All Our Favorite Pancakes in Honolulu

Photo: Katrina Valcourt

Basalt

As much as I love going out for brunch, I’m discouraged by how many menu items I can make myself at home. That’s why my go-to lately has been Basalt. Activated charcoal may not be as popular as it was a few years ago, but the Waikīkī restaurant inside Duke’s Lane Market & Eatery continues to serve its signature black charcoal buttermilk pancakes, topped with guava-strawberry sauce, berries, powdered sugar and whipped cream. I appreciate how they aren’t as sweet as a typical stack and provide balance with a savory second dish. Plus, you can get three hours of complimentary parking and a kama‘āina discount. And if I do feel like making it at home? The market sells the mix. —Katrina Valcourt, HONOLULU executive editor

2255 Kūhiō Ave., Waikīkī, (808) 923-5689, basaltwaikiki.com, @basaltwaikiki

Photo: Christine Labrador

Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen

A quick look around the restaurant and each table has a plate of the banana mac nut pancakes as its centerpiece. A stack of fluffy pancakes covered in a Kimo’s whipped sweet cream macadamia nut sauce—no butter or syrup needed. It’s a shareable sweet end to a savory loco moco or hearty spinach-and-mushroom omelette. Extra mac nut sauce, please! —Christine Labrador, HONOLULU senior art director

1020 Keolu Dr., Kailua, (808) 263-7929, bootsnkimos.com, @bootsnkimos

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Cinnamon’s

Not all pancakes are worth a trip over the Pali and braving the Kailua brunch crowds, but when the guava chiffon cravings hit, I’m there, no questions. The plain hotcakes are buttery and delicious, but they’re really just a base for the true star of the dish—the heavenly guava topping, a two-layer syrup which pairs a cream cheese base with a lighter tangy-sweet guava sauce. —Brie Thalmann, HONOLULU home & style editor

315 Uluniu St., Kailua, (808) 261-8724, cinnamons808.com, @cinnamonskailua

Photo: May Hoshida

Eggs ’n Things

I’m not one to rush out for pancakes, but there’s one exception, the plain buttermilk short stack pancakes at Eggs ‘n Things. It’s a must-order as my side whenever I’m there. I can honestly say the quality of this simple dish has not been compromised over the years. Light and fluffy, it pairs perfectly with their house-made coconut syrup. Forks cut into them effortlessly, and I polish it off every time. —May Hoshida, Frolic

Included as a selection of the $13.95 Breakfast Meat ‘n Eggs set, as well as other Eggs ‘n Things favorites. Multiple locations, eggsnthings.com, @eggsnthingshi

Photo: Christine Labrador

Guieb Café

Hoy! Order a stack of ube mascarpone pancakes to share and to come out a little later, after your crab cake benedict. You’ll get three fluffy, purple ube pancakes topped with a heaping scoop of not-too-sweet whipped ube mascarpone cream, fresh berries and a dusting of powdered sugar. Naimas! (Delicious!) —CL

Multiple locations, guiebcafe.com, @guiebcafe

Jack’s Restaurant

My fave is Jack’s Restaurant in Niu Valley. They’re fluffy, traditional-style pancakes, and Jack’s always makes them perfectly. I like them because they’re simple, no fruit or whipped cream or anything too crazy. —Aaron K. Yoshino, HONOLULU staff photographer

820 West Hind Dr. #119, ‘Āina Haina, (808) 373-4034, jacksrestauranthonolulu.com

Photo: Melissa Chang

Liliha Bakery

Perfectly moist yet fluffy, with a lightness that fools you into thinking you can eat the whole plate. Not to mention there’s a great balance of flavor. Is that butter in the batter? Or lard? They won’t divulge the secret of their batter, but I’m sure there’s something in there that your doctor will not approve of! —Melissa Chang, Frolic

Multiple locations, lilihabakery.com, @lilihabakery

Photo: Melissa Chang

Moke’s Bread & Breakfast

Another one of my favorites is Moke’s Bread & Breakfast’s lilikoi pancakes. Did you know that they use Keola Warren’s grandmother’s recipe for that? On one hand, the pancakes themselves are lovely and fluffy, but that liliko‘i sauce is what I dream about. I once almost stole a tub of that sauce, but that’s another story for another day. During the summer, they serve li hing mango pancakes—the sauce is infused with local mangoes, the pancakes are topped with fresh slices, and they dust the top with li hing powder. —MC

Multiple locations, mokeshawaii.com, @mokesbreadandbreakfast

Photo: Christine Labrador

The Original Pancake House

Probably my favorite pancakes of all time are the Forty-Niner Flapjacks at The Original Pancake House. You get three pancakes in an order, thin as crepes and chewy like freshly made mochi with toasty browned edges. Ask for the coconut syrup, my dad’s favorite, to top ‘em off. —Andrea Lee, HONOLULU digital editor

The Forty-Niner Flapjacks are oversized and barely fit on the plate. Add whipped butter to each crepe-like layer, then cut into squares for a perfectly tender, chewy bite. If you’re craving sweet, go ahead and swipe into a puddle of maple syrup. Either way, you’ll strike breakfast gold! —CL

1414 Dillingham Blvd., Kalihi, (808) 847-1496, originalpancakehouse.com

Photo: Eric Baranda

Zippy’s

I’ve tried a lot of pancakes eating out, but I always come back to Zippy’s. There’s this hint of vanilla I really like, and when they’re done right, the pancakes are soft, spongey and moist, exactly how I want them. I liked them so much I even bought the pancake mix from Napoleon’s Bakery when it was available, but for whatever reason, I could never get it to taste the same at home. So I just keep going back. Plus, you can order pancakes any time of day, which is great when the craving hits. —Eric Baranda, Frolic

Multiple locations, zippys.com, @zippys

Read the rest of the series: Our Favorites