SkyPigeon123
43433
1145
57
Jun 5, 2026 9:05 AM
SkyPigeon123
43433
1145
57
TrumpRapesChildren
Man I LOVE pancakes. Sometimes when we do breakfast (or breakfast for dinner) I'll make like 15 or so pancakes and I eat most of them. Next up is my daughter, she's a pancake fiend too. Then my partner. My son likes his pancakes but a 6 year old belly just can't fit that many in one sitting.
Bit of butter. Peanut butter and or Nutella in-between them, small amounts of syrup on the base under the bottom one, then a bit on each one and spread evenly.
God yes please.
rudejohn
"Short stack" doesn't mean "give me less pancake." It means "instead of a plate-sized pancake, give me three smaller pancakes so I can layer the butter and syrup and get a more exciting and nuanced bite."
MauroMolinero
pathetic weakling. couldn't even eat 3 pancakes
Snaitf
That's one of the major issues contributing to the rampant obesity in America. Restaurants started giving out much larger portions so they could charge more. Basically forcing patrons to buy in bulk, as it were. Turning individual customers into multiple sales. These portions have since become the standard, causing people to over-eat. I, myself, am guilty of this, thinking 3 pancakes is a side dish to the rest of the meal, when, in reality, they should be MORE than enough on their own.
GrandmaSlappy
I just straight up dont like pancakes
JaTheRed
Japanese pancakes are just sort of cakes
ilavalamp
I had the same thought: 1x Japanese pancake can be thick as fuck. 3 of them would be insane. I would also be apologizing to the pancakes.
Bigemedic
Try for silver dollar pancakes next time.
davebarton315101
The simplest way to compete is to offer a little bit more. Then your competitors offer a little bit more. Finally you’re serving double or triple size meals and your customers have gradually grown to 250 pounds.
Zamiel77
To Japan's credit, their portion sizes are a major contributing factor to their having the highest longevity in the world.
Imjurbro
Have you been to Japan? Some of the portions are insane.
Zamiel77
Some! But by and large, their serving sizes and dietary habits pale in comparison to America's. But to be fair, most countries do.
PunnyTiger
in america portions have to be huge because corporate farming farms for volume, not food value. they make the food bigger, but with less actual food value than the smaller ancestor
Shewy92
Me, an American: Who eats a singular pankake?
MsHissyPants
Me, but my pancakes are goddamn monstrosities. I could smother a grown man with just one of them. They are 2-3 cm thick and cover a full size dinner plate. I could easily stand a ring of birthday candles in one.
stratospherecaster
In America, me, my wife and two kids dared to order 2 pizzas. Having heard about the copious size of food, we thought we came prepared and I happen to be a big eater. It came stacked, because there was not enough room on the table. We went home with one and a half pizza in a box. I still remember the shame...
leviaton
Pretty cool short story. I couldn't believe the first time I ordered the same McDonald's meal I did in Canada across the border. The regular pop was like a whole liter of soda!
Fries for a family too
Billis75
You don't need a short stack, just go to Hash House a Go Go and get a pancake.
LateNightBunnyParty
As an American, I'm baffled by the amount of pancakes too. THREE WHOLE PANCAKES??? And the second you add syrup it turns into a sticky, gummy paste that starts expanding as soon as it hits your mouth. Who the fuck can actually fit that much pancake down their gullet? I get through half of one and I'm tapped out, and they're.not even worth boxing up and taking home cuz they won't taste good the second time around.
DarthFutuza
This is why you box up the two pancakes before adding syrup and then add syrup to the one.
slightlybrokenegg
Depends on the place. 2-3 is what I have experienced if you aren’t ordering a side pancake which are not always offered.
SunnyKontucchi
"taken into custody" was funny.
You can get a short stack in one place that's big as your face. Then in another they are palm size. It really varies. I always take a To-go box if possible. America can have big portions and I don't feel like over eating.
