ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Former IHOP worker issues scary warning for diners against eating there: "They only make..."

IHOP is a go to place for many who crave pancake in America and many turned up to defend it.
PUBLISHED JAN 14, 2025
A screenshot from the video (L) and an image of a customer at IHOP(R) (Cover image sources: TikTok and Instagram | IHOP Kuwait)
A screenshot from the video (L) and an image of a customer at IHOP(R) (Cover image sources: TikTok and Instagram | IHOP Kuwait)

America's most popular pancake place, The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) has gained cult status among consumers and stands out among fast-food chains. But the go-to destination for pancake lovers is not immune to the concerns about its quality, which many feel has taken a hit with the expansion beyond borders. While the brand has successfully maintained popularity, a former employee of the franchise recently shared a series of images showing how bad things are behind the scenes.

Representative image of a pancake served at a restaurant (Photo by Phil Hearing on Unsplash)
Representative image of a pancake served at a restaurant (Image source: Phil Hearing | Unsplash)

In a video shared on TikTok, the worker known as @openn_eyess_world urged people to stop eating at IHOP. The creator who claimed to have worked at six different IHOP locations, alleged that the restaurant chain does not care for quality or hygiene. In a series of images, and clips, the user showed different areas where the restaurant overlooks health hazards. The user showed how moldy spoons are used to make the pancake batter and how the batter sits on the counter for hours, without a lid or supervision. 

Screenshots showing the condition of pancake batter at IHOP (Image source: TikTok/@openn_eyess_world)
Screenshots showing the alleged condition of pancake batter at IHOP (Image source: TikTok/@openn_eyess_world)

The clip further showed images of ingredients like bananas that aren't fit for consumption. The user claimed that the bananas used in the pancakes are always turning black and the workers are told to use them anyway as the customers won't notice it once they're cooked in the pancake.  The user further showed that it's the same with the lettuce and avacado. 

Screenshots showing the alleged condition of fruits and vegetables at IHOP (Image source:TikTok/@openn_eyess_world)
Screenshots showing the alleged condition of fruits and vegetables at IHOP (Image source:TikTok/@openn_eyess_world)

The user further claimed that while IHOP says that they make their batter fresh every day, it's not the case. The restaurant makes fresh batter only after the first batch is consumed and sometimes the batter sits in the fridge for days. The clip suggests that bacon and sausages are made fresh in the morning but they sit in the open all day. 

Screenshot showing the images of pancake batter and sausages (Image source: TikTok/@openn_eyess_world)
Screenshot showing the images of pancake batter and sausages (Image source: TikTok/@openn_eyess_world)

In the end, the former worker shows images of mold in the freezers and super dark oil in the fryers of the restaurant. While the images are concerning, nothing has been verified yet. However, viewers in the comments had already made up their minds. "This is why I hate eating at restaurants bc you just never know how your food is really being prepared 😭," @madeline_spamzzz commented

Screenshot of a comment asking about regulatory checks (Image source: TikTok/@moreno6969niggballz)
Screenshot of a comment asking about regulatory checks (Image source: TikTok/@moreno6969niggballz)

Some viewers suggested that IHOP isn't the only one at fault. "This is every restaurant I’ve ever worked at, only real issue is the mold," @sinsoftheflessh added.

While the allegations are serious, a large section of the viewers believed them to be false. Several other workers of IHOP suggested that such cases must be isolated and are uncommon if true. "I’m a GM at a IHOP location and I don’t know where you’ve been going but my store doesn’t look like that! My F.S.E. was a 98! Highest in the company!" @melissahendricks0 clarified

Screenshot of a comment refuting the allegations (Image source: TikTok/@noitsnotkeira)
Screenshot of a comment refuting the allegations (Image source: TikTok/@noitsnotkeira)

"I think that’s your store bc when i worked at ihop the chefs always cleaned everything, busboys too. we also had side work like clean the jars, spoons everything before our shift ended," @69horre claimed. 

"I work there the only part of this that's true is the pancake battery sitting but it only ever lasts like 2-3 hours," @ajenkai suggested. 

For more updates on the situation, follow @openn_eyess_world on TikTok.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The co-founders of Y'all Sweet Tea blew away the Sharks with their incredible numbers.
8 hours ago
From his lips to his bald head, Harvey has to defends all sort of jabs.
13 hours ago
The woman who gifted the painting to the owners had earlier sold it to another dealer as she couldnt sleep at night.
2 days ago
When it came to naming something of Harvey they would want to touch, the players didn't hold back
2 days ago
Rick Harrison's go to expert warned him not to touch it with a "10 foot pole."
2 days ago
The massive manufacturer has been operational for more than a hundred years now.
3 days ago
While the player was overwhelmed with emotion, host, Drew Carey was left hanging for a handshake.
5 days ago
Turns out, the guest's father was the renowned artist, Demetrios Jameson.
5 days ago
While the player, Rodney Flippen took the loss on the chin, fans were left heartbroken.
6 days ago
Harvey was stunned to see that Lisa would risk her marriage to get the top answer.
6 days ago
The outbreak has been linked to four deaths, and 19 hospitalizations, according to the CDC.
6 days ago
The President and CEO of Walmart, Doug McMillion expressed that AI will "literally change every job."
7 days ago
While the seller was confident that the instrument was ever so valuable, Harrison begged to differ.
7 days ago
The 54th season of the show has begun with a brand-new game, but fans fear it could be rigged.
Sep 30, 2025
The guest had absolutely no idea that the Ching Dynasty snuff bottle could be worth so much.
Sep 30, 2025
While Corey Harrison tried his best, the seller had other plans and stuck to it.
Sep 28, 2025
Harvey warned the contestant that she may be in a situation she can't handle.
Sep 27, 2025
In the end, the expert adviced the guest to put the item on a pedestal for the future.
Sep 27, 2025
Fans debated if the player got the correct answer in time, or if the judges the right call
Sep 26, 2025
While the comedian/host's answers were barely intelligible, Harvey didn't miss a beat to roast him.
Sep 26, 2025