Pancake Circus

Pancake Circus does not have much ambiance! But want comfort food? I had the Pancake Circus special $13.99 and a cup of coffee (which was excellent! Surprisingly, it was: 2 eggs (your way), 2 sausage or bacon, potatoes (country style was recommended and did not disappoint! (Huge chunks of potatoe perfectly cooked), and surprisingly cinnamon french toast. *Now how a place called Pancake Circus, could have a special without pancakes is dumb founding. However the french toast is shaped like a pancake! See photo. The service was great, so was the coffee. Plenty of parking, handicap accessed. Did not see many families, however this was a Monday morning, not the weekend. In addition, what kid does not love pancakes! The decorations inside child friendly! See photos.

This place looks like it's from a horror movie. Old school zoo / circus vibe, and starting to show its age. I got the early bird special and it was worth it. Can't say that it was amazing but it was pretty good. There was only one server for the entire restaurant so service was not the high point.

The food was pretty good, I really liked the Circus Burger. One of the other people I went with said that their French dip sandwich wasn't very good, so I suppose don't get that. If you like circus-themed things, I definitely recommend. There were little games and a lot of neat little figures that seemed to have been there for at least two decades.

One of Sacramento‘s iconic breakfast diners! The decor is glorious! Strange clown, pictures on the wall and for some reason Winnie the Pooh characters randomly dispersed. The food is classic diner, breakfast and lunch. I ended up having the circus burger, which was amazing. It’s two beef patties on a hoagie bun. I recommend the curly fries. Service was great and the food came out quick. I also had a few bites of my wife’s pancakes and waffles and they were pretty good.

Great food and exceptional guest service. Very reasonable prices. Definitely will be back.

This place was pretty good they have the best pancakes and nice size with get you full!! I have the waiter my bank card she is the only one who knows my card number so to be on the safe side! I let a waiter take my bank card 10 years ago and he started shopping after 3 months and didn’t think i would know who had my card!! Hopefully I won’t have to experience that again… other than that the place was cool a little old but nice..

Generic diner with great food! Service was pretty good for what seemed to be a minimal amount of staff. Best pancakes I’ve had in a while but they weren’t as hot as I prefer. Had them warmed up & they were perfect. I plan to return to try their “pigs in a blanket”. I recommend.

Had to try this uniquely decorated restaurant after reading a recently published story in the Sacramento Bee. I wasn’t disappointed. Good food at reasonable prices and friendly service. On site parking lot with space available. While paying the bill I purchased Mega Millions Lotto Tickets which accomplished the other thing I had to do today‼️

My family and I had a great experience at Pancake Circus! The staff was really friendly and welcoming from the moment we walked in. I ordered the veggie omelette, and it was delicious. Not to mention the fluffy, and flavorful french toast and pancakes. We will definitely be returning. Shout out to Lupe who took care of us.

I love a good throwback, but this place just isn't one. Trust me, I'm nostalgic. I can be more than nostalgic. The food was lackluster. I did my usual corned beef and hash. Just very uninspiring. Food was served on a cheap dish like the $1 ones. The corned beef hash tasted like it was from a Hormel's can. I don't have much report about with the hash browns. Eggs are eggs. Everyone is nice. It did take a minute, but I was pretty frustrated with the food. Ambiance wise, the placed open decades ago and it's stuck there. I think it's due for an update IMO. Perhaps, it's just not my style, but It's the pancake circus! There's so much you can do with it. Just wasn't a fab of the old decor and circus wallpaper. Probably just a one and done if you want a piece of Sac history, but may not be repeat for me.

Driven by this spot most of my life snd never tried. Decided what the heck ill give it a shot. Place is a blast from the past. Old dingy diner setting. Most folks seemed like regulars. Menu seemed limited for breakfast but i opted of the 1egg bacon hash brown and dry sourdough w coffee. Was greeted promptly (no smile) and ordered coffee while i perused the menu Coffee came quickly. Prices seemed ok. Steak and eggs was pricey. Food: poached egg was over done kinda rubbery, hash browns were not hot and seemed old. Bacon was cool and very thin sliced. Sourdough bread had loads of butter. Normally id send back but based on temp of food i decided to eat it and get out. Very disappointing experience. I cannot see the allure of this place when there are way better options out there. Sorry but i have to vote pass on this one.

