What Was The First Original Pancake House?
Introducing the First Pancake House
A pancake house is a restaurant that specializes in serving pancakes and breakfast foods. Though pancakes have been around for centuries, the concept of a restaurant dedicated to pancakes and breakfast did not emerge in America until the mid-20th century.
The origins of the modern pancake house can be traced back to the post-World War II diner culture and the rise of franchised family restaurants in the 1950s. Pancakes were already a staple of diners, and some restaurants decided to capitalize on their popularity.
The very first pancake house opened in Portland, Oregon in 1953. According to The Original Pancake House, Les Highet and Erma Hueneke opened a small breakfast diner on SW Broadway Drive in Portland, which they aptly called The Original Pancake House. This humble restaurant is recognized as America’s first pancake house and the beginning of a new segment in the restaurant industry.
The Origin Story of Pancake Houses
Pancake houses and their signature fluffy pancakes originated from centuries-old European crepe traditions. According to The Original Pancake House’s website, “Pancakes came to the English colonies with the early settlers from Northern Europe, who relied on pancakes and waffles as a staple food. The traditional foods of Holland, Germany, and Belgium were the original inspiration for today’s standard pancake recipes.”
Early American pancake recipes evolved from European peasant fare to create a uniquely American breakfast tradition. As explained on Wikipedia, “There has been a shift over the last century to make pancakes sweeter and richer.[1] They had their origins in British, German, and Dutch peasant cooking. Today, pancakes are a staple breakfast item on many American tables.”
While crepes and thin peasant pancakes were part of Old World cuisine, the rise of pancake houses serving tall, fluffy pancakes stacked high with toppings became a quintessentially American diner tradition throughout the 20th century.
Trailblazing The Original Pancake House
The Original Pancake House was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1953 by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke. The husband and wife duo pioneered the concept of a restaurant focusing solely on pancakes. At the time, pancakes were considered a breakfast food made at home, not something people would go out to restaurants to order. Highet and Hueneke saw an opportunity to introduce diners to the novelty of a menu devoted entirely to pancakes and pancake variations.
In 1953, Highet and Hueneke opened the very first Original Pancake House in Portland, Oregon on SW Multnomah Boulevard. The restaurant’s menu featured around 20 different pancake options, including their now famous apple pancake. Offering customers flapjacks for breakfast, lunch and dinner was a completely unique dining experience at the time. The Original Pancake House became an immediate success, with people lining up out the door to enjoy the tasty, affordable pancake creations.
By focusing exclusively on pancakes, The Original Pancake House stood out from typical diners and breakfast joints of the era. Their innovative business model and yeast-risen pancake recipes allowed diners to enjoy pancakes in a restaurant setting like never before. Highet and Hueneke successfully pioneered a new segment of the restaurant industry with The Original Pancake House.
Source: https://deneenpottery.com/original-pancake-house/
The Original Pancake House’s Rise to Fame
The Original Pancake House saw immense growth and expansion in the years following its 1953 opening in Portland, Oregon. From its start as a single location, The Original Pancake House grew to have over 100 locations in the United States and expanded into international territories like Japan. The restaurant chain is still expanding to this day. It owes this decades-long success to signature offerings like its legendary apple pancake – a baked pancake filled with sautéed diced apples and cinnamon glaze. Another crowd favorite is their oven-warmed blueberry coffee cake made from scratch using wild Maine blueberries. Of course, their fluffy buttermilk pancakes remain their staple. The secret behind The Original Pancake House’s sustained success is its commitment to using high quality and fresh ingredients to create mouthwatering flavors not found in other diners or pancake spots. Their recipes have stayed true for nearly 70 years and customers keep coming back for the irresistible homemade taste and atmosphere.
The Dining Experience at The Original Pancake House
The Original Pancake House provides a warm and welcoming dining experience that keeps customers coming back. With its trademark Colonial decor featuring antique furnishings, lace curtains, and decorative pottery, the interior transports patrons back to a quainter time
The restaurant is best known for its legendary pancakes that come in over a dozen varieties. Signature dishes like the Apple Pancake, a giant baked pancake with fresh apples, raisins, and cinnamon glaze, attract pancake connoisseurs from far and wide. Another customer favorite is the Dutch Baby, a puffy baked pancake served with lemon and powdered sugar.
The Original Pancake House offers an extensive menu with a variety of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Patrons can choose from omelets, crepes, waffles, french toast, sandwiches, salads, and more. Prices range from $6-$15 for pancakes and entrées. With generous portions made from scratch using quality ingredients, the value is tough to beat.
According to the latest menu, diners can still order classic dishes like buttermilk pancakes, Belgian waffles, and corned beef hash just as they would have in the early days of the original location.
The Original Pancake House’s Nationwide Legacy
Over the past 70+ years since opening its doors in 1953, The Original Pancake House has grown into a beloved nationwide chain with over 115 locations across the United States as of 2023 (https://www.originalpancakehouse.com/location/). The brand’s longevity and loyal following has allowed it to expand far beyond its Portland origins, with Original Pancake House restaurants found in states like California, Texas, Minnesota, Illinois and many more.
