Uncle Bill’s Pancake House

COLD FOOD. OVERCHARGED and KEPT CHANGE.
If I could give less than a star, I would do so. I have been enjoying this restaurant for almost 15 years. Whenever out-​of-​town guest come to town, I always treat them to this spot. Everyone loved this spot. My family have spent countless weekends enjoying breakfast here. But no more. On January 24, 2016, I treated my out-​of town family to this spot. Everyone’s breakfast was cold. But my worst experience occurred when I went to pay my $ 48 bill. I gave the the waiter $ 60 dollars, He asked if I needed any change, I replied, «Yes, the tip is on the table». I noticed he was taking a very long time pushing buttons… as I started to walk towards him, he hurried to me and gave me 72 cents change. I reminded him that I’d given him $ 60 and my bill was only $ 48. He abruptly cut me off and said, «Oh she added up the bill wrong», he turned and walked away quickly. I had one of those moments where I knew this was not going to turn out well if I said another word. I knew that the police would be involved and I did not want to involve my guests to that scene. So DO NOT visit this place. The food is no longer what it used to be and they change your bill and refuse to give you your correct change. So Uncle Bill, if you are interested in going out of business, I’m going to help you. I will not visit your restaurant again, I will not bring anymore out-​of-​town guests, nor will I refer anyone else there.

There is ALWAYS a wait, but trust me when I say its worth it! We got the banana nut pancakes (Amazing) and the Hungarian omelet (meh!). The portions were large and the view can’t be beat. Its a MB staple and we will be back soon!

Came here on a Tuesday morning, ordered a Manhattan omelette… OMG so delicious! The quality is so great! The food tasted so fresh but we didn’t have to wait long at all. Staff is very friendly and helpful in ordering your food. They also all work together which is always nice. We started by sitting outside but changed our mind and they quickly found us indoor seating. Price is normal diner pricing. Definitely recommend!

This is a popular place with locals and also tourist. It’s in a great location, close to town and the beach with outside dining. It was busy and yet the service was pretty good. The omelette was served hot and the coffee cup was never empty. Overall, a pretty good restaurant.

This place gets suuuuperrrrr busy! If you love breakfast/​brunch food, this place is definitely for you!
I ordered a half sandwich (tuna) and half soup (their famous chili) and it did not let me down! It definitely hit the spot. Chili became a little salty after eating so much of it, but it was good nonetheless.
Other than serving chili, it’s your typical breakfast/​brunch spot. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t extremely memorable either.
The service is sub-​par and definitely needs improvement. If service was better, I would definitely give 4 stars.

Breakfast lovers beware, this is your go to spot. This was first time and I really truly enjoyed everything about this meal. The overall environment of this breakfast café is beachy and a bit divey. So if you’re into the carefree atmosphere and don’t mind remaining low key, this is the place for you. There’s an old fashioned coffee bar, a patio and of course indoor dining options. The service here reigns supreme from the hostess to the those who clean the tables, every employee seemed to work as a team to exceed customer service standards. Happy employees make a happy environment for customers.
So with a restaurant that is clean, employees that are kind and food that is delicious… I am in love with everything about this place.
Did I mention the beach being a few steps away? Well c’mon by and eat your heart out. Great prices, great good and great people.

I really liked this place, great breakfast /​brunch option though there’s usually a wait on weekends. Omelette was delicious (I got the Omelette with meat sauce), but the hash browns were really out of this world. They also allow you to substitute pancakes instead of toast, which is a plus. Portion was huge.

