Since IHOP and Waffle House came on the scene in the 1950s, Americans have debated, rated and contemplated which of the two most popular breakfast bites reigns supreme. The Daily went to both restaurants to observe atmosphere, price and quality of the food in order to crown one restaurant as king of the most important meal of the day.
As a consumer of both restaurants since a young age, I do not have a preference toward waffles or pancakes. However, it’s important to note that I prefer crispy hash browns, chewy bacon and fluffy eggs. Waffle House currently features a blueberry waffle, so I decided to order that, as well as blueberry pancakes at IHOP to see which one does its flavor best. I will rank each food item on a scale of 1 to 10: 1 being inedible, 5 tasting like a standard, store-bought product and 10 absolutely blowing my mind.
Waffle House:
Atmosphere - No rating given, but I always love the small-town feel of Waffle House. The workers cared about my meal and made sure everything I ordered was on my table. Waffle House’s motto, “Good Food Fast,” rings true, as my meal was served in a timely manner. I ate at Waffle House at 10:30 p.m. on a Tuesday night.
Eggs - Standard eggs. It tasted like they were made from real eggs, as compared to liquid egg mix from a carton. They were just like how I make them at home, although I would prefer them with cheese. There is not much to say about these eggs. Rating: 5/10
Hash browns - Pretty good, as far as hash browns go. These hash browns were probably frozen, but they cooked them to a nice crisp. I cover my hash browns with ketchup, but these would have been perfected with some added salt and pepper. Rating: 7/10
Bacon - Bacon is perfect when it is chewy and crispy in all the right places. The Waffle House bacon was a little too crispy for my liking but still had a good seasoning. Rating: 5/10
Blueberry waffle - It hit the spot. The waffle was sweet enough that it could be eaten on its own, although it would feel dry. The butter and syrup make it next level. Rating: 8/10
Total: 25 points
IHOP:
Atmosphere - I sat down at the table at 7:30 p.m. and was not served my food until approximately 30 minutes later. While it took a bit longer for my food to arrive, the wait staff was very kind as they filled up my glass and asked if I needed anything with my meal. The price for my meal was a reasonable $8.99, not including tax. IHOP’s menu features breakfast, lunch and dinner that is served 24 hours.
Eggs - The eggs were pretty good. Cheese would be a nice addition, but I’m sure the staff would add it upon request. Rating: 6/10
Hash browns - Good hash browns. A good flavor and an interesting contrast of crispy on the outside and mushy on the inside. I dressed these hash browns with ketchup, and I savored every bite. Rating: 7/10
Bacon - It was just how I like it: chewy while still having a crunch. The flavor from the fat of the bacon was delicious, although I wish it were a bigger piece of bacon. Rating: 8/10
Blueberry pancake stack - So sweet and so delicious. The only thing preventing me from giving it a perfect 10 is the knowledge that I may not be in the mood for something sweet as pie for breakfast. This stack is topped with blueberry spread and whipped cream that could stand alone or be paired with original or blueberry syrup. Rating: 9/10
Total: 30 points
The winner - IHOP
When it came down to the right textures and rich flavor, IHOP took home the crown as the better of the two. While it may take slightly longer and cost a few dollars more, IHOP offers a menu with a wide variety of meal options that will hit the spot any hour of the 24 it's open.
Note: While at IHOP, I also tried a burger, out of curiosity after the whole “IHOB” (International House of Burgers) campaign earlier in 2018. I was shocked to find that the Cowboy BBQ burger I had from IHOP was fantastic. This burger is stacked with lettuce, tomato, a hamburger patty, cheese, bacon, an onion ring and barbecue sauce, although I opted for the original “IHOP sauce,” which tasted similar to the In-N-Out spread. With each bite, it actually made me feel bad that they received such criticism, having pulled a publicity stunt like they did. Don’t get me wrong, they should continue focusing on breakfast. However, their burgers are not something to be laughed at, just something to be enjoyed. Rating: 9/10
