Whether it’s for a quick breakfast, brunch with friends, dessert, or even a special treat à la breakfast for dinner, pancakes are the perfect comfort food.
As one of two U.S. cities named as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, San Antonio offers a myriad of selections to dine out at.
In this article we’ll cover some of the best spots around San Antonio, Texas, for when you’re craving a syrup-soaked stack of hotcakes, as well as:
- The history of each spot
- What to expect when it comes to pancake selections
- Any other menu highlights
Let’s get to it so you can be digging into pancakes in Texas in no time!
The Guenther House
Location: 205 E Guenther St, San Antonio, TX
Stuff yourself with breakfast treats in the historic Guenther House!
A museum, gift shop, and restaurant, Guenther House was built in 1859. Originally owned by German millwright Carl Hilmar Guenther, he established C.H. Guenther and Son — a flour mill — now known as Pioneer Flour Mills.
Appreciate the house’s 1920s-style art nouveau architecture while dining on stacks of golden, fluffy sweet cream pancakes.
Their breakfast menu is served all day, and also includes waffles, biscuits, and several choices of breakfast platters.
If you want to take a piece of your meal home with you, you’re not just limited to takeaway boxes!
Guenther House’s gift shop sells their Sweet Cream pancake mix, amongst many other locally made treats, for you to bring home and make for yourself.
Mi Tierra Café y Panadería
Location: 218 Produce Row, San Antonio, TX
Mi Tierra Café y Panadería is a must-visit if you’re in San Antonio!
This Latin American restaurant doesn’t just offer tasty Tex-Mex dishes but also serves up some of the best breakfast foods in San Antonio.
No matter the time of day, you’ll be able to get your hands on a stack of warm, fluffy hotcakes at this restaurant.
Served with eggs and a choice of breakfast meats, Mi Tierra’s Huevo con Hot Cakes are the perfect balance of sweet and savory and will fill you up for the day ahead.
For something lighter, the restaurant also serves a stack of three hotcakes without any sides.
If you’re looking for more than just pancakes, why not try their huevos rancheros, one of their many breakfast tacos, or choose from their large selection of bread and pastries courtesy of their authentic Mexican bakery?
And for those of you who are into a little more — shall we say — indulgent breakfast slightly later in the day, you could pair your breakfast with one of their alcoholic beverages!
Margaritas and pancakes? Why not!
So why not come on down? Sit back, embrace the vibrant, festive, Latin-themed atmosphere, and dig into an authentic San Antonio Tex-Mex meal!
NOLA Brunch & Beignets
Location: 720 E Mistletoe, San Antonio, TX
For some of the best New Orleans-style food in San Antonio, why not try NOLA Brunch & Beignets?
With a choice from stacks of blueberry muffins, Bananas Foster, and chocolate-chip-cookie-dough pancakes, NOLA offers more than just your regular diner pancakes!
If you’re after something a little more savory, the eatery also has a delicious array of other breakfast options. This includes omelets, avocado tostadas, and a NOLA brunch plate served with fried green tomatoes, grits, bacon, and scrambled eggs.
Accompany your meal with some of their New Orleans-style café au lait! This has a special nutty, herbaceous flavor, courtesy of the addition of chicory.
While you’re there, make sure you try their iconic beignets.
These soft, deep-fried pillows are served in different flavors, including the classic powdered sugar beignet, lemon beignets stuffed with lemon curd, and a seasonal flavor that changes every month!
NOLA operates on a first-come-first-served policy, so make sure you arrive early to guarantee a seat at this popular brunch spot.
Eggspectation
Location: 402 N Loop 1604 W Acc Rd, San Antonio, TX
This charming eatery — with a cracker of a name (geddit?) — serves up an all-day American breakfast.
Eggspectation keeps it comforting while giving its dishes a modern twist to match its modern, laid-back atmosphere.
The vibe is perfect for family meals, or brunch out with friends. True to its name, many of Eggspectation’s dishes come with a twist on the quintessential breakfast food: eggs!
Dive into generous servings of eggs benedict, fried chicken and waffles, and — of course — pancakes.
We recommend trying their popular High Rise Pancakes: a tower of buttermilk pancakes stacked with sausage, bacon, and potatoes, with an optional egg add-on.
Drizzle (or douse!) your stack with some maple syrup, and be rewarded with a satisfying balance of salty and sweet with every bite.