This is definitely a solid neighborhood breakfast spot. The highlight is the patio seating because it trumps the inside ambience by 5 fold. Watching the waves crash while eating a downhill buttermilk pancake is the best. Unfortunately, I sat inside at the bar counter. The bar counter has a curved table top and is close
exit door and the far wall. There are no purse hooks so while balancing your bum on the chair you also need to balance your money on your lap.
The service is ok. I will admit the busy, bustling atmosphere doesn’t leave time for the waiters to be too friendly, I guess. My group of three was asked to move over one seat. We obliged and in doing do a young fellow blessed us with hot blueberry muffins for our troubles. I thought this was sweet. Marissa was our server… she turned me off twice. One particular instance was when my friend asked for change for a dollar so she could re-​up on the meter. After she exchanged the dollar she put the quarters on the country instead of handing them over. This type of civility made me focus on how rude it is to make someone stand over the next person at the bar and slide each quarter from the counter top into their hand. Sloppy and inconsiderate.
The food was on point. I had two pancakes, real butter and syrup. The bacon might have been the best bacon I have EVER bad. Nice and crispy and T.A.S.T.Y. The Hans browns were also great… I ordered them because of the recommendation on Unilocal.
I would come here again because my dad and I love to explore the beach and this would be a good breakfast/​brun ch spot.

I dig this place. It’s a legit breakfast/​brunch/​lunch/​linner spot. I like that it’s been around for so long and still looks it. I am all about the old school places.
The pancake menu is huge. Well, actually… all of the breakfast menu is. So many kinds of pancakes (even pumpkin spice!), waffles, french toasts… it was awesome. I’m used to only having a handful of sweet stuff to choose from. I usually go for blueberry or pumpkin, but decided to be adventurous and go for the fresh strawberries. Mmmm… they looked so good when they came out and I have to say, their pancakes are among the fluffiest I’ve ever had. Two thumbs up.

If you love a great breakfast or lunch please do yourself a favor and eat here at least once.
All of the elders in my family have been raving about this place since I was little and when I finally tried I understood why. My grandpa was a regular here and he loved it.
Their hashbrowns are to die for. The only place I’ve found that makes decent hashbrowns. They’re not too expensive and it’s super great quality food, just be prepared to wait 30 – 60 minutes especially on the weekends. Be respectful too, the few times I’ve been there I noticed the host always had an attitude but most of the customers in that area are very high maintenance and rude so try not to make it any harder on them. Worst of all they’re standing outside in the heat or rain: YEESH!

Pancakes early in the morning here are PERFECT!!! Have had the chance to come several times and the staff has never disappointed. They seat us very quickly and have our food ready super fast although all around is it seems chaotic and busy they have everything under control. I usually order the cakes with eggs and it’s delicious. They have other choices of breakfast including French toast and omlettes but come on! This place is called Uncle Bills PANCAKE HOUSE! You have got to try the pancakes they are unbelievable!

We came here for brunch on a Sunday morning and had to wait about 20 minutes before being seated. They have indoor and outdoor seating, and the restaurant is just steps away from the beach!
I noticed a bunch of flies sitting on the maple syrup jars once we were seated, but ignored it because we were so hungry. A very rushed drinks waitress came by to get our drink orders; I ordered an English Breakfast tea and my +1 had a coffee. When the drinks came, I noticed that my mug was dirty and there was a giant slab of butter or cream on the lip of it. Totally grossed out, I asked for another mug and the waitress didn’t bother to apologize or say anything! She just took it, observed it, and slapped a new mug on the table.
Another waitress came by to take our order. This lady looked like she was in another world– very dazed, emotionless, possibly on some substance? She was dressed in workout clothes, a cap, and her brown hair in a ponytail. She sat on the ledge and asked us what we wanted. It was such a weird and casual interaction. I think she was annoyed that she had to serve non-​white people. Definitely felt some racism from her! We both ordered the avocado + jack cheese omelettes with hash browns and toast. The hash browns were pretty good, and the avocado was STUFFED with lots of avocado and topped with some more, which was nice.
I had to use the restroom and went inside, waiting near the kitchen where the bathroom was. There was a giant Costco sized container of maple syrup that they were using to refill the little jars. They were also dipping the jars in some blue soapy water to, I assume, get rid of the stickiness. But it was weird. There were a ton of flies sitting on the large maple syrup container, too. It was really gross. The entire area there was dirty and I was really happy that brunch was over and I could leave the restaurant soonn.
It is honestly just the service and lack of cleanliness that is bringing this place down to a 1 star for me.
Would I come back? No way. There are so many other options in the area.

