Meet the team behind Athens Mini Pancakes | Eat & Drink

Gonzalo Gonzalez and Andrea Gutierrez, nonprofit workers and owners of Athens Mini Pancakes, are bringing new flavors to the local food truck scene.

Originally from Athens, Gonzalez moved to Florida for college. It was during this time that he met his wife, Gutierrez, and first got the idea to start a business. On a trip to California, he came across a mini pancake truck. His curiosity was piqued, and he later learned that the South is the biggest consumer of pancakes in the country.  

Gonzalez, Gutierrez and their family got to work not only on their pancake recipe, but on finding the sauces and toppings that would elevate them.

“We definitely were inspired by our culture when creating the combinations,” Gutierrez explained. “The tres leches stack was inspired by the tres leches Mexican cake.”  

What started as a side project, making pancakes for their friends and neighbors, soon grew into a stand and eventually a food truck. Now, Athens Mini pancakes caters at weddings, greek life gatherings and other events across Athens. On weekends, you’ll find the truck parked in different locations around town serving loyal fans and first-time patrons. 

Outside of the food truck, Gutierrez works for an animal rights organization and Gonzalez is a social worker for migrant families. 

Gutierrez said that one of their biggest obstacles is understanding the business side of the food truck, but ultimately their passion is driving them to continue. Their background in nonprofit work empowers them to connect with the community and serve Athens, despite the learning curve.  

“Our pancake is something that you can’t really find anywhere else in Athens, and I think being able to bring in our culture’s taste buds, it’s pretty unique,” Gonzalez said. 

Plates of pancakes range from $8 to $19, depending on the portion size and toppings. The regular menu features flavors like fresas con crema, churro and cookies and cream, but there are also weekly specials like Dubai chocolate. 

Athens Mini Pancakes recently signed a lease for a commercial kitchen, with hopes to expand into an even larger food truck and introduce new menu offerings. 

In the meantime, keep an eye on their Instagram for hours and locations of their Friday and Saturday night pop-ups, as well as giveaways and contests. Gonzalez said that they sometimes even hold scavenger hunts around Athens where participants can redeem their findings for pancakes. Engaging with their community is what inspires him to keep the business going. 

“We’re just two immigrants in this community trying to thrive,” Gonzalez said. “We’re trying to push ourselves and bring our family along with us.” 

This article was originally published in The Red & Black 2025 Eat & Drink Guide.