I wouldn’t refer to myself a connoisseur of perfect dining, but I do know I like eating. I like eating good food, to be exact. And even though I may be known to spend a vast majority of my time in the ECNU Hedong cafeteria, I can still tell the difference between fine dining and “eating-junk-because-I’m-on-a-college-budget” cuisine.

This is where Mr Pancake House on a weekend morning (or late morning, or early afternoon -- we are college students after all) comes in. Mr Pancake House is an affordable, Western-style diner just opposite Cloud Nine mall at Zhongshan Park. You can take the metro to Zhongshan Park Station and cross the road from Cloud Nine, or take bus 67 from just outside the front ECNU gate to get there.

Anyone that has been there will tell you that the breakfast combo sets are the best deal. With options ranging from the largely popular Big House Breakfast for 45 RMB to the health-conscious croissant breakfast set for 35 RMB, the menu covers a wide array of meals with variously flavoured waffles, pancakes, omelets, and sandwiches as well as Western-food staples such as burgers, steaks and pasta.

The eatery offers a quaint and cozy American-style cafe suitable for taking meals on a lazy day surrounded by friends. There’s WiFi and magazines available for those interested in spending the afternoon. As with many good dining places in Shanghai, be sure to get there early as lines form during rush hour. Get there before 11 AM if you don’t want to wait to be seated! Service will also be faster by then, as if you come later it can reach a point when you have to remind the waiter to refill your coffee cup, or to clear away your dishes.

Overall, the restaurant offers good value for money and is a suitable escape from the daily 6 RMB breakfasts we subject ourselves to. For something more than the rushed apple on the way to an 8:15 A.M. class, visit Mr Pancake House!

“Want to visit?”

Mr. Pancake House (Zhongshan Park) Phone: (21) 5295 7321 Address: First Floor, Metro Town, 168 Huichuan Lu near Changning Lu, Changning district (长宁区汇川路168号玫瑰坊1层) Hours: Mon-Fri, 7:30-22:30 Sat-Sun, 8:30-13:30 Nearest Metro Station(s): Zhongshan Park, Lines 2, 3, or 4

This article was written by Mercy Angela Nantongo. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Bella Lim