Been coming here for years. One of the best mom and pops restaurant. We've always felt welcome here. The food is delicious and at a very reasonable price. I'd definitely recommend their pancake . It's soft and fluffy. The place is decorated with clowns on their walls. Of course, you can tell by the name of the restaurant. It's family friendly and kids will enjoy the decoration.

The food & coffee/tea are good. They never have enough wait staff and service is extremely slow. That's the only thing that keeps me away.

Service was friendly. The food was not good. In fact the potatoe salad was sour and expires. I'm afraid to ever eat here again. Outdated decor.

It's a classic Sacramento establishment, and by that all I can really say is it is old? Firstly, I did not find the restaurant too clean at all (on an early Monday morning the bathroom was not the cleanest, indicating it perhaps stays that way chronically). Service was friendly and food was fine as well. Oddly, the prices were not as cheap as I expected (besides their decent deal of a weekday morning special). Even with that, coffees were over $3 each. Overall, it wouldn't be my first recommendation for brunch in the city. Again service was friendly and probably the highlight.

I use to come here as a kid and I thought it was good lol But it seems kinda nasty now .. the menu is so simple The food came out and it looked so unappetizing My family hardly ate their food too We ordered a grilled cheese for my niece and it was literally and uncooked piece of cheese in some toasted bread Menu looked so original I didn't even wanna order anything so I got a pancake and even that was gross

As of 2024, I've lived in the Sacramento since 2001, that's close to half my life if you do the math correctly, lol. And never have I visited "Pancake Circus" in that entire stretch. I've passed by it on numerous occasions (by car & bike) but never had the chance to eat here. Well, on the morning of Sunday 1/14/2024, that changed instantly. Located directly at the corner of Broadway and 21st St., this place has been a Sacramento staple dating back to the 1970's. Parking can get quite packed, primarily during those busy weekend mornings. I arrived with my lady around 10:25am as we met with two friends for our traditional Sunday brunch. Upon entering, all four of us were seated immediately and given menus. As far as the interior goes, this place is a straight time capsule. Everything from the booths, carpet, windows, and even the menus look like they're from a different point in history. And one thing that makes this place unique is the amount of circus/carnival items and even miniature toy clowns holding balloons by the ceiling throughout the entire restaurant. But the main focal point everyone wants to know about is the food. Here you will find your standard greasy spoon breakfast items including eggs, bacon, sausage, French toasts, omelets, Benedicts, waffles, and of course, pancakes. I ended up ordering their "French Toast" (four 1/2 slices w/powdered sugar, butter, & syrup) complete with one egg (scrambled), one sausage link, and one bacon strip. My lady went with hash browns, eggs, & toast while my friends did pancakes, and biscuits & gravy. After placing our orders, all four of our plates came out simultaneously in just under 10 minutes. I will say that the service was attentive and quick but the food was just alright for me. I think eating classic diner food can be too predictable and not inspiring. Not that I'm putting this place down but the food is just average at-best. Especially these days where people are all about the more trendy elaborate dishes. As far as my French toast, it was decent but my bacon and sausage is easily something that I could easily cook from home. Even the coffee my lady had was below average as it was too watered down. If breakfast isn't your thing, they also carry sandwiches, hot lunch items, burgers, salads, and even dedicated menu items for kids and seniors. They are open for business seven days a week from 7:00am to 2:00pm. I am not sure if this is a place I would come back to again. With so many options where restaurants have multiplied over the past few decades, Pancake Circus still gets its dedicated regulars that frequent this dive restaurant. With that said and done, I am giving "Pancake Circus" just an average three-star rating.

Think old school diner meets clowns and circus theme decor. Excellent service. Come for the clowns stay for the pancakes and waffles! Best in the business.

This place is old school and a little run down. I ordered an omelette with bacon, sausage, onion and American cheese with hash browns on the side. It did not have much flavor, I didn't taste any bacon, I tasted cheese maybe in 2 bites, but I could see the sausage, and it did not have much flavor. I did not taste onions at all. My previous trip here was better.

