Who Owns IHOP?
Dine Brands Global, a public company that also owns Applebee’s. The twist is that IHOP bought Applebee’s, not the other way round, and almost every IHOP you visit is run by a franchisee.
Dine Brands exists because of IHOP. The pancake chain bought Applebee’s in 2007 and then renamed the combined company, which is why the parent is based in Southern California, where IHOP began.
From pancake house to parent company
The first International House of Pancakes opened on 7 July 1958 in Burbank, California. It was started by brothers Al Lapin Jr. and Jerry Lapin with commercial artist Albert Kallis. Early restaurants were built as steep A frame buildings with bright blue roofs, a look that became the brand’s trademark. The chain adopted the short name IHOP in 1973.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1958 | First International House of Pancakes opens in Burbank, California |
| 1973 | The chain starts using the name IHOP |
| 1979 to 1987 | Owned by a series of outside companies, including the European group Wienerwald |
| 1987 | An investment group led by Richard Herzer buys the chain |
| 1991 | IHOP becomes a public company |
| 2007 | IHOP buys Applebee’s for about 2.1 billion dollars |
| 2008 | The parent company is renamed DineEquity |
| 2018 | DineEquity becomes Dine Brands Global |
| 2022 | Dine Brands buys Fuzzy’s Taco Shop for 80 million dollars |
The Applebee’s deal
In 2007, IHOP agreed to buy Applebee’s International for roughly 2.1 billion dollars. The deal was announced in July and closed in November. Applebee’s was the bigger business by sales, which is why the deal surprised people. A pancake chain was buying the country’s largest casual dining brand.
The next year the company changed its name to DineEquity to reflect that it owned two major brands, and in 2018 it became Dine Brands Global. Applebee’s prices are on the Applebee’s menu.
Who runs it now
| Detail | Current position |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Dine Brands Global |
| Stock listing | New York Stock Exchange, ticker DIN |
| Headquarters | Pasadena, California |
| Chief executive | John Peyton |
| Sister brands | Applebee’s and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop |
| IHOP ownership model | About 99 percent franchised |
Dine Brands has also been putting its two biggest names together. After testing combined IHOP and Applebee’s restaurants outside the United States, it announced in 2024 that it would bring dual brand locations to the US, serving both menus under one roof.
Is IHOP related to Denny’s?
No. People often assume the two big breakfast chains share an owner, but they have always been rivals. Denny’s went private in 2026 under a different group of investors, as covered in who owns Denny’s.
IHOP’s best known marketing moment, the month it pretended to become IHOb, is covered in why IHOP changed its name to IHOb. Current prices are on the IHOP menu.
Related Questions
Who owns IHOP?
Dine Brands Global, a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker DIN and based in Pasadena, California. It also owns Applebee’s and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. About 99 percent of IHOP restaurants are run by independent franchisees.
Does IHOP own Applebee’s?
In effect, yes. IHOP bought Applebee’s in 2007 for about 2.1 billion dollars, and the combined company was renamed DineEquity in 2008 and Dine Brands Global in 2018. Both chains are now sister brands under that parent.
Who founded IHOP?
Brothers Al Lapin Jr. and Jerry Lapin, together with commercial artist Albert Kallis. The first International House of Pancakes opened in Burbank, California on 7 July 1958.
Are IHOP restaurants franchised?
Almost all of them. About 99 percent of IHOP restaurants are run by independent franchisees, which is why prices and some promotions can differ from one location to another.
Is IHOP a public company?
IHOP itself is a brand, but its parent company Dine Brands Global is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker DIN. IHOP first went public in 1991.
Are IHOP and Denny’s the same company?
No. They are separate rivals. IHOP belongs to Dine Brands Global, while Denny’s was taken private in January 2026 by TriArtisan Capital Advisors, Treville Capital Group and Yadav Enterprises.
What else does Dine Brands own?
Applebee’s, which IHOP bought in 2007, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, a Texas based fast casual chain Dine Brands bought for 80 million dollars in 2022.
More on IHOP
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with IHOP or Dine Brands Global. Ownership details come from company filings and published reporting and change over time. Current prices and calories are on the IHOP menu.
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