Ever stood in line at IHOP waiting for those famous fluffy pancakes, thinking about what to order? Most of us don’t think twice about what’s actually in our food. We trust restaurants to be honest about ingredients, especially for people with food allergies or special diets. But IHOP has been hiding some pretty big secrets behind those kitchen doors. From surprising ingredients in omelets to questionable food practices, what you don’t know about your favorite breakfast spot might change how you feel about your next visit.
They add pancake batter to omelets without telling you
Imagine ordering an omelet at IHOP thinking it’s just eggs. Seems simple, right? Well, here’s the truth: IHOP has been quietly adding pancake batter to their omelets for years. This isn’t just a tiny dash – it’s enough to completely change what you’re eating. For most people, this might just mean a slightly different taste or texture. But for someone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, this hidden ingredient could cause serious health problems. The restaurant doesn’t openly advertise this practice on their menus, leaving many customers completely unaware.
What makes this especially troubling is how easy it would be to simply list this ingredient on the menu. Many people choose omelets specifically because they’re avoiding carbs or have dietary restrictions. The pancake batter adds unnecessary carbs, gluten, and calories to what should be a protein-rich meal. While some locations may make omelets without batter if you ask, you’d need to know about this secret practice first. This hidden ingredient raises serious questions about what else might be in your food that you don’t know about.
Their famous syrup isn’t real maple at all
That sweet, thick syrup cascading down your stack of pancakes at IHOP? It’s not maple syrup at all. Most IHOP locations serve a manufactured syrup made primarily with high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and preservatives. Real maple syrup comes from maple trees and goes through a simple process of collecting and boiling down the sap. What you’re getting at IHOP is essentially flavored corn syrup designed to mimic the taste of maple. While many customers might assume they’re getting the real thing, especially given the prices, they’re actually being served a much cheaper alternative.
The difference between real maple syrup and the artificial version is significant. Authentic maple syrup has a complex flavor profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, and sometimes even a hint of smokiness. The manufactured syrup IHOP uses has a one-dimensional sweetness that lacks the depth of the real thing. While using artificial syrup isn’t unusual for large restaurant chains due to cost considerations, the problem is the lack of transparency. Many customers simply don’t realize they’re not getting authentic maple syrup, and the menu doesn’t clearly state otherwise.
Some locations use packaged egg substitutes
When you order scrambled eggs or an omelet at IHOP, you might be getting something quite different from what you expect. According to former employees, many IHOP locations use packaged bag egg substitutes instead of fresh eggs for their scrambled eggs and omelets. This practice was revealed by Christian Grossi, a former IHOP employee who shared this information on TikTok. He claimed that real eggs are only used for fried eggs and other preparation methods where the yolk needs to remain intact. This means that a significant portion of IHOP’s egg-based menu items might not contain what most people would consider “real eggs.”
The use of egg substitutes isn’t necessarily harmful, but it’s another example of IHOP not being transparent about their ingredients. These substitutes often contain additives and preservatives that you wouldn’t find in fresh eggs. Many customers have expressed shock and disappointment upon learning this information. Some former employees have corroborated these claims, suggesting it’s a widespread practice across many locations. While IHOP hasn’t officially addressed these allegations, the consistency of these reports from multiple sources raises serious questions about what’s really in your breakfast.
The pancakes contain surprisingly high sodium levels
You might expect pancakes to be high in sugar and carbs, but did you know that IHOP’s pancakes contain startlingly high amounts of sodium? A regular order of pancakes at IHOP can contain more than 1,000 mg of sodium – that’s almost half of the recommended daily intake for an adult. This high sodium content isn’t immediately obvious to customers, who generally associate pancakes with sweetness rather than saltiness. For people watching their sodium intake due to health concerns like high blood pressure or heart disease, this hidden sodium bomb can be a serious problem.
The high sodium content isn’t limited to just the pancakes – it extends to many items on IHOP’s menu. Even seemingly healthy options like salads can contain surprising amounts of sodium. What makes this particularly concerning is that most customers have no way of knowing about these high sodium levels unless they specifically look up the nutritional information, which isn’t prominently displayed in most restaurants. While IHOP does provide nutritional information online, the average customer ordering pancakes probably isn’t aware they’re consuming such a significant portion of their daily sodium in just one meal.