What can one expect from the greasy spoon of greasy spoons? This place is well past its heyday but does provide lots of positive energy from yesteryear. The food is consistent and you can expect any breakfast menu item from a traditional diner. The service is dependable. It's the only place I know where you can order buckwheat pancakes and all the fixins from the heyday of mid-century Americana.

Ok. I admit it I've never been here. Not technically being someone who grew up in sacramento I have never wanted to admit I haven't tried out this local icon of a breakfast diner.. And to be very honest I was worried it would disappoint and I'd have to roll my eyes every time someone mentioned this place, but let me tell you - DELICIOUS PANCAKES ! The decor and whole entire style of this place is so late 70s or early 80s. To the cute homage to clowns and the circus with artwork and clown dolls at the front entrance, to the yellow and Orange Brady bunch color palette. Not to mention the old school swivel counter chairs overlooking all the decades old cooking equipment. It makes you feel like you stepped into an old cozy antique store that also just so happens to serve pancakes. I got the country biscuit and gravy with a pancake on the side and the biscuits and gravy were good. No sausage in the sauce and ok biscuits but still good flavor. And the pancakes! Absolutely delicious. I only had one after my meal and it felt like a dessert after breakfast. So thick and the right amount of firmness to the almost spongey texture. Also when the pancake absorbed the syrup it didn't just start falling apart but still maintained that seared outer exterior. So GOOD. Not the mention the amazing staff! The cook behind the counter was an older gentleman and talked to me and my friend during our meal sliding us silly off the wall dad jokes. The waitress chatting with us but still maintaining a large crowd with ease. You can tell the people who work here are happy and it just makes you feel like you are a customer who has been here forever. Look forward to coming again and again to this place. I only take away minus one star because besides the pancakes everything else was just mediocre (but still flavorful). Safe to say for people who have never tried this place you will come for the antiquity, but you'll come back for the pancakes.

It was ok food pancakes were fluffy and delicious,the eggs not so much,it's like an old style diner lots of booths ,understaffed ,Waited 14 minutes to get order taken and coffee .Everything was good after that .Plenty of parking.I love clown decorations and animal fixtures.Staff is friendly and helpful.

Our server Andres was amazing. The service overall was great. The food was ok. Pancakes were fluffy and malty the way I like them. Large portions, decent price.

Nostalgic atmosphere like your from the 70s. Loved everything about the old decor reminded me as a child growing up eating with my parents in the 70s. Flavorful. Really good breakfast and their pancakes were good as well. This is an old gem

The service was good, as was the food. The restaurant itself is kitschy, but you know that going in. The bathroom was clean. I'd eat here again.

Service is quick and friendly and the pancakes are really good. We ordered blueberry pancakes, buckwheat and pecan pancakes, corn beef hash and eggs. The eggs were perfectly cooked. And then there are the clowns and circus animals. Which are funny and perhaps unsettling. Pancake Circus is an old fashioned and quirky place. It could only be better if the wait staff dressed up as circus performers.

Basic reliable diner food. Place is straight out of the 70s. Love that the new owners cut down on the amount of clowns but kept a couple.

I've been coming here for years and it is always as I expect. Decent food. Decent prices. Crazy, dated decor. I had a party melt with onions on my most recent visit and I have to say, it was really tasty! The fries were hot and crispy! Our server was kind and she kept our drinks full!

Sadly, the lemonade was not green. The portions were massive. Definitely for your buck. Circus burger was scary massive. Vintage decor. Bathroom review: clean, nice, and welcoming. Staff were all friendly and dont order the bagel. Overall I would say this is definitely a place for all to go to, when going to Sacramento. Cult classic status.

Do not go here. The inside is covered in dusty clown decor. Terrible diner coffee and food was inedible

Generic diner with great food! Service was pretty good for what seemed to be a minimal amount of staff. Best pancakes I've had in a while but they weren't as hot as I prefer. Had them warmed up & they were perfect. I plan to return to try their "pigs in a blanket". I recommend.

