The Original Pancake House

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The Original Pancake House
Company typePrivate
IndustryRestaurants
GenreCasual dining
Founded1953; 71 years ago (1953) in Portland, Oregon, U.S.
FoundersLes Highet
Erma Hueneke
Headquarters,
U.S.
Number of locations
146 (2023)[1]
Areas served
United States, Japan and South Korea
Key people
Ronald Highet (President)[2]
ProductsBreakfast dishes
Websiteoriginalpancakehouse.com

The Original Pancake House (TOPH) is a chain of pancake houses across the United States. They have franchises in Canada that started in 1958 and are still operating.[3] They have recently expanded into both Japan and South Korea.[4] They follow traditional recipes[5] and ingredients for their pancakes but offer other standard diner fare as well. They also have a spin-off, Walker Brothers Pancake House, which has a similar menu, but with a formal ambiance.

History[edit]

"The Original Pancake House" restaurant in Southfield, Michigan

The first Original Pancake House opened in 1953 in Portland, Oregon, by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke,[6] who collected recipes for their restaurant from around the world.[5] They soon franchised the name and recipes into locations spanning more than half of the U.S. states[7] and Winnipeg, Manitoba[8]

Known for their breakfast foods; their signature dishes are the Apple Pancake, Dutch Baby,[9] German Pancake, and omelets. They have over 100 franchised locations throughout the United States,[7] and are located from Seattle[10] to Edgewater,[11] from Wilmette[12][13] to Williamsville,[14] from Honolulu[15] to its headquarters in Portland.[16][17] One of the earliest franchised restaurants opened in Anaheim, California in 1958, and is currently owned by the family of employees from the original Portland location.[18]

Sign outside of the Original Pancake House in Anaheim, California

In 1999, the Original Pancake House in Portland received a James Beard Foundation Award as an American Classic.[19] OPH was also named one of USA Today's Top 10 Pancake Restaurants in the Nation according to the company website, and the Hyde Park, Chicago location was well known as Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's favorite breakfast eatery. On one occasion, he conducted an interview in the restaurant with anchorman Walter Jacobson.[20][21]

The chain, which moved to Canada in 1959, spread further internationally in May 2013, when it opened its first overseas location in Seoul, South Korea.[22] A month later, it expanded to Kichijōji, Tokyo in Japan.[23]

Locations[edit]

The Original Pancake House is located in 28 states, with stores in most of the major metropolitan cities including Austin,[24] Atlanta,[25] Dallas,[26] Miami,[27] Chicago,[28] Seattle, Denver,[29] and Charlotte. A complete list of locations can be found on the website.[30]

The Winnipeg franchisee at one point had only one restaurant but has recently expanded to run four restaurants in the Canadian city under the same name with a similar logo while continuing to feature some of the chain's specialities such as the Dutch baby pancake and Giant Apple Pancakes.[31]

Since spring of 2013, a store has operated in Kichijōji, Japan.[32]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "213. Original Pancake House". Franchise Times. September 27, 2023.
  2. ^ "Original Pancake House Corporate Information". July 27, 2021. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "About Us - The Original Pancake House". Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  4. ^ "アメリカ人の誰もが知っている美味しさ". THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE. Archived from the original on 2014-08-09. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  5. ^ a b "What are Pancakes?". Original Pancake House. Archived from the original on 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2011-05-09. Les Highet and Erma Hueneke, founders of the Original Pancake House in Portland, Oregon, collected recipes around the world.
  6. ^ Sanderson, David (July 3, 2023). "Original Pancake House a Winnipeg fave for 65 years". Winnipeg Free Press.
  7. ^ a b "Locations". Original Pancake House. Archived from the original on 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  8. ^ "The Original Pancake House menu circa 1959". Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  9. ^ Mutchler, Kayla (January 30, 2023). "Original Pancake House brings fresh breakfast to Westport". Connecticut Post.
  10. ^ Leson, Nancy (May 5, 2011). "Readers share their pancake hotspots". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2011-05-08. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  11. ^ "Original Pancake House Completes Move to Edgewater". Boozy Burbs. August 5, 2015. Archived from the original on 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  12. ^ Berg, Eric N. (February 21, 1990). "At the Nation's Table". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  13. ^ "Original Pancake House". Vegetarian Times (47). Active Interest Media. July–August 1981. ISSN 0164-8497. Archived from the original on 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  14. ^ "Roman S. Jewula, founded Original Pancake House". The Buffalo News. April 2, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  15. ^ "Original Pancake House – Breakfast Indulgence". Hawaii Diner. September 2004. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  16. ^ "Best Restaurants: Southwest & Beaverton". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2010-08-07. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  17. ^ "The Original Pancake House". Willamette Week. 2001. Cheap Eats. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  18. ^ "Pancake veteran hangs up the apron". Orange County Register. September 30, 2006. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  19. ^ "JBF America's Classics". James Beard Foundation Award. 1999. Archived from the original on 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  20. ^ "Breakfast – CBS Chicago". chicago.cbslocal.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  21. ^ "A voter's guide to the governor's race". Chicago Tribune. 2002-03-15. Archived from the original on 2014-03-16. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  22. ^ "The Original Pancake House in Seoul". Herald Corporation. 16 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-04-04. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  23. ^ ""The Original Pancake House" Opens in Kichijoji, Tokyo". Herald Corporation. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
  24. ^ "The Original Pancake House Texas Locations". originalpancakehouse.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  25. ^ "The Original Pancake House Georgia Locations". www.originalpancakehouse.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-15. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  26. ^ "The Original Pancake House – DFW – Made fresh from scratch". Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  27. ^ "Welcome to the Original Pancake House South Florida!". Archived from the original on 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  28. ^ "Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House". www.walkerbros.net. Archived from the original on 2015-03-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  29. ^ "Breakfast Restaurant Denver Tech Center & Cherry Hills – Original Pancake House". The Original Pancake House Denver. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  30. ^ "The Original Pancake House Locations by State". www.originalpancakehouse.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  31. ^ "Home". The Original Pancake House. Archived from the original on 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  32. ^ "The Original Pancake House". Timeout Tokyo. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 2023-11-20.

External links[edit]