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 extraordinary item once belonged to one of the most dynamic leaders of the U.S.
57 minutes ago
The appraiser explained that Remington was one of the most important Western artists of the century
3 hours ago
Rick Harrison paid the price for having a conscience that didn't let him rip off the guest.
21 hours ago
The champion had an amazing winning streak before reaching the Masters Tournament.
22 hours ago
The item literally fell into the guest's lap as he was opening a record cover of the artist.
23 hours ago
Alex Puglisi, a first responder from Connecticut, lost out due to a rarely used phrase in the Bonus Round.
1 day ago
The guest who inherited the lamps from his late friend was delighted to get the appraisal.
1 day ago
Fans were not happy about the player's failure to complete the obvious phrase.
1 day ago
The guest was representing a squadron and the item was a regimental jewel.
2 days ago
The chicken was so bad that the creator had to take it back to the store.
3 days ago
The contestant simply didn't realise what he had done even after Harvey's reaction.
3 days ago
The painting set a record on the show for being one of the most expensive pieces of art.
3 days ago
The cups were made thousands of years back and so regulations were not an issue as per the expert.
3 days ago
The founders of Surprise Ride had a deal but they failed to close it on time.
4 days ago
Harrison got his hands on one of the most sought-after pieces of American history for $1.45 million.
4 days ago
The popular TikTok creator claimed the food product was one of the worst the store offers.
5 days ago
Harrison wasn't willing to part with it but sold it to UFC boss Data White.
5 days ago
The entrepreneurs who followed Greiner's book to scale their business got the ultimate reward.
6 days ago
The watch was something that the expert himself hadn't seen in his career.
6 days ago
The Season 3 champion, W. Kamau Bell, is looking to become a regular part of the game show.
6 days ago