They really stack up.
When it comes to the best pancakes in Sydney, one cafe stands at the top of the pile.
Happyfield in Haberfield had earned a cult following for its sky-high stacks of fluffy Canadian-style pancakes.
Behind the frying pan is chef Jesse Orleans and co-owner Chris Theodosi, who opened Happyfield together in 2020. The corner cafe has been drawing crowds ever since, with customers waiting an hour (or more!) for a table on the weekends.
The duo was inspired to sell ‘proper’ pancakes. That meant, not too thick or too think (half a pinky finger is the desired height), with the flexibility to be folded twice without breaking.
We can attest, there’s no faulting their flapjack recipe. Each golden round reveals a soft, spongy texture and sweet cakey taste – they’re perfection on a plate.
“They’re a bit like Macca’s hotcakes, only made with high-quality ingredients,” co-owner Chris Theodosi tells delicious.
For Happyfield, that means using cultured butter from Pepe Saya and A-grade maple syrup imported from Quebec.
“We have an experienced team that will tweak the recipe depending on the weather or the season, adding a little bit more buttermilk here or working the batter a little more there to keep the results consistent,” he adds.
To create the super light texture, the kitchen will make fresh batter throughout the day and the pancakes are always cooked to order – never made in advance.
The standard short stack comes slathered in butter and drizzled in maple syrup straight from the can, but you can also go sweet, with charred banana, strawberries and blueberries, or savoury with fried eggs and bacon.
While most customers will polish off three, punters can put their pancake-eating to the test with an epic pile-up of 15 pancakes called the Emoji stack. Finishing the giant jiggly heap is a near-impossible feat – unless you have a family of five to help you.
Diners will notice quite a few similarities between Happyfields and McDonald’s, from the sunshine-yellow colour scheme to a few similar-sounding menu items. Case in point – the McLovin’ Muffin, a breakfast muffin made from a housemade chicken sausage patty smooshed together with folded egg and melty cheddar cheese. It’s a solid upgrade from the drive-thru variety.
The pancakes and the McLovin’ Muffin are the two most popular items on the Happyfield menu, and you can try them both in the Happiest Meal, a combo that also comes with two crispy hash browns on the side.
Happyfield stands out from its Italian neighbours with its bright yellow facade and American diner-style interiors. Inside, you’ll find metal banded tables topped with plastic menus and retro glass sugar shakers. Alongside the Single O espresso, you can also get filter coffee with unlimited top-ups. Orange juice is freshly squeezed and the kid’s chocolate milkshake comes in an adorable honey bear-shaped glass jar.
It’s not hard to see why they called this place Happyfield. Just make sure you order the pancakes – they’re guaranteed to make your day.
Related gallery: But first, coffee: 11 best cafes in Sydney for your brunch fix
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