I ordered the same breakfast at Cracker Barrel and IHOP. Both offered value, but only one dominated most categories.

For years, I’ve watched breakfast-serving giants IHOP and Cracker Barrel make big industry moves.

Back in June 2018, the International House of Pancakes was in the hot seat for its divisive “IHOb” campaign, where it temporarily rebranded to focus on burgers. It led to mixed reactions on social media, but did appear to boost burger sales.

Meanwhile, Cracker Barrel’s most recent rebrand attempt was arguably more controversial and less fruitful.

In August 2025, as part of a broader turnaround plan, the chain modernized its logo by removing its signature “old timer” character and rustic barrel.

After about a week of intense customer backlash, the…