BarnegatLight
Palm sized pancakes are often referred to as silver dollar pancakes (so you know what to look for).
eppykaze
3 is the most common small portion. In Calgary Alberta during the first half of July it's rather common to get 2 for free in multiple locations around the city. A free pancake breakfast is one of our traditions as part of the Calgary Stampede each year. My last stops during last years Stampede including back links to the other days of the fair. /gallery/calgary-stampede-free-breakfast-2025-day-10-Q5BW07Y
astronomygeek7
Any reason to glug maple syrup, eh Canada? 😉🍁
Affray
You can just drink it out of the bottle if you need a nip, no need for the filler pancakes.
Rezol
I was there in '24! They're not lying about the pancake sizes, here's the stack my gf got
Ghericho
There's some breakfast chain in my city where they sell a single pancake for $7. For 1 pancake.
OldNternetWizard43
They don't put bourbon in it or nothin?
unluckyandbored
That better be a damn good pancake.
wadatahmydamie
There’s a place called Fat Milo’s in Portland with a damn good $7 pancake. It’s the size of a goddamned manhole cover
RexRexroththe1st
Poppypoppoppop
I made the reverse mistake once, in Japan. Was a hot day, wanted a tart with ice cream on top, menu offered regular and big one. Figured Japanese people don't serve that much of a portion for regular size. So ordered a big one. Waitress hinted at me to change my mind twice "customers usually take the regular one", I did not listen. And then it came. Big mistake. Still finished it tho. It's a famous coffee lunch place chain in Japan, Komeda's coffee
nothingunused
Well, now I'm hungry.
DarthFutuza
Me looking at this and realizing I have a problem.
DrewK98
Same. My first thought was, "That's the large?"
InconspicuousLampshade
I read a book about international etiquette... what different countries consider polite or impolite. I was very curious what it had to say about Americans, and amused to read that they find it offensive to be offered only a "reasonable" amount of food. We apparently expect to be served more food than we can eat (or should eat at least). That sounds about right.
MsHissyPants
The other part of it is a massive difference in hospitality culture in general. For a lot of places outside of North America: the food is not the star of the show - the restaurant itself is. You’re going for a good time with friends in a nice environment (and potentially live entertainment) where you can get drinks and hang out for 2/3 hours. The point of a beer garden isn’t the beer - it’s the garden. Food is an excuse, not an objective.
MsHissyPants
When I lived in the UK, I went to some pub or other about three times a week. Now, I don’t drink alcohol - so what was the point of that? Well, The Sun had fantastic trivia on Friday, The Angel had a lovely sunny secluded patio, Atom had regular public talks from various local academics, The Green Man had live entertainment twice a week, and The Dog and Duck always had like five sleepy old pups shuffling around, scrounging for scritches. Choking down nasty 0.5% ciders was the price of admission.
VeganFeministFlatEarther
Largely because unlike most countries, it's normal and expected to be able to take the leftovers home. The prices and portion sizes account for this. They're not expecting to eat more than is reasonable, they're expecting to get two meals out of it.
InconspicuousLampshade
Also, you're not expected to bring it home. You can waste as much as you like, and no one will be offended. Which made it really awkward when there was an "all you can eat" sushi restaurant that had a rule that you had to pay for any food you ordered but did not finish. I had friends suffer to avoid the extra bill that caught them completely off guard. That model didn't last long.
Someshithead241
I was really annoyed about one of my America meals. Last night, decided to order delivery from an Italian place that did some spaghetti and meatballs. Simple maybe, but why not.
It arrives, massive portion that looks like its for a family of four, but okay. I eagerly open it up and the most vile, putrid stench comes out because it is completely coated, from edge to edge, in cheese.
You'd have to dig through a solid few centimetres of this wretched stuff to get at any pasta, which was still
Someshithead241
Tainted by the cheese. I go back and read the menu item, no mention of cheese in the ingredients, no mention of it on the ticket. There isn't even an option listed that has cheese to mix it up for.
The smell nearly made me puke.
Basically everything I ate either tasted wrong, bad or made me sick, idk what the fuck is going on with your food. Bro a fucking ice cream cone make me puke, I don't even understand that one still!
Someshithead241
I spent a week there, and the best meal I had on my trip was the packet of crisps and chocolate bar in Heathrow Airport.
