Chain restaurants would give a sense of reliability in the U.S. People went to these old-fashioned restaurants for the comfort of eating the same food at a good price. What do these old restaurants really look like today? Do they stay the same, or do they make new changes to meet people’s needs?
The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is a big name chain that everyone knows. For years, whenever it was breakfast, IHOP meant syrup running high and pancakes stacked high. But take a look at their big menu, and it’s not just breakfast. They have burgers, steaks, and even something seemingly out of the ordinary. It makes you think, what exactly do they do? Can a chain known for its pancakes really do a good job with many different kinds of food?
Now, let’s take a closer look at some specific dishes on their large menu. We’ll talk about their flavors, how they taste, and in general, to see if this classic chain is doing a good job.
1. **Atlantic Salmon**: This dish is a far cry from the usual breakfast fare, but IHOP serves it up with a surprising twist. You might think the fish is done just right, glistening and breaking apart easily. But judging by its texture, it’s more like a “lobster meal” from a chain restaurant. The fish was thinly sliced, crispy on the outside, and perhaps served with a miso-honey sauce and green beans in a thick sauce. For a pancake restaurant, that description sounds better than you’d expect.
At only 250 calories, it’s probably the caloric equivalent of whipped cream on top of a pancake. The origin of the fish is also stated here, kudos to IHOP. It’s probably meant to make people who care about where their food comes from feel good.
Product on Amazon: Amazon Fresh Brand, Atlantic Salmon Skin On Fillet Portions, 12 Oz, Responsibly Sourced (Previously Frozen)
Brand: Brand: Amazon Fresh
Price: 7.29 USD
Rating: 4.6 Total reviews: 5983
Item Weight: 0.75 Pounds
Specialty: Contains Fish
Allergen Information: Fish
Item Form: fillet
Features:
1. 12-ounce serving of fresh Atlantic salmon skin-on fillet portions (previously frozen)
2. Atlantic is a mild flavor salmon
3. Responsibly Sourced: 4-Star Certified by Best Aquaculture Practices
4. Excellent fish to grill, bake, broil, or pan-fry
5. Caution: May Contain Bones
Top Review from US: “Hago hermosos platos con esto 😍😍😍”
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2. **Nashville Crispy Chicken Strips & Fries**: This comes from the platter portion of the IHOP menu, which is rumored to be super long. You get five pieces of buttermilk-coated chicken with Nashville spices. It comes with sides of fried food, onion rings and the usual fries.
The dish has more than 2,000 calories. But as the saying goes, no one really goes in wanting a small salad when they eat at IHOP. This dish seems to be designed to give you the chunky, comforting meal you want. It’s for those who crave flavor and bulk, not for calorie counting.
Product on Amazon: Tyson Fully Cooked Crispy Chicken Strips, 25 oz (Frozen)
Brand: Brand: Tyson
Price: 9.69 USD
Rating: 4.5 Total reviews: 24713
Item Weight: 25 Ounces
Specialty: High Protein
Package Weight: 0.71 Kilograms
Variety: Chicken
Features:
1. One 1.56 lb bag of Tyson Frozen Crispy Chicken Breast Strips
2. 13g of protein per serving
3. Made with 100% all natural* chicken
4. No added hormones or steroids**
5. Fully cooked breaded chicken breast strips with rib meat
Top Review from US: “Good taste for quick meal!
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3. **New French Toast Sticks**: This is a menu for children 12 years and under. It’s an easy way to eat French toast for little ones. It consists of plain IHOP French Toast cut into bars and placed upright in a paper cup. This paper cup packaging has been dubbed “seriously rizz”, praising its child-friendly design. The best part is the quality of the French toast itself.
4. **Nashville Hot Chicken & Waffles**: This is going to be one of those foods that everyone wants to try. The waiter said, “I have to warn you, they’re super hot.” But the actual heat did not match that warning.
Even though they weren’t as spicy as promised, the chicken portion was a hit. The crispy grilled chicken pieces were described as “coated in a flavorful blend of spices.” Although not spicy, they were “savory and garlicky”. This means the flavor is good even without the spice.
Sadly, the waffles did not taste good. Some guests found found the waffles to be “undercooked” and not a good color. A useful tip learned here is to ask for an “extra crispy waffle” so you might not have this problem and get a better waffle.
Product on Amazon: Nashville Hot Chicken Chips by Wilde Chips, Thin and Crispy, High Protein, Keto, Made with Real Chicken 2.25oz Bag
Brand: Brand: Wilde Brands
Price: 9.61 USD
Rating: 3.9 Total reviews: 505
Flavor: Nashville Hot Sauce
Unit Count: 2.25 Ounce
Number of Items: 1
Type: Potato Chip
Features:
1. 100% Natural Chicken Breast
2. 10G Protein per serving
3. Grain Free
4. Paleo
5. Gluten Free
Top Review from US: “Being a diabetic I’m very happy to have a low carb snack to enjoy.
Shopping on Amazon >>
Read more about: America’s Ultimate Road Trip Fried Chicken: Hidden Gems Worth Detouring For
5. **Breakfast Sampler**: The Breakfast Package is IHOP’s take on this food fight. Some places like Denny’s may have good breakfasts as well, but some consider IHOP’s breakfast to be “pretty good”. It has what you’d expect from a regular diner breakfast. If you need a “hangover cure,” it does a good job of catering to a variety of needs.
Each of the tasting packages received an honest review. They all looked the same, nothing special. The hash browns needed to be “a little crisper.” The bacon was said to need to be “sautéed in grease for two more minutes.”
Still, the pancake part makes the food more flavorful. Having pancakes on the side, especially two buttermilk pancakes, is why they say “it’s all worth it.” These pancakes are good at soaking up butter and syrup. They played the role of a restaurant breakfast and made the whole tasting menu look more delicious.
6. **Cupcake Milkshake**: If you love cupcakes and milkshakes but can’t pick and choose, IHOP has this rich combination. It sounds like they might just put a slice of birthday cake in a blender and whip it up. This simple method makes a thick drink that is super sweet and fun to drink. The milkshake is topped with lots of whipped cream and sprinkles. It makes it look like a party or dessert.
7. **Classic Steakburger**: Finding a burger in a place known for its pancakes can be questionable at first. But that thought quickly changes when the burger shows up. It looks like a “pretty good version” compared to the perfectly shaped pictures on the menu.
The meat on the burger itself was probably pre-frozen, and it wasn’t the flat, smashed burger that people like these days. It’s got American cheese on top and some fairly crunchy veggies underneath. The fries that came with it were “pretty good, though not very crispy scalloped fries.” For a pancake joint, and at $13, it was surprisingly good.
We’ve already seen some of IHOP’s surprises and standard fare. Whether you’re dining out or staying in, it helps to know the options. We will make better choices and become informed diners.
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I ate at the first Applebee’s and IHOP hybrid restaurant in the US. Its plan to attract younger diners could just work.
