DiningBuzz! - Tell me about IHOP

Travelling to the States in a couple of weeks and hotel has an IHOP right next door.

As we are a large group (100 people in total) with a lot of families involved...I think a lot of them will prob choose to eat there at breakfast and snack times.

Quality of food? Price? Thoughts?

It's institutional factory food, like most US chains. Not to say its not good. It's my beloved's favorite US restaurant. :)

can get really busy in the mornings, with long waits. But good value for the money usually.

Hi,

I agree with alanw.^

It is usually good value for money and the panackes at breakfast are very good with a range of toppings available.

Regards

TBS

go try it for flavor. google it for nutrition. few mor carbs than other fast food, not as much fat. reasonalbe prices reasonable service. if you like the coffee, it be a good place to shop.

I like the breakfast. Yes, the quality is mediocre, but I agree with alanw that it is a good value, and for a large group, including children, with varied tastes, it's probably a decent option.

Though I would stick to the breakfast items like pancakes, breakfast meats, and hash browns, and avoid the lunch/dinner entrees (though you can have pancakes at any time). I love the crepe-style ones, including, as I recall, "Swedish pancakes" with butter and berry compote, and the traditional American buttermilk are good too.

Plus it's a good slice of Americana that you will enjoy as a tourist.

Consistently decent. The senior menu is priced nicely :) :eek:

Think "Desert for Breakfast": Pancakes with toppings more appropriate for a dish of ice cream. For that reason, it may be popular with younger crowd. If this is a holiday, you may as well let them enjoy it. More conventional offerings are available.

If you search for "ihop menu" you'll find some examples. Likewise, "ihop coupons" seems to turn up some sites that may allow you to save a few bucks.

I used to live 2 blocks from one - good for breakfast and late-night snacking. Lunch and dinner, not so much.

Good advice so far.

The key to this country is to realize that we do breakfast really well, and the rest we need to borrow from other cultures.

I'm a huge fan of IHOP, especially because you can get the whole breakfast menu all day. I don't recommend getting anything else they serve, as it generally sucks. You won't be disappointed, however, with the breakfast menu. One thing to be aware of - and this can be a good thing - is that the portions are huge, even by American standards. For example, if you order an omelette, you can opt for a short stack of pancakes. You can easily feed two people with that. I'm personally a fan of their harvest grain and nut pancakes and their vegetable omelette. Chicken fajita omelette is good too.

As others have said, they are a good, reasonably priced choice for Breakfasts, not very good quality for other meals.

One thing that hasn't been emphasized, and you should be aware of, is that, on weekends for breakfast, they can get pretty crowded, and if a significant portion of your 100 person group tries to eat there on a Saturday or Sunday, you will likely be looking at LOOOOONNNNGGG waits to be seated.

On weekdays, it should be no problem.

If you had been in the US last week, you could have had pancakes for free. IHOP celebrated National Pancake Day. I do like their pancakes. I have never eaten anything other meal there. I am not sure many IHOPs can accompany a crowd of 100, especially at once. Enjoy your visit to the US.

According to Two and a Half Men, IHOP is where the one legged waitresses work. :p

Get the Cini-stack pancakes. Thats the only advise I can provide, but man is it good.

Just in case anybody has any wheat allergies, they add some pancake batter to their omelettes to get them light and fluffy. They clearly state that on the menu, it's not like they are hiding the fact.

They do breakfast well, though they are usually pretty busy so the waits can be long. They always have some special going on that can save you a few pennies. Other than breakfast (which I believe is available whenever they are open) the food is pretty standard fast food.

Great b fast food and value. Coffee is always nonstop as in most US restaurants.

I f you are that large a group a heads up to the manager will be much appreciated by managers.

Look for promos and coupons too !

IHOP used to be open 24/7 (at least here around NYC) and surprisingly, it isn't that much more expensive than McDonalds down the block or across the street, LOL - famous for their bottomless coffee in the themos (actually, it has improved to the point that I stopped calling it "water with coffee")

Seating capacity for the typical standalone IHOP is around 100 people with 3 or 4 server, bus person(s) & kitchen staff plus the manager on duty, so your group could end up eating in 2 sessions and/or faced a long wait. As others said, definitely contact them in advance for a heads-up and make special arrangements, as the short order cooks could be overwhelmed behind the kitchen.

Depends on what kind of breakfast you are used to, really. IHOP, Denny's and other large chains serve mediocre food out of industrial drums, in overly huge portions for a moderate price. If you are looking for quality fresh ingredients, this is not the place to go. American-style pancakes are an acquired taste and a lot of people never acquire it.

