29 Dec 8th–Dec 14th, 2022 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | Sweet Stack These 5 restaurants make the best pancakes in the Valley. BY NATASHA YEE T hey are the ultimate morning treat, whether enjoyed as a stack drizzled with warm syrup or a shorter version served alongside scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. We’re referring to pancakes, of course, the comforting breakfast food that never gets old. While there are many places to grab a doughy, buttery bite in the Valley, these restau- rants are guaranteed to keep you coming back. Here are our picks for Phoenix’s top five pancakes, in no particular order. Head over solo or take your holiday visitors for a treat, because these metro Phoenix breakfast and brunch restaurants are sure to impress. Joe’s Diner 4515 North Seventh Avenue 602-535-4999 Joe’s Diner, which hails from the vintage and vibey Melrose District in midtown Phoenix, has a welcoming feel. A sign featuring a piping hot mug of coffee? Check. Bright yellow paint with green awnings? Check. Upholstered booths and an old-school jukebox? Yes. But while its charm might draw you in, the pancakes will keep you coming back for more. The pancakes at Joe’s are made from a batter that ferments overnight, adding a complex flavor and some rise to the stack. The thick and fluffy cakes absorb just the right amount of butter and have a hint of salt to round out the flavor. They are doughy and sweet with a hint of tang reminiscent of your favorite loaf of sourdough. Phoenix New Times dubbed it the “perfect pancake” in August, and we stand by our assertion. Kiss the Cook Restaurant 4915 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale 623-939-4663 This West side restaurant sits inside a plaza at 49th and Glendale Avenues. Beginning at 6 a.m. during the week and 7 a.m. on weekends, Kiss the Cook serves comfort food such as pecan cinnamon rolls and corned beef hash. The restaurant will inevitably bring to mind meals at grandma’s house. It’s cozy, cute, full of trinkets, and most of all, delicious. The full stack here comes with an order of three pancakes. They’re on the smaller side, so don’t share the plate unless you and your companion order other entrees. Trust us, you will want these soft little creations all to yourself. As the butter and syrup are absorbed, the delicate cakes fall apart and disappear all too quickly. Add a side of thick-cut bacon and eggs to round out the meal, or just delight in the pancakes them- selves at this neighborhood joint, which has been going strong since 1982. Original Pancake House 6840 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale 480-946-4902 Surrounded by the glittery facade of Scottsdale, the Original Pancake House is a decidedly humble breakfast spot. The restaurant, which is connected to a Motel 6, has been around since 1988, and it’s not hard to see why. Among favored dishes such as the French crepes and vegetarian omelets, the Dutch Baby and the 49’er Flapjacks stand out. Though the Dutch Baby takes about 20 minutes to arrive at the table, it is worth the wait. Inspired by the German pancake, it’s baked in a cast-iron skillet at a high temperature that causes it to rise, then fall as soon as it’s removed from the oven. Thick and doughy on the inside, while crusty on the outside, it’s topped with powdered sugar and served with lemon wedges and whipped butter. The Natasha Yee >> p 31 The buttermilk pancakes at Joe’s Diner are the real deal.
