What’s hopping at IHOP this summer?

‘We currently have five Filipino breakfast offerings on the menu. It just goes to show how IHOP has made an impact on our local customers,’ says Archie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Global Restaurant Concepts, Inc., the local partner of IHOP.

American breakfast chains don’t get much more American than International House of Pancakes, better known as IHOP. Most Americans have fond memories of ordering up heaps of pancakes, waffles or burgers before the big Sunday game or rock concert. With nearly 2,000 branches worldwide, IHOP’s practically a US institution.

Which is why it’s fun to realize just how Filipino their menus have become. Check out the latest additions to the Philippines’ six branches — Breakfast Bangus, Corned Beef Hash and Longganisa Scrambler — and it’s hard to deny that whatever makes its way to Filipino shores quickly takes on a Filipino spin.

According to Archie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Global Restaurant Concepts, Inc., the local partner of IHOP (and the people that brought in California Pizza Kitchen, among others), “We currently have five Filipino breakfast offerings on the menu and are excited to be offering more. It just goes to show how IHOP has made an impact on our local customers. These are distinctly Filipino dishes with IHOP-sized servings and IHOP quality.”

You know what made IHOP such a worldwide hit: sure, it was their fluffy pancakes and thick-stack waffles served with a variety of syrups (strawberry, blueberry, old fashioned, butter pecan). But it’s also the kind of family-style restaurant where people love to gather, from breakfast to late-night snacks. Since 1958, the IHOP menu has expanded to lunch and dinner favorites, and the brand eventually found its way to the Philippines two years back. Now with six branches (a seventh is coming to Ayala Fairview Terraces soon), the menu has grown to include three more breakfast favorites that are more Pinoy than ever.

(Bear in mind, in true Filipino tradition, all of these dishes are tempting enough to be shared.)

The Breakfast Bangus is classic pan-fried milkfish served with a side of garlic rice and scrambled eggs. It’s a generous portion of bangus and the eggs are light and fluffy. (Don’t forget the suka and achara on the side.)

Second is the Longganisa Scrambler, which is a mind-scrambling mélange of eggs mixed with sautéed, chopped longganisa, green bell peppers and onions, served with garlic rice on a banana leaf. The longganisa is sweet and pairs well with the tomato wedges and garlic rice.

Third on the menu is the Corned Beef Hash, mixed with IHOP’s signature hash browns served with garlic rice and eggs. The corned beef is tasty and well-cooked, not mushy; any American (or Filipino) would salute this breakfast.

With each dish running from P250 to P295, it’s a hearty start to your morning.

But since this is also summer, IHOP goes one step further: offering up four cool treats for dessert. “We came up with desserts perfect for the season, catering to different preferences,” says Rodriguez. Thus you can dive into the goblet-sized Banana Split Sundae, packed with chocolate, vanilla and mango ice cream balls, candied pecans and glazed strawberries. It’s drizzled with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and garnished with sliced bananas with a cherry on top.

Another touch of Americana is the Funnel Cake a la Mode, with six mini funnel cakes topped with creamy vanilla ice cream. Choose either the cinnamon-apple compote, blueberries, or glazed strawberries as a topping and garnish it with whipped cream and powdered sugar for the funnel cake of your dreams.

My personal favorite was the Ice Cream Waffle Sandwich which, as the name suggests, offers two halved waffles sandwiching delicious, firm scoops of ice cream — one is vanilla with chocolate chips; the other is mango ice cream mixed with cheesecake cubes. It’s all served in a swirl of chocolate and vanilla sauce, and it’s one of the happier endings you’ll have this summer.

Another American classic — the soda float — makes a timely comeback with IHOP’s version: choose from Mug Root Beer, Pepsi or 7Up topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce, served in a beer mug. It will take you back to A&W days here in the Philippines.

The IHOP Summer Treats are in partnership with Nestle Philippines and Pepsi, and all of the new menu items are now available in all IHOP branches.

“We’ve been doing very well and steadily growing in the Philippines,” adds Rodriguez. “Since IHOP’s arrival in the local dining scene, I think we can be credited with changing the way people think of their comfort food. IHOP has shown that we can enjoy this concept — that special IHOP dining experience — any time of the day, whether for breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner.”

And soon, IHOP lovers can have their favorite foods delivered. In partnership with Food Panda, a popular app available on all operating systems, you can access the IHOP delivery menu beginning April 25. Yep, from IHOP to your house.

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IHOP Philippines is located in Bonifacio Global City, UP Town Center along Katipunan, SM Mall of Asia, Century City Mall, Filinvest City in Alabang, and Araneta Center.