I only knew we got nominated,” Bud’s Cafe and Market owner Tom Hughes says. “I never thought we would win.”

Hughes was referring to the fact that Bud’s was voted best pancakes in the state of Minnesota based on a WCCO 4 News poll.

In a town with 364 people, Bud’s pancakes received over 500 votes. Hughes credited the other votes to others who were once from Bricelyn and didn’t ‘forget their roots.’

“The reputation around the area is fantastic from what I always hear,” Hughes says. “But what do I know, I’m just in the back all the time cooking.”

Hughes admits that he simply makes the pancakes from a recipe his mother had.

“There is no key… I just make them,” Hughes says. “I don’t even have a lot of cooking experience.”

A Bud’s Cafe regular described the pancakes as ‘fluffy, very buttery, but not too much and the fact that it is made from scratch makes them the best pancakes around.’

The pancakes come ‘plate-sized’ and Hughes says that most people have one and are satisfied.

Bud’s started in the late 1930s. Hughes’ mother ran it until 1985 and that is when Tom took over.

The current location of Bud’s (405 N. Third St.) used to be a grocery store according to long time customer Ray Bidne. In the 1930s, it was actually a clothing store before that.

“From what I understand, Tom’s mother was a famous pie maker,” longtime customer Norman Storvick says. “Boy, did he take that over as well; Tom can really bake.”

Storvick has been selling his Nordic Kringla at Bud’s Cafe and Market. He has been making kringla for the last 22 years.

Everything made at Bud’s Cafe is made from scratch.

“It’s not just the pancakes,” a satisfied customer says. “His homemade cinnamon rolls are the best, too.”

Hughes was very humble and very proud of his cafe.

“This is one of the biggest things that has happened in my career,” Hughes said. “I am honored to have the best pancakes in Minnesota.”

This story was aired last Thursday on WCCO 4 News at 10 p.m.