The 10 best pancakes in Champaign

This place is great. The Original Pancake House always does a great job. Their portions are huge and the food is always delicious. I had a Meat Lovers Scramble which came with 3 pancakes. This was really enough food for two people.

This place is insanely good! The oven-baked apple pancake was on another level. I actually used it as the syrup and sweet topping for my regular pancake, and it worked perfectly. It was sweet, but not in an overwhelming way—still definitely on the sweeter side, though. The apples were fresh and served piping hot, so hot that you almost have to let it cool down and eat something else first. Honestly, it felt like eating one of the best apple pies I’ve ever had. I also tried the scrambled meat lover’s plate, which was really good as well—hearty and satisfying. Bonus points: the bathroom! Super clean and well-kept, which I really appreciated. Shoutout to both the staff for maintaining it and the customers for respecting the space.

My mom and I went here for the first time, and we both really liked it! I got the Swedish Pancakes (which were amazing), and she got the Meat Lovers Omelette with Buttermilk Hot Cakes. The coffee was good and the service was too. Prices were a little high, but not crazy. I'd definitely recommend!

Here’s a Gen Z-style English translation: Pancakes were so good, soft and literally melt in your mouth! The line was kinda long on a Sunday morning, but the staff were super quick, helpful, and friendly. This place is also kid-friendly (my kid got a free coloring set while waiting for the food!). Free drink refills if you order one. Cozy spot for a chill brunch!

Great experience! We were only in there 10 minutes tops and our food came. The toilet in the woman’s room was heated seats and bidet lol which shocked me. But food and everything all around were amazing.

Good atmosphere, but the food is mediocre. The service is quite slow though. Prices are high, I paid 15$ for pancakes :)

The omelette here is huge and full of fresh tasting veggies. (I ordered the Santa Fe with extra cilantro!) the home made salsa accompaniment was delicious. Upgraded to the chocolate chip pancakes (extra $1.50) which again are amazing. So much food! This of course means some to take home. My husband had the potato pancake and he was equally as impressed. Even the restrooms are a step above with HEATED seats and bidets! Sadly the one I used did not have a remote control but the seat was toasty! There is a reason why this place is booked out solid at weekends. It’s the best.

Super cute and tasty brunch spot! The toast had too much butter on it for me, but other than that I had a lovely meal. The menu is huge so there is something for everyone.

Could have been a better experience, food was cold. Potatoes weren't crispy and no flavor. Biscuits and gravy no flavor and cold as well. Eggs benedict was decent, and my husband had denver omelet that was good. Good coffee.

The staff went above and beyond for my family while having breakfast. We called an order in to pick up but had some issues at home (potty training a toddler and a teething 1yo) and we weren’t able to get to our order in time. We paid for the order and they gave the food to the staff. We then came in and ate at the restaurant after all the chaos at home. They recognized us and gave us a discount on our food and wanted us to have a better day. I’ve been going here for breakfast since middle school and have never been disappointed in the food or service!

Fantastic food and service, but watch out for plastic in the eggs. I had the Green Fields Forever, I bit into a good chunk of plastic within the eggs when I was finishing up my meal from lunch time this evening. It looks like it came from the plastic pouch that holds the liquid eggs.

Pretty good breakfast/brunch spot. Not super friendly about gluten free...apparently other Le Peep locations have a whole GF menu, as found online, but this one doesn't. Was still able to check ingredients with the server.

We went for a Sunday breakfast so we expected to wait for a table (we waited 20 min). There is a patio area where people can wait outside. The restaurant was nice, not fancy, but a comfortable place for breakfast. I had the Garden Eggs Benedict and it was very good - spinach & veggies were on it. The coffee was just okay - she said the brand is Ronoco - I definitely wouldn't make a trip for the coffee. The Eggs Benedict came with a side of diced potatoes (they were very dry and flavorless) and a tiny side of cooked apples (they were okay but not very sweet). Overall the food and dining experience was a solid 4/5 stars. The waitress was very good - she was friendly and attentive.

First time here and we had an excellent experience. Place was busy but we were seated right away and waitstaff was all attentive and on point with refills, etc. Friend had BLT and said her bacon was perfectlt crisp. I had the Omni Omlett and it was probably the best omlett I have had. Fillling was an excellent variety and perfectly propotioned to egg so that you had full flavors from edge to edge.

What made me mad is the $1.00 extra plate fee. Food was OK but not worth $15.50 plus the $1.00. Breakfast for 18.90 with tax. USA, the most expensive 3rd world country. And maybe learn how to smile, and give your customers atleast a bit of gratitude for being fools enough to pay that for an average breakfast at best.

