They developed as a franchised spin-off of The Original Pancake House, founded in Portland, Oregon in 1953 by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke; although the Walker Brothers version has been in business for over 45 years. Like the original, they are famous for their apple pancakes, French toast, and omelettes.
The restaurant has been recognized by the following groups: AOL Cityguide: 2006, 2007 "City's Best Breakfast" (Chicago) U.S.A. Today as one of the “Top Ten Pancake Restaurants in the Nation” Zagat’s as Chicago’s “best breakfast-bar none” & the “North and Northwest suburban family favorite”
Chef and food critic James Beard, who grew up in Portland, named The Original Pancake House as one of the top ten "best" in America. In 1999, the Original Pancake House in Portland was designated by the James Beard Foundation as a regional landmark restaurant.