Looking for the best pancakes in Toronto? Here's a rundown of some of our favorite pancakes at Toronto brunch spots.
Toronto takes brunch very seriously. If you're a pancake lover, there are an endless number of pancake spots in the city. This list of Toronto restaurants will tell you where to find the best pancake brunch in Toronto, whether you're looking for classic buttermilk pancakes or an over-the-top loaded pancake, or just looking for the most Instagrammable pancakes in Toronto.
Jump to:
- The best pancakes in Toronto
- Saving Grace
- Mildred's Temple Kitchen
- Smith
- School
- Pasaj
- Good Fork
- Almond Butterfly Bistro
- Fuwa Fuwa Dessert Cafe
- The Senator Restaurant
- Old School
- Emma's Country Kitchen
- Hodo Kwaja
- Barque Smokehouse
- Eggstatic
- Stacked Pancake House
- Sugar Marmalade
- Viaggio Restaurant
- Bonus
- What are the best pancakes in Toronto
The best pancakes in Toronto
As you might know, I began my blogging journey as a food blogger. And checking out Toronto's different brunch spots is one of my favorite weekend activities. From sitting in at random restaurants to try their pancakes to visiting the latest and trendiest Toronto brunch spot for a media tasting, I've tried just about all of them.
Here's my unbiased list of the best pancakes in Toronto (in no particular order because they're all delicious), and why you should give them a try.
Saving Grace
Saving Grace is one of the best kept secrets in the Toronto brunch scene. The restaurant is relatively small and unassuming from the outside (especially compared to some of the monstrous Instagram-focussed locations in Toronto), but almost-always full!
Why Saving Grace? The restaurant doesn't chase any pancakes gimmicks - they're not the fluffiest, or the most outrageous pancakes in Toronto. What you get here is simply delicious pancakes focussed on mixing some not-so-standard combinations.
Saving Grace a rotating menu (their specials are where it's at), but I'd personally try to catch their Dark Chocolate Cranberry Pancakes.
Website: Saving Grace
Location: 907 Dundas St W.
Mildred's Temple Kitchen
Mildred's Temple Kitchen is almost known entirely for their pancakes. And with good reason, Mrs. Biederhof's Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes are often hailed as the best pancakes in Toronto.
Why Mildred's Temple Kitchen? This the place to go if you're looking for the fattest, fluffiest pancake in Toronto. They are truly a sight to behold.
Website: Mildred's Temple Kitchen
Location: 85 Hanna Ave.
Smith
Smith is a restaurant that generally prefers a slightly more-elevated and elegant approach to their menu. All of that is thrown out the window when it comes to the pancakes!
Why Smith? The Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes are one of the richest, most indulgent pancake brunches you'll find in Toronto.
Website: Smith
Location: 553 Church St.
School
Another long time contender for best pancakes in Toronto. On my list visit there, the server told openly told us that they consider themselves the second best pancake spot in Toronto, so take from that what you will!
Why School? The Black n' Blue Flapjacks are a tall and delicious stack of buttermilk pancakes with a compote made from blackberries and blueberries.
Website: School Restaurant
Location: 70 Fraser Ave.
Pasaj
Pasaj is a fantastic Turkish restaurant in Leslieville. Their brunch menu is a fusion of popular brunch dishes and Turkish cuisine.
Why Pasaj? Grandma's Pancakes tops fluffy pancakes with cherry jam, tahini helva, labneh, and pistachios. It's a fabulous mix of American and Turkish flavours.
Website: Pasaj
Location: 1100 Queen St E.
Good Fork
Known for their Middle-eastern and fusion menu, Good Fork is a restaurant you'll want to visit for more than just their brunch offerings.
Why Good Fork? The Blueberry Halva pancakes at Good Fork are inspired! A fluffy stack of buttermilk pancakes topped with orange blossom ricotta cheese, lemon-blueberry compote, halva crumble and maple syrup. They will occasionally also feature additional pancake recipes as specials (keep your eyes open for their take on red velvet pancakes).
Website: Good Fork
Location: 1550 Dundas St W.
Almond Butterfly Bistro
There are honestly not many great options for anyone looking to dine gluten-free. Almond Butterfly thankfully is an excellent option with an entirely gluten-free menu.
Why Almond Butterfly? Their pancake stack features three gluten-free pancakes with a classic berry topping and maple syrup. (And yes, they taste just as good as their gluten-counterparts!)
Website: Almond Butterfly
Location: 792 Dundas St W.
Fuwa Fuwa Dessert Cafe
If you enjoy the uber soft and delicate texture of japanese pancakes, then Fuwa Fuwa is for you.
Why Fuwa Fuwa Dessert Cafe? Not only do they have a fantastic selection of Japanese pancakes on the menu, they have several other Japanese-inspired sweet treats to try.
Website: Fuwa Fuwa Dessert Cafe
Location: 408 Bloor St W (and many others)
The Senator Restaurant
The Senator is an elevated diner that's been serving great food since 1948. It's Toronto oldest restaurant that's been continually operating at the same location. Your next question is probably "Are these the best pancakes in Toronto since 1948?" I don't know, I wasn't born then...please stop making me feel old.
