Hot Cakes Ballard

After a nice dinner in Ballard, we stopped by Hot Cakes for a quick dessert, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite meet expectations. We were hoping to try the layer cake we’d seen in a photo, but when we arrived, they were out of it. Not a huge deal, so we decided to try something else, but it ended up being underwhelming. The cake we tried had very little flavor, and overall it felt more like a beginner-level baking attempt. The raspberry underneath the ice cream was the highlight and expresso, but aside from that, there wasn’t much to be excited about. For a place that gets so much attention, I was expecting a lot more. It just didn’t live up to the hype, and I’m not sure it’s worth another visit.

Literally so amazing! I used to come here as a treat when I lived in Magnolia and have dreamt about it for years. I was finally able to return and it was just as divine as I remembered. Is there a better combo than chocolate lava cake, caramel, and homemade ice cream? The answer is no, absolutely not. The vegan options are fantastic and I hope to be back very, very soon!

Late Dec2024 Local desserts resto with a super indulgent and creative menu. Much of the seemingly traditional named desserts are made with a fushion of spices and other new combination of ingredients. Drinks are crafted as well. Seasonal menus available. Most concoctions are new takes on American classics so expect higher sugar content or taste. Servings are dense and ample. Counter service and self seating is the standard. The place is very rustic and informal. Often packed during after dinner times. Ideal for dates and small groups.

Hot cakes is a Seattle crowd favorite for molten cakes (with ice cream). Whether it’s Ballard or Capitol Hill, it’s always busy. The cakes are baked to order and they offer a wide variety of choices including GF, and Vegan. This is also one of the very few places which is open late night.

One of my favorite dessert spots in Seattle. Be prepared for incredibly rich and expensive food. Even though the cakes are small, you can easily split one with a friend with how decadent they are. Their other desserts, like cookies and milkshakes, are all phenomenal too. There's plenty of seating inside and a bunch of outdoor tables, too. It's not a place to go every week if you care about your diet or your wallet, but as a special treat, it's an excellent choice.

First time we came, we ordered the dark decadence and the dark chocolate cake to share. The dark decadence is a small volcano cake, vanilla ice cream and the caramel brittle. All seemed good quality. The cake was pretty standard dark chocolate with chocolate frosting. The second time, we got the dark decadence again (yum) for my wife and I got the peanut butter. The sizes are pretty good for one dessert serving size. This will only ever be an occasional dessert for us as the prices are about $15 per dessert. If you share, one won't be enough unless you just want a taste.

Stopped by on Tuesday night after dinner with the family. Service was amazing, everyone was so nice. Would definitely go again

I always have their seasonal desserts - yummm yummm! In addition, their regular Dark decadence is to die for! They have an amazing range of desserts, drinks & food! Nice place to hangout with friends. Specially for late night sweet tooth cravings !! In picture - Orange Hazelnut molten chocolate cake (who can say no to that!!!)

Amazing service to the rescue, thank you Roxie! We came to hot cakes after date night for some dessert perfect spot for your sweet tooth. We ordered.gooey cake and sat down. But our order got lost and after 15 minutes I asked where was our cake! Roxie recognized that they messed up and got us a delicious cookie to make up for it! It's amazing to see empowered servers who are charged with making an awesome experience not just doing the minimum! We'll be back soon!

Visited for a pre-dinner treat and was NOT disappointed! Super rich chocolate (also opted for the non-smoked version)- love a hot/cold mixed treat and was in awe of how everything felt perfectly balanced for this one. Space was giving "late night coffee shop" vibes, some people studying, some people stopping in during their night out. Nice patio outdoor seating that was too cold outside to take advantage of this time. The staff were very friendly and appeared calm and cool despite being seemingly constantly busy. We also ordered a butter beer cocktail, which was a bit unexpected to taste a lot like an apple cider (still tasty though)

The hot cake itself was rich and flavorful and every bite was delicious, but there wasn't many bites to go around. The cafe itself was clean and bright, but it has communal seating so not very intimate (if you were coming for a date night, etc.) The value of the dessert was not worth the hefty price tag in my opinion. We paid ~$18 after tax for a small brownie hot cake with ice cream that was split between two people and finished very quickly. Taste was great but not worth the price.

Very well made molten lava cakes and drinks located in a fun area. You just go up to the register and order where they will give you a number and food is brought out to you. I loved the atmosphere of Hot Cakes, however I do think it was a bit overpriced for what you get.

Hot cakes is always been my go to dessert spot in Seattle. This place has huge seating and the ambiance is cute. The service is spot on.