I first heard about Uncle Bill’s a year or two ago, and how insanely tasty these pancakes were, and the lines are always just as insane.
Finally one morning we decided to give it a try, since we were heading to Manhattan Beach anyways. To my surprise when we arrived, there was only a 5 minute wait (one group in front of us). Red flag perhaps? It was Saturday at 12:30pm. When I went inside, I was not impressed with the old décor. Not old as in a classic, traditional style. old as in, it looks worn down as fuck and no one gives enough fucks to care for the place. Red flag #2.
Once we sat down, one server came up to take our drink order. 30 seconds later another server came up and asked to take our drink order. Told him someone else already did… then 30 seconds after that a third server comes up and asks if we are ready to order. WTF, how many servers do we have?
I ordered the cake & eggs (macadamia nut pancakes, 2 eggs) with a side of hash browns. My bf ordered the same but with pumpkin pancakes with a side of bacon. Don’t forget to order the «dark amber syrup» — its $ 1 extra but worth it.
Pancakes were quite tasty. My macadamia nuts were mixed INTO the batter and also sprinkled on top. I mean, would I go as far as to say this place is a MUST TRY or has the best pancakes? Absolutely not. I would say its pancake SELECTIONS are extensive, but the pancakes themselves are just «good.»
There are too many breakfast/​brunch places closer to home, that this one experience was not enough to make me want to come back again.

They give you LOTS of food.
Great service.
Tip:
Going on a weekday morning may be best as people line up fast and you may have easier time street parking. But I guess it’s all worth it for good time with good food.
It can get a bit noisy though.

Great local breakfast joint in Manhattan Beach. Get’s crowded on the weekends, so arrive early or be prepared to wait.
My go-​to breakfast choice is the chili cheese omelet with avocado. It’s by far the best I’ve had anywhere! A must try when visiting here. Most dishes also come with your choice of sides, muffin, pancake, or toast. So much food, so come hungry!
Service is always friendly. Sometimes it takes a couple minutes for service, but seeing how busy they are, you got to cut them some slack.
Metered street and parking lot available.

I’ve had better… kind of unexciting, bordering on «meh». These photos kind of say it all. Nothing bad, but nothing special. The bacon was warm but, considering we were there when they opened, it wasn’t exactly «fresh». The eggs were perfectly done.
Maybe we ordered boring… (not being sarcastic)… and there’s nothing that can be done to jazz up french toast, scrambled eggs, fruit… but I want it to be better than what I can make at home, not just easier and with someone else doing the dishes.
BUT… sometimes that’s all you need… diner food that someone else is making and cleaning up after. But that won’t get you 4 stars.
OK, as long as I’m ragging… it seems like they were one person short (though everyone was nice and no one was slacking, they were all business)… there was, I think, only one person taking orders and when you have every table filling up within a ten minute window when you are opening in the morning, it’s frustrating to see the order-​taker having to go the four or five other tables before you can place your own order. I’m kind of impatient though and sometimes, especially when you go to a beach community where everyone is little more laid-​back, you have to take a deep breath… I’m trying.

I can’t really think of anything bad about my first trip here. Actually, I can’t even think of anything average about it either. Absolutely everything was great.
I came in for breakfast and enjoyed blueberry buckwheat pancakes, eggs w/​fruit, and a side of bacon (What? It was my birthday and I was hungry!). The food was delivered quickly and was well prepared. The pancakes, especially, were stupendous, as so many assured me they would be.
Our service was also great. The place was packed, yet we were seated right away. And they were very well staffed, so our cups were constantly refilled and our order was taken swiftly by a very friendly waitress.
The final thing to note is the wonderful atmosphere. It’s casual. From the décor, to the open feeling, right down to the everyday attire of the staff. It just feels like a small town breakfast spot where I can relax. Which is especially rare for Manhattan Beach, an area where I constantly feel underdressed in restaurants and bars.

