The Original Pancake House in Huntington Beach is the kind of breakfast that sets you up for the whole day. It was our first visit to any Original Pancake House. We went around 10 a.m., the portions were huge, most of what we ordered was excellent, and we ended up skipping lunch. This Original Pancake House Huntington Beach review covers what we ate, what it cost, what to expect on a busy morning and a bit of the restaurant's history, which turned out to be one of our favorite parts.

Quick Summary

• Address: 10035 Adams Ave, Suite 101, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
• Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Monday. Closed Tuesdays.
• Phone: (714) 964-7500
• What we ordered: Spinach Crepe, Cherry Kijafa Crepes, Irish Omelette, fresh grapefruit juice and coffee
• Prices: most crepes, omelettes and specialties run about $17 to $21 (as of late October)
• Our favorites: the Irish Omelette and the Cherry Kijafa Crepes
• Coffee: refills included
• Portions: very large. Plan on skipping lunch.
• Waits: almost every table was full on our visit, but we only waited a couple of minutes
• Parking: plenty of spaces in the shopping center lot, even when the restaurant is busy

A Little History: From Portland in 1953

Before the food, the history. The menu tells the story, and it is worth reading while you wait.

The Original Pancake House was founded in 1953 in Portland, Oregon, by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke. They built the menu around pancake recipes collected from many different countries, which is why you see Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, Danish-style cherry crepes and German-style oven-baked pancakes on the same page. According to the menu, those recipes have barely changed since.

• Old-school ingredients: the menu calls out 93 score butter, pure whipping cream, Grade AA eggs, unbleached hard-wheat flour and a sourdough starter grown in the kitchen.
• One of the first franchises was in Orange County: an Anaheim location opened in 1958, just five years after the Portland original.
• Award-winning: the original Portland restaurant received a James Beard Foundation America's Classics award in 1999.
• Growing worldwide: today there are more than 100 locations across the US, plus restaurants in Japan and South Korea, and the company is still headquartered in Portland.

The two signature dishes are the oven-baked Apple Pancake ($19.75 here) and the Dutch Baby ($17.99), a puffy baked pancake served with whipped butter, lemon and powdered sugar. Both are cooked to order and take a little longer.

Atmosphere and Service

The Huntington Beach location is on Adams Avenue, a short drive inland from the beach. Inside, it is a big, bright dining room with booths, wood beams and plenty of tables. There is also an outdoor patio with umbrellas out front.

When we arrived around 10 a.m. on a Sunday, almost every table was taken, but we only waited a couple of minutes while they cleared one. The patio was full too, so we sat inside. Service was good. Our server was friendly and attentive, and coffee refills kept coming without us having to ask.

Parking was easy. The restaurant is in a strip mall with a big shared lot, so we found a spot quickly even with the restaurant packed.

The Menu

The menu is big. Pancakes take up most of it, with more than 20 varieties, from buttermilk and buckwheat to Swedish, Hawaiian, pecan and sourdough. You will also find crepes, waffles, egg dishes, omelettes and house favorites like corned beef hash and Eggs Benedict.

• Pancakes: about $14 to $18
• Crepes: about $14 to $19
• Omelettes: about $18.50 to $21, served with three buttermilk pancakes
• Kids menu (12 and under): half orders and dollar pancakes for about $9 to $10

What We Ordered

Spinach Crepe ($18.75)

A large crepe filled with fresh spinach, mushrooms and onions in a blended cheese sauce, then topped with hollandaise. It comes with four potato pancakes and your choice of applesauce or sour cream. The potato pancakes were decent. The crepe itself was our least favorite of the three. There was too much onion and not enough cheese for our taste, so the onion took over the filling. If you want a savory crepe, it is fine, but we would order an omelette instead next time.

Cherry Kijafa Crepes ($17.99)

Three delicate crepes filled and topped with red Montmorency cherries simmered in Kijafa sauce and dusted with powdered sugar. Kijafa is a Danish cherry wine, and the menu calls this one "a Danish favorite." The cherries are sweet and tart, and the sauce is rich. It is a heavy dish, closer to dessert than breakfast, but it was very good. If you have a sweet tooth, order it, ideally to share.

Irish Omelette ($20.95)

The Irish Omelette is stuffed with the restaurant's homemade corned beef hash, with your choice of cheddar, jack or Swiss cheese. It is oven-baked, so it comes out tall and puffy with a golden top, and it was the biggest dish on our table. Like every omelette here, it comes with three buttermilk pancakes on the side, and those were pretty good. Between the omelette and the pancakes, this one plate could easily feed two.

