There’s a Small Town in Virginia That Calls Itself the ‘Pancake Capital of the World’
Drive down Richmond Road in Williamsburg, Virginia, and you might just smell syrup in the air. This historic town, better known for colonial reenactments and tricorner hats, calls itself the Pancake Capital of the World.
With nearly a dozen dedicated pancake houses serving a population of just around 15,000, Williamsburg takes breakfast very seriously. And now, the community is leaning into that reputation with its first-ever Pancake Festival this September. So how did a place once defined by musket drills and powdered wigs end up with more pancake houses than most cities ten times its size?
Case of A Colonial Craving
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Humberto Moreno
Pancakes weren’t invented here, but Williamsburg’s ties to them stretch back to the colonial era. Frank Clark, a historic foodways expert at Colonial Williamsburg, explains that early pancakes were more like thin crepes since artificial leavening wasn’t available. Colonists often served them at dinner instead of breakfast.
Fast forward to the 20th century, when Williamsburg became a major tourist hub (along with Jamestown and Yorktown), visitors needed hearty breakfasts before sightseeing. Hotels at the time often didn’t serve meals, so pancake houses filled that gap.
Greek Roots And Golden Griddles
Greek families keep Williamsburg’s pancake empire running. Beginning in the 1940s and 1950s, Greek immigrants from nearby Newport News began opening pancake houses. One family member would launch a restaurant, then hire cousins and siblings to help, until they could branch off and open another place of their own. This pattern created a network of family-run breakfast spots that are still thriving today.
Restaurants like Mama Steve’s House of Pancakes, Colonial Pancake House, and Astronomical Pancake House are still run by descendants of those original families. Dean Canavos of Capital Pancake House points out that while competition used to be fierce, relationships are now more friendly. Owners are often linked by marriage or long histories together, so the rivalry is lighthearted, and everyone shares in Williamsburg’s reputation.
The First-Ever Pancake Festival
For 2025, the town is ready to celebrate in style. On September 26 and 27, Visit Williamsburg and CultureFix will put together its first Pancake Festival. The two-day event kicks off Friday evening at the Williamsburg Hellenic Center with pancakes for dinner, live music by the Tidewater Drive Band, and a “Pancake Lab” where kids can decorate their own flapjacks.
Saturday morning, the fun shifts outside to Duke of Gloucester Street in Merchants Square during the Farmers Market. Expect the Sausage Sprint, a dachshund race that always gets laughs, a pancake-themed children’s storytime, and the headline event: the World Pancake Eating Championship. Professional eaters like Miki Sudo and Nick Wehry will compete to see who can take down the most pancakes in record time.
Pancake Trail Perks
The festival isn’t the only new addition. Williamsburg is also launching a Pancake Trail app. Locals and visitors can check in at participating restaurants like Shorty’s Diner, Southern Pancake and Waffle House, and Honey Butter’s Kitchen to earn rewards like T-shirts, discounts, and even festival admission. It’s a clever way to sample as many pancake houses as possible.
Tickets for Friday night’s festivities start at $20 for adults and $15 for teenagers, while kids and college students get in free. Saturday’s events are completely free, though arriving early is smart since the crowd is expected to be large. For a small town with a long history, Williamsburg has found a new way to keep people coming back.