And if you’re looking for a pancake option that’s a bit different, try the Lemon Ricotta Blueberry variation.
Served with fresh blueberries, blueberry compote, and lemon ricotta cheese, this dish is perfectly fruity, sweet, and balanced, with just a touch of tartness.
Golden brown on the outside, and delightfully fluffy on the inside, these pancakes will fill you up for the day ahead!
From service to food, you’re bound to walk out those doors having had an eggcellent experience! (Sorry, we had to…)
Pancake Joe’s
Locations: 1011 Donaldson Avenue, San Antonio, TX; and 6703 Ingram Road, San Antonio, TX
A list of San Antonio’s pancake spots isn’t complete without mentioning Pancake Joe’s!
Renowned amongst locals for their incredible fresh-off-the-griddle pancakes, this mom-and-pop restaurant offers classic breakfast selections with no unnecessary frills.
From fresh fruit and bacon to chocolate chips and peanut butter, the list of toppings you can choose from is never ending– and guaranteed to be absolutely delicious!
Not only that, but they’re the best accompaniment piled on top of their perfectly light, golden-brown buttermilk pancakes.
In addition to their regular pancake stacks, Pancake Joe’s has a myriad of scrumptious specialty pancakes.
You can’t go wrong choosing any of them, with flavors such as cinnamon roll, pineapple upside down, apple cinnamon, and — our personal recommendation — cheesecake!
Imagine a silky cheesecake cream, encapsulated by a wonderfully fluffy batter and accompanied with fresh berries, and you’ll have the decadence of Pancake Joe’s rich and mouth-watering cheesecake pancakes.
Talk about yum!
Despite its name, Pancake Joe’s doesn’t just serve some of the most iconic pancakes in San Antonio.
Their extensive menu includes freshly fried frittatas, custardy French toast, waffles with crisp golden edges, and so much more!
This family-owned restaurant is incredibly welcoming and homey, and visiting will guarantee a memorable — and affordable — meal.
Pharm Table
Location: 611 S Presa St Suite 106, San Antonio, TX
Sometimes pancakes get a bad rep for being unhealthy.
And while there’s nothing wrong with treating ourselves to a special breakfast once in a while, Pharm Table offers some delectable guilt-free versions of classic comfort foods for the health-conscious.
With beautiful indoor and outdoor dining spaces as well as occasional live music, this unique restaurant has a charming and modern industrial farmhouse vibe. It’s the perfect spot for brunch, lunch, or dinner!
Their gluten and dairy-free pancakes are served with blueberry chutney and maple syrup. Despite being a healthier option, these are still every bit as enjoyable as your regular go-to pancakes.
Pharm Table also has other great options if you have specific dietary restrictions.
Whether you’re gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan or vegetarian, paleo or just looking into eating a more whole-foods-based diet, you’re sure to find something here!
Their menu was created to support an anti-inflammatory diet and is based on scientific research and pre-Columbian food techniques which support clean and healthy eating.
Even their cocktails are good for you!
Their locally sourced seasonal ingredients and efforts to minimize food waste are not only good for your health but also good for the environment and local economy.
Not only will your gut feel good after the meal, but your mind as well. Just make sure to make reservations before you go, as this is a very popular brunch spot!
Sangria on the Burg
Location: 5115 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX
Sangria on the Burg not only serves some incredible and authentic Tex-Mex, but also has some delish pancakes on their weekend brunch menu!
The restaurant’s unique Bacon Pancake Tacos puts a special Tex-Mex twist on regular buttermilk pancakes.
Thin pancake tortillas are filled with bacon, eggs, house queso, and pecan-jalapeño syrup — a super interesting and extremely tasty take on a breakfast classic!
Sangria on the Burg’s menu — which also has a wide selection of tacos, sliders, and salads — uses locally sourced ingredients. They’re also served in extremely generous portions that will satiate even the hungriest of customers!
If you’re looking for something a little boozy to accompany your hotcakes, why not try some of their specialty craft sangria?
Or how about one of their very popular margarita flights? That way you can try four frozen margarita flavors of your choice!
This is another incredibly popular restaurant, so we recommend that you book ahead in order to ensure your spot!
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking to feast on some fluffy American pancakes in San Antonio, you’re spoilt for choice.
From family-owned small businesses to health-conscious restaurants and fusion twists, you’ll find them all in Texas.
We hope you’ll find somewhere from our top selection of pancake spots to sit down and connect with family or friends over this classic breakfast food!