This is the dive diner I have been looking for since moving here in 2020. The five stars is not because it's AMAZING food. The five stars is because it's GOOD food, at a fair and reasonable price, and the staff is on top of their game. Friendly, inviting, and a great place to have a little breakfast with family among the local community. I have a new regular place now. read more

Older place but great food and staff. Stopped by after a workout and before going to work. The hostess / server that met me at the door was very nice and friendly. I got my treat - pancakes and bacon. The food was hot and good but more importantly quick. All I had was water but everyone there looked like they were having a good time. Don't know if I'll be back but if I do and I'm on this side of town at breakfast time, I'll swing through. read more

Good, old time diner style breakfast food. The restaurant has that old time feel and the food was delicious.

Old school diner, nothing fancy with the open kitchen so you see everything going on including watching the orange juicer, juicing the best fresh orange juice! The staff is happy and welcoming and very attentive. They definitely know their job and they do it well! The food was fantastic. We had breakfast. I loved the fresh made hash browns. County fried steak was tender enough to cut with my fork. Bacon perfection! Plus they have the best raspberry jam ever! Price is reasonable and not overly inflated. Can't wait to try lunch. Open early at 6 am. Close at 2 just go! Yum! read more

Oh my goodness! This is your quintessential diner experience. It's like sitting in grandma's kitchen that hasn't been redecorated since the 60's and it's awesome. The best breakfast ever. I love pancake and waffles but can't eat the normally because of the gluten, but they have sourdough! The corn beef hash was just like my daddy used to make. The hash browns are fresh not frozen. The apple and blueberry syrups are delicious. Portions are big so be prepared to share. This place is over an hour from home, but already planning our next trip. read more

Happened on this restaurant by accident, but I'm glad that I did. Hubby and I just returned from our cruise and we were hungry. This place did not disappoint. The German pancake with the lemon drizzle had me doing a happy dance in my seat. Our waitress was Barb, if she represents the friendly people of Seattle, welcome one and all. If I'm in Seattle again, this will be my go to spot. read more

Flew into Sea-tac airport for a wedding, fast break with Budget took two hours to get a vehicle, at this point we're starving, look up a place close to the airport and see this, as the owner of a breakfast/lunch restaurant in Arizona always like the small local places, finally get here about noon, and let me start with this, generally I do not give bad reviews to small independent places, but an interaction with owners changed that idea, walk into a somewhat empty restaurant, hostess friendly, place has open kitchen concept like mine, but zero communication with line cooks, not a good sign,?get seated in an empty restaurant right next to bathrooms, get a server with no smile or happiness in her demeanor, order a German pancake with a side of eggs and potato pancakes with bacon, wait close to 50 minutes for food to arrive, folks who came after us are leaving, food comes and took a bite it is really bad, wife's German pancake bland and actually undercooked, we nibble a bit ask for check, server asks about boxes we reply no thank you, it was really not good food, pay at cashier system, walk up husband and wife owners, hovered over Register counting tickets. Looks up takes my money and never says a word, the first question that should be asked is "how was everything?" Nada, walk back to table wife stands up we head for the door. As we leave again with owners counting that money and never looking up, not even a goodbye or thank you. I decide to go back on and from an owners point of view let them know we did not enjoy it, Zero reaction. Oh I'm sorry, have a nice day. I was not looking not to pay or any validation, just like to inform owners that food, cleanliness and service need some help, this is long enough already but for me, it's just a flat no, would and will never come back read more

Local breakfast place. Average pancakes and crepes. Parking is horrendous. Friendly servers. Clean.

Very good old school café would definitely go back very good selection on the menu good service

This place is a typical greasy spoon, and I mean that in an endearing way. Close to SeaTac and a home-y feel makes Pancake Chef a wonderful choice for weary travelers. I stopped here for the first time on 6/17/2021 after a red-eye from Kaua'i, Hawai'i. The hostess was welcoming and the server paid close attention to my party of eight. I had the steak and eggs and added a German pancake for just $1.75 more. Don't expect a Michelin experience, of course, but you're guaranteed quality, tasty food. The steak was perfectly cooked as ordered (medium rare) and the German pancake was wonderful. It's fluffy in the middle with a high, crispy crust. I really appreciated that their butter wasn't hard. This restaurant is clean and the service and food are great. Don't let the outside surroundings fool you. Parking can be tight with travelers and nearby workers coming by. read more

The Pancake Chef - German pancake - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