Why The Senator? If you're looking for classic diner pancakes (but really good) served with a seasonal fruit compote and maple syrup, The Senator Restaurant is for you. You can even get the pancakes as a add-on to any other dish on the brunch menu. Win-win.
Website: The Senator Restaurant
Location: 249 Victoria St.
Old School
Designed to look like an old-fashioned school (get it, Old School?), Old School is a comfort food diner with plenty of great options for brunch and dinner.
Why Old School? The Blueberry Hill pancakes are one of the restaurants most popular dishes - fluffy buttermilk pancakes, topped with a generous serving of blueberry compote, bacon strips, and brown sugar butter. And if you're lucky, you might find their Lemon Meringue Pancake special while you're there too!
Website: Old School
Location: 800 Dundas St W.
Emma's Country Kitchen
Emma's Country Kitchen is a homely diner that's been a favourite of those in the St. Clair West area since it opened. They serve a full brunch menu with three different pancake options.
Why Emma's Country Kitchen? Great classic pancakes (which they claim are better than your mum's). The most popular pancake however are the Cinnamon bun pancakes which are buttermilk pancakes swirled together butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Gingerbread pancakes are also available in case you're feeling festive.
Website: Emma's Country Kitchen
Location: 810 St. Clair Ave W.
Hodo Kwaja
A traditional Korean bakery that specializes in walnut cakes (hodo kwaja) but also serves Korean pancakes, which are made fresh at three different times each day.
Why Hodo Kwaja? Korean pancakes (or "hotteok") are pancakes stuffed with brown sugar, peanuts, sunflower seeds and cinnamon, or pancakes stuffed with a sweet red bean filling. These pancakes are different from just about every other pancake you'll find on this list.
Website: Hodo Kwaja
Location: 656 Bloor St W.
Barque Smokehouse
Barque Smokehouse and BBQ is probably the last place you'd expect to see on a list of the best pancakes in Toronto, but here we are. The BBQ favourite has a brunch menu with plenty of barbeque inspired items, but also some rather unique pancakes.
Why Barque Smokehouse? The Smoked Duck Pancakes are a sweet and savoury pancake with pulled duck, sweet blueberry compote, whipped chevre, and maple syrup. And somehow it works.
Website: Barque Smokehouse
Location: 299 Roncesvalles Ave.
Eggstatic
Eggstatic are a Middle Eastern brunch franchise with locations across the Greater Toronto Area. They have plenty of great Middle Eastern-inspired items, but the pancakes they're known for would be more of a fusion between the East and West.
Why Eggstatic? There are a few different indulgent pancake options on their menu, but the one you should really consider is the Biscoff Lotus Pancake. This is made up of three pancakes served with strawberries, blueberries, vanilla ice cream, crushed Biscoff cookies, and topped with a creamy cookie butter sauce.
Website: Eggstatic
Location: 1568 Bayview Ave.
Stacked Pancake House
No list of pancakes restaurants would be complete without a restaurant dedicated to its pancakes. Enter Stacked Pancake House, a Toronto franchise diner.
Why Stacked Pancake House? Quite simply, variety. Stacked is not the place you're going for the best gourmet pancake experience. What you get at Stacked is quick, well-priced, and tasty pancakes with a lot of options!
Website: Stacked Pancake House
Location: 394 Queen St.
Sugar Marmalade
Sugar Marmalade is a fusion dessert cafe with a few locations around Toronto. They specialise is Asian fusion desserts, amongst which is a certain delicious type of pancake.
Why Sugar Marmalade? You're not going to find Hong Kong style mango pancakes in too many other places. These delicious pancakes are more like crepes, stuffed with mango and and topped with ice cream.
Website: Sugar Marmalade
Location: 280 Spadina Ave.
Viaggio Restaurant
Viaggio is one of the restaurants in Toronto that has been included in the Michelin Guide. It has a large and beautiful space and is focussed on providing delicious Italian dinners. So where do the pancakes come in?
Why Viaggio? Pancakes for dessert! Part souffle, part pancake. Viaggio's Tiramisu Pancakes act as a sweet finish to their dinners. The pancakes are fluffy and topped with an espresso and maple syrup, and tiramisu mousse.
Website: Viaggio Restaurant
Location: 1727 Dundas St W.
Bonus
This one's a bonus. Eating out is great, but you can also make delicious and fluffy pancakes at home. If the Toronto weather is discouraging you from heading outside, (with a little practice!) you can also experience the best pancakes in Toronto in the comfort of your own home, you even get to pick exactly what toppings you like.
What are the best pancakes in Toronto
This is a hard choice as there are so many great and varied options available. However, if you made me pick just one place for the best pancake brunch in Toronto, I would personally go with Good Fork - the pancakes have all the quintessential elements of a great pancake (fluffiness, flavour...blueberries), but are also more memorable thanks to the Middle Eastern-inspired toppings.
Have we missed anything? What's your favorite Toronto restaurant for pancakes? Let us know in the comments below.
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