Recently dined here with my family for a Saturday morning breakfast. The service was FAST and our order was accurate. The staff seemed nice and didn’t bother you every 2 minutes like they do in some other restaurants, but still checked in occasionally. We ordered pancakes, French toast, bacon, eggs, ham, hash browns, and potatoes, all of which was very good. My only complaint was there was no seasoning at all on the hash browns or potatoes. However, we added salt and pepper and used ketchup and they were fine. The food was cooked through and not over or under. They have booth and table seating and there was no wait while we were there. Nice spot for good fast breakfast when you don’t feel like cooking. I will eat here again and recommend others to as well. Overall rating is a 4.2.

when we first came in the gentlemen who greeted us wasn’t very nice. we had asked if there was anything booths available and he said no so we sat where we were seated with no problem and a minute later he comes up to us and says “get up” because a booth had become available. i ordered a chocolate milk which had chunks of white stuff in it. the french toast i got was good no complaints with that. some dishes weren’t very clean.

We were looking for a place that had the traditional diner experience. Family owned and good food. Boy, were we in for treat; they checked every box. The Food: a really wide range of dishes. All reasonably priced and nice sized portions. She had oatmeal with brown sugar. They gave her a side of blueberries, which was a nice touch. She also got a cup of coffee that had free refills. I had the vegetarian skillet with Monterey Jack cheese and two scrambled eggs. Our service was stellar and fast and friendly. She was on point for everything the menus, the drinks, and the refreshing the drinks. The atmosphere was very nice as well. It has optional seating - booths or tables. The chairs are on casters, so they can easily cater to ADA requirements. It means they can handle large groups like teams as well. This is a very well ran restaurant.

Today for lunch we went to Sammy’s pancake house for the first time. The dining area was large with both booths and tables. The chairs at the table not only rolled but they had a thick cushion which made them very comfortable. They serve breakfast all day but I chose to have a burger instead. I did not love my burger. It tasted like a frozen patty with no seasoning. It was better after I added salt and pepper to it. The fries were very good though. My partner got the southern skillet and it was delicious! A great balance of potatoes, bacon, sausage, gravy, egg and cheese. When we return I will definitely get a breakfast item as I think it’s what they are more known for. Price was reasonable and our waitress, Rachel was very personable and attentive. Also side note, you MUST get their cinnamon bread. Wow! It was amazing!

Stopped here on our travels. It was just ok. We did feel uncomfortable and judged for not being locals or regulars. Our server pretty much chased us out the store. She wanted us to be done as quickly as possible so she can pay more attention and laugh with the customers she already knew. Left dirty plates on the tables all around us for the same reason. The food was ok, biscuits and gravy were a little dry for my taste but it tasted good.

Absolutely great experience. The pancakes were excellent. Perfectly cooked and well flavored. Their coffee tasted incredible (not the cheap drip you often get at breakfast places). And the service was excellent. Every worker was prompt and friendly.

I do not recommend this restaurant. A couple of months ago I ordered wings and when I ate them they had blood on them and they were not cooked properly and I threw them away. I thought it was just a mistake and I let it go. But yesterday I ordered wings again and this time they were burnt very hard. Here is a photo.

Awesome place for a quick bite in Urbana downtown 😋..this was my first time here and so many choices from the menu... our server was very friendly..i ordered the salmon with rice pilaf..the rice seemed kinda hard on the grain but it was very good..Definitely will be back later

I had an excellent experience at the courier cafe. As soon as you sit down you are met with a unique charm, and a very interesting description about each artifact on the menu. The food is great! I got the breakfast sandwich and was satisfied with the portion and flavor. Andrea is extremely kind and helpful during the ordering process, and clearly enjoys her job, taking every effort to make the best experience for the customer.

When you come in the place has minimal natural lighting and not much unnatural lighting either.. it comes off a little gloomy at 4pm. Its an older building with the dust ajd cobwebs to prove it. The Halloween decorations are cute though. The food is pretty lack luster. I came here specifically for the potato skins and they came out with cold cheddar cheese shreds sprinkled on top. I got the meatloaf w/ Mashed potatoes and gravy + Mac and cheese. The meat loaf was pretty bland but I didnt mind it. The Mac tasted like day old Kraft microwave and reheated. The mashed potatoes weren't even warm nor was the gravy on top (which was engulfing the meatloaf as well). Didn't hit the mark this time.

This was our second time there. Went a second time to give it another try, but food is nothing special and pricey. Unfortunately, we will not go back. We will have to try out other local spots to try and find our favorite!

