The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Starbucks has added two new breakfast items to the menu in Canada, including mini pancakes.
So, I compared the bite-sized stacks to pancakes from McDonald's and A&W to find out which menu item comes out on top.
To start off 2025, Starbucks dropped two new Canadian-exclusive breakfast items: the Maple Mini Pancakes and Belgian Liège Waffles.
Pancakes might seem like an unusual fast food menu item but these are also available at McDonald's and A&W locations in Canada.
I got the bite-sized pancakes to find out how the new Starbucks menu item tastes.
Plus, I compared the Maple Mini Pancakes at Starbucks to Pancakes with Syrup at A&W and Hotcakes with Syrup and Butter at McDonald's.
There was a clear but unexpected winner in this battle of the pancake stacks.
Let's get into it!
Starbucks
Starbucks Maple Mini Pancakes.
The new Maple Mini Pancakes that are available at Starbucks locations in Canada can be ordered in four or eight.
These bite-sized breakfast items are truly tiny. I knew they were mini when I placed the order but I was still a bit surprised by how mini they actually were.
Starbucks' Maple Mini Pancakes have a nice maple flavour that's infused into the pancakes.
So, there's no need to add syrup which can sometimes make a pancake too sweet.
The pancake bites were denser than I expected but still had a bit of that classic fluffiness that pancakes are known for.
In my opinion, these pancakes being bite-sized and infused with maple flavour already are huge pluses.
Compared to other fast food pancakes that are regular-sized, Starbucks' new pancakes are great for eating on the go.
It costs $2.75, without tax, for four mini pancakes.
A&W
A&W pancakes.
A&W offers Pancakes with Syrup as part of the breakfast menu.
I have never ordered anything from A&W before so I didn't know what to expect from these pancakes.
At first glance and even when cutting into the pancake, it was a bit oily which gave me pause.
But that turned into a plus when I tasted it. Whatever oil was used in the batter or on the griddle gave the pancake so much more flavour.
Then, I added maple syrup to a bite of the pancake and it wasn't too sweet — just a hint of maple — which I enjoyed.
The syrup even gave the pancake a touch of smokiness.
It costs $4.69, without tax, for three regular-sized pancakes.
McDonald's
McDonald's hotcakes.
In Canada, the McDonald's breakfast menu includes Hotcakes with Syrup and Butter.
These pancakes are fluffy and light but without a ton of flavour which is basically what I expected from a pancake.
The McDonald's pancake on its own is a bit run-of-the-mill.
But when I added maple syrup to a bite, it completely changed the taste and actually made the pancake taste better. It wasn't even that sweet which is always a concern when adding syrup.
It costs $3.69, without tax, for three regular-sized pancakes.
Which pancake is better?
Starbucks mini pancakes, McDonald's hotcakes and A&W pancakes on a plate.
Going into this comparison, I didn't have high hopes for fast-food pancakes. I expected the menu items from Starbucks, McDonald's and A&W to be bland — and maybe a little undercooked because they're made fast.
But I couldn't have been more wrong.
All three of the pancakes from these fast food and coffee chains in Canada were much better than I thought they'd be.
Here's how I rank the three pancakes:
- A&W
- Starbucks
- McDonald's
Kudos to Starbucks for doing the new menu item differently — tiny and maple-flavoured — because it made the pancakes stand out against the others.
Even though A&W has the most expensive pancakes, I found the flavour both on its own and with the maple syrup added to be the best of the three.
Since I have never ordered from A&W, this was completely unexpected!
These prices are confirmed at the time of publishing, but they can change at any time. Taxes and fees may not be included.