Attempted to go twice. First time arrived at 11:02 am they were locking the door right in front of me wit about 8-10 others wondering what was going on then a sign saying they were short handed. Second time went on line to see if they were open , their web site say yes they were open until 2:00 pm so again drove the 45 minutes just to find out they were closed. So I have no idea how the food is but I do know I WILL NOT GO AGAIN!!! read more

This was an old style greasy spoon with the nicest staff, the best food, and the nicest atmosphere. We had the Dutch baby (huge) , Swedish pancakes, and a cinnamon roll. We have dubbed this our new go to spot. Prices were good. I believe everyone needs to try this. You'll be in for a treat. Oh, and I got a free milk for being over 55. read more

We always get the German pancake here....service is spot on. Fair pricing and good food!

First time here and it was great, even the gluten free pancakes were awesome. If in area again will definitely go

Food was amazing. Waitress amazing. True breakfast place. Enjoyed everything about this place. Do not hesitate going here. When I saw cooks knew it was gonna be good. No kids cooking. read more

Oh my GOODNESS this is a must see adorable diner just a hop away from SeaTac airport. Everyone treats you like family when you're here. And the amount of regular customers in here at 11 am on a Thursday is a true testament to the quality of the people and the food. The pancakes were fluffy and nicely warm. The apple cinnamon syrup is heavenly and sweetly cinnamon flavored. Linh was the kindest and most silly waitress and she made our whole morning. Get the orange juice you won't regret it! And the wheat pancakes are a great option and still just as fluffy if you're needing a bit more fiber. read more

The Pancake Chef - Blueberry pancakes and warm blueberry compote. Too yummy to have "phone eat first" - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

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AWFUL SERVICE. Waited 20 minutes for a table by myself and never got in. The host Randy was extremely rude and didn't seem to know what was going on. Gave up after another party showed up and got priority over me for no reason. Basically was told tough luck. Don't go here unless you want to be treated poorly from the moment you walk in. read more

Absolutely loved The Pancake Chef! The German pancake is to die for -- light and fluffy. Can't wait to come back!

Solid 4 star experience. Really fun place to go and feel like you've been whisked away to 1978. They have the German Pancake down solid (known in my neck of the woods as the Dutch Baby). It's served with a lemon sauce and butter that really hits the spot! My server was very attentive and the place was super clean. Fast service, fast food, nice hot coffee served in a carafe? What more can yo ask for in an old-school diner/cafe? Most definitely recommended for a quick bite to eat before heading out on your plane flight. Enjoy. read more

The Pancake Chef - german pancake, 2 eggs and bacon :) - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

I love this place and I love getting breakfast here staff is great so is the food most time over the country fried steak but I have had there omelettes both are great read more

The Pancake Chef - Coffee is still good hope the meal is also - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

This is an old school, Ma and Pa restaurant that has been in business for 59 years. Service was good and was easy to get a table. The portions are large for the order. Lots of airport and plane memorabilia with photos on the walls. You can tell this place has a long history. I highly recommend having breakfast here here. read more

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Went on a busy day, the food portions were good, and there was a lot of variety. The interior was what I expected, an older restaurant, dated, and adorned with aviation photographs. The only thing I would mention as far as room for improvement is service, which the staff were overwhelmed by the amount of people, or I'm sure they would have been on it, and the exterior needs a little TLC. Slap on some paint and repair the awning, but other than that, met my expectations, and was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks read more

Great place! German pancake is awesome! The blintz is really good. They have fresh squeezed orange juice at times. They have additional parking in the upper level and on the side of building! I love mixing my cottage cheese with cinnamon apple slices- so good! Lynn is the funniest waitress! ( her husband works there too) read more

The Pancake Chef - Receipt ( prices) - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

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Barbara was a fabulous server! She warmed our coffee cups before setting down the coffee pot. Small touches make a big difference! Pancakes were spot on fluffy (we ordered buckwheat & buttermilk) Regular order was too much for me to finish Coffee could have been a bit stronger We love this place. Obviously frequented by regulars and all the waitstaff made them feel welcomed- cozy! read more

Great diner experience complete with freshly squeezed orange juice. Service and staff made it a great experience. Would go again if down in the area. read more