Recently went here for a catch up with my friend, it was the perfect location! I love the cozy atmosphere especially on a chilly fall evening. We ordered hot chocolates and a slice of pumpkin bread to share. The drinks and bread were delicious. For Seattle, the prices were reasonable. I decided to take home a bunch of stuff to try at home, so after viewing the display case of amazing fresh cookies, I took home a s'mores cookie which was delicious, their take and bake hot cakes, which are also delicious even when baked at home, a jar of their decadent dark chocolate sauce... also amazing!! I would say all these items were great value as the food is high quality. Parking was a bit hard to find as the area is busy but after a drive around I got a space. The staff were fast and efficient as well as friendly.

Really yummy desserts but quite expensive! I expected a bit cheaper so was kind of shocked to pay $17 for a little cake and ice cream scoop. We got the dark decadence cake and really enjoyed it, very rich flavors and the combination with the ice cream was delicious. Service was good and they brought it out pretty quickly, and the vibes inside are nice and lively. I would want to again and try more flavors but I really wish it were cheaper!

Best dessert concept ever. The dark decadence is to die for--Smooth, rich, sinful. The cookies and ice cream was an oversized generous potion and one of the cookies miraculously managed to get saved for later.

Hot Cakes in Ballard is the perfect spot for a serious chocolate fix, and their molten chocolate cake is a must-try. It's rich and super gooey in the middle--exactly what you want from a molten cake. When you dig in, the warm chocolate oozes out, mixing with the soft, slightly crispy cake. Pair it with some of their ice cream, and you've got an incredible dessert. The place has a cozy vibe, making it great for a chill night out or a solo treat. If you love chocolate, you'll love this. The price is a bit up there for the quantity but you pay for the quality!

There's a bunch of street parking that's hard to find during a Saturday night, which is when my friend and I went to this place. There's indoor seating (which is bustling and very noisy with seating for parties of various numbers of people) and heated outdoor seating (with a similar arrangement of seating). You can see a ton of cookies near the counter and you can also smell a ton of chocolate inside. Our food came out relatively fast despite people constantly coming in and filling up every seat both inside and outside. I got the strawberry molten cake and the Bart Simpson smoothie, and there's a lot of heavy sweet going on here. The molten cake was piping hot inside and had soooo much fudge that it was actually more overwhelming. The vanilla ice cream with the strawberry jam rim around it became my palette cleanser essentially. The Bart Simpson smoothie tasted exactly as advertised; butter fingers, dark chocolate and whipped cream all in one. This drink was also quite tasty but heavy in flavor too. I wouldn't mind coming back for some more stuff here actually since it's bustling and the desserts are a really great choice for anyone wanting some heavy sweets.

Really cute dessert place!! We loved the crème brûlée -- would definitely get it again. The molten lava cake was really good as well but after three bites it was too rich to finish (even with the ice cream). I would definitely come back again because it was a good place to get desserts that you would normally have to go to a restaurant to get. The service was amazing, everyone was super nice and accommodating. I also really liked the warm vibe

This is a very good late night spot for people craving desserts during midnight time ! This places opens in the evening and closes around 11 PM. The ambiance is very average and just like any other place. Service is pretty decent. We ordered couple of molten cakes and it was just like any other hot cakes. I like this place because it's open late and very good for the price and items they serve. I would definitely visit this place for some late night dessert cravings.

got the dark decadence and their cake of the month which was orange hazelnut. I preferred the orange to the decadence but both are great if you have a sweet tooth. the place itself was also very cute and vibey with candles and ambient lighting.

Ordered the dark decadence molten cake, pineapple & brioche bread pudding. Definitely the spot to go if you have a sweet tooth. The molten lava in the dark decadence had a dark-chocolate-bitterness to it, and had a nice rich, creamy texture. One bite paired with the vanilla ice cream and I could already feel the diabetes coursing through my veins. The portion size is deceptively small just because the cake was so dense with chocolate. The pineapple & brioche bread pudding was just as good. The texture reminded me of mini brick toast. It wasn't overly sweet, although that could have been because the decadence was so overpowering.

Good cake but not $17 good- I was in absolute shock, makes sense they don't post prices, Next...

I had the traditional hot cake, I love this. I always come to this place specifically for this . Freshly made.

