International House of Pancakes IHOP (US: /ˈaɪ. hɒp/ EYE-hop; acronym for International House of Pancakes) is an American multinational pancake house restaurant chain that specializes in American breakfast foods.

But before the IHOP we know and love is no more, here's an ode to the original moniker and its history. On July 7, 1958, Jerry Lapin, Al Lapin and Albert Kallis founded the first International House of Pancakes restaurant in Burbank, California. The acronym wouldn't become popular for another 15 years.

1958. IHOP was founded by two brothers, Al and Jerry Lapin, who discovered “inspiration in the tropical tastes of coconut syrup and dreaming up the idea of a local restaurant centered around pancakes,” according to IHOP. The first restaurant opened in a suburb of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Founders Al and Jerry Lapin, along with early investors Al and Trudy Kallis, open the first International House of Pancakes in the Los Angeles suburb of Toluca Lake, California.

For over 60 years, the IHOP family restaurant chain has served its world-famous pancakes and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items that are loved by people of all ages. IHOP offers its guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service.

IHOP® Debuts New Brand Campaign, "Let's Put A Smile On Your Plate" Glendale, Calif., (April 4, 2022) – Today, IHOP® announced a brand refresh with the new campaign, “Let's Put a Smile on Your Plate,” and introduced Pereira O'Dell as its new creative agency of record.

IHOP's four-wall profits over the past few years have served steady, especially measured against other casual brands, including Applebee's, because its food and labor costs are lower. Comparing the first half of 2019 to the same period of 2018, IHOP franchisees actually had higher margins, CFO Thomas Song said.

When you put cold batter on a hot griddle, it will bring the griddle temperature down, and it will take a little bit for the griddle to recoup. At IHOP or Denny's, the griddles are very heavy compared to the number of pancakes they put on it, so the temp differential is much less compared to a pan at home.

IHOP is well positioned as the largest player in the $1B+ family chain segment with 30% market share and the largest marketing budget in the segment.