On the other hand, in a group that large your choices are really limited.

go try it for flavor. google it for nutrition. few mor carbs than other fast food, not as much fat. reasonalbe prices reasonable service. if you like the coffee, it be a good place to shop.

Order the Migas with chorizo. I just checked it on the nutritional chart. 105 grams of fat! :eek:

There's no accounting for taste in America. IHOP is known for their pancakes.
If I were you, I'd have breakfast at a local greasy spoon diner (if possible). It will be cheaper and much more enjoyable.

That said, you won't get sick if you eat at IHOP.

Jinxy, compared to what you get in SYD for 7.50, you'll wonder how IHOP stays in business. :D

I'll bite. What do you get in SYD for 7.50?

+1 on the issue of calling ahead, or perhaps splitting the group up. Are you actually going to be traveling around with 100 people at a time, all the time?

Depends on what kind of breakfast you are used to, really. IHOP, Denny's and other large chains serve mediocre food out of industrial drums, in overly huge portions for a moderate price. If you are looking for quality fresh ingredients, this is not the place to go. American-style pancakes are an acquired taste and a lot of people never acquire it.

On the other hand, in a group that large your choices are really limited.

There is no accounting for taste. "American-style" pancakes are amazing, and most people I know have "acquired" a taste for them at first bite. We don't do everything well here, but don't insult my pancakes ;)

There's no accounting for taste in America. IHOP is known for their pancakes.
If I were you, I'd have breakfast at a local greasy spoon diner (if possible). It will be cheaper and much more enjoyable.


I don't necessarily agree with this. You can find local places that are better, but you won't find consistency and will spend an awful lot of time looking around for the good ones. The other issue is size constraints.

I'll bite. What do you get in SYD for 7.50?

A flat white and half a croissant.

I'll bite. What do you get in SYD for 7.50?

Not much. :p

I got a cup of coffee and a muffin for A$7.50 about 18 months ago.

I don't necessarily agree with this. You can find local places that are better, but you won't find consistency and will spend an awful lot of time looking around for the good ones. The other issue is size constraints.(bolding mine) this alone is the key aspect of the OP's inquiry, IHOP should be the place to go in this instance.

I disagree with your other statements, independent greasy spoons are always the way to go in my book, even if the meal doesn't live up to my expectations (rare), I still personally far prefer to spend my money at independent restaurants vrs chains.

I am massively overwhelmed by the responses I have gotten!

Thanks so much everyone!

Though we are a large group, I imagine most people will utilise at different times of the day so won't need to book it out or anything!

Yes the cost here in Australia for a simple pancake and coffee is ridiculous so will be nice to eat a cheap breakfast or snack for a change! (even though I'm not a huge pancake fan!)

I am just shocked that so many FT'ers admit they actually eat at IHOP. :D j/k!

It'snot the Ritz or the Four Seasons, but they have a decent value for breakfast. Menu has pretty good variety and is appropriate for families.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q31KsJgfPno
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My general experience with IHOP is that breakfast is good, and the other meals are tolerable. They tend to serve standard chain-restaurant type fare for lunch and dinner.

It's not a bad option in this type of situation, as meals should be fairly quick there.

... I'd have breakfast at a local greasy spoon diner (if possible). It will be cheaper and much more enjoyable ... That said, you won't get sick if you eat at IHOP ... compared to what you get in SYD for 7.50, you'll wonder how IHOP stays in business. :D

Prices at some of the remaining local diners in NYC aren't necessary cheaper vs. IHOP, plus, their coffee could be worst than IHOP's - for real :D

It used to be that, late night in college days, we'll hit up our local IHOP for a nice "Big Breakfast" & coffee - cost under $5 USD then (30+ years ago, yeah - gasoline/petrol was like 69 cents a gallon, LOL - $4.09 this morning) Today, a full breakfast with coffee, taxes & tips can still come in under $10 with the specials.

Dont' know off-hand the exchange rates between SYD & USD - but I can barely leave the local McDonald cashier with their "incredible shrinken" "Big Breakfast" & coffee for about $7.50 unless there's a coupon special these days, especially in Manhattan (NYC) Not that I will eat there unless I needed a WiFi hotspot to do some catching up for a while.

IHOP prices seemed to have beaten inflation & yes, they are still in business at most locations, a few of them had closed for good - anybody else remember the good old HoJo joints ...

I am just shocked that so many FT'ers admit they actually eat at IHOP. :D j/k! ... they have a decent value for breakfast. Menu has pretty good variety and is appropriate for families.