Overall, for the price ($15/ lava cake), I wouldn't go back. The desserts are very thought out and intricately made. There are many flavor profiles and textures and I'd say eating here is an experience. The service was amazing and its a great set up with outdoor heaters with covered seating. Meringue cookie: filled with chocolate and hazelnut. Crunchy and melts in your mouth. Very large ($6). Unexpected texture but wasn't my favorite. Lavender lemon cookie: smells like butter and lavender, crunchy outside and chewy middle. Lavender pieces aren't super overpowering and the cookie isn't too sweet. Probably my favorite out of the ones we tried. (~$4) Blondie: pecans or walnuts with chocolate chips inside and topped with sea salt. The salt is something I love to see in desserts. The brownie was overall too crunchy for me. Salted caramel lava cake: cake itself I feel was dry and was stuck to the compostable container it was served in. Strong chocolate flavor. Vanilla ice cream + caramel sauce + dark chocolate Olive oil magic shell was something I would've ordered alone (without the cake).

Hot Cakes is a dessert spot dedicated to molten chocolate cakes - yum! They have several varieties of molten cakes, other desserts, and even some savory options. We got the dark decadence molten cake and it was sooooo good. It was very rich, gooey, and super chocolatey. This also came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, which balanced out the rich chocolate. I really enjoyed the molten cake we had, but felt that the price was a bit expensive given the small size. However, the cake was very delicious so I think this makes for a nice special treat to have once in a while!

Oh so rich and decadent! Thanks for providing just enough desert so my tummy didn't ache. The peanut butter and chocolate molten was a little piece of heaven for this rich dessert lover. Fudgy rich with thick smooth peanut butter in each bite. You'll surely take small ones to savor it all. My kiddo enjoyed the s'mores cookies topped with ice cream. The cookies were huge! Chewy edges y'all! Took one home, my niece and sister in law enjoyed theirs too. They have special holiday flavors that I'll remember to check out next year; especially the bread pudding! Customer service was outstanding Venue clean, warm and dimly lit by candlelight.

Oh my goodness!!!! What a way to end the night! Apart for the place being so nice with a very casual and elegant set up and the people there so friendly...the desserts were amazingly delicious. I don't even know how to describe how good it was. You just have to go and eat here. There's desserts and there are cocktails too. End your date the right way.

9/10. I went there with two best friends! We got the malted chocolate molten cake and the gooey brownie cake! They were so incredibly amazing and it was such a great treat! The icy ice cream with the hot cake dance together to create the most beautiful flavors together! We finished them in heratbeat! 8/10: They are all so kind and very friendly! Super attentive and it was a great time dining in there! They are doing a great job in keeping the customers happy! 9/10: very cozy and warm atmosphere located in my favorite town Ballard! Quite easy to find parkings and I love the decors of the place! Very cutsy and I think it I'd the perfect place for dating!

Best molten lava cakes!! Decadent and warm to the belly. The icecream is smooth and creamy. Wish there was a hot cakes in every single city in the states!! Genius. Quick service. Plenty of long bench tables and outside seating available. Parking is not easy by any means.

What a happy place! I love a lava cakes and when I heard there was a place dedicated to them, I simply had to visit. Service is so friendly and kind. There was a bit of a wait to get our order, but they are made fresh and goodness takes patience. It was so delicious and a perfect snack to eat while watching the sunset. It's a bit expensive, but it's definitely yummy!

We came stopped by here to have some dessert after eating dinner near by. There was a long line and they take your order and give you a number. We waited about 10-15 minutes for our order. We got 2 cakes to share between 4 people. Each cake cost $14 each. It was so crowded we sat at the counter, hoping to get some seats at the tables, but the tables never opened up. We had the cake of the month - blackberry lavender molten cake and a peanut butter and chocolate molten cake. Both came with a scoop of ice cream. They were both incredibly delicious, I just wished we had more ice cream since the cakes were so rich. Definitely something you want to share, it would be hard to eat one by myself.

I know this is a crazy complaint to have but the cakes were too sweet and rich for me. Everything was also quite expensive. We didn't have trouble finding parking on a week day. It was pretty crowded in there and not the easiest to find a spot. The tables remind me of a school cafeteria in that you're sitting with other people - not exactly a romantic dessert date or anything like that. I so appreciate how much of the menu is gluten free, and how good of a job they do labeling everything.

Dark Decadence Molten Cake: Very rich chocolate cake with gooey, warm filling inside. The warmness from the fresh bake was very satisfying. It was too sweet for me though, and there was a bit too much "lava" compared to the amount of cake. The vanilla ice cream was great and a lovely complement to the chocolate cake. We stopped by right as they opened for the day and it not too crowded, with plenty of seating available. The employees were very nice! The ambiance inside was relaxing, and it was a nice place to rest after walking around Ballard.