The Turkey Reuben had a lot of meat and was juicy. The iced coffee was watery and came with whipped cream on top, so it was like sweet water. The deep fried shrimp only had six pieces and the side fries were bigger portions. The food took quite long and we were never given water refills.

We have always loved this restaurant and drive 90 minutes each way to have breakfast there. Stopped on 8/16 on our way back from Indy and couldn't believe the difference. The restaurant was filthy...hadn't been vacuumed in days; fingerprints on all the glass etc. My oatmeal was cold, but rest of food was fine. We definitely will not be back.

A very nice local dinner place where you can enjoy American breakfast such as eggs, sausage, bacon, pancake, waffle, etc. the atmosphere is very comfy. The staff here are very friendly. The food came out very fast!! Cool place!!!

We were looking for a late-night dinner, and our search showed this gem was nearby, so we gave it a try. It has the exact feel of a greasy spoon diner and the food is excellent! We unanimously agreed that the country fried steak was good enough to go back for! The gravy was simple but paired perfectly with the country fried steak and the biscuits and gravy - no need to ask for extra, it comes with plenty to finish every last bite! We also ordered the corned beef hash breakfast and while it tasted good, the portion seemed small in comparison to the other meals. The final order was a breakfast skillet and it was gone before anyone else got a chance to try it, so I'm going to say it was delish! It's a small, quaint, diner environment - enough seating for the crowd present that evening, but not a ton of seating overall. There were a few counter spots available and it's someplace I'd be comfortable going alone or with family/friends in small groups. The service was quick and accurate - again, the food was great!

2025-07-06: Merry Ann's Diner is wonderful. The place was very clean. The people are happy and friendly; the decaf coffee was fresh; the Swiss & mushroom hamburger was fair (pre-made patty; jarred button mushroom that are grilled); the shoestring French fries were hot and crisp; the dinner salad was generous with iceberg lettuce, tomato and grated taco cheese, and the apple pies was good.

This has been a staple in chambana history. The service i received tonight was less than horrible. The server with the glasses and moon and sun pants is the worst. The burger i ordered looked like an over cooked McDonald's patty. I also orded a cheese fry extra cheese with mushrooms. I had to go up to the counter to remind her about my mushrooms. Also had to remind her about the extra cheese I ordered. She rudely came back with the cheese and no mushrooms. And had an attitude when I asked about the mushrooms. Im still waiting for my complete order now. Once she finally brought me the rest of my order. My fries were cold. Makes it worse. The table next to me had 5 people. She went to take their order and they said they all weren't ready. Instead of asking me if I was ready, also sitting by myself. She continued to take that tables order and sat and stared at them until they were all ready. The bacon cheeseburger is a joke. More tomato than meat.

This place usually is halfway decent but not this visit. I came in 3:30 in the morning. I wasn't greeted by the server as she handed me a menu and mopped the floor at the same time. After she handed me the menu I had to Greet her and then she finally said hello. Didn't ask me if she could start me with a drink while I looked at the menu. She just kept mopping the floor with what smelled like the mop water from yesterday. I sat there for 5 minutes without any sort of reputable service. The cook wasn't present until I walked out after sitting there for 5 to 10 minutes. The workers here must not like tips and just enjoy their hourly rate. Horrible service from a place that used to be okay. I don't like leaving bad reviews but this place needs a little help with atleast halfway decent service. I was not impressed.

Usually I have no issues when eating here. This is the first time I've had any issues. as long as the older gentleman is working I have no problems. Would have been better if the guy was working. Ate here tonight and the lady in a parkland hoodie rang up the wrong table and as I was leaving said she rang in the wrong table and then made a smart ass remark because I didn't put the tip back on there. She needs to be retrained in customer service

This was my first time going to Merry Ann’s Diner. We live in Mattoon, IL so we traveled a distance just to get out of our town. We went here because they are open 24/7. The service was awesome and the food was delicious! The milkshake was amazing and I took the milkshake to-go. Will definitely return in the future.

Nothing fancy about this place, but the food was awesome. Gus' Famous French Toast was unlike any french toast I have had before. Resembled a piece of bread with batter poured on top of it. Was well worth the visit. This is a cash only establishment, so plan accordingly.

Food was great, and no long wait at all. Waitress was wonderful and seems like she knew all the customers that came in lbs. That’s a plus. Family like vibes , nice place to eat, in and out.

Good basic food. Inexpensive. Casual atmosphere. Fluffy eggs with no green pepper in the Denver omelet so that's a plus. Hashbrowns are nice and crispy. The pancakes came highly recommended. They have grits and peanut butter enough said.

