IHOP is changing its name to IHOb - I visited the restaurant and saw a big hint that the 'b' stands for 'burgers'
- IHOP announced last week that it was changing its name to the mysterious "IHOb."
- I visited an IHOP, where they already had signs up potentially revealing the surprise: The 'b" is for "burgers."
- It doesn't look like the classic menu is going anywhere, though, so you can still get your pancakes.
On Wednesday, breakfast restaurant chain IHOP announced that it was changing its name to IHOb - sparking a lot of debate, and some very funny jokes, about what the 'b' could possibly stand for.
Well, overtaken by curiosity, I visited an IHOP in Daly City, CA on Friday night, and got a huge sign that the 'b" was not "breakfast," "bacon," or even "blockchain" - it's "burgers."
That sign? Literal signage by the cash register, with the same "IHOb" logo that the chain shared on social media during the week, followed by the words "Burgers Burgers Burgers." It was pretty unambiguous.
Check it out:
And while I didn't get a shot of the menu, the IHOP I visited had a specials board with a bunch of seemingly-new burger options.
However, IHOP fans should take heart, as it doesn't seem like the chain is eliminating its trademark pancakes altogether. Right next to this sign was another with the classic IHOP logo, declaring "Pancakes Pancakes Pancakes." So this change may not be as dramatic as some have feared.
Don't want to take my word for it? Fox News reports that alleged IHOP insiders have also pegged the new name as having to do with burgers. And others on social media have also noted similar signage at their own local IHOP franchises:
In case you were wondering, I didn't get one of the new burgers. I've spent my entire life silently judging people who don't order pancakes at IHOP, and I don't intend to stop now.
IHOP declined to comment for this story. According to its social media accounts, IHOP will officially reveal the meaning of "IHOb" on June 11th.