Once you get past the clowns and 1960's motif you realize it's all part of the charm. I have lived in Sacramento for a few decades and this place hasn't changed but in the best possible way. The staff is polite and friendly and the food is dependently delicious and more affordable than most fast food. Even though the place is not brand new, it is very clean, no matter what time of day. This place is a Sacramento treasure where the patrons are the real winners just checkout the Lottery winners history in the area. I took my niece here before her first day of college. It's just good vibes

4 stars cause the bus girl was all off . That waitress was the best . The food was very good . It was clean , service was good , food was excellent , hopefully your not scared of clowns if so might not enjoy this establishment. . They were very busy while I was here . And the waitress did more then anyone besides the owner who I personally thought was awesome! Price is perfect . Location was good .

Unfriendly service but fun kitschy atmosphere and a lot of food. I can see why this is a destination for truckers. Love the clown paraphernalia but food was low key lukewarm. Worth a stop by but not necessarily for food

I really did not intend to go here. The wait at the Tower Cafe was over an hour so I thought I Would try Pancake Circus. I got the Circus Big Top with Sausage, Scrambled eggs and hash browns with 2 pancakes. The eggs, sausages and hash browns we're actually pretty good. Too my amazement the pancakes were hard as a rock and almost inedible. If the namesake of the restaurant is it's worst dish it has too make you wonder.

FANTASTIC friendly service, classic diner vibe, good pancakes, omelets, and steady stream of coffee. My kid is not big on the clown decor, but I find it strange and charming. It's somewhat divey, to be sure, but that adds to its charm.

The new owner has really turned the breakfast icon around. The service is personable and efficient The food was very good, and the coffee was a cut above the standard restaurant blend. We are fortunate to have a real old stlye diner in this era of boring overpriced chain restaurants. Long may it serve (excellent breakfasts)

Pancake Circus offered up quick breakfast and friendly staff with a much to be desired décor and interior. But overall it's breakfast folks so if you can get past the antiquated circus theme and scary clowns starring at ya while you eating in both from the 1970s well you may enjoy your meal. Nothing fancy or special here just your slap it on the plate eggs, bacon or sausage, pancakes or waffles added bonus fresh fruit atop the aforementioned waffles and slather on the syrup then scarf down your meal to head out for whatever you have planned for your day. Listed as an iconic location, this was just someplace for us to grab a quick warm meal early in the morning before we went sightseeing in the area. Overall like a shared above interior along with exterior style are reminiscent of traveling back in to a 1970s circus vibe from the moment you pull in the parking lot, enter the door and get handed the menu. Ehhh I digress, stomach's full, we conquered our day and this fit the bill of what we needed that morning.

I know this may seem silly but I was thrilled to have brunch here today. I have lived here for almost 43 years and this was my first time at Pancake Circus. The food and service were actually very good and less expensive than McDonald's! I will definitely be back. Don't be put off by the outside of the menu. Inside there are lots of good things to eat.

Great prices, great food (surprisingly not overly greasy), and fast service. Aesthetics are outdated and kind of gross looking with a ton of clown decor. But would I recommend it, absolutely. Had the country fried steak with eggs and potatoes and a Nutella banana crepe. The crepe had a ton of banana and Nutella, a great value in a casual place.

The food they remembered to bring us was cold and we couldn't get anyone's attention to fix it or complete our order. We were not checked on once. I kind of like the weird decor and the old building, but not enough to pay $56 for cold eggs again.

I went to this place over a decade ago and my daughter wanted to do a YouTube video here today. I remember the greasy, rather nasty food and wasn't exactly looking forward to it. I was happy to find out there are new owners AND he is keeping the clown kitsch atmosphere AND EVEN MORE that the food has improved greatly since my last visit. I had the bacon cheeseburger and I was pleasantly surprised by the maple flavor in my bacon. My kid had the pancake special and loved the whole experience and rated the restaurant 10 out of 6 stars.

Delicious, classic, diner food with fun, yet mildly disturbing clown art decor. Since moving to Sac this has been our favorite breakfast spot because brunch has become a 5 hour ordeal with wait times. We always get a table right away, and the waitresses are very kind and hardworking.

Perfect place for a quick breakfast off of Broadway in Sacramento. If you're over 60, check out the menu items most under $10 for entrees! It's a very good deal and classic 1959 interior

"You're going to be In Sacramento? You've got to go to Pancake Circus". We followed our friends advice and we're glad we did. A bit of disappearing Americana alive and well. The owner told me a brief history: originally opened in 1958, then became Pancake Circus in '68. My impression is that it hasn't changed a bit since getting its circus motif makeover. Circuses, and in particular, non-scary clowns are no longer in vogue, so catch it while you can. Their collection of clown paintings is impressive and without an ounce of irony. And what of the food you ask? The pancakes were light and fluffy, the portions ample and coffee fresh and hot. Excellent service as well on a busy Sunday morning. Thank goodness places like this still exist.