In the old days, Dunkin Donuts & IHOP were great for a fairly "decent" meal of breakfast or burgers & fries, especially in late night/early morning hours since McDonalds, etc. aren't exactly 24/7 joints - and, the concept of Starbucks has been "conceived" yet. IHOP here in NYC are required to post their nutritional values & calories on the menu, and their "lighter" choices aren't bad for those with dietary restrictions.

The only thing I've noticed 2 weeks ago was that they seemed to have discontinued offering Maple Syrup as one of the 5 or 6 options for "pouring" over the pancake stackes.

(bolding mine) this alone is the key aspect of the OP's inquiry, IHOP should be the place to go in this instance.

I disagree with your other statements, independent greasy spoons are always the way to go in my book, even if the meal doesn't live up to my expectations (rare), I still personally far prefer to spend my money at independent restaurants vrs chains.

Much of the time you're kidding yourself. In the US, a substantial number of the outlets of well known "chains" are owned and operated by franchisees, some with only a single "store", just as local and independent as the "Greasy Spoon" in the next block.

....And like the legendary motorway cafs of the UK and a cross section of Southern and Southwestern truckstops to which I was exposed during auto travel at odd hours to strange places, "Greasy" is as common and obvious a thread running through independent breakfast-centered US cafes as was Rumpole's Golden Thread of English jurisprudence.

As others have noted, IHOPs serve a decent (and as part of a "chain") consistent breakfast, although I perceive the overall menu and accessories to ber "Sugarcentric" (more HFCS than Glucose) to nuclear levels. Catsup on eggs is bad enough, but at IHOP there are patrons who put syrup on theirs.

Much of the time you're kidding yourself. In the US, a substantial number of the outlets of well known "chains" are owned and operated by franchisees, some with only a single "store", just as local and independent as the "Greasy Spoon" in the next block.not relevant really.

With a chain, the chain is told what to order and from where, how to cook and what to serve, so medicority prevails (it's not bad but it's not that good). Chain ownership is always looking for cheaper ways to serve items (longer hold times, quicker prep times), again, most of these steps lead to mediocrity.

I was always amazed when selling to chains how they would save a few pennies per serving using a product that was inferior (sometimes greatly) to the more 'costly' item. Most of time selling to independents, the opposite choice was made, yes this item costs more but the quality is better.

Edited to add: just for the record I have had terrible meals at indepenedent restaurants, but I've found that the rewards of going to indepenedent restaurants far outweigh putting up with the mediocrity of chains.

If you had been in the US last week, you could have had pancakes for free. IHOP celebrated National Pancake Day.

And earned a few miles if you went to one of the IHOPs that participate in the Rewards Network airline dining program, and bought a drink to go with the free pancakes. :D

If you had been in the US last week, you could have had pancakes for free. IHOP celebrated National Pancake Day.

And earned a few miles if you went to one of the IHOPs that participate in the Rewards Network airline dining program, and bought a drink to go with the free pancakes. :D

+1000

I actually like IHOP. You get a lot of food and the bang for your buck is not bad. The coffee is tolerable, service is usually alright, the menu is huge with a lot of choices and as far as pancakes go, they're quite good. Plus, when I went to Arizona State around finals they stayed open 24 hours, had free Wifi (back when that meant something) and gave students specials so they have a special place in my heart.

I go for the butter pecan syrup...preferably served atop harvest grain and nut pancakes.

MMMM!

I am massively overwhelmed by the responses I have gotten!

Thanks so much everyone!

Though we are a large group, I imagine most people will utilise at different times of the day so won't need to book it out or anything!

Yes the cost here in Australia for a simple pancake and coffee is ridiculous so will be nice to eat a cheap breakfast or snack for a change! (even though I'm not a huge pancake fan!)

OHHHH! I hope you hit a ALL You Can Eat Pancake special....for a whole 5 USD !!!!:D:D:D

JINXY

What other towns are you visiting ?

If you tell us where your hotel( s) are, as you can see, volunteers standing by with suggestions!

Bananas + chocolate chips. Enough said.

Hi,

I consider the IHOP breakfast sampler, eggs over medium, sort of the USA equivalent of a full English. Not the same; we're not the same. But conceptually similar.

Steve

JINXY

What other towns are you visiting ?

If you tell us where your hotel( s) are, as you can see, volunteers standing by with suggestions!

Just Anaheim, LA and Vegas this time

near me is open 24 hours
offhand besides that near me there are only 2 diners and 2 korean places

Be sure to dine at a Denny's while you are here so you can make the ultimate comparison.

I take my kids to IHOP for b'fast a couple times a year. The food's decent, service is quick, and the value is fine by me. It can be very easy to over-order given everything that typically comes with one of their breakfasts. My kids' eyes are always bigger than their stomachs.

