The 8 Best Pancake Places in Ottawa That Are Really Flippin’ Great
I rarely crave sweet things for breakfast. But when I do, I absolutely go to town. And go to town I did when I realized that my old pancake mix at home sadly just went past its expiry date.
I wanted to find places where I can enjoy tasty calorie-filled towers of fluffy concoctions that can easily get me up in the morning.
I also wanted to taste that true Canadian maple syrup dripping down the same stack of flapjacks that I was about to unapologetically devour.
Luckily, there are several great pancake places around Ottawa that helped me get my sweet fix, and I’m convinced that such places are slowly making me retract that very first sentence I said.
Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House (Walkley Rd)
– Media credit: stackedpancake
Address: 1739 Walkley Rd Unit F004
Contact Number: +1 613-260-5859
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 7:00am – 3:00pm
- Sat-Sun: 7:00am – 4:00pm
Must-Order: NY Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes
Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House features an array of pancake options decorated in different flavors that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
From simple pancakes topped with whipped cream to the much sweeter Cookie Butter Pancakes, there’s a round-shaped treat fit for any person to enjoy.
The pancakes by themselves are soft and buttery. Even without any syrup, they easily melt in your mouth.
As a lover of all things strawberry, I had to go with the NY Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes. The strawberries are very fresh and juicy, and the cream cheese icing has that slightly sweet and tangy flavor.
Some of you will also be glad to hear that they have gluten-free pancakes as well, which are topped with the same mildly sweet icing sugar that they put on other options.
Pro Tip:
Order the “Pancake Stack” to have your pancakes with a side of eggs, bacon, and sausages.
Elgin Street Diner
– Media credit: ottfoodie
Address: 374 Elgin St
Contact Number: +1 613-237-9700
Operating Hours: Open 24/7
Must-Order: Blueberry Pancakes
Elgin Street Diner combines a classic diner vibe with its warm servings of aromatic pancakes, which are a favorite among locals who frequent the place.
One thing I’ve noticed about the pancakes served here is the portion size. They’re quite big and easily fill your plate, so you’re definitely not leaving hungry.
They also don’t cheap out on the rest of the ingredients. Whether it’s strawberries, bananas, or a mix of both, you’re sure to receive a generous serving of them with every order.
The Blueberry Pancakes are a must-try at Elgin Street Diner. The blueberries taste so fresh that it feels like they were just plucked from the bushes, while the syrup used is thick and rich in flavor.
The diner is open 24/7, which means you can enjoy the same great-tasting pancakes any time of the day.
Pro Tip:
Have your pancakes with one of their best-selling milkshakes to complete the set.
Fuwa Fuwa Dessert Cafe
– Media credit: fuwafuwaottawa
Address: 1200 St. Laurent Blvd
Contact Number: +1 647-309-6120
Operating Hours:
- Mon-Sat: 9:30am – 9:00pm
- Sun: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Must-Order: Matcha Tiramisu Pancakes
Fuwa Fuwa Dessert Cafe offers a unique Japanese twist to the beloved pancake, which has attracted many intrigued customers to the comfy store.
Pancakes served here are made in a soufflé style, meaning they’re lighter and fluffier in texture due to the separating and whipping of egg whites.
There are over 15 flavors of pancakes to choose from, with varying flavors of house-made sauces, and topped with juicy fruits. With this, it actually took me a while to pick one.
By the time I finally made up my mind, I decided to go with the Matcha Tiramisu Pancakes, and it easily became one of my favorite go-to desserts ever.
The matcha strikes a delicate balance between being slightly bitter and sweet, while the tiramisu provides that extra essence of coffee to complete the dish.
Pro Tip:
Find a place to sit down at the food court first, since it takes an average of 15 minutes to get your pancakes.
Chesterfield’s Gastro Diner
– Media credit: ottawatourism
Address: 1300 Wellington St. W
Contact Number: +1 613-680-8990
Operating Hours:
- Wed-Mon: 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Tue: CLOSED
Must-Order: Blueberry Pancakes
Chesterfield’s Gastro Diner initially hooks people in with its big brunch menu, but keeps them coming back for more with its delightful pancakes.
Whether you’re having them as your main breakfast or just on the side, Chesterfield’s pancakes are large enough to keep you satisfied for hours on end.
The pancakes are made slightly crispy on the edges, and then soft and fluffy in the middle. This is something that barely any other pancake place pulls off.
As for the flavor, they only have Blueberry Pancakes at the time of writing. However, the blueberry compote used is a sweet and rich blend that’s specifically unique to this location.
They also use genuine Ontario maple syrup, which perfectly hits that caramel and vanilla-like flavor profile that you don’t get from ordinary table syrup.
