Pancake House — Restaurant in San Pedro

A Truly Delightful Surprise at Pancake House - SLT San Pedro, Laguna

We’ve been to many Pancake House branches over the years—some hits, some misses—but our very first visit to their Petron SLT San Pedro branch turned out to be a gem worth talking about. On that rainy Sunday night, what we thought would be just a simple family dinner with my husband and our two sons became an experience that warmed both our hearts and tummies.

This branch may look simpler than some of the others, but what it lacks in glitz, it more than makes up for in professionalism, customer service, and genuine kindness. From the manager, to the kitchen staff, to the servers—every single member of the team worked with a unified sense of teamwork that’s hard not to notice. Special shoutout to Leo, our very competent and cheerful server, who went above and beyond to make sure we felt valued and well taken care of.

The Dining Experience: We were greeted with warm smiles and promptly led to a cozy corner table. Menus were handed to us immediately, and when it was time to order, Leo patiently walked us through our choices. I have special dietary needs and was upfront about my requests—less salt here, a tweak there. While some items couldn’t be adjusted (since they’re pre-seasoned at the commissary), Leo explained everything clearly and even offered thoughtful alternatives. For just a very meager add-on fee, my eggs, for example, were cooked just the way I wanted—freshly scrambled with bell peppers and onions, but without salt. They even accommodated my request for brown rice (not on the menu), which the kitchen gladly prepared.

What really impressed me was how the same attentiveness extended to other guests. Another family nearby had a long list of requests, and instead of being inconvenienced, the crew happily involved the manager to make sure everything was right. That, to me, says a lot about the culture of this branch.

The Food – Fresh, Flavorful, and Comforting. Here’s what we ordered:

Beef Tapa with Garlic Rice and Sunny-Side-Up Eggs – A Filipino classic done right. The tapa was tender with just the right balance of savory and tangy, pairing perfectly with fragrant garlic rice. The sunny-side-up eggs tied it all together—simple, satisfying, and comforting.

Spicy Chicken with Brown Rice Pilaf – A winner for spice lovers. The chicken had that signature kick without overpowering the flavors. The brown rice pilaf added a hearty, nutty touch that made this dish feel both indulgent and wholesome.

Buttermilk Pan Chicken with Plain Rice – Pancake House’s all-time favorite, and it didn’t disappoint. Golden, crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. A nostalgic comfort food that never goes out of style.

Omelette with Bell Peppers, Onions, and Brown Rice – My special request. The omelette was freshly prepared and bursting with flavor despite the absence of salt, thanks to the sweetness of the onions and the crunch of the bell peppers. Paired with brown rice, it was wholesome and satisfying.

Birthday Pancakes (Complimentary!) – This was the sweetest surprise! Though my husband's birthday was still two days away, Leo and the team surprised us with a three-layered pancake stack filled with chocolate syrup, topped with whipped cream, M&Ms, and served with maple syrup on the side. It wasn’t just pretty—it was absolutely delicious! Truly a heartwarming gesture.

The Extra Mile: Because of the heavy rain, we asked if we could stay longer after finishing our meal. Without hesitation, Leo reassured us we could stay as long as needed for our safety. No rush, no pressure—just genuine concern. That simple act spoke volumes.

Final Thoughts: How can you not love this branch? Every crew member we encountered radiated positivity despite what was surely a long and tiring day. It’s a hard job, but they do it with smiles, professionalism, and heart. That night, we didn’t just get good food—we got a memorable dining experience that...

AMBIENCE Branch is wheelchair-friendly, has their own parking (though you can park at other spaces spread out within the stopover), and always feels like daytime no matter what time it is. It's also fairly spacious inside.

FOOD Beef Tapa is what most would expect; it's good! Pancake Combination, also interchangeable with Waffle, had excellent flavor, batter, cream and sweet syrup. Plus, the sausages were my favorite part of the platter! House Special Set B had tasty tacos but the shell broke easily, so I turned it into a salad instead. Its special salisbury steak was huge but just okay with thick gravy.

SERVICE For recent visits combined, staffers were friendly, offered coffee before ordering, were proactive with water refills and quick on serving food items and bill. They also asked if we had any additional orders, checked on how our food was, and greeted us when we left the branch. It's actually a long list of positive service and they've basically ticked all the boxes. It was almost too perfect it made me feel somewhat iffy...

Good place. Air-conditioned store. Clean and neat. Servers are all busy when we dine-in. Server Furagay is good at his job, but forgets to punch/give my iced tea so I had to ask another server for it. Promised serving time on the food were followed (serving time is 15-20mins). Chicken is good! I like the lemon taste on it, suits perfectly and balance the saltiness of the chicken. Chicken is also fresh from cooking. Float is nice, was expecting different brand of root beer instead of sarsi. Overall experience is good. Did not see/encounter any problem other than...