The key to a great pancake is separating the yolks from the whites and whipping the whites until fluffey and folding them in with the rest of the other ingredients.
I also second the buttermilk Taste great
Hmmm...we don't use buttermilk & our pancakes come out fine. Maybe you have the heat too high & don't cook them long enough. We use regular Hungry Jack pancake mix. Good luck.