Finding a breakfast joint that the whole family can enjoy is tricky. The kids may prefer new flavors, but you might be longing for some classic buttermilk pancakes. The key is to find a place that can satisfy both kids and adults alike.
If you’re vacationing in Pigeon Forge, then you’re in luck. It’s famous for its pancake houses, and there are plenty of family-friendly options.
In this guide, we take a look at 12 of the best places to get pancakes during your family vacation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
- 1. Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin
- 2. Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast
- 3. Smoky’s Pancake Cabin
- 4. Smoky Mountain Pancake House
- 5. Red Rooster Pancake House
- 6. Reagan’s House Of Pancakes
- 7. Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe
- 8. Lil’ Black Bear Cafe
- 9. Wild Bear Tavern
- 10. The Old Mill Restaurant
- 11. Golden Corral Buffet & Grill
- 12. Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que
- FAQs
1. Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin
Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin is an institution in Pigeon Forge. Many locals and tourists alike will tell you that it makes the best pancakes in Pigeon Forge. Its pancakes are made fresh every day, with nine different flavors to choose from.
Two of the most popular choices are Reese’s Peanut Butter pancakes and chocolate chip pancakes.
These are both amazing, but the real winner at this pancake house has to be the sticky bun pancakes. These delicious pancakes are smothered in icing and have a cinnamon swirl inside.
The signature sticky bun pancakes are one of the reasons that this place is often regarded as the best pancake house in Pigeon Forge.
Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin has one location in Pigeon Forge:
2734 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
2. Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast
Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast is a relatively new pancake house, but it has quickly become a firm favorite. It’s famous for its wild blueberry pancakes that burst with flavor. It’s a great place for the whole family, and the kid’s menu is pretty extensive.
If you don’t fancy fruit pancakes, then you can try the signature crepes. These have a secret cheese blend filling and come with mountain berry compote on top. Trust us; this is a pancake house that you and the kids will adore!
Sawyer’s Farmhouse Breakfast has one location in Pigeon Forge:
2831 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
3. Smoky’s Pancake Cabin
Smoky’s Pancake Cabin is well-known in Pigeon Forge and throughout Tennessee. That’s because it’s been serving up amazing pancakes for three generations now.
This pancake house is famous for its innovative pancake flavors, such as banana split and lemon berry. However, it’s best known for its pineapple upside-down pancakes.
If your kids have never tried this flavor before, then this pancake house should be a must during your family vacation.
As well as pancakes, Smoky’s Pancake Cabin also serves breakfast classics like egg platters, waffles, and omelets. It also has some of the best biscuits and gravy in the whole of Pigeon Forge.
Smoky’s Pancake Cabin has one location in Pigeon Forge:
4235 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
4. Smoky Mountain Pancake House
Smoky Mountain Pancake House is a perfect choice for breakfast during a family vacation. Its eight flavors of pancakes are made from scratch each morning.
Like Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin, it also makes a mean chocolate chip pancake, and its Reese’s Peanut Butter pancakes are to die for.
If you or your kids are avoiding gluten, then have no fear. Smoky Mountain Pancake House has delicious gluten-free pancakes. It also serves up healthy multi-grain pancakes as well. This gives it a more modern edge over some other establishments that only serve old-fashioned buttermilk pancakes.
Smoky Mountain Pancake House has one location in Pigeon Forge:
4050 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
5. Red Rooster Pancake House
Red Rooster Pancake House might not be the most innovative restaurant on this list, but it doesn’t need to be. It serves up old-fashioned pancakes, which can be covered in caramel peach sauce, chocolate chips, and berries.
It also has great breakfast platters with classics such as french toast.
If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, then why not try the burrito skillet? This features scrambled eggs cooked to perfection and topped with bacon, green peppers, mushrooms, and more. It comes in a tortilla with salsa, hash browns, and sour cream on the side.