Pro Tip:
Get your daily protein in by pairing your pancakes with air-fried chicken for $26.
Perkins American Food Co.
– Media credit: eatatperkins
Address: 1130 St. Laurent Blvd
Contact Number: +1 613-747-9190
Operating Hours:
- Sun-Thu: 6:30am – 10:00pm
- Fri-Sat: Open 24 hours
Must-Order: Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes
Perkins made a big mark on the Ottawa breakfast scene by introducing its authentic American-style pancakes, which are loved by many across North America.
I kid you not, most of the people who have experienced dining at the St. Laurent branch talk about the pancakes. They say that the servings are very generous, and the butter-to-syrup ratio is perfectly balanced.
Their Potato Pancake platter is one of the more unique items that they have. The potatoes offer a savory and crispy taste, and the apple sauce that comes with it is slightly tangy.
But in my opinion, nothing beats their classic Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes. The pancakes are grilled very nicely, and the blueberries and buttermilk combo gives a fruity and creamy flavor.
There’s also the Short Stack option that gives you three buttermilk pancakes with no sides, which is perfect for those who prefer having only the pancakes themselves.
Pro Tip:
Have your pancakes as a side dish for the best value, since they’re often given as an optional item at no extra cost.
Zak’s Diner
– Media credit: zaksdiner
Address: 14 Byward Market Square
Contact Number: +1 613-241-2401
Operating Hours:
- Sun-Mon: 7:00am – 10:00pm
- Tue: 7:00am – 12:00am
- Wed: 7:00am – 10:00pm
- Thu: 7:00am – 12:00am
- Fri-Sat: Open 24 hours
Must-Order: Banana Pancakes
Zak’s Diner takes pride in its truly Canadian dining experience and delectable pancakes made with passion.
All of the ingredients that are used to make its pancakes are locally sourced, whether it’s the farm-fresh eggs, milk, or maple syrup.
There are a couple of pancake options that are pairable with eggs and sides, from the less sweet plain ones to the more sugary Chocolate Chip variant.
I personally went for the Banana Pancakes, and I would highly recommend it to anyone else. The bananas were actually infused with the pancakes rather than being added on top, which locked the flavor in with the batter.
Every set of pancakes can also come with 100% Canadian maple syrup for $2.99. It has a golden amber color and a rich caramel-like taste.
Pro Tip:
Get Zak’s all-day breakfast pancakes at home via DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Valley Eats.
Mazarine Brunch
– Media credit: mazarineottawa
Address: 282 Kent St
Contact Number: +1 613-514-0153
Operating Hours:
- Wed-Fri: 10:00am – 2:00pm
- Sat-Sun: 9:00am – 2:00pm
- Mon-Tue: CLOSED
Must-Order: Ashta Pancakes
Mazarine Brunch brings the taste of both the Middle East and the Mediterranean to Ottawa’s soil with its special pancakes.
They recently added a new option to their menu called the Tiramisu Pancakes, which tastes just as good as it looks. It has the perfect amount of toppings, is very fluffy, and doesn’t bombard you with too much sweetness.
However, I think their best example is their signature Ashta Pancakes. I agree with other people when they say that it has such a unique flavor, and here’s why.
“Ashta” is a special whipped cream from the Middle East, which has a rich and creamy taste coupled with a subtle floral flavor.
The flavor profile gets even more complex since the pancakes also come with sweet pistachios, edible flowers, and their fruity homemade jam.
Pro Tip:
You can ask for extra ashta cream on your pancake for an even richer flavor.
The King Eddy
– Media credit: the_kingeddy
Address: 47 Clarence St.
Contact Number: +1 613-680-1700
Operating Hours:
- Sun-Thu: 8:00am – 10:00pm
- Fri-Sat: 8:00am – 11:00pm
Must-Order: Eddy’s Sour Cream Pancakes
The King Eddy on Clarence Street is a big all-day diner that’s known for serving tasty large-sized pancakes.
Its signature Sour Cream Pancakes are the ones to get. This crowd favorite has three big and fluffy servings of flapjacks that are slightly sweet and buttery on their own.
The taste gets elevated more with toppings of fresh strawberries and blueberries, which provide a nice blend of sweetness and sourness.
They’re pretty generous with whipped cream. There are about 7 different servings of whipped cream scattered around the plate, giving the pancakes a really creamy flavor.
You can also opt for a single pancake as a side with your main meal. It’ll still come with a considerable amount of toppings like the three-stack version.
Pro Tip:
Upgrade your regular syrup to real Canadian maple syrup for a healthier and richer flavor.