Eat Pancakes in Portland on Candelmas (February 2)

Did you know that February 2 is an apt time to eat pancakes in Portland? This is the date of of Candlemas, a Christian feast day, that coincides around the time of Imbolc (February 1, so good chance there was some borrowing going on), a cross-quarter day at the midpoint between the Solstice and Equinox. It marks “the first stirrings of spring.” It makes me think of crocuses, stretching toward the sunlight.

Now, if you’ve read this site over the years, you know of my penchant for the “ground hog” spoof on “Groundhog Day” (prediction duties belong to Stumptown Fil here in Portland). I still encourage you to eat some sausages on February 2.

Back to Candlemas and eating pancakes or crepes. These delicious food items resemble the sun—golden and round, ushering in spring (or, at least, hopes of it). And Portland has a number of places you can eat such things. This is by no means a perfect or comprehensive overview of pancakes/crepes available in the area, but is a list of interesting options in our fair city.

(Mostly) Classic American Pancakes in Portland

Cameo Cafe

“Home of the acre pancake,” their pancakes are quite large, taking over the dinner plate they are served on. I’ve read that they make them in quarter-acre increments, the smallest of which is that dinner-plate-sized pancake. Imagine the size of an acre pancake.

And if a traditional American pancake isn’t for you, give their Pindaettok a try, the Korean savory pancake on the menu. It, too, is quite large and is made with vegetables, beans, spices and ground rice. Get it with eggs and their Strong Bread toast.

8111 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland and 7703 NE 72nd Avenue, Vancouver, WA. Cameo Cafe website

Frontera Sur

This relative newcomer offers Mexican and Guatemalan food on their menu, but for breakfast they have a number of sweet and savory things, including this: Buttermilk Pancakes con Cajeta y Mazapan: “Two fluffy, house-made pancakes topped with whipped cream, peanut mazapán, and drizzled with cajeta dulce de leche, all finished with powdered sugar.” Sounds good to me.

1300 SE Morrison Street, Portland. Frontera Sur website

Fuller’s Coffee Shop

Back open after being forced to close temporarily after a fire, you can get a classic stack of pancakes here—buttermilk or blueberry; one, two, or three pancakes; and the most expensive is $7.75 (three buttermilk) or $8.75 (three blueberry). In this day and age that is a deal.

136 NW 9th Avenue, Portland. Fuller’s Coffee Shop website

Heidi’s

This Gresham institution offers a variety of pancakes and their cousins. You’ll find straight up classic buttermilk pancakes, as well as Swedish pancakes, fruit crepes, and Sausage Roll-ups, which is a mix of ground hog and pancakes, two foods appropriate for Ground Hog Day and Candelmas. See the full menu here.

1230 NE Cleveland Avenue, Gresham. Heidi’s website

Javi’s Breakfast Cafe

After the 2024 ice storm, when we were finally able to dig ourselves out, I headed here and boy was it a popular spot! Though they are now well-known for their excellent Chilaquiles, they do offer a variety of pancakes. The one that sticks out to me is the Cajetosos Pancakes, topped with caramel (cajeta), powdered sugar, and whipped cream. And although it’s not round, it is golden: the Tres Leches french toast is loved by many.

6236 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland. Javi’s Breakfast Cafe website

Jam on Hawthorne

This is a really popular brunch place and they offer pancakes and more (most of the menu is “and more”). Their two main pancake offerings are Maddie Cakes (lemon-ricotta pancakes topped with housemade blueberry compote, and lemon curd) and Marshall Cakes (classic buttermilk pancakes topped with whipped butter and a side of maple syrup—add chocolate chips for an extra two bucks). Pancake orders come in threes normally but you can order just one, too.

2239 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland. Jam on Hawthorne website

Other Delicious Pancakes +More

Bing Mi

I love Bing Mi for their jianbings, It’s a savory crepe filled with eggs, scallions, sauces, and a crispy cracker, among other things. It’s full of flavor and one of the tastiest breakfasts you’ll find in Portland. Originally they were a cart in the Alder Street food cart pod displaced by the new Ritz-Carton Hotel, but now they are a brick & mortar shop offering, along with their various jainbings, dumplings and noodles.

2572 NW Vaughn Street E and Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Avenue, Portland. Bing Mi website

Broder

At the various locations of Broder (I like to eat at, Broder Soder, the location in the Nordic Northwest center in SW Portland) you can order aebelskivers, small pancake balls cooked in a special pan. They are served with lingonberry jam and lemon curd. They are cute—and delicious! Little balls of sunshine.

Multiple locations. Broder website

Churn Cafe and Creperie

This sweet spot offers up plates of beautiful food, plenty of things to drink in the coffee realm (including ube, pandan, and black sesame lattes), cocktails, breakfast food, and crepes. The crepes options are both savory and sweet, and use interesting mixes of ingredients, like pork floss and Swiss cheese, or red bean and fresh strawberries. Eat here if you want to enjoy both the taste and look of your food.

3928 N Mississippi Avenue, Portland. Churn Cafe website

La Rose Patisserie

Do you like big puffy Japanese-style pancakes? This is the place for you. In my experience there can be a wait for the pancakes, but I thought it was worth it. They offer four flavors: vanilla, dark chocolate, caramel, and matcha.

17020 SW Whitley Way #102, Beaverton. La Rose Patisserie website

The Slide Inn

This quirky little spot in the Buckman neighborhood offers German and American food, including some pancakes you don’t see that often:

• Kaisershcmarrn: Austrian pancake oven baked with raisins, vanilla, cut into small pieces and caramelized with sugar.
• Apfelschmarrn: Austrian pancake oven baked then cut into small pieces caramelized with sugar and served with a warm, apple cinnamon compote.
• Speckpfannkuchen: Austrian pancake with bacon, parsley.

2348 SE Ankeny Street, Portland. The Slide Inn website

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It’s likely I may have missed your favorite place. If you have a pancake or crepe spot you think I should know about, leave it in the comments or shoot me an email.

Updated January 30, 2026.