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. Company begins to expand through franchising. Company is publicly traded under the name International House of Pancakes.

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.

Our Mission, Vision & Values IHOP's mission is to spread more joy to more guests, every day. Through research, we found that our guests feel a sense of belonging, togetherness and joy when they dine at IHOP or eat IHOP on the go.

Some say it's because the restaurant served items considered "exotic" to Americans at the time, such as french toast and Swedish crepes. According to the Los Angeles Times, the brothers Lapins also hired a Le Cordon Bleu chef for the original "unusual" pancakes such as Tahitian orange pineapple and Kauai coconut.

600 BC - The first recorded mention of pancakes dates back to ancient Greece and comes from a poet who described warm pancakes in one of his writings. 1100 AD – Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) becomes a traditional way to use up dairy products before lent – the pancake breakfast is born.

People began using the word “pancake” during the 15th century, and the word became standard in 19th century America. Previously, people referred to them as Indian cakes, hoe cakes, johnnycakes, journey cakes, buckwheat cakes, griddle cakes, and flapjacks. Early American pancakes were made with buckwheat or cornmeal.

Here are some interesting historical and cultural facts about pancakes that you may not have known before:

• The oldest written record we have of pancakes is from ancient Greece.
• Pancakes were Ötzi the Iceman's last meal.
• Pancake Day and Shrove Tuesday fall on the same day.

“What links pancakes from different ingredients and different cultures … is their flat shape, which helps them cook through quickly,” says food writer and cookbook author Melissa Clark. “They're relatively simple, and their smallish size makes them easy to eat.”

Designed by Kansas City's Studio Tilt, the mark is meant to be read as a smiley face. A simple, red swipe under the “eyes” of "O" and "P" is supposed to make you think of all the happily bulging waist bands trotting out of IHOPs doors after a feast of banana pudding pancakes.

After teasing a name change from IHOP to IHOb - including a dramatic flipping of the “p” in their logo to a “b” - the company formerly known as the International House of Pancakes reveled their new name as the International House of Burgers.

Pancake House is known for more than just their fluffy pancakes and delicious comfort food. The warm service and familiar menu make for a homey dining experience in every branch. In fact, everyone in the Philippines has their own favorite Pancake House dish and their fair share of Pancake House memories.

IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, California-based International House of Pancakes, LLC and its affiliates. International House of Pancakes, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dine Brands Global (NYSE: DIN).

A pancake (or hotcake, griddlecake, or flapjack) is a flat cake, often thin and round, prepared from a starch-based batter that may contain eggs, milk and butter and cooked on a hot surface such as a griddle or frying pan, often frying with oil or butter. It is a type of batter bread.