When IHOP first hinted that it was going to replace the ‘P’ in its name with a ‘B’, thousands began to speculate exactly what the change could be.
But the International House of Pancakes isn’t altering its name to honor breakfast, or bacon, or brunch but…burgers?
On Monday IHOP announced that it would become ‘IHOb’ to celebrate the chain’s brand new Ultimate Steakburgers menu.
The menu features seven new ‘all-natural’ burgers, with flavors ranging from ‘Classic’ and ‘Jalapeño Kick’ to ‘Cowboy BBQ’ and ‘Mega Monster’.
On Monday IHOP announced that it would become ‘IHOb’ to celebrate the chain’s brand new Ultimate Steakburgers menu (pictured)
The menu features seven new ‘all-natural’ burgers with flavors ranging from ‘Classic’ and ‘Jalapeño Kick’ to ‘Cowboy BBQ’ (pictured) and ‘Mega Monster’
‘We knew we had to be bold in order to shift perceptions that IHOP can only do a great breakfast,’ spokesman Stephanie Peterson told DailyMail.com.
‘The tongue-in-cheek name change speaks to the fact that we’re just as serious about our burgers as we are about our pancakes.’
The $6.99 burgers, which come with unlimited fries and a drink, will be available during all hours at the chain’s restaurants across the country.
Each burger has been made with 100% USDA choice Black Angus ground beef, which is served between a Brioche bun.
While the ‘Classic’ options feature American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and IHOP’s new Steakburger sauce, the restaurant is also offering plenty of new spins.
The $6.99 burgers, which come with unlimited fries and a drink, will be available at all hours at the chain’s restaurants across the country. Pictured are two of the new Steakburgers
The ‘Big Brunch’ burger includes bacon, a fried egg, and crispy browned potato, while ‘Jalapeño Kick’ has sautéed jalapeños, Serrano peppers, and a tomato and jalapeño mayo.
IHOP is so committed to this name change it has also changed its name on Twitter as well
Also on the menu is a ‘Mushroom & Swiss’ burger, a ‘Cowboy BBQ’ option that features onion rings, and the ‘Mega Monster’, which includes two premium Steakburger patties, along with both American and White Cheddar cheeses.
Chef Nevielle Panthaky, Head of Culinary at ‘IHOb’, said it made ‘perfect sense’ for IHOP to embrace burgers.
‘Burgers are a quintessential, American menu item,’ he said.
‘So it makes perfect sense that IHOP, one of the most iconic, all-American comfort food brands in the world, would go over the top to create a delicious line-up of quality burgers that hit the spot any time of day.’
But many on Twitter remain unconvinced, with plenty of people sharing their dismay that after so much fanfare the surprise was something as common as a burger.
‘Still convinced that the b in IHOb is betrayal, not burgers #notmyIHOP,’ one user wrote.
But many on Twitter remain unconvinced, with fast food restaurant Wendy’s throwing some particularly intense shade on Twitter
Chili’s also had some harsh words for IHOP, tweeting a video of its ‘Boss’ burger along with this tweet on Monday
When IHOb assured one customer it wasn’t joking around, he revealed he would be taking his business to Denny’s, a similar 24-hour diner, instead
‘If she call it IHOb, she’s too young for you bro,’ another joked.
Even some fellow restaurants got in on the fun, with Wendy’s proclaiming it wasn’t really afraid of burgers ‘from a place that decided pancakes were too hard’.
Chili’s also had some harsh words for IHOP, tweeting a video of its ‘Boss’ burger and writing: ‘We don’t usually throw shade, but seriously? That’s what all that was about? Here’s a real burger for you.’
Other IHOP fans weren’t so much worried about the burgers as they were of the possibility that it could mean the restaurant’s pancakes were disappearing.
But IHOP assured its customers on Twitter that the ‘bancakes aren’t going anywhere’, even as it remained committed to writing everything with the letter ‘B’.
A number of people came out on Twitter armed with memes and gifs to show their dismay that IHOP’s massive marketing campaign had all been for burgers
Although IHOP’s new Steakburgers will enjoy a nationwide roll out, only the restaurant’s Los Angeles flagship location will actually change its storefront name.
All other restaurants of the chain will retain their original signage, although ‘IHOb’ elements will be featured inside stores during the summer campaign.
‘At the end of the day, we’ll always be IHOP,’ Peterson said.
‘Now you can just get a side of pancakes with your burger!’
Although IHOP’s new Steakburgers will enjoy a nationwide roll out, only the restaurant’s Los Angeles flagship location will actually change its storefront name
But IHOP assured its pancake-loving customers on Twitters that the ‘bancakes aren’t going anywhere’, even as it remained committed to writing everything with the letter ‘B’