My friends and I paid a visit to this outstanding chocolate emporium right after having dinner at the Patxi's in Ballard, which is within walking distance. The place was packed, and I can totally understand why - if you're someone who loves chocolate, then this needs to be one of your places :-) To be specific, they specialize in molten chocolate cakes. My friends and I each tried a couple, and my hands-down favorite of the two is the peanut butter cup. It's chocolate cake with melted, chocolate-infused peanut butter; it's also got caramel and ice cream on it, and the peanut butter is replete with lots of peanut chunks. To be fair, this stuff is about as nutritious as Crack, but it's maybe a shade less addictive and the taste is Out-of-this-World! The atmosphere here is lively and fun, and their coffee is fairly good too. The service is efficient and very friendly. Tip: If for some reason you're not a fan of molten chocolate cakes, I suggest you try one their crème brûlées. The taste is insanely exceptional, and if you tap your spoon on it after it arrives you'll hear that distinctive crack which is indicative of a truly outstanding creme brûlée. Other foolproof choices here include their very tasty Bread Pudding, and my second favorite (after their insanely good peanut butter cup), which is their warm chocolate chip cookie! To sum it all up, the service, atmosphere, and most especially the food here are all excellent, so I have no trouble recommending them to chocolate lovers everywhere :-)

Pros: - Got strawberry molten cake. Was so good! - Ambiance was nice - Staff was friendly Cons: - IMO pricey for a small portion ($18 total including tax & tip

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Decided to end our night with some dessert. Place was busy but not too crowded. Servers here are very nice and good amount of indoor/outdoor seating. The patio area is lit well with string lights and heaters. The cakes were so rich in chocolate and I thought it was the perfect portion for one person. Loved the crispy too and gooey middle. The ice cream paired well with the cakes. We ordered: - Dark Decadence: good amount of rich and bitterness of the dark chocolate - Gooey Brownie Cake: very rich and delicious - Apple Bottom Cocktail (apple cider, salted caramel, and rum): just okay, think it would've tasted better if it was iced

Finally had to check out this hot cakes place I've heard good things about in the Seattle area. Barely anyone there on a weekday afternoon and parking wasn't too hard to find but I can see it being hard on a busier time of day. We got the dark decadence which I thought was alright. Very rich chocolate that becomes easier to eat with the vanilla ice cream that comes with it. Maybe it's better on a cold Seattle evening, but it wasn't anything too special. But I hated how much I liked my $11 seasonal blueberry milkshake. But this seasonal milkshake was really enjoyable. with little blueberry pieces inside. Came in a cute but seemingly large milkshake glass and I was shocked that I was able to finish it myself.

My friend and I recently visited this dessert restaurant, eager to try their molten cakes. We both love hot desserts with ice cream, so it seemed like the perfect choice. I ordered the seasonal option with blackberry lavender filling, while my friend went for the peanut butter. While we enjoyed the flavors, there were a couple of letdowns. The molten cakes themselves were undeniably delicious, but they were essentially hollow, with the primary distinction being the filling. I had expected the lavender to infuse the cake itself, which was not the case. They were good, but I had hoped for a more integrated lavender experience. Another aspect to note is the size. These molten cakes are on the smaller side. Considering their petite portions, we couldn't help but feel that they should be priced a bit lower. They are bursting with flavor, but their small size might leave you wanting more. In conclusion, if you're in the mood for a tasty molten dessert and don't mind the petite portions and pricing, this place is worth a visit. The flavors are great, and they offer a variety of fillings. Just be prepared for smaller servings that make up for it in flavor.

Super rich chocolately dessert. When you walk in it smells just like a chocolate factory. The lighting at night is super romantic and cozy vibes. My friends and I shared the classic molten chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream topped w/ crumble. The chocolate cake was nice and warm with a gooey center. It's the perfect amount of cake, soft chocolate center and semisweetness. The ice cream complements the richness of the sweetness super well. Desserts take around 15 mins to make but worth the wait. Standard service, you order first at the counter and find seating. Overall great place for shareable dessert with friends if you're craving chocolatey dessert!

Love this place! Perfect date night spot for after dinner. They're very decadent though I have to split with someone. I always get the dark decadence, the ice cream with Carmel and crunchy toffee bites are a great combo! Can get very busy late though so be ready to wait if it's packed.

