Make Your Own Pancake Restaurant to Open

By Vanessa Wolf

Making breakfast at home too boring for you? Do it in public! Photo courtesy Slappy Cakes.

“It’s all supervised!”

Remember on the show Seinfeld when Kramer comes up with an idea for a pizza place where you make your own pie?

Seems there’s a version of that about to hit Maui…but for breakfast.

Slappy Cakes, a make-your-own pancake restaurant, is opening June 3 in the Honokowai Marketplace.

The restaurant brings to mind Benihana meets iHop meets Grandma’s: there are a long list of batters and ingredients for diners to customize with. The fun doesn’t stop there. You get to cook them yourself on a griddle built into every table.

For those who don’t really enjoy pancakes (ahem), they also offer a full breakfast and lunch menu  with an emphasis on local, sustainable, and organic ingredients.

If you think this is too silly to succeed, think again.

Slappy Cakes first opened in Portland, Oregon in 2009 and has since been featured nationally on The Cooking Channel, Woman’s Day Magazine, and Rachel Ray.

In 2011 it was awarded the title of “America’s Best” by Food Network as one of America’s top-ten destinations.

Moreover, for those with special dietary needs, their Portland menu offers glutenfree pancake batter and vegan sausage toppings, as well.

In addition to coming to the islands, Slappy Cakes is going international with a spot in Tokyo that opened in January and two more slated to  open in Manila, Philippines in May.

What’s next? Giant vats of oil where you batter and deep-fry whatever you bring? Count us in!

We welcome your feedback. Please let us know if you hear of any new restaurants opening or reopening, total menu overhauls, or simply know of a hidden treasure you want to share. Have a restaurant you want reviewed (or re-reviewed)? Drop us a line – Vanessa(@mauinow.com)