ChuckleVoodooist
Damn dude. Where were you so I can avoid it. I'm American, and still don't want to eat at any spot that would cause someone to throw up.
Someshithead241
I was in DC, but i doubt it would effect you. It was undoubtedly my system disagreeing heavily with whatever is standard for America and immediately rejecting it, since it was more reflective than anything
ChuckleVoodooist
That's unfortunate. We've got so many different types of food here. Like Soul Food, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, etc. I hope you get to try those types of food in your home country, they're wonderful.
swedeonamoose
Tbh why i prefer scandi pancakes (no they are not god damn crêpes) extremely thin and kinda anoying to make a lot of them so very hard to overeat
HollerinAtTheVoid
Well great, now I need a Scandinavian version of
“Say you love crepes!”
“No! These colors don’t run!!”
TheOldSchoolisBack
Just say “I love really thin pancakes.” That is a fair compromise, no?
ElusiveThing
Ah, that version. They're excellent for sweet and salty both!
spinymouse
That's why you eat them in the kitchen. Stuff it in your face as the next one is cooking.
SergeyPrkl
This is how i devour them. Every third one or so.
Skuggen
Oh we manage to overeat on them just fine.
UnluckyLunkhead
Many moons ago when I was foolisher and on vacation in the US I decided to try the various breakfast options. I regretted the strawberry and cream pie for several days.
Lutki
Dude, people outside of the US don't even know. Like most chains have the normal menu, and then they have the wtf menu for promotions or to move stock. Like yes we have large portions but most places expect you to get a to-go box/doggy bag. Then you get stuff like the horton hears a who pancakes at IHOP.
Roune
My parents regretted a cream pie once…
arikelrecords2000
I said I was sorry
Scahrossar
They still do.
GorillaPowers
Still do, im sure 🙏
senslesssensei
In America, I had faced a noble task, but was found wanting.
PuppyBella
I hope he experienced this at a Waffle House!!
Efreeti
It's snowing on Mount Fuji
Drjeckal
Ah, I see you are a man of culture as well
jayman0123
Now I feel even more like a fat guy thinking back on when I ate 27 IHOP pancakes during the "all you can eat pancakes" about 14ish years ago. I don't eat like that anymore thankfully.
CurseTheseMetalHands8
If it's not an everyday thing it's still a worthy accomplishment that warrants congratulations. Hats off to you.
PassionAggressive
At our local super spot, my uncle asked how many pancakes should I get? I said one, he laughed and said really?! You sure? I’ll get 2. He almost finished the first one in half an hour and said this place is awesome, and you were right, 1 is enough.
Big as the plate, inch and a quarter thick.
daguq
Overeating is not a noble task.
katidragon
A short Stack Breakfast
Three American Pancakes
The Shame of Defeat
MaverickTitan
*Beatnick finger snapping*
WienerBeener
*bows*
katidragon
*arrows*
yourdesiredusernameisnotavailable
There once was a fella from Nippon
Whose appetite he had a grip on
But faced with the stack
Was taken aback
"The short one's enough to get sick on!"
CaptainRedbeardButOnlyTheBeard
https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1NHF5eGtneTR6Z2NtaXg1dXlhNG8xcGFvN2cxaDhlbDc3amVpNGFmeCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/eRP24XjBvKwqk/200w.webp
OverwhelmingSurplusOfDiggity
I see your muki haiku and raise you a sonnet:
In autumn of my heart I dream once more
Of pancakes rising golden, warm, and round.
That distant tower I could not conquer before
Still waits somewhere on American ground.
I bowed and made apology that day,
To each abandoned cake, with lowered eyes.
In my country, wasted food has much to say;
Its silent disappointment never lies.
1/2
OverwhelmingSurplusOfDiggity
Yet shame is not the final guest I keep.
A warrior studies after he is thrown.
The mountain that was steep remains but steep;
The path is harsh, yet now the path is known.
Next time I shall arrive with spirit trained.
The stack may stand unmoved. I shall be changed.
2/2
bubbinsky
jasondeslin
Pretty much the only bit of authentic culture America has is "No one leaves hungry."
