A
pancake house,
pancake and waffle house or
waffle house is a
restaurant that specializes in
breakfast items such as
pancakes,
waffles, and
omelettes, among other items. Many small, independent pancake houses, as well as large corporations and
franchises, use the terminology in their establishment names, most notably the
International House of Pancakes (IHOP),
Waffle House and
The Original Pancake House. Most pancake houses are dine-in, although most will offer carry-out as well. Many are open until around 3
p.m. Exceptions to this are large chains such as IHOP and
Denny's, which are usually open 24 hours. Some independent pancake houses are found in
strip malls, or exist as stand-alone structures that have been re-fitted, such as a closed-down
diner or
retail store.