IHOP Launches $5 All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Promo For Back-To-School Season

Starting Wednesday, IHOP is serving up all-you-can-eat pancakes for $5, joining a list of U.S. restaurants offering budget-friendly meal deals in hopes of luring back inflation-weary customers.

The limited-time promotion, available to dine-in customers only, runs from now until September 15 at U.S.-based IHOP locations. Customers who choose partake in the promotion will get a full stack of five buttermilk pancakes to begin with, followed by additional flapjacks served two at a time, on an as-requested basis.

In a news release emailed to CBS MoneyWatch, IHOP said the restaurant has historically launched the promotion at the beginning of every year, but decided in 2024 to offer it during the start of the back-to-school season “to help families when schedules are tight, and wallets are pinched from shopping.” The pancake promo was last offered in August 2023 to celebrate IHOP’s 65th anniversary.

IHOP’s pancake deal lands at a time when both fast food and sit-down restaurants alike are trying to entice budget-conscious consumers back into their restaurants.

The CEO of Dine Brands, which owns Applebee’s and IHOP, told CNBC in May that casual restaurants are seeing a decline in low-income customers, a key demographic.

Fast-food giants Burger King, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Wendy’s and other well known chains have also launched $5, $6 or $7 value meals in recent months, aimed at increasing foot traffic to locations.

Read more here from CBS News.