Golden Diner

We haven’t tried their other dishes yet, but we ordered the pancakes with berry compote, and they were honestly the best pancakes we’ve ever had!<br>My friend is extremely picky when it comes to food, and even she couldn’t stop saying this place is the best pancake spot.<br>We’re definitely planning to come back soon just for the pancakes :) ❤️<br>It feels perfect for brunch, breakfast, or even a light dinner!

I had been wanting to try Golden Diner since my previous trip to NYC, and this time we finally made it. We didn’t have a reservation, so we joined the waitlist in person. The wait ended up being almost two hours, but honestly, it was completely worth it.<br><br>The famous pancakes were absolutely delicious, and the Chinatown Egg & Cheese Sando was amazing as well. Everything lived up to the hype.<br><br>Definitely recommend this place if you’re visiting NYC, and definitely worth the wait.

Ok. You come here for the food. The wait for the table is real and it’s probably because it takes so long to prepare the order. But it’s worth it. The pancake, the Sando and the omelette were great. Service is ok and it’s definitely the loudest place on earth if you sit outside!!!

Went early during the week and didnt have a long wait maybe 10 to 15 minutes. The service was not great from the host to servers they had bad attitudes and weren't welcoming. The yuzu drink was really good the burger was pretty great it had great flavor and was cooked well the salad didnt have much taste but looked pretty and the pancakes were the star. I also ordered delivery after visiting since I enjoyed the drink and burger but it doesnt taste the same when you get it delivered and I wouldn't recommend delivery.

we got the burrito, pasta special, and pancakes. the pancakes in particular were exceptional! one of the the best i've had. i'll note though that things are a bit pricey for what you get (besides the pancakes). we went on a wednesday night, and there was no line--i recommend going during the less busy hours if you don't have a reservation

Recommend making a reservation if you don't want to wait 45 min+ during busy times at this sought after brunch spot. The Thai cobb salad was one of the best. Perfectly round bounce pancakes are more of a dessert for me, a quarter of it is more than enough. Good wings, katsu, mushroom ques and desserts. Only downside of the place is it's a bit cramped, and service can be delayed when packed so prepare for a leisurely brunch.

We went here for breakfast. It took about an hour and a half so we walked around. We got a text saying it’ll take another hour which we were committed because we knew the food was good. I end up ordering the omelette with hashbrowns and toast, which was amazing. I got the pancakes on the side…double stack. No lemon asked for it on the side plus the blueberries / strawberry drizzle. I just kept eating haha it was tasty. The pancakes were suoer fluffy. definitely worth the wait. The hype’s real

I had the famous pancakes and the wings. I came on a weekday so it wasn’t super busy. I did have higher expectations coming in, and, in my personal opinion, these pancakes were overhyped. While they look delicious, the inside of the pancake didn’t taste fully done. Im pretty sure that just the style of the pancake, but I don’t think I’d come here again.<br><br>The staff, however, were excellent and very attentive!

Came here expecting a super long wait because of all the hype, but getting on the waitlist was actually much faster than I anticipated. Once we were seated, the food came out quickly—and it did not disappoint.<br>The pancakes were delicious: light, fluffy, and perfectly balanced with a hint of zest. The berry compote added just the right amount of sweetness and acidity to tie everything together. The wings were flavorful and well-seasoned, though I found the exterior slightly on the harder side.

Golden Diner delivered an exceptional experience from start to finish. Our server, Johan, was attentive and impressively knowledgeable about both the menu and specials, setting the tone for a great meal.<br><br>The chili crisp wedge salad was a standout—bright, savory, and layered with umami. The vegan bacon, which we learned takes two days to make, was a pleasant surprise: crisp, flavorful, and a perfect textural contrast to the greens. The Korean fried wings had a satisfying crunch and deep flavor, though the seasoning became a bit repetitive after a few pieces—thankfully, the pickled daikon offered a refreshing, palate-cleansing balance.<br><br>The Chinatown egg and cheese sandwich was another highlight. The crispy hash brown tucked inside added just the right amount of crunch, and the eggs were some of the fluffiest I’ve ever had. The honey butter pancakes were pure comfort—light and airy with just the right richness, balanced beautifully by the tangy lemon butter so they never felt too heavy.<br><br>I also tried the kimchi tomato soup, which was flavorful and well-seasoned without being overly salty. To finish, the Thai tea tres leches cake was an absolute must—moist, subtly sweet, and finished with a lovely hint of bitterness that kept each bite interesting.<br><br>Overall, Golden Diner strikes a rare balance between creativity and comfort. With thoughtful dishes, smart flavor pairings, and excellent service, it’s a spot I’d highly recommend to anyone looking for a meal that feels both familiar and fresh

Came for the pancakes. Stayed for the salad with chicken katsu which was seasoned well and cooked well (juicy). Their kimchi soup was good with the grilled cheese, and sando. Desserts were great too. Would highly recommend. Definitely get a resy or come here and put yourself on waitlist. On lunar new year aka a Tuesday at 2:30pm, still had to wait close to an hour.

Food was amazing, be prepared to wait because the food is so good you may wait an hour or two before you receive a text to be seated. I normally don't care for pancakes, but the honey butter pancakes they make set the standard high and changed my mind! I travel and these are hands down the best pancakes I've ever had. You receive your food fast, the staff is very friendly and from what I saw, you can't go wrong with any menu item. Highly recommend

We came here based on the recommendation of our daughter for "best pancakes" and the Golden Diner did not disappoint. The pancakes were indeed fluffy and delicious. They were so good that I forgot to take a picture of them before eating... Located in a lively and artsy neighborhood on the southern edge of Chinatown, the Golden Diner has a great vibe. Friendly and efficient service. Breakfast items are served until 5 pm which is great. Reasonable prices. But be prepared to wait for a table since the place is small and very popular. If you have some time to pass before your table becomes available, I can recommend a visit to the nearby Management art gallery on East Broadway.

The pancake lived up to the hype!<br><br>If you're going solo I'd definitely recommend the single stack because it's already pretty big. I did not have to wait at all for a seat at the counter at ~11am on a Thursday as a solo diner.<br><br>I didn’t try any of the other dishes but the pancake itself was stellar! Texturally, it was next level. Soft, squishy, rich, and decadent is how I would describe it. It's denser and heavier than a typical soufflé style pancake, and less egg-forward, but still impossibly fluffy and soft. The batter is nicely seasoned, not too sweet but still full of flavor, and the salty, dark sweetness of the honey maple butter ties everything together. The lemon zest is also a nice touch, brightening up the dish without steering it too far away from its flavor base.<br><br>I will say though, while I did like the berry compote, I don’t think it was worth the extra $4. It was a nice topping to have but the pancake was already more than delicious enough on its own. If the compote was a bit more acidic I might recommend it, but the way it was I wouldn't suggest paying for it personally.<br><br>All in all the pancake was really awesome, and I think it would be a shame to miss it while in NYC!<br><br>(If Golden Diner is too crowded apparently they have a sister restaurant called "Golden Hof" which serves a very similar pancake... I haven't been there yet though so I can't say).

Obsessed with Golden Diner. The pancakes 1000% lived up to the hype. I love pancakes and expected them to be good, but how good can pancakes really be? OMG... THEY ARE AMAZING<br><br>The salad was great, and so were the wings and the breakfast burrito. We shared everything and the portions are generous. It’s a small, cozy diner with a great vibe and really nice staff.<br><br>Make sure you book in advance so you don’t miss out! we reserved a month ahead and it was absolutely worth it.