From humble beginnings as America’s first pancake house in Portland, Oregon, The Original Pancake House now boasts locations covering the West Coast, Midwest, South, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Despite its growth over the decades, each Original Pancake House location maintains the same commitment to quality, service and original recipes that have made the brand a staple for families, pancake lovers and loyal regulars across America for generations.
The Original Pancake House’s Impact on the Industry
The Original Pancake House has had a significant impact on the breakfast and pancake house industry since it first opened in 1953. As the very first pancake house in America, it inspired countless other pancake houses and breakfast spots to open across the country. The Original Pancake House set high standards for what high-quality pancakes and excellent service should be at a restaurant. Their dedication to using only the freshest ingredients and making everything in-house from scratch established them as the gold standard of pancake houses.
The Original Pancake House also became known through its appearances in pop culture and media over the decades. It has been featured in television shows like Portlandia and movies like Mr. Holland’s Opus. Food critics have also praised it as serving some of the best pancakes in America. The Original Pancake House even played a key role in the infamous IHOP name change marketing stunt in 2018, with IHOP citing their pancakes as inspiration. Overall, as the original trendsetter, The Original Pancake House has had an undeniable positive impact on the entire pancake house industry.
Fun Facts and Trivia About The Original Pancake House
The Original Pancake House has accumulated its fair share of fun trivia and interesting stories over the decades. Here are some fascinating facts about America’s first pancake house:
The very first Original Pancake House opened in Portland, Oregon in 1953. It was founded by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke as a small diner with just six tables and a counter. Their secret recipe for apple pancake soon became a hit with customers. Source
Within a year of opening, the Original Pancake House saw long lines out the door every morning. Customers would arrive early just to get a taste of their delicious pancakes. The wait for a table on weekends could be over an hour! Source
The Original Pancake House has served many celebrity customers over the years. Famous faces spotted there include Julia Roberts, Harrison Ford, Kim Novak and Muhammad Ali. Even President Obama is said to be a fan of their apple pancake recipe.
In the 70s and 80s, the Original Pancake House became known as a popular spot to recover from a night out. Their fluffy pancakes were the perfect hangover cure for many customers after a night on the town!
Today, the Original Pancake House has over 100 locations across the United States. Their commitment to Les and Erma’s secret pancake recipe has made them a beloved family tradition for generations.
The Future of The Original Pancake House
The Original Pancake House shows no signs of slowing down. In September 2023, the company announced plans to open its third Central Ohio location in New Albany in early 2024 (https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/new-albany/original-pancake-house-will-add-a-third-central-ohio-location-in-new-albany/). This expansion demonstrates the continued popularity and demand for the Original Pancake House brand.
In addition to growth, the Original Pancake House has also innovated with new menu items and limited-time offerings. Recent additions include seasonal crepes, gluten-free pancakes, and specialty coffee drinks. While staying true to its core menu, the restaurant has adapted to current food trends and customer preferences. Menu evolution will likely continue as the chain aims to draw in new diners while retaining its loyal regulars.
With over 100 locations nationwide and a steadfast following, the Original Pancake House is well-positioned for lasting success (https://www.originalpancakehouse.com/). Its commitment to quality ingredients, family-friendly atmosphere, and classic dishes has made it an American breakfast institution. The Original Pancake House has endured cultural shifts and food fads for over 65 years, suggesting it has a tried-and-true formula. As long as the restaurant maintains its signature standards, fans will continue flocking for its famous pancakes for years to come.
The Legacy of America’s First Pancake House
The Original Pancake House remains an iconic part of American dining culture decades after it first opened its doors in 1953. Founded by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke in Portland, Oregon, it became the very first restaurant dedicated to pancakes, and sparked a nationwide craze for pancake houses.
As America’s first pancake house, The Original Pancake House carved out a unique niche and created a blueprint for success that many other restaurants would follow. But despite the proliferation of imitators over the years, none have matched the recipe or enduring popularity of the original. Even as dining trends have come and gone, The Original Pancake House has stayed true to its roots, serving up delicious pancakes made from scratch using quality ingredients.
The Original Pancake House made pancakes a legitimate dining experience worthy of going out for, elevating them from a humble breakfast food to a beloved main course. Their fluffy, made-to-order pancakes became synonymous with weekend brunches and family meals across America. While diners can now find pancakes on menus everywhere, The Original Pancake House remains the gold standard that all others are measured against.
After nearly 70 years in business, The Original Pancake House retains a devoted following and high brand recognition across the country. Despite challenges and changing times, the restaurant chain remains dedicated to preserving Les and Erma’s original vision. As described by Erik Hernandez, Erma Hueneke’s grandson and the current COO of The Original Pancake House: “It’s what I like to think of my way of giving back and continuing The Original Pancake House legacy from our family to yours.” (Source)
Through preserving its roots while innovating for the future, The Original Pancake House has cemented its status as a legendary American eatery. Its lasting influence is a testament to the power of a simple, quality product, served in a welcoming environment. The Original Pancake House has more than earned its reputation as the first and finest pancake house in America.