I agree with others who said to skip lunch and/or dinner there.

Just Anaheim, LA and Vegas this time

Sounds like you will visit Disney ?

Plenty osf places to eat around there....go on line.

In Vegas, good food is cheap and PLENTIFUL. Buffets galore.

In Vegas, Depending on where you will stay, find Gold Coast Casino (Next to Rio Suites). Their b/Fast buffet is super. Yes there are more and 'brand name places" to go to....

...In Vegas, good food is cheap....

I don't think that's nearly as true as it was a decade ago.

I don't think that's nearly as true as it was a decade ago.

You can say that again.

Last month Dinner buffet at the Mandaly was $30 per person. Buffets are wasted on me, I don't eat more than one plate. Rather go grab decent burger somewhere than over pay for buffet food.

I'm going to have to disagree with the masses here. I think IHOP is absolutely vile, even worse than Denny's or Village Inn, albeit better than Waffle House. It's basically Crapplebee's for breakfast.

However, when one is incoherently inebriated, IHOP is delicious, as is Waffle House.

IHOP is just fine, as long as you don't go in expecting a 5* dining experience.

Many above have expressed a dislike for items off of the main menu, but my DW raves about the Grilled Tilapia.

(bolding mine) this alone is the key aspect of the OP's inquiry, IHOP should be the place to go in this instance.

I disagree with your other statements, independent greasy spoons are always the way to go in my book, even if the meal doesn't live up to my expectations (rare), I still personally far prefer to spend my money at independent restaurants vrs chains.

I prefer the great local haunt to the chain as well, but there are limitations there. It depends on the city. Here in L.A., we have an amazing selection of awesome breakfast places (Firehouse, Basix and Griddle Cafe immediately come to mind), but those are limited by the fact that they aren't 24 hours and often don't even serve breakfast the whole day. Also, the independent place is often not big enough to handle such groups.

I actually like IHOP. You get a lot of food and the bang for your buck is not bad. The coffee is tolerable, service is usually alright, the menu is huge with a lot of choices and as far as pancakes go, they're quite good. Plus, when I went to Arizona State around finals they stayed open 24 hours, had free Wifi (back when that meant something) and gave students specials so they have a special place in my heart.

Their coffee is much better than it used to be. They used to serve coffee that was on par with FreshBrew Journeys (look on the United forum if you want to get some insight on that). They improved significantly a couple years ago.

I've actually been to that IHOP just off the 10 in Ahwatukee, near ASU. The sign on the front telling people that they can't carry their guns inside is hilarious.

I go for the butter pecan syrup...preferably served atop harvest grain and nut pancakes.

MMMM!

SACRILEGE! One must ALWAYS go for Boysenberry. :p

Be sure to dine at a Denny's while you are here so you can make the ultimate comparison.

Actually, don't. We want these people to come back and spend their money here - not get scared away by Denny's :p

Their coffee is much better than it used to be. They used to serve coffee that was on par with FreshBrew Journeys (look on the United forum if you want to get some insight on that). They improved significantly a couple years ago.

One mans treasure....my family can't stand IHOP's new coffee. It's nasty and bitter.

IHOP is great if you need to eat something at 4AM after partying too much....



and for breakfast :)

I have a secret love for IHOP T-Bone Steak and Eggs too. I rarely get it because it's expensive for IHOP ($14) and the steak is really low quality, but it's a big time guilty pleasure.

A few years ago I was working a 1 PM to Midnight shift and I started craving the steak and eggs at about 7 PM. The longer the night went on, the more I had to have it. Finally, I got off work and headed straight to IHOP and I inhaled the meal. The waiter went "wow, you really ate that fast" and I said "oh yeah, I've been thinking about it all night". His reply? "You've been thinking about this s*** all day?" :D

One mans treasure....my family can't stand IHOP's new coffee. It's nasty and bitter.

No treasure - just better than the old stuff that they served. They served a true iteration of what my late French grand mere used to call "Piss du chat"

I have a secret love for IHOP T-Bone Steak and Eggs too. I rarely get it because it's expensive for IHOP ($14) and the steak is really low quality, but it's a big time guilty pleasure.

A few years ago I was working a 1 PM to Midnight shift and I started craving the steak and eggs at about 7 PM. The longer the night went on, the more I had to have it. Finally, I got off work and headed straight to IHOP and I inhaled the meal. The waiter went "wow, you really ate that fast" and I said "oh yeah, I've been thinking about it all night". His reply? "You've been thinking about this s*** all day?" :D

:D:D:D:D

I have a secret love for IHOP T-Bone Steak and Eggs too. I rarely get it because it's expensive for IHOP ($14) and the steak is really low quality, but it's a big time guilty pleasure.