STK The Pancake Chef Typically, when on an early morning mission, a ninja must stay light footed in preparation for any battle. This restaurant is very much not the standard ninja way to eat. I came in fit to fight but left fluffy, battered and triumphant! I will tell you, this is a great place which has battled and survived the times. When paying one's bill, a patron can see into the galley and its line of chefs, and a tip of the cap to all those present today. Not one of my items came out erroneously, delayed or otherwise off target. Star for professional cooking. I reckon my grand-sire ninja ate here way back in the days. Rich and filling, with friendly servers aplenty. Charming dining room, unchanged for 60 years, servers called out the peach crepe special, while maneuvering with syrups, juices and butter like a squadron in tight, drilling formations. Busboy and bus captain were polishing tables as I walked in eager to taste the offerings at The Pancake Chef. There was nowhere to park outside, and nowhere to sit inside! Which to me, is always a good sign. I waited, hands on my ninja stars, ready to fling in favor or displeasure. Waits don't bother this ninja, only waits for subpar experience. A ninja from the "45" clan sat next to me, staring silently at his plate of cooling foods. Overall service was swamped, but the wait staff held together. Star for service. Aftet hearing specials, I wandered off-menu and diminishimg my shadow. 3 sunnyside eggs, 2 bacon rashers, and a short stack with lemon sauce. This improvised order is what I assume a ninja chieftain would eat here, to stay fit for battle. I stacked it up into 3 sandwiches throughout the meal, for I don't enjoy soggy pancakes, Pancake Chef didn't disappoint. Star for taste. Bacon was crisp and temp was perfect. Eggs were gooey and in tact. Star for accuracy. Many different menu options, I felt that I needed time to take it in. But I also know exactly what I want at all times. Star for menu offerings. Coffee was a little burnt, drank the whole carafe still. Maybe the only displeasure I endured. Parking was tight and I had to make evasive moves before landing the high ground of the upper lot. They take good care of their patrons here, plus they are kind and easy to smile. A great team to watch in action, I am looking forward to returning again soon. Feel good star for energy. read more

This place gets 5 stars in my book. 1. For the cool pictures of the Boeing airplanes over the years. See pic. 2. The food is pretty good, my husband ordered the chicken fried steak & he said he thoroughly enjoyed it. 3. They've been around for 60 years and still going strong, well done. read more

The Pancake Chef - Menu from 1959 - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

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This was a very vintage Cafe. Service is very to the point and does not go beyond that. We ordered a bacon and cheese omelet with hash browns, buttermilk pancakes with biscuits and gravy, and a waffle with an overeasy egg. Everything was delicious, but we did have leftovers since it was so much food. We enjoyed our breakfast since it was fresh and we were out of there pretty widely. You pay up front at the entrance desk. Parking is just above and next to the cafe. read more

Stayed in an AirB&B for an Eagles concert in Seattle. My wife chose this place, and neither of us could have been happier. I ordered the banana pancakes and she ordered the French toast. Both meals were delicious, hot, and was plentiful. My coffee went cold, and our waitress took care of it quickly. This is almost like a Waffle House but for pancakes. This is a must stop for those who like the small diner like atmosphere. When we arrived we were asked to see our COVID Vaccination Cards (which we had). We did see a woman turned away because she didn't have her vaccination card. Like it, hate it, live with it. I felt safer knowing they were checking. read more

The Pancake Chef - Banana Pancakes (closer to the camera), and my wife eating French toast. Lots of food. - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

Sandy is an amazing server! The food was great, service was fast and it was a great start to our day in Seattle. The coffee isn't too strong so I wouldn't order that but their fresh squeezed orange juice is delicious. My partner and I ordered the fresh strawberry crepes and French toast which were 10/10. Food was made to order, came out fresh and didn't take much long of a wait. Cute cafe! From walking in to this location to leaving full, the customer service was wonderful. I believe Lyn helped us out too, & she was kind and attentive as well. You can tell they truly work as a team here. Great experience. read more

Here's the thing, part of me doesn't want to share this gem for fear it will get too crowded and will lose its awesome. But I also understand that if people don't know to come here, then there is potential for losing the most perfect breakfast spot in all of the greater Seatac area. We were SUPER early for our flight (avoiding Tacoma Dome traffic and all) so we thought we might grab a little breakfast before dropping the car off at long term parking. Enter a Yelp search for breakfast and *poof* there appeared The Pancake Chef. Walking through the doors is like walking through a portal to a time where breakfast mattered. I mean REALLY mattered. The decor is pure 70's living room with wood paneling and family photos, if your family was early days Boeing. I had the deluxe oatmeal with blueberries, pecans and dried cranberries. The accoutrements were brown sugar, butter and a pitcher of cream. They know how it's supposed to be! All praises for old fashioned oatmeal! D had the breakfast special which was a meat and gravy type deal with country potatoes. He polished that bad boy off faster than you can say "good morning sunshine!". Top it all off with a pot of coffee on every table and you've got yourself breakfast heaven. Next time, I'm having the pancakes or the fresh fruit crepes. They looked DELICIOUS! Thanks Pancake Chef. You made my day so much better just by being you. read more