I’m giving 5 stars because of other reviews and the cook was understanding. The biscuits and gravy were inedible because of the gravy. The scrambled eggs were still runny and the hash browns were cooked in a ton of oil. The French toast was batter in pancake mix but still was good for their take of the dish. To be fair, I could have said something about the eggs so not their fault. Our server almost took our food to the wrong table but I’ve served and have done the same plus she was engaging with other guests. I’d still go back and try lunch items!

Delicious breakfast. Affordable prices. Fast, friendly service. No wait. Definitely my new favorite breakfast spot in Chambana.

This diner is such a a gem in downtown Champaign. Open for breakfast and lunch only, make sure to bring cash (cards not accepted) and get a throwback diner experience with excellent service & food. Highly recommend their French Toast but you can't go wrong with your order at this place- ALWAYS top notch!

I asked for gus French toast. Well i got round pancakes. And I told waitress but they wanted to argue. So whatever. I ate the pancakes. One person only making food. I wasn't the only order that wasn't right. So what do you do. Unbelievable.

They genuinely give the largest serving sizes of breakfast food of any place we’ve ever been to. So much food! I rarely even finish my meal there and I’m always finishing my meal and the peoples meals around me. Good service, cool vibes inside, and their menu is HUGE. They have tons of options for everyone. Highly recommend.

This is one of those places that you wish you lived closer to so you could go every weekend. The menu is crazy large, and the number of items offered for breakfast is crazy. Could have easily stayed around for lunch, but I needed to get back to Chicago. There is plenty to take home for a second meal. Wonderful staff, our sever, was helpful. Pancakes were on point.

The Nutella waffle was divine! What a great combination. My boyfriend also enjoyed his quesadilla and his cinnamon roll french toast. Our server was very friendly and helpful with the menu. Definitely will come by again!

This is the place for you if you're seeking a restaurant that offers breakfast items all day long or tasty burger and pasta selections. We had breakfast one day and dinner another day. What I can say is that the food portions are enormous, and avoid ordering the lox because it is disgusting! However, do not hesitate to order the Paninis, hamburgers, and Alfredo pasta. The staff is also very accommodating and nice.

Seriously hands down my new favorite restaurant in town! Amazing menu, fresh ingredients, big portions, and worth every penny!!! The food is so flavored and freshly made including there coffee menu in which I want to try them all! Stevie is an amazing server as well, will ask for her every time I dine in! There is ample amount of parking, and the staff is super friendly. Jennifer the manager is a pleasure to engage with and does an amazing job with her staff!

What a great experience! Food and coffee were tasty and the service was top-notch. We ordered two skillets and opted for the side of pancakes. Everything came out lovely and we left completely stuffed.

It wasn't for me. Although portion sizes were good, all the food was lukewarm/cold. There also wasn't an iota of seasoning on any of the food at all. The chicken was cooked really well but had absolutely no flavor (bland gravy is not a seasoning) and the dressing tasted like bread pudding with raisins. The chopped steak was huge but desert dry and not seasoned. The hash browns were cold. The pancakes humongous but also lukewarm. They were fluffy and tasty for being cold. The tuxedo cake, although served upside down at first, was good. The service was nice, but not the food. $46.26 was the bill.

Absolutely love this place! My husband and I have been 4 times and every single time our order has been perfect and the service is amazing! I like my eggs over hard and bacon extra crispy almost burnt and they nail it every time!!! Can’t wait for the remodel.

We stopped here on our way to Chicago. Loved it so much that we stopped again on our way home! Both times, he got the pork chop dinner with baked potato side. Soup to start - their scratch-made chicken noodle soup is top-notch!! I had their Reuben sandwich with no sides (it does come as a platter). It's possibly the best Reuben I've ever had!!! They make the corned beef fresh on-site, and it really shows.

Home cooking at its best, but not old fashioned. Salad was fresh, liver was tender. Portions large enough for two. I didn't get the chef's salad but it looked great

A good enough restaurant with very reasonable prices. Service is very good while the food is decent. I would prefer to see a bigger variety of food. In any case I would definitely like to go again!

Service is great. The food is very average. The Swiss and mushroom burger is quite plain and not juicy at all. The gyro plate is too American style and they are just bunch of random ingredients. We definitely need two pita bread for that plate as well.

