The Griddle Cafe (LV's LA)

If you live in Los Angeles, you might know about the Griddle Cafe. If you don't live in LA, my condolences to you.  Pancakes the size of flying saucers, Cheesecake masquerading as French Toast.  This is no ordinary breakfast experience. The owner is known as the Willy Wonka of breakfast and you will have a breakfast that gives you a high you wont want to come down from. Back in the day, I worked on the Sunset Strip right down the street from the Griddle Cafe and quickly became acquainted with the breakfast spot that must have the sugar plum fairy working in the kitchen.

So griddle me this? Can you imagine a menu with pages of breakfast descriptions that make you swoon, shift in your seat and stare in lustful anticipation? This is straight food porn folks. Food that looks and sounds so sinfully decadent that its almost pornographic. Expect to stare at the menu unable to make an adult decision.

And then you will want to make out with your breakfast in a dark corner

 Yellow Brick Road, Butterscotch pancakes. Stop playin...

Red Velvet pancakes. Say What?

 Addicted to Noisella, Nutella French Toast. (Oh no they didn't)

 Scotch on the Rocks with pecans, coconut and butterscotch... Damn, c'mere

So many choices. French toast that tastes like cheesecake,  oh the creme de la creme. Yes, the dishes have cool stage names names like "Yellow Brick Road" Butterscotch pancakes with walnuts, caramel and streusel and the "Creme de la Creme" graham cracker crusted french toast with cheesecake topping.

When my creme de la creme arrived at our table. I was speechless. French toast coated in a brown sugary graham cracker coating with a generous helping of sweet cheesecake topping. And then there was the Saturday Morning Fever; a huge stack of Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlua soaked pancakes with a huge mound of whipped cream and then it was recess time with a stack of cinnamon streusel topped pancakes, which was like having pancakes and coffeecake all in one. S-WEET! This is the stuff of dreams, especially if yours are made of sugar like mine:-)

Saturday Morning Fever: Baileys Irish Cream and Kahlua Pancakes

look at that whipped cream...

Recess Time: Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes

If you come here don't even think you will finish your breakfast. You probably shouldn't even try. It will be like man against food and the pancakes will win. They will taunt you on the way out and you will be in the car all day dreaming about them. Ever had a breakfast like that? You need to. Its good for you. Pancakes bigger than your plate. Yes Please!

The nice jolt of caffeine from your personal coffee press is the maple syrup on top:-) when you order coffee, you get a coffee press with some great and very STRONG coffee. Sugar and STRONG coffee. Watch out World!

The best part of waking up is coffee in my cup:-)

Breakfast potatoes and scrambled eggs to balance out the sweet treats. Would y'all believe they were jealous of the pancakes? They felt like they got dressed and layed on the plate for nothing since the pancakes were getting so much attention. And the potatoes got mad that I barely noticed the onion and bell peppers they were wearing, but were cool now.

And then my sweet dream got sweeter when something cold, sweet and citrusy begged for my attention.

The OJ got my full attention and of course there is nothing like freshly squeezed orange juice, strong coffee and the musical sounds of the lip smacking you try to hide, but the pancakes are so good you can't help it. So why try? Come very hungry and expect to waddle back to your car too full for lunch or dinner. In fact, have someone roll you back to your car in a shopping cart.

The atmosphere is loud, crowded and sprinkled with lots of  Hipster and Hollywood types and good ol regular folk ready for a breakfast fix. It is crowded here all the time and if you don't arrive before 9:00 in the morning, expect to wait in a long line. Even during the week this place is packed.

It is always great to come with a small group so that you can stick your fork on more plates.  The seating is cozy, so expect to be in close proximity to your neighbors and most tables seat about four, so if your group is bigger, you may have to go with adjacent tables. But there are a couple of large booths available if you are able to get one. Crowded and loud for sure, but definitely a great breakfast. 

There are so many great treats to try, but one of my absolute favorites is the Recess Time pancakes. Be sure to try them and try the French toast on the secret menu. (you can only order them with the secret password...shhhh)

The Griddle Cafe

7916 Sunset Blvd

Hollywood, CA 90046

Mon-Fri 7am-4pm

Sat and Sun 8am-4pm