IHOP and Denny’s are two of the most popular breakfast chains in America, and they actually have a lot of things in common. For example, both chains don’t believe that breakfast should only be served in the morning which is why they serve breakfast ALL DAY. Unlike McDonald’s that only offers their breakfast menu until 10:30AM or 11:00AM, you can get your pancake stacks anytime you like at IHOP and Denny’s.
Apart from being known for their breakfast selections, both also ofer lunch and dinner plus they both have their own merch too. At Denny’s they call it “Diner Drip.”
Despite these commonalities, IHOP and Denny’s each bring unique elements to the table. So if you’re trying to decide which restaurant to go to, take a look at their key differences which I’ll list in this post before making your choice.
Store Presence
IHOP has a more extensive footprint with approximately 1,841 locations worldwide including restaurants in all 50 states, two U.S. territories, and 13 other countries. Denny’s on the other hand, operates 1,614 locations also covering all 50 states, two U.S. territories, and 12 additional countries. According to Scrape Hero, there are 1,699 IHOP in the US alone as of 2024. Denny’s on the other hand has 1,529 US restaurants.
Loyalty Programs
For frequent diners, both IHOP and Denny’s offer loyalty programs that are worth considering. Denny’s has gamified its rewards program and customers can unlock perks by completing various monthly challenges which will in turn give them rewards available for redeeming the following month. On the other hand, IHOP Rewards revolves around its “International Bank of Pancakes” where customers earn one PanCoin for every $5 spent. These PanCoins can be redeemed for menu items – 3 PanCoins earns you a short stack of pancakes.
Menu Items
Both Denny’s and IHOP have similar diner-style menu items like pancakes, burgers, omelets, sandwiches, etc. However, there are stuff that one chain has that the other restaurant does not.
At IHOP for example they serve some sweet and savory crepes however Denny’s only offers sweet crepes. IHOP also has more options for biscuits. Denny’s has items that you can only, well, find at Denny’s such as Brisk-It-All Melt, Mac ‘N Brisket Skillet and Bourbon Chicken Skillet.
Pancakes
There are also some differences in the IHOP and Denny’s pancakes that go beyond the flavor. At IHOP, you can choose between New York Cheesecake, Cupcake, and protein pancake options. Denny’s doesn’t. However, it does have the Hershey’s Chocolate Pancake Puppies and Salted Caramel Banana Pancakes.
IHOP also has the “Pancake of the Month” promotion and on the first of every month, it releases a limited-time pancake flavor. Plus it has added the IHOP “loyalty challenge” wherein you will order the Pancake of the Month 2x in a single month to accumulate 10 PanCoins. It gets better. If you order a new pancake each month (at least once) for the entire year (12 months) then you will earn 100 bonus PanCoins.
Pricing
Pricing can vary by location, but Denny’s is generally cheaper. The Super Slam at Denny’s, which includes two pancakes, two strips of bacon, two eggs, and hash browns, costs $10.99. On the other hand, the Smokehouse Combo from IHOP, costs $17.75. Denny’s Philly Cheesesteak Omelette is priced at $15.99, while IHOP’s Big Steak Omelet costs $18.99.
Take note though that even though IHOP is more expensive than Denny’s they also have deals and promotions that can help you save. IHOP’s IHOPPY Hour, which starts at 3PM at participating locations, lets you order certain menu items like the Classic Steakburger or Chicken & Pancakes for as low as $6.
If you’re a fan of pancakes, there are more options than just IHOP and Denny’s of course. There’s the Waffle House for one, but that’s for another post.