Grapefruit Juice and Coffee

The grapefruit juice is freshly squeezed ($4.99 small, $5.99 large), and it was a nice tart contrast to all the rich food. Coffee is the house blend ($4.89), and refills are included.

Food Allergy Notes: What the Peanut Label Means

The menu lists the main allergens next to almost every item, which makes it easier to plan. Our son has food allergies, including peanuts, so we asked about the peanut labels before ordering. Our server confirmed it was peanut oil in the batter, not peanuts. Our son has eaten food made with peanut oil before without any problems, so we went ahead. He had a crepe and was fine.

Most of the pancakes and waffles list peanuts, but that is because of the oil, not because the batter has actual peanuts in it. The menu explains that "peanut oil is used in many of our batters."

• Highly refined peanut oil: the refining process removes nearly all of the peanut protein, which is what causes allergic reactions. The FDA does not require highly refined oils to be labeled as allergens, and allergists say most people with a peanut allergy tolerate it.
• It is the type of oil that matters: unrefined peanut oil (cold-pressed, expeller-pressed or "gourmet") still contains peanut protein and can cause reactions. How mild or severe your allergy is does not change that.
• What we did not ask: whether the oil is highly refined. If that matters for your family, ask your server, follow your allergist's advice, and if you are in doubt, skip the pancakes and waffles.
• Items without peanuts listed: the crepes (other than the ones with nuts), potato pancakes and egg dishes do not list peanuts on their own. Omelettes and egg specialties come with buttermilk pancakes, so ask to swap the side.
• Tree nuts: a few items, like the pecan pancakes, Nutella crepes and apple crepe, list tree nuts.
• Fish: some dishes with sauces, including the Spinach Crepe, Eggs Benedict and the mushroom omelette, list fish.
• Gluten: gluten-friendly pancakes are available but are marked as not safe for those with celiac disease.

As always, talk to your server about your specific allergies before you order.

Tips for Visiting

• Go early on weekends. We got lucky with a short wait, but weekend waits can run 20 to 40 minutes. Arriving closer to 7 a.m. helps.
• Remember it is closed on Tuesdays and closes at 2 p.m. every day.
• Consider sharing. Portions are big, and omelettes already come with a side of three pancakes.
• Be patient with baked dishes. Everything is cooked to order, and the Dutch Baby and Apple Pancake take extra time.
• Pair it with the beach. It is about 10 minutes from Main Street and the pier. Our Huntington Beach guide covers parking, the pier and the best spots for sunset.

Is The Original Pancake House Worth It?

Yes. It is not a quick or light breakfast, but it is a great one. Most of what we ordered was excellent, especially the Irish Omelette and the Cherry Kijafa Crepes. The portions were huge, and service held up even on a busy morning. Prices are slightly above average for breakfast, but with portions this size, it was really breakfast and lunch for us.

If you are spending a few days in Huntington Beach, add Fire Pho for a casual lunch or dinner. Elsewhere in Orange County, we like The Great Greek in Irvine and Rice N' Spice in Anaheim.

Original Pancake House Huntington Beach FAQ

Where is The Original Pancake House in Huntington Beach?

It is at 10035 Adams Ave, Suite 101, Huntington Beach, CA 92646, about 10 minutes from the pier and Main Street.

What are the hours at The Original Pancake House Huntington Beach?

It is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Monday and closed on Tuesdays.

What is The Original Pancake House known for?

It is best known for the oven-baked Apple Pancake and the Dutch Baby, along with crepes and puffy oven-baked omelettes.

When was The Original Pancake House founded?

It was founded in 1953 in Portland, Oregon, by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke. One of its first franchises opened in Anaheim in 1958.

Are coffee refills free at The Original Pancake House?

Yes. Coffee is $4.89, and refills are included.

Can you eat at The Original Pancake House with a peanut allergy?

Many pancakes and waffles list peanuts because peanut oil is used in the batter. Most people with a peanut allergy tolerate highly refined peanut oil, but unrefined oil is not safe. Ask which oil they use, check with your allergist, and skip the pancakes and waffles if in doubt.

How long is the wait at The Original Pancake House?

It gets busy. We only waited a couple of minutes around 10 a.m. on a Sunday, but weekend waits can run 20 to 40 minutes, so arriving early helps.

Final Thoughts

The Original Pancake House in Huntington Beach serves a classic, generous breakfast with recipes that go back to 1953. Order the Irish Omelette and the Cherry Kijafa Crepes to share, enjoy the coffee refills, and plan on skipping lunch. Go early if you are visiting on a weekend.