited for at least 1 hour, maybe more, to be seated. We ordered assorted pancakes, Dutch baby, flapjacks. They were fillings & tasty, but overpriced (no sides). Spouse's '49 flapjacks were disappointing; he expected a heartier meal. HUGE DRAWBACKS: credit/debit cards or reservations not accepted. A commercial ATM is available, for extra fees, of course. That's just stupid in this I-don't-carry-cash era. No reservations? Seriously? The parking lot is tight; there's really not enough room for 2 vehicles to go in opposite directions and there's only 1 way in/out. Service was friendly and coffee was tasty, but there are too many negatives to return. Forget about it if you're in a wheelchair or use a walker.

I know I'm going against the grain but I have to call it like I see it and this place was a big disappoint to us. We had not been in years and since were in the area so we decided to give it a try. As usual there was a long wait, lots of people in the small waiting area. We got to listen to a newbie loudly complain about their no credit card policy and the surcharge to use the ATM in the waiting room, oh well. Now to the important stuff, the place is cramped, noisy and the seats are hard and not very comfortable. The waitstaff seem to be constantly rushed and they convey that to the customer, hurry up and order, hurry up and eat so they can move in the next sucker. The food is OK, just OK, Elmer's has a better German Pancake, though neither is as good as Henry Thiele's was. This place is expensive for what you get as far as food and service it is living on its reputation and peoples memories I can safely say that we have made our last visit. I'm sure that lots of people will disagree but this is my honest review. I grew up in the restaurant business and I would love to have a piece of this cash cow but they won't be getting any of my money in the future.

Monterey is not for people on diet s:) it is so big loaded with cheese and I love mine with pumpkin pancakes! My guy and I split with yummy plate of gooey goodness with the GREEN SAUCE! Redmond OR is where we eat at the most but we loved Portland too!

I can say with confidence that this restaurant is the best breakfast place in America. They have a dish called Dutch baby it is tasty with batter and honey you should order it.

Although it has been in business for many years, the Original Pancake House has its regulars and its occasional visitors. The food is superbly made within the context of its mission. Breakfast!

Cozy atmosphere considering how busy this place is. The food is quite good, but in my opinion not living up to the hype.

A Portland tradition since the 1950s, it's charming & a bit retro, but not always in a good way. They accept no reservations, debit, or credit cards. A for-profit ATM is on-site, but who wants to pay exorbitant fees? Unbelievable that management expects people to carry around large wads of cash. Our group of 6 was there at 8 am on a recent Saturday; we waited for 45-50 minutes because they apparently couldn't find a table for more than 3. Customers who came in after us were seated long before we were. For heaven's sakes, why don't they accept reservations for large groups? Food portions are very generous and tasty; real cream & real butter were a nice touch. My veggie omelet w/3 pancakes was truly filling & the apple pancake one of our group had was ginormous. No problems w/service, though. We enjoyed the meal, but honestly, I can't say we'd go back.

Well we stopped in this morning prepared for a long wait typical for Saturday morning but were Suprise's with only a 30 minutes? The building looks the same as it did 30 years ago and gratefully the Apple pancake was just as I remembered, awesome! Turn time on the food and the tables makes for a short wait and meal! It was a wonderful walk down memory lane!

There are so many wonderful items on the menu, and all of them are served in enormous portions, so you can really only eat just one. I hate being limited like this, so I take friends and family who like to share. Order two or three items and then split everything. I'd choose an omelet, either the German or Dutch Baby pancake, and something with fresh seasonal fruit (waffle, crepe, or just the fruit). Of course my husband would tell you to order any pancake item, bacon and eggs, and the fresh fruit. We're both right, its all good.

Gotta come here -- by bus or car -- this is the ORIGINAL Original Pancake House. Nothing but the best of ingredients. Peach crepes are wonderful, but only come once a year. Forever favorites are the apple pancake (they peel the Granny Smiths in the back between waiting tables) that is baked and served upside down -- like a Dutch Baby with apples. Get bacon and eggs because their regular pancakes a truly the best you'll ever get (it's a rising formula, like bread!). Ask for the community table to sit and visit with artists, union organizers, chauffeurs, workers, and an occasional heart valve inventor.

The Portland Original Pancake House is THE original of this small chain. They prepare great breakfasts including amazing omlettes, German pancakes, and crepes. When you go, go early as this is a very popular restaurant in Portland. It is a converted house and the dining area is relatively small. Their fresh fruit crepes are fantastic because they use only fresh, in-season fruit. Whatever you choose, you won't be disappointed. For single diners there is a community shared table if you prefer to meet new and interesting locals.