Poor hygiene practices reported at multiple locations
Some of the most concerning reports about IHOP involve cleanliness and food safety issues at certain locations. According to one former employee who claimed to have worked at six different IHOP restaurants, there were serious hygiene problems that customers never see. These included using moldy spoons to make pancake batter, leaving batter sitting out for hours without proper covering, and using fruits and vegetables past their prime. The employee also reported that bacon and sausages were often left sitting out all day and reused the next day – a practice that violates basic food safety guidelines.
Other concerning issues included mold in freezers and dark, old oil being used in fryers. While these claims haven’t been verified at all locations and some current employees have disputed them, they raise serious concerns about food safety standards. It’s important to note that these problems likely vary significantly by location, as IHOP operates on a franchise model where individual owners manage their own restaurants. Some viewers of the viral video pointed out that poor hygiene isn’t exclusive to IHOP and is a problem at many restaurants. However, the specific claims about IHOP are particularly troubling given the chain’s family-friendly image.
Some franchise owners involved in criminal schemes
In a shocking case that many IHOP customers never heard about, seven IHOP restaurants in Ohio and Indiana were at the center of a $3 million criminal scheme that led to 18 people being indicted. The owner of these franchises, Tarek “Terry” Elkafrawi, along with his associates, was charged with money laundering, identity theft, alien harboring, and even arson. The restaurant owner manipulated sales figures, payrolls, and tax documents to avoid paying proper taxes and royalties, essentially stealing millions of dollars through various fraudulent methods. This case revealed how a seemingly normal restaurant chain could be used as a front for serious criminal activity.
One of the most disturbing aspects of this case was an arson scheme where the Findlay, Ohio IHOP location was deliberately burned down to support a fraudulent insurance claim of $1.3 million. Additionally, Elkafrawi employed around 200 undocumented workers using stolen identities and arranged for their arrival and housing. The criminal investigation revealed an elaborate web of illegal activities happening behind the scenes at these IHOP locations. While this case doesn’t reflect on all IHOP franchises, it demonstrates how some franchise owners might be engaged in activities that customers would never suspect when sitting down for their morning pancakes.
Don’t confuse the restaurant with the religious organization
There’s a common mix-up that happens when people hear about scandals involving “IHOP.” The International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) is a completely separate organization from the restaurant chain, but the shared acronym often leads to confusion. The religious organization has been involved in serious scandals, including sexual abuse allegations against its founder, Mike Bickle. A third-party investigation found that Bickle committed sexual abuse or misconduct against 17 women, including minors, over several decades. These disturbing findings have nothing to do with the pancake restaurant, but the similar names sometimes cause people to mistakenly associate the scandals with the restaurant chain.
The religious organization, founded in 1999, has faced significant controversy beyond the founder’s misconduct. A leaked report revealed that IHOPKC was facing severe financial troubles and planned to close its Bible college. The organization’s leadership was also criticized for focusing more on suppressing reports of sexual abuse than supporting victims. While these serious allegations and organizational problems have caused the religious IHOP to downsize operations, they have no connection to the restaurant chain. It’s important for consumers to understand the difference between these two entirely separate organizations that happen to share the same acronym.
The secret menu most employees don’t even know about
Like many restaurant chains, IHOP has a secret menu – but this one is so secret that many employees don’t even know about it. Hidden menu items include special pancake combinations, unique breakfast sandwiches, and customized versions of their standard offerings that aren’t listed on the regular menu. The problem is that the availability of these items varies widely from location to location, and most staff members aren’t trained on how to prepare them. This means that asking for a secret menu item can result in confusion, long waits, or simply being told it’s not available – even when the ingredients are all in the kitchen.
Some of the secret items include special pancake flavors that were discontinued from the regular menu but can still be made on request. Others are custom creations that became popular enough to earn unofficial status on the secret menu. The inconsistency in knowledge about these items across different locations creates a frustrating experience for customers who hear about a special item online, only to be met with blank stares when they try to order it. While having a secret menu can be fun for those in the know, the lack of staff training on these items means that your experience may vary dramatically depending on which IHOP you visit.
Next time you visit IHOP, you might look at your meal a little differently. While not every location has all these issues, knowing what goes on behind the scenes helps you make better choices. It’s always good to ask questions about ingredients if you have allergies or dietary needs. And remember, just because something seems simple – like an omelet or syrup – doesn’t mean it is. Being an informed customer is the best way to enjoy your meal without any unpleasant surprises.
