The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is a US-wide chain that somehow still has cult status. It’s a go-to breakfast spot and a hugely popular late-night hangout, with a reputation built on friendly service and an ever-changing range of delicious buttermilk pancakes. But how did one small restaurant grow to become pancake royalty? To celebrate National Pancake Day (September 26), we're looking back at the fascinating, and sometimes surprising, history of IHOP.
Love IHOP as much as we do? Read on to discover how it grew from a single store to become America's most popular pancake chain.
The International House of Pancakes was founded in 1958 by brothers Al and Jerry Lapin, who opened their first location in Toluca Lake, California. They cleverly chose a spot opposite the busy Bob’s Big Boy restaurant, hoping to catch some of the customers waiting in line. The brothers wanted to capitalize on the growing popularity of the fast food industry – drawing people in with pancakes and waffles with unique and internationally inspired toppings like Tahitian Orange Pineapple. Their delicious offerings came drizzled with flavored syrups like boysenberry, strawberry, and blueberry.
In the early 1960s, the entrepreneurial Lapin brothers began to rapidly franchise the International House of Pancakes across California. By 1962, they had taken California by storm and had opened 50 locations, ready to serve their tasty breakfasts to hungry communities up and down the entire state. However, the speed of their expansion meant troubling times were ahead.
Before founding the chain, Jerry Lapin owned a coffee cart. He understood how important coffee was to the fabric of breakfast dining in America, so wanted to offer a ‘never-ending pot’ in each International House of Pancakes location as the chain grew. A pot of coffee was given to each table so there was no wait for a refill. IHOP (as it's now known) still offers unlimited coffee refills, though the servers do the pouring nowadays.
Even endless coffee couldn’t keep the business on a high forever. By 1973, the Lapin brothers found themselves in financial trouble, due to a combination of the 1970-71 recession and IHOP's rapid expansion. Eventually, Al Lapin sold his shares. The International House of Pancakes changed hands a few times, until it was finally taken over by businessman Richard K. Herzer, who vowed to restore the brand to its former glory.
From the beginning, IHOP's ads gave the restaurants a family-friendly image. In the 1980s and 1990s, the introduction of a kids' menu, complete with a (now iconic) create-your-own smiley face pancake, took this commitment to the next level. The pancake still exists today – and there's even an extra spooky version at Halloween. Kids also eat free in the evenings at most IHOP locations, so they'll never go hungry.
In 1973, the International House of Pancakes officially started using the nickname IHOP. The move was originally made for ease and to save money when creating branding and signs for new restaurants – however, the name has since stuck and taken on a whole new identity of its own.
IHOP’s original blue A-frame roof was a tried-and-trusted symbol of the brand in the early days. However, as the restaurants grew in size and number, a more efficient and larger restaurant design was introduced so even more pancakes could be served. The last true A-frame style was built in 1979. However, IHOP brought back a similar style to its buildings in the early 2000s as a nod to its heritage.
In 1985, IHOP introduced its most iconic menu item of all time: the Rooty Tooty Fresh N' Fruity. The platter consists of two rashers of bacon, two eggs, and a stack of two buttermilk pancakes with a choice of fruity toppings (traditional options were blueberry, cinnamon apple, strawberry, and peach). In 2023, to celebrate its 65th anniversary, IHOP brought back the Rooty Tooty Fresh N' Fruity and introduced a brand-new topping to the line-up: mixed berry.
From the mid-1980s until the mid-1990s, Cliff Bemis appeared on television screens across the country as the face of IHOP commercials. Funny, charming, and comforting, Bemis quickly became a familiar face in millions of American homes. He continues to work as an actor today, and a section of his website is dedicated to 'the IHOP years.'
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In the early 1980s, IHOP wanted to show that its repertoire could go beyond stacks of pancakes – so it added 17 new dinner items to its menu, including roast chicken, steak, and shrimp. More breakfast items were created too, including a new offering of incredibly delicious omelets. The secret? A touch of pancake batter in the eggs, ensuring the omelets came out perfectly fluffy every time.
In 1991, the year before its 500th restaurant opened, IHOP moved its headquarters from Toluca Lake to Glendale, California (where it remains today). Now, however, operations are quite a bit larger than they were in 1991; the building houses numerous other brands owned by the chain's parent company, DINE Brands.
IHOP’s popularity exploded between the mid-1990s and the early 2000s. The chain saw average sales exceed $1 billion companywide, and it went from 500 to 1,000 stores within a decade. IHOP had cemented itself into the dining landscape, becoming part of everyday life for people across the US and Canada.
In 2003, IHOP adopted its famous 'Come hungry. Leave happy' slogan. The company wanted to revitalize the brand and become number one in family dining – and it's safe to say that the effort was a success. The award-winning campaign greatly helped IHOP on its way to becoming one of the country's favorite and most recognizable brands.
2003 was also the year IHOP introduced its iconic Stuffed French toast, which came with fillings like strawberry cheesecake and cinnamon raisin. Ice cream was offered as a topping, blurring the lines between breakfast, dessert, and late-night snack. Although Stuffed French Toast was eventually discontinued in 2017, diners remember it fondly – and many are still clamoring for its return.
