Cardan Hospitality, Spokane

The first IHOP—the dream of founders Al and Jerry Lapin—opened in 1958 in Toluca Lake, California, and was originally dubbed the International House of Pancakes. Since then, rapid expansion has led to myriad milestones across the company's colorful history, from introducing its modern IHOP acronym in 1973 to its 1,000th restaurant opening in Layton, Utah, in 2001.

IHOP has been a global brand since 1969 and currently has restaurants in 13 countries and two U.S. territories. IHOP restaurants can be found in Canada, Mexico and Central America, South America, the Middle East and Asia.

Today, the company stands strong with around 1,500 locations across North America around the Globe, each one an enthusiastic dispenser of pancakes, french toast, and tables constructed entirely out of bacon. Though IHOP is known as a bastion of breakfast, it also stays open during the day and into the evening, delivering lunch and dinner as well.