Whose pancakes are better? Dupars? or Griddle Cafe?

[SecretAsianMan]

Hounds,

Please weigh in with your thoughts on the matter!

Dupars is my all time favorite....I can't imagine there's a place better than them.

What do you think?

SAM

[The Food Buster]

I'd have to agree with some of the other posters about the Griddle. It's mostly about the toppings, rather than the flavors. So if you're in the mood for just a solid pancake, you might want to look somewhere else.

That said, I've never had pancakes I enjoyed quite as much as those at the Griddle. They're so rich and so overloaded with all forms of sweet drizzles and creams that you just can't go wrong.

[westsidegal]

i think the baked german pancake and the baked apple pancake at dinah's family restaurant are better that what dupars serves these days.
my memory of what the dupar's pancakes were like in the 70's, though, are of a far superior pancake than today's offering.

[rednyellow]

on the rare occasion that I do want pancakes, my favorites are at the Pacific Dining Car downtown.

[hyacinthgirl]

I was disapointed in Dupars last time I went, maybe it was just a bad day. For the best, I'd actually go with John O'Groats.... with a little lemon curd... damn... I want them now....

but if I had to choose between the two, I'd go Griddle by default.

[Jack Flash]

I suppose it was a bad day; then again, every day since the Naylors took over at Du-Par's has been a "bad day" for that establishment. It makes me sad.

[ReelMike84]

That's hard to say because to me they're like apples and oranges. The Griddle Cafe is certainly a decadent early morning sugar rush experience, but I wonder if the cake itself would be completely mediocre if it did not include artery clogging toppings. Du-Pars on the other hand is the simple jane buttermilk variety that while tasty I don't consider anything to seek out. I enjoyed my surroundings more then I enjoyed the food. I might also add that when I reheated a bit of it the next morning for leftovers I was met with an unpleasant eggshell, so that for me kind of takes them down a point.

So whose is better? Depends on what you're in the mood for. Griddle Cafe is good if you want to go to the Carnival and eat cotton candy. Du-Pars is good if want coffee shop pancakes with an artificial, yet "mom & pop" experience. Oh...and maybe an eggshell.

[JAB]

I was extremely disappointed in Du-Pars. The best pancakes I've had are at Schooner or Later in Long Beach.

[JeetJet]

Beyond my opinion and into the reality of proven science is the fact that the best pancakes in the L.A. Area are made at Pie n' Burger. Either the large, thin and chewy thin style or the light and fluffy style, just add extra butter and your Chowhound moment of the day is served.

Pie n' Burger
913 E California Blvd (Just East of Lake Ave)
Pasadena, CA 91106
Phone: [phone]

[SecretAsianMan]

I'm surprised at the number of Dupar's detractors. I find the pot pies to be excellent and the pancakes light and mysteriously addicting.

[Servorg]

I too like the pancakes at Du-Par's. But different strokes and all that. Have you ever had the flannel cakes at Musso & Frank? They only serve them until 11 AM, but if you like very thin pancakes (almost crepe like) they are worth checking out.

-----
Musso & Frank Grill
6667 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

[SecretAsianMan]

Hmmm. Quite enticing. I will check it out!

[rednyellow]

The griddle has big, food but not very good food.

[monku]

Anything's got to be better than Dupars pancakes......went to the Farmer's Market Dupars for pancakes and was shocked they were $8 for a short stack (2) and they were nothing to write home about.

[carter]

Agree here, Dupars is a shadow of its former self under the new auspices of Norms. Those pancakes as well as the French Toast should remain in your memories, yet not in your stomach.
Truly depressing.
Griddle by default

[Jack Flash]

The most galling thing about Du-Par's was when the new owners put together a press release (picked up by all the local media) touting their claim that the famous hotcake recipe would remain the same. But anyone who was even remotely familiar with the old formula can tell from one bite that they've changed. It's not so much the flavor as the texture, which is just all wrong. It never ceases to amaze me when people take a product and intentionally make it worse. It's completely irrational.

[peggille]

I used to rave about DuPars pancakes and french toast too. My friend used to try to replicate the pancakes at home, but never could. Now, they're just run of the mill, and pricey too. AT whatever time it was (close to lunch time) on the weekend, I could not get pancakes with my scrambled eggs--no combos, no way. (Studio City )7 or 8 dollars for 2 pancakes is ridiculous. I'm searching for pancakes like they used to make..

[SecretAsianMan]

Actually, I think a short stack has 3 and a tall 5, but yes, not the cheapest in town for sure.

[monku]

Two pancakes there were $8. Call it what you want. Other places I've been to call two pancakes a short stack.

[Jack Flash]

SAM is correct - the short stack at Du-Par's is 3 hotcakes; the full order is 5. $8 for the full stack, $7 for the short stack.

[monku]

Apologize for my poor counting skills.......but I was outraged at the price and they were worse than the pancakes at Denny's and the Krusteaz pancake mix I get from Costco that I just add water too.

[lankershim]

Er, I would say Vivian's. But the Griddle has a bigger variety...

[J.L.]

Concur with Du-Par's....

[heckonwheels]

Best pancakes I've had in the L.A. area is Home Bakery and Cafe in Montrose. Very disappointed with Dupars at the Farmer's Market last time I was there but across the food patio at Charlie's Coffee Shop has the best french toast I can remember eating.

[SecretAsianMan]

Wow! Really? I live in Montrose. I'll check it out!