Advertisment

Business

12 July, 2025

Ten years of superb crepes

HELGA’S Pancake House in the middle of the Cairns CBD is celebrating 10 delicious years of service.


The Helga’s team (back row, from left) Seiko, Lily, Jacob, Sabrina, Tara, Grant, (middle row) Aaliyah, Uruha, Hestia, owner Birgit with the birthday pancake and at the front Kiki. Picture: Supplied
The Helga’s team (back row, from left) Seiko, Lily, Jacob, Sabrina, Tara, Grant, (middle row) Aaliyah, Uruha, Hestia, owner Birgit with the birthday pancake and at the front Kiki. Picture: Supplied

To mark the occasion, the business is rolling out special offers, each inspired by the number 10, as their way of saying thank you to customers.

Owner Birgit Machnitzke said until Monday, July 14, the first 10 customers each day would receive 10 per cent off.

“From July 15, the first 10 coffee lovers will be given a free cup and more ‘10-themed’ surprises will follow,” she said.

Ms Machnitzke said it was a shaky start for the restaurant on the corner of Spence and Grafton streets in 2015.

“What started as a small café with wobbly beginnings and pancakes of every imaginable size has become a Cairns institution, beloved by locals and visitors alike,” she said.

“Looking back, it’s easy to smile at the early days, when a single order could produce a pancake so big it nearly hung over the plate or so small you’d wonder if it was meant to be a sample.

“Customer feedback quickly became our compass. One of our first lessons was that a pancake house simply had to have milkshakes, so we added them. Since then, our menu has grown and evolved with the tastes of our loyal guests.

“Helga’s has been recognised in local tourism guides and by happy visitors online, who often mention us as a must-visit breakfast stop.

“We’ve welcomed countless travellers who make us their first stop straight from the airport and we’re grateful for the kind reviews that helped spread the word far beyond Cairns.

“The creativity of our team has defined Helga’s identity. The ‘simply bacon’ pancake, invented in 2016 by our then-chef Harvey was an early favourite that showed just how versatile a pancake could be.

“The fiery Mexican pancake was the brainchild of chef Sabrina, who served our culinary spark from 2020 to 2022. Later, chef Jacob, with us from 2022 to 2024, created the legendary waffle burger – a dish that quickly became a must-try.

“From our towering stacks of 10 pancakes and decadent freak shakes to our mini pancake towers, our kitchen has never stopped innovating.

“Our creative team still has plenty of surprises in store to add to our popular menu.

“Every improvement and signature dish has been guided by the community that has supported us, especially through the challenges of lockdowns.

“One of the cornerstones of our survival was the generosity of our landlord, who worked with us to keep the doors open.”

Follow Helgas on Facebook /helgas.pancakehouse or Instagram @helgaspancakehouse to stay up to date with all the details.

Advertisment

Most Popular