Rarely do I go out for breakfast when I’m at home in LA, which is a shame, because LA has its fair share of fantastic breakfast and brunch places. Among all the breakfast joints in town, though, there are very few with the reputation of The Griddle, especially when it comes to flapjacks/pancakes. So I decided to head over with my family over a weekend to check it out.

The Griddle is a nice, little breakfast joint. It’s very simple and somewhat minimalist. The inside is very nice, with a great bar area in a large circle right in the center. The only problem with the place is that it’s crowded all the time. You’re going to wait for a while if you go on the weekends—30 mins or so isn’t unexpected. All in all, the ambience isn’t the greatest, and the place is cramped like no tomorrow, even with the tables. The area, though is awesome—you just can’t beat brunching on Sunset on a nice sunny day.

[All photos taken with permission from Griddle Cafe's Facebook site, located at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Hollywood-CA/The-Griddle-Cafe-OFFICIAL-SITE/88072894732?ref=ts&ajaxpipe=1&__a=14].

The food, though, is worth the wait. In terms of breakfast, you just can’t beat this classic in LA–and that’s why it’s such a historic landmark. Flapjacks may not sound so great, but these are out-of-this-world. Don’t get me wrong: Everything served in the place is really solid, but if you go all the way to Sunset for breakfast, you really owe it to yourself to try the flapjacks, without exception—best I’ve had, EVER.

Oh, and as far as value goes, I can’t think of a better breakfast deal. Pay less than $10 for 3 flapjacks that are so big that supposedly only one person manages to finish them every couple months. The edges of the flapjacks are even falling off the plate. Really, you won’t need to eat for a whole day.

If you want breakfast, then, look no further than the Griddle Café. You won’t be disappointed!

What I had (recommendations in bold):

1. The Golden Ticket (browned sugar bananas, walnuts, caramel, streusel)—Tastes just like a banana nut muffin or pancake, just better. Extremely huge, to the point that I couldn’t even finish it. 3 Flapjacks that overflow the plate. The flavors are right on, with a great synergy. Nutty, fruity, and caramel-y all in one. It’s phenomenal, especially the crusted part on the side—just like eating the top of a muffin, with a slightly firm crunch to it. 4.6/5.0
2. Egg white omelette with chilis and steak—Really solid flavors all around. Great omelette. Chili gives it a nice, spiced flavor. 4.0/5.0
3. Crispy bacon—The Bacon’s also awesome. It won’t disappoint you if you like bacon. Huge, greasy strips, crisped to perfection. A bit on the smokier, burnt side, but still very well cooked. I’m just not a bacon lover. Stick to their Canadian bacon, which was just as delicious and perfectly cooked, but which had a much nicer, less greasy flavor to it. 3.5/5.0

Ambience: 4.0/5.0
Service: 3.5/5.0. Not really the type of place where it matters, though.
Food: 4.2/5.0. Add a few tenths for the flapjacks.
Value: 4.9/5.0. You won’t need to eat for a whole day after a stack of $8 flapjacks.
Verdict: 4.4/5.0