Pancake Circus is one of Sacramento’s longest-running breakfast spots and one of its most recognizable.
Originally opened as Pancake Parade in the early 1970s, the restaurant changed ownership and became Pancake Circus in the late ’70s/early ’80s, keeping its now-iconic circus theme. While most diners have rebranded, modernized, or closed over the years, this one has stayed almost exactly the same.
The interior is packed with vintage circus and clown memorabilia, murals, figurines, and themed booths, giving it a time-capsule feel that’s become part of Sacramento food culture.
For decades, it’s been a consistent neighborhood breakfast stop for locals, regulars, and anyone curious enough to walk through the doors.
In this video, we visit to experience it for ourselves and talk about where it stands today in Sacramento’s evolving food scene.
📍 Pancake Circus
Sacramento, California
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Went there with my family. Seen this place growing up was in there when I was young. It was good, but went in there a few years ago and experience was not the same. The tables were sticky and gross feeling. And overall the food is mid. Wish I could say something positive it wasn’t that great.
Brutha has a clean fade.
The lady that is doing this video has a big black spider or roach on the red part of her booth by her shoulder. I see it moving. Pretty gross. I use to always go there in the 80’s and 90’s. Always had bug problems and crazy homeless problem. That’s why no more 24 hours
Knew exactly what it was by the thumbnail. I’ve been going past it since i was 9 and it’s always creeped me out.
You need to try the way that Filipinos make corned beef – with tomato and cabbage and garlic and onion – served over rice with eggs over easy!