Holy moly the wait is long! If you've got a hungry family then go elsewhere. And when we were finally called they then said that there's a 30 min backlog in the kitchen. If o had known I would definitely have gone elsewhere. Why they didn't say that at the beginning makes me suspect. We had come here because we had a hunkering for pancakes but should've gone to another breakfast place. Place definitely needs updating. Old fixtures and a lot of readymade stuff. Gross that the syrup is in open plastic carafes that anyone can put their noses in them. One of ours was broken and they put blue tape on it. Restroom needs cleaning. Beef barley soups was tiny and tasted like progresos can soup. Eggs were rubbery. For steak and eggs they didn't ask how we wanted the steak and it was a bit red. We were juggling plates in our tiny table and yet the server didn't ask to clear any plates. Love that they give you a carafe of coffee and a water pitcher with ice. Giving an extra star as the staff is friendly. Parking in front is tough and there's a weird angle to side parking. read more

Upon entering, we were seated right away. Staffs are very friendly and kind. Aunty Lynn made us feel right at home (Hawaii people take care eachother) read more

This place is close to the airport. It reminds of a diner like Jim's. I had German pancake with lemon. I ordered the baby one. The lemon was the perfectly sweet and tart. For some reason, I expected the pancake to be firm or even crispy, but it was soft and fluffy. Not a bad thing. They also brought out three types of syrup, but the lemon was way much better. I ordered the hash browns and eggs a la carte. The hash browns were perfectly fried. It was a good portion. My over medium eggs were cooked as requested. They lost a star due to the waitress. She was rude and had no patience. She said she was new, but she didn't have to get frustrated. The place wasn't even busy, so I don't understand why she was so short with us. My friend asked a few questions regarding the menu and at what point she rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. I doubt she will be there for long read more

The Pancake Chef - Menu 10-2019 - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

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Awesome breakfast spot right next to SeaTac. Freshly squeezed orange juice on tap. They get busy fast so I suggest getting there a little early. Great food, great service read more

Came here today for a late breakfast with a friend. Our waitress and host were super polite and welcoming. Filled with so much positive energy. This spot brought me back in time and felt like a classic American diner you see on tv. I'm not a big pancake person but for some reason the blueberry pancakes spoke to me and omg, these had to have been the best pancakes of my life. I definitely overate and i definitely will return. read more

We were near SeaTac Saturday morning and decided to try this. Fun iconic spot with staff that know how to handle the steadily busy business they get. Blueberry waffles were LOVED by 2 of our party of 4 who ordered them. Still talking about how good they were over dinner that night in lower Queen Ann district. read more

The Pancake Chef - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

We stopped here after landing at SeaTac. We were looking for a place where I could get a gluten free breakfast. Yes, they had gluten free pancakes and waffles, and they were a solid "ok," but that's about all I can say in the positive column. The coffee was truly AWFUL. I have never in my life had such terrible coffee, even at a gas station by the side of the interstate. I took my first sip of coffee and detected both greasy and chlorine notes. If I say that I was jet-lagged and still couldn't stomach it, maybe you will understand how terrible it was. The food was what you would expect at a diner: greasy and mediocre, but edible in a pinch. It was very expensive for the poor quality. The ambience was also what you would expect 1950's decor, sticky tables, and not that clean. The best thing I have to say is that the waitstaff was amazingly efficient and capable. This place clearly has a loyal clientele, which I don't quite understand. Eat here if you must, but it's a better bet to drive somewhere else. read more

We didn't get to try the food because it is closed! Even if Yelp said it was open. Very disappointing!!! We Uber-ed here from the airport only to find it closed. read more

The Pancake Chef - Closed!!! - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and this place lives up to its name in the pancake department. The food was like someone's home cooking for sure! The environment makes you feel like a regular at an old school diner. That being said, since it is a place for regulars, you better know what you want when it comes to ordering. Our waitress (Barb) was a little too good at her job, racing through the menu options, seeming a bit irritated that we were asking questions. Being efficient is an understatement in her book. Very random recommendation: The Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice. You have never, and I mean never, had any juice so fresh...trust me. read more

The Pancake Chef - Pancake Sandwich - American Near Me - SeaTac, Washington