Updated January 2023! It might be formally known as the International House of Pancakes, but dairy-free guests will be happy to see many other dishes on the IHOP menu. Yes, their pancakes and waffles are all made with milk, but they still have a good selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options to choose from, with the help of our dairy-free menu guide. We’ve also included a separate, albeit smaller, vegan menu guide.
IHOP Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen Notes & Vegan Options
Be aware of special order requirements in parentheses () next to the menu items, and see the Heads Up notes to help fill in the blanks. Please note that this dairy-free menu guide is for the U.S. locations. Options may vary in other countries.
Butter Note: The Butter Alternative and Oil they use for cooking at IHOP are both dairy-free. However, they do use whipped butter on some dishes, on toast, for serving, etc. Make sure no real dairy butter is used to make or serve your order.
Other Dietary Notes: For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Breakfast Combos
- Classic Avocado Toast
- Quick 2-Egg Breakfast (see options below)
- Breakfast Sampler (sub toast for pancakes; see options below)
- Plant-Based Sausage Power Combo with Toast (see Plant-Based Note below)
- Sirloin Steak Tips & Eggs (sub toast for pancakes; see options below)
- Smokehouse Combo (sub toast for pancakes; see options below)
- 55+ Rise ‘N Shine (see options below)
- 55+ Breakfast Sampler (see options below)
Dairy-Free Eggs: Fried Egg, Hardboiled Egg, Poached Egg, Scrambled Egg, Scrambled Egg White
Dairy-Free Meat: Bacon, Ham, Pork Sausage Link, Turkey Bacon, Turkey Sausage Link
Dairy-Free Toast (no butter): Multigrain Bread
Plant-Based Note: On the allergen menu, IHOP lists the plant-based sausage as containing milk, but the company has stated that they are vegan, and the ingredients appear to be dairy-free. Make sure to verify on the preparation and allergens prior to ordering. We have reached out to them on this discrepancy.
Heads Up! The other bread options are sourced regionally, so ask your server for additional dairy-free bread / toast options. The T-Bone Steak itself contains milk in the seasoning. The Country Fried Steak at IHOP appears to be dairy-free without gravy. Confirm with your server and sub salsa, if desired.
Omelettes
- Chicken Fajita Egg White Omelette (no cheese, no sour cream)
- Build Your Own Egg White Omelette (see options below)
Dairy-Free Omelette Type: Egg White Omelette
Dairy-Free Omelette Meats: Diced Bacon, Diced Ham, Pork Sausage Link
Other Dairy-Free Omelette Toppings: Hash Brown, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Sautéed Green Peppers & Onions, Sautéed Mushrooms, Sautéed Spinach, Tomato, Avocado, Fire Roasted Poblano Salsa
Heads Up! The regular egg omelette (made with yolks) is scrambled with many ingredients, including dairy. The egg white omelette contains just egg whites, canola oil, soy lecithin. The Steak Strips and Pot Roast do contain milk.
Pancakes, Waffles, and French Toast
Heads Up! At this time, all of the pancakes and waffles at IHOP contain milk, including the “gluten-friendly” options. The challah bread used for the French toast might be dairy-free, but the batter contains milk.
Breakfast Sides
- Avocado
- Bacon Slices
- Corn Tortilla
- Crispy Breakfast Potatoes
- Flour Tortilla
- French Fries
- Fresh Fruit
- Grits
- Ham Slices
- Hash Browns
- Plant-Based Sausage Patties (see Heads Up below)
- Pork Sausage Links
- Scrapple
- Spam Slices
- Toast (no butter, ask for dairy-free options)
Heads Up! The Onion Rings contain milk and the English Muffins contain milk, even when unbuttered. The Oatmeal is prepared with milk. You might be able to order it prepared with water. On the allergen menu, IHOP lists the plant-based sausage as containing milk, but the company has stated that they are vegan, and the ingredients appear to be dairy-free. According to the company, “The milk allergen is marked off on the allergen guide because of a potential substitution that occurred a few months ago. The current product does not contain milk.”