First stop in LA? Breakfast :3!
Came here straight from the airport. We were starving considering we just took a red eye to get to LA. I’m not 100% sure if they have a designated parking area, but we found meter parking right in front on the street.
I was super happy that they weren’t super busy and we were able to get seated right away.
The Grub.
[[ PUMPKIN SPICE PANCAKES $ 7.25 ]] My boyfriend decided to go with the pumpkin pancakes. The pancakes smelt wonderful and reminded me of thanksgiving: D
[[ MANHATTAN OMELETTE $ 10.85 ]] This omelette was loaded with american cheese, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and topped with avocado slices. Definitely hit the spot after a long flight!

Disgusting. If I’m going to eat pancakes it better be freaking amazing. The banana nut pancakes… Tried the entire time figuring out if the weird texture was rawness or from the bananas.
Awful awful awful.

I thought it was good, but nothing great. We were visiting from Vegas and walked here from the beach. We sat outside and had a small view of the ocean. The tables are very close together making it hard to walk around people eating.
We got our drinks pretty quickly but the waitress did not show up to take our order for a while later. I ordered the JDs french toast which is french toast with strawberries and bananas. The presentation was nice but the french toast was luke warm and no butter was served with it. The waitress did not return to check on us until after we were finished.
It’s a basic breakfast place with average to slow service. Definitely cannot recommend. Several nice places a few blocks further on Manhattan Beach Blvd.

As there is already a lot of reviews in english, i’ll write mine in french :)
Si vous passez par Los angeles, il faut que vous fassiez un brunch ici! Je dis brunch parce que vous né pourrez pas faire de «petit» déjeuner. Les portions sont très importantes sinon venez à plusieurs et partagez pour pouvoir essayer plein de choses.
J’ai essayé les oeufs (servis par 3) que j’ai choisit brouillés (vous pouvez les avoir autrement si vous voulez, c’est vous qui choisissez) servis avec ce qu’ils appellent du hash brown (des pommes de terre rappées puis cuites et grillées, c’est très miam) et ensuite vous pourrez choisir entre des toasts, des muffins ou des pancakes. Evidemment j’ai choisit les pancakes! Ils les servent par 2 et ils font la taille d’une assiette (je vous avez prévenu pour les portions!) attention à la crème ce n’est pas de la crème fraîche, c’est une crème un peu salé mais c’est très bon avec les pancakes. Après, vous avez sur la table tout ce qu’il faut pour arroser vos pancakes comme il se doit, sirop d’érable, sirop de fruits rouges, miel …
Pour faire passer le tout vous pourrez tenter le café américain, un chocolat chaud (très miam aussi) ou un thé pour avoir bonne conscience.
Et pour respecter les us et coutumes n’oubliez par de laisser un pourboire ;)

Comme son nom l’indique, chez l’Oncle Bill c’est un peu la maison des pancakes, parfait donc pour bien commencer un séjour sur le sol américain !
Le lieu est très connu donc attendez vous à avoir un peu d’attente surtout le week-​end, vous donnez votre nom et après vous pouvez aller faire un petit tour en bord de mer en attendant qu’une table se libère
A l’intérieur pas de dépaysement, on reste un peu dans l’ambiance plage, le service est dynamique et enjoué, rien à redire
Et dans l’assiette c’est très copieux qu’il s’agisse des énormes pancakes aux nombreuses variantes possibles, aux fruits, à la farine de sarrasin… à chaque fois servis avec une sorte de crème salée (sour cream ?)
On a également gouté une assiette d’oeufs brouillés avec hashbrown mais j’ai nettement préféré les pancakes surtout si ceux-​ci sont arrosés généreusement de sirop d’érable !
Comptez environ 40 $ pour 3 plats, 3 boissons chaudes et un jus d’orange, les vacances commencent bien !