One of the reasons why fast-food joints are so popular is that the menu items are generally cheap. They’re a lot more affordable than what you get from Michelin-starred restaurants, that’s for sure.
At the same time, the quality of the food isn’t bad at all. That’s true of most of the famous fast-food brands. Their fans just enjoy the fact that they get great-tasting food without paying through the nose for it.
It’s true for IHOP as well, at least for the most part. You might notice that the average prices are mostly reasonable. You’re really getting your money’s worth, if you pick the right menu items.
This is not the case for all IHOP menu items, unfortunately. Perhaps one rather popular example is their coffee. Sure, you pay nearly $3 for coffee at IHOP, and that’s cheaper than what you get from Starbucks and other snooty coffee shops. But the IHOP coffee is just bad in many places, and the coffee sure doesn’t compare to what you might get from places like Dunkin’ or McDonald’s.
However, other IHOP items offer far better value for your money. If you want to make sure that you’re getting a good deal at IHOP, then you should order the following items.
Original Buttermilk Pancakes (Full Stack)
This is unsurprisingly at the top of the list, because this is perhaps the very best reason why you’d want to go to IHOP in the first place. Sure, IHOP has lots of good pancakes on their menu. But nothing has ever topped their Original Buttermilk Pancakes. This pancake is what cemented the IHOP reputation. It’s just that good.
A Full Stack gives you 5 pancakes, and they cost an average of $7.46 per stack. That comes out to about $1.50 per pancake. If you think about it, it’s an absolute steal. You might even think about the great of the country that made such a deal possible.
With a short stack of just 3 pancakes, you pay an average of $6.32. It’s not only less filling (you’re missing out on 2 fantastic pancakes), but you’re also paying $2.10 per pancake. That’s not really a bad deal at all, and in fact these pancakes seem to cost more than that.
But why pay more per pancake when you don’t have to? Just get the full stack of 5 pancakes, and share some with a friend if you only want 3 of them. You’ll make a friend for life, once they taste these pancakes.
Strawberry ‘N Cream Pancake Combo
The Pancake Combo generally costs around $10.91, but that’s alright. That gives you your 2 eggs, hash browns, and a choice of either bacon strips or 2 sausage links for protein. Include the classic combo, and you’re getting your money’s worth.
But if you try this particular combo, then you’re getting a lot more than what you’d normally get for your money. You have 2 of the iconic buttermilk pancakes, and then they’re topped with the vanilla bean mousse and sweet glazed strawberries.
This is usually a limited-time menu option, but you must order it whenever it’s available. It’s the breakfast that you’ve been dreaming about, and you’ll never think that you overpaid for it. Instead, every bite’s a bargain.
The Breakfast Sampler
This is what you should order for your buddies if it’s their first time to have breakfast at IHOP. We’re not entirely sure how that’s possible, but it’s theoretically not impossible. This comes with just about everything your buddies might want in a breakfast, so they don’t have to choose and miss out on something they might really love.
Heck, get one for yourself as well. You get mostly 2 of everything: 2 buttermilk pancakes, 2 strips of hickory-smoked bacon, 2 sausage links, and 2 pieces of ham. And you also get some hash browns.
Sure, at an average price of $11.21, this might cost more than many of the other IHOP menu items. But you’re still getting a great deal because of all those meat options included. Add the pancakes and the hash browns (and the eggs too), and you’re getting a lot of bang for the buck.
Split Decision Breakfast
This is similar to a sampler, as it helps out those folks who can’t seem to decide which of the terrific IHOP breakfast items to get. The combo includes 2 buttermilk pancakes (can’t forget those), 2 eggs, 2 sausage links, 2 strips of crispy hickory-smoked bacon, and 2 French toast triangles.
That means you don’t really have to forego the pancakes if you’re in the mood for French toast. It may not be cheap at an average cost of $11.06, but the value for money is just astronomical.