I thought I would be wowed, with the long line out the door. But it was just ok. The place was super crowded. Everyone fends for themselves stalking for a table and hogging up a space for all their friends, while their other friends stand in line to place the orders. It's chaotic. They have cafeteria style benches indoors seating and pandemic outdoors, meaning nothing charming but sufficient. We stood in line, ordered at the counter, got our number, and hoped for the best, table-wise. With enough gawking at people at the tables, they left, and we got a table. Lol. The place seems well staffed. I think I should just be happy for them that they have so many customers making their place chaotic. The Food: Blackberry Lavender Molten Cake, $14 - 3 Stars Menu: Our dark decadence molten cake is filled with a juicy blackberry lavender jam made with Pacific NW berries. On the side, the cake is paired with vanilla ice cream, lavender white chocolate crumble, and more of that perfectly floral blackberry lavender jam. Partly in fear of not getting a table, we decided to get just one item. I'm glad we did. It was literally just ok. I prefer my molten cakes taller, more molten in the middle, in a container big enough that I can generously scoop whatever accompanying ice cream into it for a hearty, melting blend. Theirs met none of these criteria. The little cake is in a little paper cup. The cake is a bit too sulken and dry to be a good molten cake. The ice cream itself is good, but we didn't like the white chocolate lavender crumples. I think it's personal taste on this aspect. We have since walked by several more times during off-hours when they have shorter lines or even no lines, and we weren't motivated to go in and try other things. I suspect our adventures with Hot Cakes have come to an end.

It's getting hot in here! Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery is a dessert shop that needs to make its way to the Eastside, like, pronto! I hardly ever get to enjoy Hot Cakes since I don't travel much to Capitol Hill or Ballard, which is where this particular shop is located. But my most recent visit has me thinking that maybe I should cross the bridge more often. We visited Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery on a Sunday after dinner, and the place was busy, but not crowded. I love the spacious patio seating right outside the shop where it's dog friendly and covered. After you order at the counter, you're given a number, which is how they track where you sit since they bring our your delicious dessert to you. I ordered the peanut butter molten hot cake, which was delicious. There was peanut butter fudge in the chocolate cake and the vanilla bean ice cream had roasted peanuts and caramel on it, and there was a side of peanut butter fudge. If you love peanut butter, then this is one you'll have to try. But really, all of the hot molten cakes and other desserts are delightful. One serving is always far too much for me because of how rich it is, so I recommend sharing. Or don't and be a bad ass because that's pretty baller if you can eat this delectable dessert all on your own. You'll want to anyway because it's delicious. However, I would love to try one of their cookie sundaes sometime soon. Those always look bomb with a cookie topped with a scoop of ice cream and a topping. Can't beat that.

I LOVE molten chocolate lava cakes, so I was stoked when my friend suggested this as a place to try for desserts. Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery also offers different type of desserts, like warm cookies (with ice cream), sundaes, creme brulee, pudding, parfaits, and drinks (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic) . They also have some savory dishes like grilled cheese, tomato soup, and mac and cheese. We got there at around 8:30pm on a Saturday, and it was surprisingly almost packed. But even more surprisingly, when it was a little after 9:30pm, it was more than packed; there were lines forming with some waits. But despite the almost packed place, we got our food pretty quickly, so kudos to them for the speed! I got the Dark Decadence, and it was really good. You get to pick which type of ice cream you'd like with your cake. For both the cake and the ice cream, they have vegan options. I did the regular Dark Decadence, and opted for the vegan vanilla ice cream because I am lactose intolerant. Gotta live a little with the cakes; forget about the queasiness my stomach will face later! The cake consists of Theo chocolate (Theo is a Seattle chocolate company), dry-burnt caramel, and coco nib toffee) Because of the dry-burnt caramel, it did make the cake a little on too-sweet side. I'm pretty sensitive to overly sweet things, so you can take my take on that with a grain of salt. But the cake was super hot when when it arrived, and sooo melty. I will warn you though, it is pretty rich. I couldn't finish it, and needed my friend to help. The ice cream was a nice compliment to the cake, but I think with those two together, it was pretty sweet. All in all, great experience; even with many people there, it didn't feel too loud and you could carry a comfortable conversation there.

I had the Butterbeer and White Miso Oatie cookie and they were both delicious! The cookies are baked on order so they were fresh and hot. The customer service was great, very friendly! I loved the ambiance, it's a vibe! I can't wait to come back and try more items on the menu!