Wow. Staff is efficient is what must be daily chaos. Johnna was our Fabulous waitress. Friendly, efficient, was helpful with the HUGE menu. Good amazing. Worth the wait!!! Local gem.

REAL Cinnamon on the pancake - and while the thick bacon is good, the german sausage is an outstanding change of breakfast meat. Worth the wait, but closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

We hadn’t eaten here in years but we were in town visiting. I am ecstatic to report: the servings are HUGE and the table service is excellent! We were welcomed by Butch, a local customer who helps out. He’s very engaging and entertaining. Chelsea was our server. She greeted us with a big smile and was back and forth to our table with her outstanding and very personable service. She made countless trips bring food dishes and clearing our plates in between courses! On previous visits the pancakes were much smaller and so today we all ordered extra food to make sure we left full. And we did. Their buttermilk pancakes are the BEST. Dutch baby was good too. I couldn’t taste any sourdough in the flapjacks. Eggs were tasty and OJ nice and tart. After today’s delicious feeding frenzy experience, we’d definitely return.

The Original Pancake house has been a staple in our breakfast list when traveling etc. It has gotten way out of hand on prices. The rest. was not especially clean, service a bit slow, sticky syrup containers etc.

Was thinking it would be fun to try out the "Original Pancake House" while a trip through the Portland, Oregon area. What a disappointment. So crowded the waitress could not move around to get to refilling my coffee cup (yet did so for the others at my table). It was soooo noisy that you could not even talk to those at my own table. Upon getting our bill, was informed "cash only" or "check". Do you think they would take an out of state check, I think not. Went to ATM they have inside for cash. Don't you think it would be a good idea to post a sign to alert customers? Not one to be found. Luckily we had enough to pay for it. The waitress said it was because they had an old cash register, strange to me. I guess they want you to look on line to see they don't accept cards because they have not updated the register. Not everyone does that (we were travelling through.) Pretty pricey too. Disappointed with my breakfast, so been there, won't do it again.

Wow! This restaurant is a must visit for breakfast. The pancakes are delicious and their fruit is incredible. We ordered a sampling of different pancakes (Swedish, chocolate chip, blue berry) and a fruit crepe. Make sure to give yourself sometime to wait, because it is a small place and popular.

Not expensive and an incredible, tasty breakfast. The service staff was very nice, helpful and complimented the good, old-fashioned (in a good way) and cosy athmosphere in the restaurant. Plus we ate the best pancakes we ever had! Thank you

The OG Original Pancake House would be worth a visit if only for the history and tradition surrounding this venerable establishment. Throw in the classic, delicious dishes; the wonderfully friendly, attentive service; and the kitschy, classic vibes, and you’re looking at an all-around great time.

This is the original location to this international chain and they've kept it small and classic and it makes all the difference! They use the finest of ingredients done the classic way which also makes an incredible taste difference. They are using their own starter for the doughs which gives you a tender, flavorful pancake / waffle or crepe that you will admire. Even the coffee is great. One BIG drawback is NO CREDIT CARDS of any type are taken and while they have an ATM at the entrance, this was a definite black mark on this place. No reservations so be prepared to wait too especially on the weekends. Pricey but excellent.

I just read the review called "the way it's supposed to be" and I don't know if he is correct about this being "the original" but I'll take his word for it. In any case, that explains why we waited nearly an hour for a table on a Saturday mid-morning. It was worth the experience. I didn't expect the food or service to be that good in such a madhouse. 1950s-cute (yes, they wear pink outfits) waitresses are amazingly attentive and friendly, non-stop coffee is good, grapefruit juice really is freshly squeezed. And menu hasn't deteriorated into burgers, steaks, etc. but holds tight to its pancake/waffle origins (altho I had corned beef hash and eggs = excellent). You can tell this place got its start when the street it's on used to be US Hwy 99 (before the interstate was built).

I have been to several other Original Pancake Houses and was really looking forward to eating at the "original" Original Pancake House. I liked the dated decor and the use of the small space. I was prepared for their "no credit cards" policy and brought cash. What I wasn't prepared for, however, was badly cooked eggs. I saw their Apple Pancakes and other wonderful dishes that looked delicious. I am diabetic and have to avoid sugars when I can. I ordered the bacon & Swiss cheese omelette for $14.25. I was told it came with 3 pancakes. The only thing they could substitute was toast. Neither was a good choice for me. They had nothing else or offered any other options for fruit, tomatoes, etc. The omelette came and was a huge portion. It was, however, over-cooked to the point it was brown on both sides. Over-cooked eggs do not taste good. It was a Sunday morning and they were busy, so I gave them a middle rating. A restaurant that specializes in breakfast should get it right every time, though.