I visited my first Original Pancake House in Portland, Oregon, which is actually the home of the very first Original Pancake House, founded in 1953. Now there are over one hundred franchises from coast to coast. This is where I learned to love coconut pancakes, which, to my dismay, were removed from the San Diego menu years ago but still appear on their website menu. But I digress.

San Diego's Original Pancake House is one of the best spots in town for a quality breakfast. They are known for their Apple Pancake ($11.25), a single large pancake smothered with sautéed apples and cinnamon sugar, and Dutch Baby ($9.95), an air filled pancake oven baked and served with lemon, whipped butter and powdered sugar (pictured below). These offer sweet beginnings to your day.

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I often order their Plain Waffle ($6.95), served with whipped butter and hot syrup. Then I order Bacon and Eggs ($9.25), thick sliced bacon and two large eggs, which I order scrambled. I put the eggs on top of the waffle and don't use the butter and syrup.

http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/oct/07/33046/

My husband often orders Buttermilk Pancakes, Eggs Sunny Side Up, American Fried Potatoes and Sausage.

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You get the idea: quality ingredients, great service and best to go on a week day if possible, to avoid the long wait for a table on weekends. Obviously other people know what I know. They are open 7 a.m.-- 3 p.m. daily and their Boyds coffee, a special blend made just for them, just keeps on coming.

From October through December check out the Fall Pumpkin Pancakes, a seasonal favorite.

The Original Pancake House 3906 Convoy Street San Diego, CA 92111 (858) 565-1740 http://www.originalpancakehouse.com