Whoever came up with this cunning way of eating cake for breakfast (or any other meal, for that matter), we thank you for your service. Carriers of berries, bacon and more recently, dollops of Biscoff, pancakes are unrivalled when it comes to the breakfast table and often the first thing we learn to whip up in the kitchen. This is no coincidence—if you can make pancakes, you're set for life.
So wave goodbye to waffles and au revoir to French toast—because today we're talking pancakes. Here's where to find Tāmaki Makaurau's best.
The Breakfast Club
1179 Great North Road, Point Chevalier, Auckland
Image credit: The Breakfast Club / Instagram
Sometimes you just wanna enjoy your pancakes in the peace of a candy-coloured, neon-lit diner. When that's the case, head on over to The Breakfast Club in Point Chev, where the pancakes are as aesthetically pleasing as their maximalist surrounds. These photogenic treats—served in stacks of three—are available in five deliciously OTT interpretations including classic, chocolate, Biscoff, chocolate coconut, and the pretty 'Blues and Berries' number, pictured above. We especially love how they don't skimp on the toppings (if anything, there's almost too much!), which have been known to include a secret housemade pancake sauce. As these guys themselves would say: flippin' delicious. P.S. They're currently slinging an insane Dubai chocolate number, which you need to see to believe.
The Store Britomart
5B Gore Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Image credit: The Store / Instagram
The Store's ricotta hotcakes have been on the menu for as long as we can remember, and although the flavours change seasonally (their current iteration features berries, mascarpone and hazelnut praline), their position as some of Auckland's tastiest pancakes doesn't. Get amongst.
Dulcie
33 King Edward Parade, Devonport, Auckland
Image credit: Dulcie / Instagram
This Devonport darling is stacking some of Tāmaki best pancakes, which *bonus* you can enjoy overlooking the water or inside a leafy courtyard. These cuties sit on the chonkier side of the spectrum and come in a convenient tower of two, with more than enough lush toppings to go around (because dry and pancakes are two words that should never, ever be used in the same sentence). Currently, these toppings take the form of a saucy preserved stone fruit salsa, lemon and thyme syrup, Italian meringue, and pistachio (read: these pancakes be FANCY).
The Federal Delicatessen
86 Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Image credit: The Federal Delicatessen / Facebook
If you can tear yourself away from The Fed's dinner menu—even just the once—make sure you order some of their moreish American-style griddle cakes. Made from a buttermilk batter that's next-level soft, these have doubs the blueberries (blueberries in the mixture and as a compote on the top), as well as cinnamon butter and a strudel nut crunch. Suddenly we're not missing that Reuben sammie with a side of poutine quite so much...
Slowlane
604 Great South Road, Ellerslie, Auckland
Image credit: Slowlane / Instagram
You know that saying, go big or go home? Well Slowlane has taken the idea and run a legit marathon with it where their hotcakes are concerned. In fact, so big are these beauties that you'll be served only one—it's the size of a dinner plate and close to an inch thick. Once the base has been pan-cooked and finished in the oven, it's dressed in lashings of sticky maple syrup, whipped cream, and a generous dollop of salted Biscoff butter. And the best part? It'll only set you back $24. A fair price to pay, for Auckland's largest pancake. P.S. Slowlane's sister cafe, Juno, also does a similar version—albeit smaller and served in a portion of two.
KIND Cafe & Eatery
16 McDonald Street, Morningside, Auckland
Image credit: KIND Cafe & Eatery / Facebook
Also deserving of high pancake praise is KIND, the Morningside cafe with a knack for deliciously wholesome, largely plant-based food. This gorgeous spot, fittingly decked out in foliage from floor to ceiling, does an incredible banoffee-flavoured stack that brings together vegan pancakes, banana, custard, chocolate chips and chocolate syrup, coconut whipped cream, and cookie crumbs—now that's what we call a breakfast of champions. And because they're plant-based, there's no reason to feel bad about plumping for the double stack.
Kori Desserts
Unit 16/96 Rosedale Road, Rosedale, Auckland
Image credit: Kori Desserts / Instagram
This isn't the first time we've likened food (and certainly pancakes) to fluffy clouds. However we've never meant it more than with Kori Desserts' souffle-style pancakes, which will send your tastebuds sky-high with their delightfully airy texture and jolly jiggle. Hailing from Japan (where they're dubbed 'fuwa fuwa'), these famously wobbly 'cakes are available here in a 10-strong line-up of flavours including Oreo, matcha, Biscoff, crème brulee, and a new tiramisu number with coffee cream, choc sauce, and Tim Tam crumble. Get in our collective mouths, this very minute.
Bambina
3/25 Teed Street, Newmarket, Auckland
Image credit: Bambina / Facebook
When it comes to hotcakes, Bambina doesn’t do things by halves. Their blueberry ricotta number is served with fresh berries, passionfruit, seeds, puffed millet, maple syrup and the pièce de résistance—a scoop of mascarpone dusted with purple sanding sugar. The bottom line: it’s pretty, tasty and oh-so-grammable.
Honey Bones
480 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Image credit: Honey Bones / Instagram
Honey Bones' ricotta pancake is indeed very cakey (read: wonderfully thick and dense) and for this reason, it's one of our faves. Topped with tangy lemon curd, creamy Greek yoghurt and refreshing seasonal fruit (and a bit of bacon if you fancy), the news just keeps getting better.
No. 1 Pancake
Unit 6, 18 Airborne Road, Rosedale, Auckland | 33-45 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland
Image credit: No. 1 Pancake / Facebook
Having upped sticks from their legendary CBD kiosk to Rosedale (and now Takapuna), fan-fave No. 1 Pancake continues to sling their cheap and delicious Korean-style pancakes. Also known as hotteok, these are stuffed with sweet and savoury fillings before being cooked to crispy perfection (their potato and cheese number is exceptionally moreish, and one year featured on the 100 Auckland Iconic Eats).
Little Bird Kitchen
1 Summer Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
Image credit: Little Bird Kitchen / Instagram
Also bringing a savoury touch to Tāmaki's pancake scene is Little Bird Kitchen. This Ponsonby eatery serves a version made with a delicious (and healthy) combination of chickpea and kimchi, topped with leafy greens dressed in a miso, ginger, and carrot vinaigrette and a delightful scattering of crispy nori. While these are a little different to the traditional pancakes we all know and love, we promise that they're VERY tasty.
Keep up the breakfast of kings with a tour of Wellington's best brunch spots.
Main image credit: Juno / Instagram.