Be forewarned: it’s big! That is to say, the new breakfast burger being served at Aunt Emma’s Pancakes.
It must stand at least half-a-foot high and is bursting at the seams with toppings. If you love traditional breakfast items and burgers, then this might just be down your culinary alley.
The half-pound beef patty is topped with hash browns, bacon and an egg and served with a stack of onion rings.
It has gained instant popularity on the menu, according to marketing administrator Rosa Zambrano.
“We know we’re selling a lot because we’re getting a lot of orders in the kitchen now for onion rings,” Zambrano offered during a recent visit at the restaurant’s National City location (214 National City Blvd.).
The breakfast burger is indeed quite tasty, if not a challenge to eat.
“It’s very hearty,” Zambrano explained.
The breakfast burger is among several new menu items at the restaurant. Other tasty new items include the churro pancakes, machaca burrito and huevos divorciados.
Though the National City restaurant, which opened in 2009, offers a variety of breakfast and lunch items, about 75 percent of customer orders are for pancakes.
“We close at 3 p.m. and the cooks are still making pancakes at 2 p.m.,” Zambrano explained.
Chocolate, blueberry and strawberry pancakes remain the most popular orders but the new churro pancakes definitely put a new spin on the pancake concept.
The churro pancakes ($7.39 for a short stake of three) are blended with a cinnamon-sugar mix and topped with condensed milk. We found them divine. Zambrano said many guests do not top them with syrup because they are already so sweet.
“It’s already loaded with sugar and cinnamon,” Zambrano said.
The huevos divoricados are two eggs over easy with green and red sauce. The item ($8.29) is served with frijoles and choice of corn or flour tortillas.
The machaca burrito ($9.49) is served with rice and beans.
The National City location complements the original Aunt Emma’s in Chula Vista (700 E St.). There are plans to open patio dining at the National City location this summer.
Both locations are open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., The National City restaurant is now serving alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, champagne, mimosas and bloody marys.
For more information, call the National City location at 477-6900 or the Chula Vista location at 427-2722. The website can be accessed at www.auntemmaspancakes.com.