We want you stuffed and taking leftovers home so you are fed later too. It's a small bit of hospitality, and it's fading due to capitalism, like everything else, but it's what we have.
(I'm not saying we're the only ones to do this, but it's just about the only thing we have that crosses regions. North, South, doesn't matter, no one leaves hungry.)
[deleted]
[deleted]
ElorYosnak
(they said that the culture is *Fading* due to capitalism, not that it exists due to it)
BlurbDurb
They said it was *fading* due to capitalism. Though the market isn’t even close to free like capitalism requires. The thumb is on the scale directly in favor of rich people, in the same way that North Korea isn’t actually socialist and China isn’t actually communist.
jasondeslin
I mean, society and culture themselves are disintegrating due to capitalism. Community sustains culture, and community is being actively destroyed, because how dare people gather together for any reason except profit.
wadatahmydamie
“No one leaves hungry,” except children at school in red states
DarthFutuza
They did say "it's fading"
Pikkupanda
Hey, don’t forget the homeless it’s a crime to feed in some states.
Pikkupanda
Where did my semicolon go? “homeless;” was intended.
3Davideo
Yes, this is a thing with restaurant food culture in the US, and can come as a shock to people used to different norms.
Lichelf
The classic "you see in our SPECIAL culture we don't want people to be hungry" as if they think all other cultures just hate food and expect you to go hungry...
passwordissteve
That whole thread was a heap of crap. Large portions of poor quality food is not a good thing.
eathotdog
waste pleases the economy
e2theWB
I appreciate this b/c it forced me to look at my cynical opinions from a new perspective. Thank you for sharing!
LuminoZero
This was a fun read.
BaronButt
Wapusk
Y'know? Hamburgers *are* delicious. I think I'll go have one for lunch. Ta!
Pastblast
MOST restaurant meals are 100% intended to be 2 meals?? Do people seriously believe this just because it's a guy on Tumblr?
this is just internet fanfiction about real life portrayed as absolute fact without sources to try and make overconsumption sound as a some noble cultural ideal.
It's just cope covered in a blanket of exceptionalism for maximum engagement.
Sandwyrm2
Agreed. Except that pancakes are totally take-leftovers-home-able. Ideally use a toaster oven to reheat, but microwave is fine too.
QuazMasta
For real. Pancakes warm up better than any other breakfast food except sausage, I'd say. And pancakes are never delivered to you already drenched in syrup. Easily partitioned for takeaway
Wallaceman105
30s in microwave, then 2nd lowest setting on the toaster. Warms them up through and through, and gets the edges a little crispy
BionicRagdoll
Putting a small bowl of water in the microwave with the pancakes will help keep them soft and fluffy too.
FiveShiftOne
I think it becomes a problem if the pancakes are already sogged in syrup, but you can avoid that by sectioning some off as "later pancakes".
Mogslie
Call me crazy, but i actually love cold, syrup-sogged pancakes. If you get some with chocolate chips or something in them its basically just dessert at that point.
Feralkyn
As an American who moved to southern Germany, I found the opposite. Where I'm from (NY), if you ate at a restaurant it was doable. You could finish the portion.
Here, for some GODFORSAKEN REASON, the meals at restaurants are almost platters, piled high, to the point that I genuinely cannot finish the vast majority of them. The portions are just *far* too large.
TrilithonStone
While this is a valid representation of American attitudes, it's also a fair bit of display of our lack of self-awareness.... taking for granted the internalized marketing as our "culture". ... jus' sayin'
Tasselfoot
Y'all are taking food home? The blessing and curse of being a dude with a never-ending hunger and an off the charts metabolism. In my 40s, 150lb, 5'10". I will eat everything and then be hungry again in 30 minutes. Always.
Jelhammer
Yeah, I'm a biggun, 6'4" 307lbs, the hell are leftovers?
barstr7
My Dad is like that. 67, 6ft tall, barely over 100 lbs, he works like a maniac (mechanic) and his doctor said he just has a crazy fast metabolism. He finishes dinner before everyone else, always cleans his plate and has been known to confound waitresses by asking for a 2nd or 3rd basket of bread.