A few years ago I was working a 1 PM to Midnight shift and I started craving the steak and eggs at about 7 PM. The longer the night went on, the more I had to have it. Finally, I got off work and headed straight to IHOP and I inhaled the meal. The waiter went "wow, you really ate that fast" and I said "oh yeah, I've been thinking about it all night". His reply? "You've been thinking about this s*** all day?" :D

Good to hear I'm not the only one who feels this way. ^

Not saying it's the best steak ever (not even close), but for some reason, it really hits the spot.

Be sure to dine at a Denny's while you are here so you can make the ultimate comparison.

Denny's is atrocious in my opinion. Nothing there is better than IHOP. I love Waffle House, too, though I don't think that the OP will find that in the locations to which he's traveling.

I love Waffle House....

+1, i love waffle house. Waffle house over IHOP every time ^

And earned a few miles if you went to one of the IHOPs that participate in the Rewards Network airline dining program, and bought a drink to go with the free pancakes. :D

Yes, but with the long restaurant name, the mileage posting can appear to be something else (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage/148744-something-funny.html). :eek:

Cracker Barrel best , IHOP pancakes are the best , Waffle House scattered smothered and covered not so good

Denny's is atrocious in my opinion. Nothing there is better than IHOP. I love Waffle House, too, though I don't think that the OP will find that in the locations to which he's traveling.

Denny's is slightly worse than IHOP, IMO, but if you go to IHOP without a coupon, Denny's is a whole lot cheaper at least around here -- same basic pancakes+eggs+meat breakfast rounds up to $6 at Denny's vs. $8 and some change at IHOP

The 3 fruit flavored syrups at IHOP really made the place for me as a kid; these days I just buy fruit flavored syrups, and make my own pancakes. It's dead easy to make the batter (indeed, the only trick is teaching yourself NOT to overbeat them), and a cheapo electric griddle (has to be just fancy enough to have a thermostat) makes cooking them without burning a breeze.

I can't recall the name right now, but there's an omelette that comes stuffed with hashbrowns; apparently, their omelettes get pancake batter added to them to give 'em broader shoulders. That's all I've ever gotten since passing ten years old-in those seminal years, I'd start things off wrong with a happy face chocolate chip stack. Oh, and they had a cream cheese-filled french toast majig a bunch of years back that I had to try, and then did, and then wondered why.

Denny's is slightly worse than IHOP, IMO

It depends on the area. In California and many other places, Denny's beats IHOP for breakfast easily IMO. The caveat is I NEVER EVER order anything sweet for Brekkie, so I can only compare their savory items. I have very rarely eaten lunch/dinner meals at either, so no opinion there.

It depends on the area. In California and many other places, Denny's beats IHOP for breakfast easily IMO. The caveat is I NEVER EVER order anything sweet for Brekkie, so I can only compare their savory items. I have very rarely eaten lunch/dinner meals at either, so no opinion there.

YMMV; I'm in California, and have eaten at Denny's a lot over the years (normally at extremely late hours; there're usually better options during pre-midnight hours.) I've eaten at IHOP rather less, but in general, there's a quality edge there, even allowing for Denny's being at their C-game over night.

Denny's has a much broader menu of non-breakfast foods, though.

Be sure to dine at a Denny's while you are here so you can make the ultimate comparison.

Just as an FYI, you can actually get a decent hamburger at Denny's. Cooked to order.

I'm with the IHOP for breakfast crowd + never ending coffee, for me the most important.:D

International House of Prayer, located in Kansas City. An evengelical christian house of prayer.

International House of Prayer, located in Kansas City. An evengelical christian house of prayer.

One of my college buddies is involved with them. No idea about it otherwise.

Travelling to the States in a couple of weeks and hotel has an IHOP right next door.

As we are a large group (100 people in total) with a lot of families involved...I think a lot of them will prob choose to eat there at breakfast and snack times.

Quality of food? Price? Thoughts?


Just saw this thread...


From my highly biased opinion :D, you're going to get mediocre food that is cooked for the faceless masses that only serve to increase your BMI. Yes, the coffee is non-stop but if there was ever a poster-child for dishwater-tasting coffee, that place would be it.

Having said that, I go once a year. I used to manage a group of folks who would head over to the local IHOP between Christmas and New Year's. I left that group years ago but they still invite me to that tradition and I still go. However, whatever I order, I offer up half the plate to anyone that wants it. ;)