On the way to my best friend’s house, I’d often pass by the Hotcakes Emporium Pancake House & Restaurant, which bills itself as offering “plentiful portions at the best prices available.”
One morning, when we decided to meet for breakfast but were weary of the popular breakfast chains, we decided to visit the restaurant at 8555 Ditch Road.
The restaurant, which looked as if it had been recently renovated inside, was bustling with families and individuals ready to be served.
The illustrated menu— adorned with a stack of strawberry cheesecake pancakes topped with strawberry sauce, strawberries and whipped cream— grabbed my friend’s attention.
We quickly learned they also offered Oreo, cherry, black forest and blueberry cheesecake pancakes—in fact, more than 11 styles of traditional pancakes, including Hawaiian, blueberry, peach and apple cinnamon.
In addition to the pancakes and waffles available, the restaurant also serves club, croissant and melt sandwiches. Crepes, Belgian waffles and French toast also made the menu.
I knew I wanted bacon, eggs and pancakes. Although it might seem as if you must be a pancake lover to enjoy this place, I discovered skillets on the menu.
The country fried steak skillet included hash browns, onions, green peppers, country gravy and two eggs any style on top, while the veggie skillet included hash browns, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and cheddar cheese with two eggs any style placed on top.
Six burgers and a lengthy list of omelets such as the Mexican and veggie omelet were offered, which comes with hash browns, grits, toast or pancakes.
If for some reason you’re not a breakfast lover, you can still find a tasty dish. Rubens, grilled cheese, smoked barbecue pork and a variety of chicken sandwiches are up for grabs.
The Manhattan sandwich, a Hoosier staple with roots in New York and often referred to as an “open face sandwich,” is also available. This sandwich can be ordered with a variety of meats and is usually accompanied with mashed potatoes and gravy. The Beef Manhattan is an option at Hotcakes Emporium, as well as turkey, pork tenderloin and country fried steak.
I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish all of my food, but I was proved wrong. I absolutely devoured my meal while in the midst of deep conversation with my friend. My meal was priced at a little over $6 while my friend’s meal came up to just a little over $7, and we both received large portions.
Are you on the hunt for a restaurant that will give you the most bang for your buck? Trying to feed the entire family on a budget? You will find Hotcakes Emporium is an eatery to explore.
*As of the morning of 04/30/15, the Hotcakes Emporium located at Ditch Road is closed due to a roof fire*
Hotcakes Emporium Pancake House & Restaurant
8555 Ditch Road
Indianapolis, Ind. 46260
(317) 889-2253
6845 Bluff Road
Indianapolis, Ind. 46217
(317) 889-2253
Hours: 6 a.m. – 3 p.m.