PosthumousExile
I'm pretty sure that's a medical condition. To always be hungry. And if you're not putting on weight either that could also be a problem. It just doesn't look like a problem because you're slim.
Affray
1)Eh, that may be how some Americans choose to look at it, but huge portions of cheap unhealthy food aren't popular in the US because it
Affray
2)reminds them of grandma's leftovers. Big business may try selling the people nostalgia like that but American food culture is painfully
Affray
3)obviously modeled after cheap (often not even food) ingredients, maximum profits, health risk be damned, hospitals need patients.
thejon
Replying to top post for convenience, but I think it's important to make a distinction between fast food and chain restaurants and small business restaurants. The mindset you described (profits over people) is absolutely true for many/most major chains, but there are tons of restaurants which serve huge portions of real food too.
Affray
You're right, it's the same here in Canada. But the population lines up at the big chain places time and time again.
unluckyandbored
Funny story, but could do without the AI slop.
Oatmealman1
I downvote ANYTHING AI. It's not much
emberfish
AI?
Psibernicus
Yep! count the fingers. Cartoon figures have 3+thumb, but this guy has too many for a cartoon. /heh
unluckyandbored
The picture at the end. 100% that's AI slop.
agiar200011
How can you tell?
cytherians
https://sightengine.com/
WeaponizedJerk
Piss filter
lalwaysupvotecatsandTHT
It's not one big thing, it's a lot of smaller things: variying styles, nonsensical elements, piss filter.
KyleZombie
Look at the writing on the wall. "Good Food Good Day!" What human artist would think to write that?
bamblebimble
A Japanese dude that doesnt have English as a primary language?
GenStrike
Just look at it.
yuscha
Picture/window on the wall. Butter from between pancakes? People look like different art styles. Fork and knife in a weird spot. Piss filter
LupusLilium
Erm, do people not butter between the pancakes? Like I know you mean specifically for how it looks, but now I'm curious.
MontsterTacks
The first step of a long path then ends at Waffle House, and a profoundly changed person.
Yakeshinu
Affray
I mean, eating and fighting in one building. Every Saiyan on Earth would be there, some working the kitchen so they don't miss any fights.
darkninja2992
Waffle house is a test of manhood
thedill2000
And womanhood and motherhood. Fatherhood, sister, brother, war, peace, sobriety, all types of non-sobriety.
But most importantly, the Waffle House Index.
iamalumberjackandiamok
For most foreigners , Waffle House feels like the trashiest breakfast place they'll ever see and they will not understand the hype around it.
CaptnRisky
I’m Australian and loved Waffle House when we visited.
Affray
I'm not super surprised that Waffle House feels like a comfortable environment to Australians.
DarthFutuza
I mean of course, there's no 6 foot long spiders trying to kill you there. Very comfortable.
UmmonPrime
Dude, you had me laughing hard at that comment. Thank you
FellaWithUmbrella
Gestalt7
Waffle House Wendy doesn't take anyone's shit
Gestalt7
letmenumberthatforyou
I aspire to her aura.
xcrit
Sometimes Waffle House breaks you. Sometimes you end up with thousands of Touch Tunes credits and choose to play Justin Bieber's Baby every night you stop at a traffic light across the street from Waffle House for over a year.
Affray
letmenumberthatforyou
The chaos gremlin in me sees and honors the chaos gremlin in you.
NappaTheFriendlyGhost
Local bar caters to the worst kind of people. During their trump inauguration party wife and I splurged on 30 call me maybe by Carly ray jepsen followed by a few dozen (inhales) TO THE WINDOW TO THE WALL TO THE SWEAT DROP DOWN MY BALLS
xcrit
Call Me Maybe is my jam. It's also my ring tone.
Redbulloth
They have Waffle House music. Like, they paid musicians to make music themed to Waffle House
Affray
xcrit
One random night I was at the Waffle House off I-10 in Lake Charles where there were nothing but white customers someone figured out The Glockumentary was available on the juke box and played the full album at least twice. I feel like that fits as Waffle House themed music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0itOCgJtNVU&list=RD0itOCgJtNVU&start_radio=1