Stopped to have a comfort dinner while attending the Casting Crowns Concert. The food was very good, and the portions are monstrous, so make sure you have lots of room and are super hungry! Salad bar was very tasty, and it was fully stocked the whole time.... nice. My COD dinner was great and i split it, so there is plenty for two peeps. Home-made pies, cheese cakes, and more... i took the Apple Pie home for later. Definitely should try, I saw a serving of fried chicken to die for. .. Yummy

1st time visiting since the 90s when my dad would bring us for the all you can eat fish fry. Lots of memories flooded me walking through this door. Service was phenomenal and the food was well, down right the best fried fish I've ever eaten. 3 piece walleye and 3 piece cod for $36. Big portions for the money!!!! Definitely returning.

We ordered super burrito churros and a Steak/chicken/shrimp plate. The last one was good. Churros was so many sweet. Super burrito was terrible because it consist boiled chicken totally? This was the first time I eat a burrito with boiled chicken and you can never see this information at menu or somewhere. Portions are big. As a starter they are serving nachos and salsa sause which is delicious. You should never try super burrito, keep in mind :)

We went to El Toro Bravo after graduation at U of I Champaign, Urbana. The staff was excellent. There was no waiting. The food was delicious and affordable. I loved everything.

Can't stop eating there every month. Chips and salsa are great. Service is good.

I ordered online on their app. The menu item had a description that didn't include tomatoes. I am allergic, but felt that with it excluded on the menu that it wouldn't be a problem. I went to pick up, drove home and the order had fajitas chicken, which is not the description of the item I purchased. The person who took my call when I tried to order a new meal without tomatoes was the same person who I dealt with when I went in. After explaining my allergy and that the items description didn't match. I was told to put in the order description to ask for no tomatoes. I asked why would I do that when the item description didn't include tomatoes. She was incredibly rude. I tried to pay for the food but was told have a nice day. I will NEVER come to this or any other El Toro in town. I suggest that if you have allergies to not order from here either.

Met with a small group of friends. We had a great time catching up and eating some good food. The Raspberry margarita was good but tasteed like it hardly had any alcohol in it. Maybe work on the shot of tequila to mix ratio a little better. Other than that, pretty good.

Great service! Food is good, big portions. Under 20 dollars per person. Nice people working there.

enchiladas and different types of tacos with my margaritas. Everything was on point. Hot food nice. Fast. Good. Everything I try was awesome try the fish taco. No alcohol margaritas it hit the summer just right with the heat .

Came to the salad bar, which was fully stocked and open at just before 11 AM. Got my salad and there was nobody to check me out at the deli counter. Nobody at the restaurant counter and the self checkouts were closed for the salad bar. I was told by three different people to take my salad to the front checkouts. AN OPEN PLATE SALAD! All the way through the store to weigh it and check it out. I nearly left. You people are ridiculous. The staffing issues continue at the store because nobody wants to staff the deli or the salad bar or the restaurant. Get your act together. It's bad enough we check ourselves out and you don't pay actual cashiers, even though nobody can actually do the self checkouts correctly. But then to tell somebody to take their salad all the way through the store, not a closed container. An open salad. Really? You've known about these problems maybe get a new manager for that side of the store. Staffing. Staffing. Staffing.

Great options in a clean environment. For those with noise level sensitivity or someone looking for a quiet space, it is pretty loud throughout but otherwise is very accommodating.

Love their produce and bakery Many more options of items, whereas Meijer and Walmart have a few flavors of items, Harvest has more Their premade meals are great for budget conscious

I love the deli here! Always such great food and considerate workers. The manager is so professional as well as the other staff! I like to order deli food and work on grad school projects and the upstairs space is always clean. Definitely would recommend the deli for a bite to eat as Harvest Market in Champaign Illinois is the best! 😍

Lots of variety. Impressed with range of frozen fruits. From dragon fruit to pomegranate.. everythg laid out beautifully. Rotisserie chicken 5.99. Lots of take home salads, meat choices.

The best grocery store in Champaign. There’s beautiful organic produce , a full coffee shop & restaurant inside this location as well as all your regular grocery needs . If you’re not familiar , it’s similar to a smaller version of a Whole Foods . They do carry vegan options here ( not as many as a Whole Foods ) . Beware of stacked water bottle towers around the store , I barely clipped a tower with my arm and the ENTIRE tower came down , super dangerous.

Best Sushi in the MIDWEST!!!! Find the guy working in the corner of the deli area. I think his business goes by Sushi Maru. We ordered a platter to share with a friend. A close friend of his had just passed away in Japan so we thought we should give him a feeling of Japan while he could not travel there at these times. This guy made the most fabulous assortment for us. It set the night for a positive future. Subarashī. I've updated with yet another masterpiece of culinary skills.