How to Order Vegan Options at IHOP in 2025
IHOP—short for International House of Pancakes—is a chain of diners that has deceived children (and myself) for decades into thinking it’s a diplomatic embassy for pancakes. With nearly 1,700 locations across the U.S. and abroad, it is highly likely to be the Sunday breakfast spot for millions. I would be the wealthiest man alive if I had a penny for every time I’ve had a weekend breakfast at an IHOP or Denny’s with my family when I visit back home. Diners like IHOP are my happy place, so I have no complaints—coffee in clunky mugs, laminated menus the size of newspapers, and conversations that somehow last three hours. I think its biggest flex is as a diner date spot—at least three people who have dined at IHOP on first dates with me can confirm—making me either charmingly nostalgic or just someone who uses IHOP as a personality test. Either way, you’ll be pleased to know that IHOP has some vegan options to build a breakfast—no pancake diplomat credentials required.
My Favorite Vegan Options at IHOP
First, I start with the most basic order: black coffee. When I’m not in the mood for coffee (rare!), I go for a soda, iced tea, or one of the lemonades, which are all vegan.
It’s 2025, and I’m still waiting for IHOP to serve vegan pancakes. IHOP doesn’t offer vegan pancakes, waffles, or French toast, which is wild because they’re so easy to make (I used to work at a vegan place in LA). For that reason, I simply piece together several different vegan sides at IHOP to make a light meal.
The side of fresh fruit is a given and a must!
The side of multigrain toast is vegan—just order it without the butter. I’ve seen that the brand of single-serve jams at the table can vary but sometimes they’re vegan so just check the label.
If you’re a potato person like me, the hash browns, crispy breakfast potatoes, and french fries are vegan.
IHOP also offers animal-free sausage patties (my family always say “impossible” when I tell them the patties are made from plants!). Here’s my favorite hack: I put the patties in the multigrain toast to make a vegan breakfast sandwich!
While I don’t have veggies for breakfast, I will point out that the sides of sauteed spinach and steamed fresh broccoli are vegan—just order the broccoli without the garlic butter. There is also a side salad but none of the salad dressings at IHOP are vegan.
Do Other Breakfast Chains Like IHOP Have Vegan Options?
- Denny’s: I’m a big supporter of burgers for breakfast any day so I recommend a burger with the Dr. Praeger’s Veggie Patty, and a side of hash browns or fries. The Brioche bun at Denny’s is vegan!
- Waffle House: The only vegan option is the hash browns.
- Cracker Barrel: Options include fresh fruit, animal-free sausage patties, and fried apples.
Many chain restaurants are offering more vegan options as people are choosing not to eat animals because of the destructive combination of cruelty to animals, environmental destruction, and negative human health effects.
Check out our list of chain restaurants with vegan options and the best vegan-friendly restaurants to eat at with friends or family who aren’t vegan … yet.
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