Red Rooster Pancake House has one location in Pigeon Forge:
3215 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
6. Reagan’s House Of Pancakes
Reagan’s House of Pancakes is famous for its fun pancake flavors. This is a breakfast spot that your kids are guaranteed to love. Some of the best flavors include caramel nut pancakes and M&M pancakes.
It also serves Reagan’s Fruit Roll-Ups. This is where cream cheese and berries are rolled up between two pancakes. When it comes to pancakes, it doesn’t get much more fun than this!
Reagan’s House of Pancakes has two locations in Pigeon Forge:
2820 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
3516 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
7. Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe
This is one of the best pancake houses in Pigeon Forge for young children. The pancakes and other breakfast options are great, but it’s the entertainment that sets it apart.
The restaurant has a barnyard theme, and it really doesn’t hold back. Every hour, 100 animatronic chickens burst into song to the delight of every kid in the place.
If you’re looking for a pancake spot that’ll truly entertain your kids, then this is the place for you.
Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe has one location in Pigeon Forge:
2785 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
8. Lil’ Black Bear Cafe
Lil’ Black Bear Cafe is a hidden gem that is often overlooked by tourists. It’s a small cafe that’s tucked away down a side street just off Parkway. Although it may be less well-known than the other restaurants on this list, it’s well worth a visit.
It makes excellent pancakes and also serves up a classic diner breakfast. This includes omelets, bagels, and fluffy waffles. If you’re after lunch, then they also have burgers, salads, hot dogs, and bologna sandwiches.
Lil’ Black Bear Cafe has one location in Pigeon Forge:
3068 Veterans Boulevard, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
9. Wild Bear Tavern
Wild Bear Tavern is another pancake joint that tends to go under the radar. Yet, if you’re vacationing in Pigeon Forge, you should pay it a visit. It’s a Bavarian-style tavern that has plenty of menu options for the whole family.
The pancakes are great, of course, and they make an amazing schnitzel. For the adults, they also serve lovely German beers to go with your food.
Wild Bear Tavern has one location in Pigeon Forge:
4236 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
10. The Old Mill Restaurant
The Old Mill Restaurant is one of the best places for a classic Southern breakfast. It’s very popular, so you may have to wait a while to get in. Still, that wait will definitely be worth it.
The restaurant sits alongside the Little Pigeon River and is famous across the whole state. It’s known for its incredibly generous portion sizes, so make sure you arrive with a big appetite.
The Cinnamon Raisin Pecan French Toast is one of the best items on the menu. Of course, the pancakes are also excellent. No matter what your breakfast preferences are, you’re guaranteed to find something you love at The Old Mill Restaurant.
The Old Mill Restaurant has one location in Pigeon Forge:
164 Old Mill Avenue, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
11. Golden Corral Buffet & Grill
The Golden Corral Buffet & Grill is a great place to start the day during your family vacation. It makes delightful, fluffy pancakes topped with syrup, and there are plenty of other options.
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill has one location in Pigeon Forge:
3610 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
12. Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que
This joint may be best known for its amazing BBQ, but it also does superb pancakes. You can customize your own pancakes to make the perfect breakfast for you and the kids. Be sure to turn up hungry, as the breakfast buffet is all-you-can-eat.
Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que has one location in Pigeon Forge:
2910 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
FAQs
Why are pancakes so popular in Pigeon Forge?
The main reason that pancakes are so popular in Pigeon Forge is that they’re a staple part of Southern cuisine. The many pancake houses in the area have further popularized pancakes among locals and tourists.
Is Pigeon Forge known for pancakes?
Part of Pigeon Forge’s fame definitely comes from its famous pancake houses. However, it’s also known for being close to Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains. A family vacation in Pigeon Forge won’t simply be centered around pancakes.
Where is the pancake capital of the world?
The Smoky Mountains area is considered by many to be the pancake capital of the world. Pancake houses like Log Cabin Pancake House in Gatlinburg have helped to cement this reputation, and it’s one that’s well-earned.