In 2007, IHOP’s parent group, DINE Brands, completed the purchase of another American restaurant staple, Applebee's, marking the beginning of a beautiful new partnership. The first hybrid IHOP Applebee's opened in Detroit, Michigan in 2018, while many newer IHOP locations have Applebee's placed next to them. In 2022, DINE Brands also acquired Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.
In 2008, IHOP reached a milestone: 50 years in business. To celebrate, the company released a short stack of pancakes for 58 cents – commemorating IHOP's founding year, 1958. Since then, IHOP has celebrated everyone’s birthday; most IHOP locations offer free pancakes to diners who have the International Bank of Pancakes rewards app.
In the early 2010s, IHOP opened a fast-casual concept called IHOP Express in a college dining hall at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. IHOP Express was designed so people could experience IHOP’s delicious menu without the need for a sit-down meal. The chain also tested this concept in military bases before opening a public location in San Diego, California in 2011. There are now IHOP Express locations in airports, rest stops, universities, and military bases across the US for speedy pancakes on the move.
IHOP became a truly international restaurant in the 2000s and 2010s, expanding to the Middle East, South America, Central America, East Asia, and South Asia. The chain serves the same menu globally, albeit with a few regional surprises. In Mexico, you can order your pancakes with cajeta, a sweet and sticky caramel sauce – while at IHOP in Pakistan, a chicken tikka omelet is on the menu.
Since 2005, IHOP has celebrated its very own National Pancake Day, held on Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras) each year. As part of the event, the chain offers free pancakes to help raise funds for the charity Children's Miracle Network. In the 10th year of the event (pictured), IHOP raised more than $3.5 million in one day.
In 2015, IHOP went through a logo change, flipping its red frown upside down. The logo is supposed to look like a smile, aligning with the company's values of providing friendly service. A few years later, in 2022, IHOP changed its slogan to 'let’s put a smile on your plate,' hammering home the message even more.
The next year, IHOP introduced a line of confectionery-themed pancakes as a special promotion. After the promotion ended, there was an outcry for IHOP to keep its Cupcake Pancakes on the menu as a permanent addition. Since then, hundreds of copycat recipes have been created. Some customers say they're the best thing ever to have appeared on IHOP's menu.
In 2018, IHOP caused a storm on social media when it announced that it would be changing its name from IHOP to IHOb. The revelation went viral, garnering thousands of comments from astonished fans. It was then revealed to have been a marketing stunt to promote IHOP’s burger range – and it worked.
From the 2010s onwards, IHOP has embraced a fun marketing style that's popular with kids and adults alike. It has released special themed menus alongside blockbuster movies such as Minions and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It's even launched a range of pancake-themed clothing.
In 2019, IHOP announced that it would be attempting to break into the world of fast-casual dining once again. The chain introduced a concept called Flip’d, serving pancake bowls, egg sandwiches, and even burgers to diners that wanted something quicker than a sit-down IHOP meal. IHOP closed Flip'd in 2023 after opening just four locations.
IHOP is one of the last chain restaurants in the US that is still open 24 hours a day. A throwback to the late-night diners of the 1950s and 1960s, it's become an after-hours staple for people from all walks of life. However, since the mid-2010s, certain IHOP locations have been shrinking their hours. Not only that, but the COVID-19 pandemic saw certain locations, which had previously never stopped serving, shut down completely. Time will tell if IHOP remains a middle-of-the-night solace (or post-party hangout) for much longer.
IHOP launched its rewards program, International Bank of Pancakes, in 2022. By joining the program, customers can collect PanCoins that can be redeemed against purchases via the IHOP mobile app and online. The app also gives customers access to free birthday pancakes, special offers, and even secret menu items.
IHOP continues to innovate, shaking its menu up now and then to keep things exciting. In 2023, a huge menu renovation gave a boost to the chain's morning sales. The next year, IHOP launched several new savory dishes, including tacos, a burrito, a burger, and a selection of savory breakfast items. The aim was to boost footfall and delivery orders during evenings and slower parts of the day, showing IHOP is there for customers after breakfast and brunch.
Virtual brands allow restaurants to sell online under different names, growing their sales and giving them a chance to test out new concepts. IHOP began using virtual brands in the 2020s, launching names such as Thrilled Cheese, Super Mega Dilla, and TenderFix. These virtual brands (also known as ghost kitchens) were used to try out products such as grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, and chicken tenders. Some of these brands saw success, while others didn’t.
IHOP had another big birthday bash for its 65th anniversary in 2023. This time, it chose to celebrate by offering all-you-can-eat pancakes for $5 and delivery for 65 cents. It was a collaboration with actor Kevin Bacon, who coincidentally turned 65 in the same year. Bacon promoted the brand’s birthday deals via its TikTok account – because what goes better with pancakes than bacon?
IHOP has a long history of investing in community fundraising, and it announced its new Stacking Up Joy community platform in 2024. The program invites customers to add $1 or more to their order in store or online – and all funds raised go to Feeding America, an organization with over 200 food banks and a mission to end hunger. This new initiative extends the chain's community involvement beyond Pancake Day, with the potential for more charity partnerships in the future.
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Now discover our handy hacks for perfect pancakes every time
Last updated by Laura Ellis.