Salads
- Chicken & Veggie Salad with Grilled Chicken
- House Salad (sub dairy-free dressing)
Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: Balsamic Vinaigrette, Honey Mustard
Burritos & Bowls
- The Classic Burrito or Bowl (sub egg whites for scrambled, no cheese)
- The Southwest Chicken Burrito or Bowl (sub egg whites for scrambled, no cheese, no queso sauce)
- New Mexico Chicken Burrito or Bowl (sub egg whites for scrambled, no cheese, no queso sauce)
Heads Up! The Scrambled Eggs used for Bowls and select Burritos do contain milk. These eggs are prepared differently from the scrambled eggs in the breakfast combos. The Shredded Beef / Pot Roast contains milk.
Burgers & Chicken Sandwiches
- The Classic (no cheese, see Bun Note below)
- The Classic with Bacon (no cheese, see Bun Note below))
- Cowboy BBQ Burger (no cheese, no onion rings, see Bun Note below))
- Jalapeno Kick Burger (no cheese, see Bun Note below))
- Brunch Burger (no cheese, see Bun Note below))
Bun Note: The Brioche Buns used at IHOP now appear to be dairy-free, and they reportedly use a dairy-free toasting oil. But be sure to check at your location. The buns may be sourced locally. If the buns contain dairy at your location, you can sub lettuce or multi-grain bread.
Dairy-Free Patty Options: Black Angus Beef Patty, Grilled Chicken
Heads Up! The Crispy Chicken at IHOP does contain milk.
Other Sandwiches
- Cali Roasted Turkey Melt / Sandwich (no cheese)
- Ham & Egg Melt / Sandwich (no cheese; verify dairy-free bread)
- 55+ Roasted Turkey Sandwich (no cheese; verify dairy-free bread)
- 55+ BLT (verify dairy-free bread)
Heads Up! The Philly Meat Stacker might be dairy-free when ordered without cheese at your location. Verify the meat and bread.
Entrees
- Salmon (order dairy-free sides)
- Sirloin Steak Tips (order dairy-free sides)
- 55+ Grilled Chicken Dinner (order dairy-free sides)
Lunch & Dinner Sides
- French Fries
- Fresh Seasonal Fruit
- House Salad (sub dairy-free dressing)
- Rice & Barley Medley, Seasoned Fries
Heads Up! The Onion Rings and Garlic Bread do contain milk. The Broccoli and Green Beans are made with garlic butter. You might be able to order them dairy-free without the butter.
Extra Sauces & Toppings
- Honey Mustard
- IHOP Sauce
- Blueberry Compote
- Blueberry Syrup
- Chocolate Sauce
- Old-Fashioned Syrup
- Strawberries in Glaze
- Strawberry Syrup
Heads Up! The Butter Pecan Syrup contains milk.
Vegan Menu Guide
- Avocado Toast with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes (custom order)
- Multigrain Toast (no butter; other bread options are sourced regionally and vary by locations)
- Oatmeal (no milk, prepared with water)
- Veggie Salad (no chicken, sub vegan dressing)
- House Salad (sub vegan dressing)
- New Mexico Burrito or Bowl (no meat, no cheese, no queso sauce; see additional topping options below)
- Broccoli Florets
- Crispy Breakfast Potatoes
- French Fries (no seasoning salt – contains sugar processed with bone char)
- Fresh Fruit
- Grits
- Hash Browns
- Plant-Based Sausauge (see Sausage Note below)
- Rice & Barley Medley
Vegan Topping Options: Hash Brown, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Sautéed Green Peppers & Onions, Sautéed Mushrooms, Sautéed Spinach, Tomato, Avocado, Fire Roasted Poblano Salsa, Roasted Poblano, Red Peppers & Onion
Vegan Salad Dressings: Oil & Vinegar on request; additional options might be available regionally.
Plant-Based Note: On the allergen menu, IHOP lists the plant-based sausage as containing milk, but the company has stated that they are vegan, and the ingredients appear to be dairy-free. According to the company, “The milk allergen is marked off on the allergen guide because of a potential substitution that occurred a few months ago. The current product does not contain milk.”
Heads Up! Please use caution with online IHOP vegan guides. Some might show a current date, but they have outdated menu information and list items that actually contain milk. There is an official IHOP vegan menu. We used that information, and have added additional suggestions.
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Where to Find IHOP
There are over 1800 IHOP locations internationally. See the website below for addresses, hours, and online ordering.
Website: www.ihop.com
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