I don't care what you call them — pancakes, hotcakes, flapjacks, whatever — I really miss eating the pancakes served at IHOP (International House of Pancakes) in the US. While similar restaurants (and possibly even an IHOP in Manila) may exist in the Philippines, I haven't found one that serves anything but ordinary pancakes.
Filipino Restaurant Pancakes
Maybe it's just me. I ordered pancakes at a restaurant I can't remember and they tasted like stale bread. I don't think the cooks in the regular Filipino restaurants know what they're supposed to taste like. Let's face it – most Filipinos have never eaten pancakes for breakfast.
I found a restaurant at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and I can't remember the name, but I think it's called "The Pancake House" or something like that. I haven't gone there yet because I'm afraid I won't get what I expect.
An ex-Seabee neighbor of mine suggested that I go to a place called "Dryden's" in Barrio Barreto because (he said) they serve American-style omelets and other breakfast foods. I may end up hitting both places soon.
Imported Pancake Items
I've found several brands of pancakes at the Royal Subic store aboard the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, but most of them are not imported. The imported brands include "Aunt Jemima" and "Hungry Jack". I don't like plain pancakes. I like buttermilk pancakes and pancakes that include fruit. I especially like the blueberry and wheat pancakes made by Hungry Jack.
One of my sisters-in-law bought a "hotcake" mix from a local Filipino store and it tasted almost flavorless. She bought it for her son (my nephew, who's only 4-years old) because he tasted my pancakes one time and has liked them ever since. He doesn't seem to like the kind she bought very much and I can totally understand why.
IHOP Pancakes
I woke up earlier than usual today and breakfast is still a couple of hours from now. The first thing I thought of when I woke up was the pancakes served at IHOP in the US. They had so many varieties, topped with butter and at least five different kinds of "syrup". When I think of their pancakes, my mouth starts watering.
One of my brothers-in-law bought me a local pancake syrup one day when I ran out. It was cinnamon-flavored. I couldn't find anything but regular pancake syrup at the Royal Subic. I think I need to spend some time shopping in the local supermarkets (that aren't at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone). It seems they have quite a few things that are just as good as the imported stuff and not nearly as expensive. The prices at the Royal Subic are comparable to the prices in supermarkets in the US and it's no wonder that most Filipinos don't shop there.
Regardless of all this, maybe I'll get lucky and find more pancake varieties, either in store mixes or already prepared at American-style restaurants. All I can really say right now is that I'm really hungry for some pancakes!
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This article is published as: I Miss Eating Pancakes at IHOP
Mmmmmm…. I was at I-Hop for breakfast this morning! Had a couple of big stacks of "Butter Milk Pancakes" Mmmmmmmmmm… Soaked in syrup! Mmmmmmmmm.. I went to the I-hop in National City, looked around and I was the only Non-Filipino in the place. Don,t understand why anyone really wants to live in the Philippines, when its all right here in San Diego. Walk across the street to a Filipino resturant and you can have your rice and corn beef breakfast or stop at Joli-bee on the other side of the street.
If thoughts could hurt people, you'd be hurting right about now. :-)
I know what you mean. I'm usually on a restricted low carb diet during the week and I can't wait until my one day up carb day on sunday to have some buttermilk pancakes from ihop.
Hi RT,
Not to put a damper on things, but:
We have an IHOP near by that we used to enjoy having Sunday breakfast at. The last couple of times we went we had dirty cups and hair in our glasses (actually replaced a glass of water with hair, with a glass of water with hair).
Maybe the memory is better than the experience.
There's always a bad one in the bunch. You probably need to find a different as that one is being mismanaged.
I love Pancakes. When I go out of station then I also miss it very much.
Hi RT
I don't think the problem with PI pancakes is the mix it's the cook and the way they are prepared. I had my wife (a filipina) fix me pancakes when we first got married and they were made from American mix but still tasted like PI pancakes. I took her to IHOP and she tried theirs and next time my pancakes at home were better. My wife is a great cook in fact she has been worked with some of the best chefs and she picked up on it after that. Filipinos tend to eat their pancakes plain with sugar or butter only. They leave out milk or use evaporated milk when they make them when makes them less fluffy.
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My wife never cooked pancakes before cooking them for me and they were always good. My wife did not learn to cook from her mother. Her mother is a horrible cook. I think she learned on her own, by following recipes to the letter.
I love pancake. I like to have pancake after have lunch
Order a combo meal with pancakes and they'll keep loading you up with pancakes, three at a time. Good news for poor college students and anyone else who doesn't eat very regularly. Call your local IHOP to see if they participate.
I also like to eat pancake.
*IHOP Pancakes
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, stirred or sifted before measuring
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1 egg – slightly beaten
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons melted butter
¼ cup granulated sugar
1. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, combine egg and buttermilk. Add to flour mixture, stirring only until smooth.
3. Blend in melted butter and sugar.
4. Cook on a pre-heated, greased griddle, using about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Drop batter on griddle in
5 inch wide segments.
5. Cook until brown on one side and around edge; turn and brown the other side.
Serves 4
Awesome! Although I don't think I can find buttermilk here (UHT buttermilk maybe?).
Hi RT,
I'm a long time lurker here and enjoyed reading your blog and this is the first time i post here, i also like pancake and used to make it but i normally used the blueberry muffin mix( by betty crocker) just add egg and a little bit oil in it, since filipinos never used to have pancake for breakfast, they didn't know how to mix and prepare it and how the way it is cook, when mixing the batter it should not stir very fine so when you cook it will be fluffy and not dry or hard like bread then serve hot w/ maple syrup and a little bit butter but some doesn't like butter then go w/ fresh fruits and bacon….
I absolutely love blueberry pancakes. The blueberry and wheat by Hungry Jack is fantastic and fills my stomach until dinner time. Blueberry muffins are the next best thing.
I have never had banana pancakes or strawberry pancakes, but I'd eat 'em if I could find 'em!