Took kiddo and their friends here for a treat. The line was out the door, but the tables turn fairly fast, so we were able to grab a seat together without too much fuss. Staff is super friendly and, when one of the kiddos ordered the S'mores cake, offered to let them try the smoked chocolate to make sure they liked it. I tried the Strawberry cake and wow! that was a wonderful treat. Extra points for offering DF/GF options. The seating area is crowded and somewhat noisy, but it's warm and everyone is generally pretty happy (I mean....we're eating cake here), so it feels comfortable and welcoming.

I came here for dessert one night recently to finally try their molten chocolate lava cake. It did not disappoint! I was overwhelmed by all the menu options and just wanted something simple. I ended up getting the vegan option which comes with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream (I am lactose intolerant) so the ice cream wasn't real, but still good. The chocolate lava cake was so rich and decadent. I couldn't tell that it was vegan at all. My date that night also got a vanilla milkshake, and it was also delicious. Very thick and creamy. I felt like it was very vanilla flavored so I wonder if they added extra extract to it... All in all, I would certainly come back here. I am also interested in trying their savory options which sound really good. Plus they have rotating flavors of desserts based on the season, so there is another good reason to come back!

I admittedly am not a dessert enthusiast. Just get me a couple a scoops of ice cream, maybe Mrs. Fields cookie and I'm good. I don't need 'decadent' desserts as it were. Never hurts once in a while though. Here I found myself at Hot Cakes after some evening drinks only as a tag along. So, I simply go with a milkshake, and I must say this was quite a rich and thick milkshake. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love milkshakes but this had no doubts about it's thickness because I have had some that are a bit liquidy. Not this one though, nice and sweet too. I had to assist on tackling the molten chocolate cake with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. The cake is great. You don't have to guess twice that this is something hot and chocolatey, so that is there, and it is shareable if you don't need anything bigger than a decent jolt of sweetness. The vegan ice cream wasn't bad but doesn't beat the creaminess that comes from our favorite black and white farm animal. Hot cakes molten chocolate is always packed whenever I walk by, and I get it. Lots of different sweets to try - cakes, ice cream, pastries and more await here and is the perfect spot to get dessert after dining out in the area amongst other choices. Again. I'm not the top dessert critic, but there is definitely hot cake molten chocolate here and it's good.

Had a great afternoon here with my molten cake! We visited from PA and heard about this from friends. I love cakes and cookies so I had to try. I was the first person there so I got my order within 15 minutes. Got the regular dark decadence one and it was a lot. The others seemed overwhelming for my taste but if I had friends to share with I'd def try another flavor. Great service and the outdoor seating was a surprise and huge plus. It was really really good. I do personally prefer a slightly more baked center ... but the cake wasn't lacking in flavor. Ice cream was super yummy. It was expensive about $16 after tax. Definitely better to share one amongst 2-3 people as well. I ate mine alone but I was starving. They're pretty heavy. All in all id come again and try more!

I'm a chocoholic big time. I love their shakes and all of the other chocolate goodies! They have non chocolate sweets as well, and their grilled cheese sandwich is delicious Everyone is very nice, and I enjoy sitting inside because it smells heavenly

Friendly staffs Seating available outside If you like sweet stuff, this place is way to go

Hot cakes is one of my favorite dessert spots in all of Seattle. There is a location near downtown and this one in Ballard. I much prefer this location as it's much more cozy and intimate. The molten lava cakes are super decadent but definitely try the other desserts as well because they are always on point. I love the use of seasonal ingredients and most recently got the apple cobbler which was to die for!! They also have great drinks, 10/10 experience every time.

Delicious hot cakes...thought the ice cream that comes with it can be better. The staff was friendly and they have plenty of outdoor seating. Parking can be a bit of an issue as the street has a lot of restaurants and limited parking spots. But the food is well worth the troubles!

We brought our guests from Chicago to check out one of our favorite dessert places. Hot Cakes did not disappoint! They kept saying how rich and decadent the cakes were as they shared their orders. I had peanut butter molten cake with a steam cup of matcha latter with oat milk. I know, weird combination. But, it was ALL delicious!

If you're really into sweet and really into chocolate (milk) this is the place for you. I go here mostly for the crème brûlée and at first I LOVED it here, but the space is quite small and if there's a long line you're definitely waiting outside. The chocolate is SUPER rich and so unless you're purchasing something to wash it down it it hard to maintain. They do warn you that the cakes are hot but when you really try it it REALLY is burning hot. I have burned my tongue the first time I went.

Some of the worst hot chocolate I've had in my life, it was like drinking lukewarm milk. Will not be going back.

Community tables for sitting. I liked the cute ambience. We tried the chocolate cake and it was great. Very well made. A little too sweet for my taste though but my other friends liked the sweetness.