IHOP Pancake Day breaks Guinness World Record

Candice Jacobson (left), International House of Pancakes(IHOP) executive director for Communications and Manager of Brand Communications at IHOP Employee Rachel Laskin (left), presents a check for $20,000 to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., set on March 1, 2025, after beating the world record for the most pancakes served in 8 hours, with a total of 25,629 pancakes beating the previous record of 17,182 which was set by the Calgary Stampede, in the city of Calgary in, Alberta, Canada on July 9, 2023. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)

Fidel, a cook at the International House of Pancakes( IHOP), cooks pancakes on a griddle before serving them to the public for free at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., at an event where IHOP broke the world record for the most amount of pancakes served in 8 hours with a final total of 25,629 pancakes served on March 1, 2025, beating the previous record of 17,182 which was set by the Calgary Stampede, in the city of Calgary in, Alberta, Canada on July 9, 2023. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)

International House of Pancakes(IHOP) employees; Maddison Mackin (far left), Candice Jacobson (center left) IHOP) Executive Director for Communications, Rachel Laskin (left), Abby Hoffman (right), JorDana Hoffman (center right), and Michael Empric (far right), Guinness World Records adjudicator, present the Guinness World Record for the most pancakes served in 8 hours, in front of a sign displaying the new world record of 25,629 pancakes, at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., set on March 1, 2025, by IHOP beating the previous record of 17,182 which was set by the Calgary Stampede, in the city of Calgary in, Alberta, Canada on July 9, 2023. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)

Candice Jackson (left), International House of Pancakes (IHOP) Executive Director for Communications, and Micheal Empric (right), adjudicator for the Guinness World Records in New York City, laugh over a joke before announcing that IHOP broke the world record for the most amount of pancakes served in 8 hours with a final total of 25,629 pancakes served at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., on March 1, 2025, beating the previous record of 17,182 which was set by the Calgary Stampede, in the city of Calgary in, Alberta, Canada on July 9, 2023. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)

Lawrence Kim (left), President of the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) holds up the Guinness World Record for the most pancakes served in 8 hours, awarded by Michael Empric (right), Guinness World Records adjudicator, with a final total of 25,629 pancakes served at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., on March 1, 2025, beating the previous record of 17,182 which was set by the Calgary Stampede, in the city of Calgary in, Alberta, Canada on July 9, 2023. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)

International House of Pancakes(IHOP) cooks (pictured in white) pose with Michael Empric (pictured in black) ), Guinness World Records adjudicator, at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., presenting their Guinness World Record for the most pancakes served in 8 hours, with the new world record of 25,629 pancakes, set on March 1, 2025, beating the previous record of 17,182 which was set by the Calgary Stampede, in the city of Calgary in, Alberta, Canada on July 9, 2023. (Jake Crandall | The Corsair)

National Pancake Day is around the corner and IHOP's goal was to break the Guinness World Record for pancakes served in eight hours. On Saturday, the breakfast chain held a free event at the Santa Monica Pier called “20K For Pancake Day,” aiming to serve 20,000 pancakes and break the record. For every pancake served, IHOP donated $1 to Feeding America’s partner, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, to ensure no one is hungry.

The festive event started at 9 a.m. and continued until 5 p.m.. 

After the morning fog lifted, the sun came out, and so did thousands of pancake lovers, ready to enjoy unlimited free freshly baked short stacks of Buttermilk Pancakes. Guests could optionally top their pancakes with butter and syrup as well as enjoy cold and fresh drinks on a sunny Saturday.

The DJ contributed to the hyped environment, entertaining the crowd of all ages with games, music and giveaways, including free shirts, hats and aprons. By participating in the DJ’s dancing and singing challenges, guests were eligible to earn a two-day General Admission pass to the Rolling Loud California 2025 music festival. 

By the end of the day, thanks to the IHOP team flipping those pancakes nonstop, the crowd of breakfast enjoyers was able to officially break the Guinness World Record in less than eight hours. The final number of pancakes served was 25,629, along with twenty-thousand dollars being donated to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Guinness World Records adjudicator, Michael Empric, presented the record breaking award.

IHOP held another celebration on the actual National Pancake Day on March 4. Los Angeles citizens were able to enjoy free Buttermilk Pancakes at all participating IHOPs.