Absolutely one of the dirtiest places I've ever eaten. Whatever was used to impersonate butter would have been better used as axle grease. Service was non-existent. The smell when entering the restaurant was indescribably bad. Our plates stuck so badly to the table that it was actually hard to get them to break free. Just because a restaurant is old doesn't mean you don't need to clean it. Even the menus were covered in filth. The food was below average at best.

My friends were in town for a Laurel and Hardy convention and had breakfast at this clown restaurant as it went with the theme of our stay in Sacramento. We all enjoyed our breakfast very much and would definitely come here again. The next time we were in town.

I went over to Pancake Circus while waiting for my oil change to be completed across the street at A1. I told the waitress that I will be here for a while. She said that there are no issues. I was truly appreciative regarding the great service. The staff is highly attentive. They were very busy on a Tuesday morning for breakfast. I observed a lot of locals, chatting with the staff by name and the staff greeting them by name. A customer was filling out Christmas cards while they ate their breakfast. Another customer had taken her elderly father to the restaurant for breakfast and he knew the staff's names and said goodbye to them by name. It made me smile. I felt so welcomed. It was as if I was instant family when I entered. Will this be a mind blowing gourmet breakfast that you dream of? Likely not. Will this be a a place that you will receive great service and feel welcomed at? Absolutely. I had the chicken fried steak with scrambled eggs and I asked for country fried potatoes because I don't eat pancakes. It was a decent portion. I didn't finish it. I added more pepper to the gravy and also added salt to the potatoes. If I had one small criticism, I wish they added a little salt to their country potatoes because it doesn't stick as well when the potatoes aren't piping hot. I understand why they don't though, because some people need to avoid salt. This place was in business when I was a teenager, many years ago. It has stood the test of time. I'm sure that there is a reason why.

The atmosphere is impeccable, the food is decently good and cheap, and the coffee is terrible. You can buy lotto tickets and admire their many clown art. I'm glad they improved their curly fries bc for a while, they were bland and beige, no seasoning salt in sight. Mildly homophobic vibe, flawless early 80s brown diner palette.

Great greasy spoon been there for many many years if you don't like clowns you need to stay away because the circus threw up at this place great kid place to eat

The food is amazing and great customer service the sausage is good the pancakes are so fluffy and amazing the plates cups and silverware are all clean

A solid breakfast diner with friendly and attentive wait staff. The chicken fried steak was pretty good and they kept the coffee coming.

Don't do it! Against my better judgment I opted for Pancake Circle over many other better options because I hadn't had this place before. I ordered a BYO omelette with ham, sausage, onions and mushrooms. The mushrooms were from a can and there was an off smell to the ensemble. My girlfriend had California omelette and I kid you not when I say the three slices of avocado were black. We inspected them trying to confirm that they were indeed avocados. The hash browns were decent, those can't really be ruined. 0/10 recommend.

Local breakfast spot with pretty good food for an affordable price. Service was friendly. If you think about it it's a better deal then going to IHOP or Dennys. I think people critique affordable places like this too much especially since inflation is on the rise. I ate good and saved money that's sounds like a good experience to me

Adnan, owner, is such a nice guy. Service is excellent and I personally love the halal turkey with Veg/chicken egg. Price is reasonable and it is surely hard to finish a single plate as well. Keep up the good work guys.

Grits and eggs, perfect for breakfast for a cool morning. I generally like my eggs very runny, but it's hard to find a cook that can make them that way.

Pancake Circus is a Sacramento food landmark. Recently a new owner and new manager took over the operations and the place now shines with great food, service, cleanliness and they make you feel welcome! I suggest that you try the crab cakes benedict. Absolutely delicious! Breakfast or lunch the menu items are wonderful. Don't forget the onion rings with your delicious hamburger or favorite sandwich. Thank you Pancake Circus for being a favorite neighborhood restaurant! Job well done!