The Restaurant In Washington With More Desserts Than Main Dishes On The Menu
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published January 12, 2024
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
The sweet tooth reigns supreme at this one-of-a-kind Seattle spot. Since it debuted in 2012 on historic Bellevue Ave, the cheekily named Hot Cakes has gone from strength to strength, cementing its grip on chocolate-loving Seattleites with a Capitol Hill expansion in 2015. Yes, there are savory selections available for those who don’t like fun, but the real stars here are the gooey, rich, and oh-so-addictive chocolate molten cakes, which rank high among the best desserts in Seattle.
The fun begins at 4 p.m., but visitors still trickle into the Ballard flagship store until 11 o'clock at night when Hot Cakes' indulgent offerings serve the medicinal purpose of absorbing drinks ordered at nearby bars.
Alongside their dessert, or— if they're that kind— dinner fare, diners have their choice of drinks, ranging from espresso to hair-of-the-dog. Hot Cakes is a champion of boozy milkshakes, a devilishly good twist on an Americana favorite. If you're in the mood, I recommend the smoked chocolate and scotch for a sophisticated sweet.
And, for all the flack I'm giving them, I'd be remiss if I didn't say that Hot Cakes' savory entries are really very good. Served on high-quality bread from Macrina Bakery, the Seattle area's baked goods kingpin, they're a treat in their own right.
But, for my sake, if you're compelled to get a grilled cheese or cup of soup, pair it with one of Hot Cakes' famous desserts. Not tempted by the molten cakes? There are other roads to take at this beloved Seattle spot. Warm cookies with ice cream scratch a sentimental itch. The crème brulée would be Parisian-approved.
There's a reason countless Seattleites, whose sky-high expectations of dining can— admittedly— verge on snotty, have embraced this Ballard staple. Hot Cakes deals in flavors that have stood the test of time, satisfying our cravings for indulgence that will never go away.
