• by Teresa Buyikian , February 25, 2025

National Pancake Day, a “holiday” since 2005, often brings deals from every fast-casual chain that serves the sweet hot-off-the-griddle anytime treat. But this year one chain is upping the stakes, or cakes, considerably, in the hopes of gaining entry into the Guinness World Book of Records.

This week IHOP announced it would be commemorating the 20^th anniversary of National Pancake Day on Mar. 1 by holding its own “20K for Pancake Day.” The goal of the day is to serve 20,000 pancakes to attendees at the Santa Monica Pier just outside Los Angeles from 9 a.m. to 5 p. m.PST. If successful, IHOP will win the Guinness World Records title for the “Most Pancakes Served in an Eight-Hour Period.”

Taking place on the picturesque pier featured in hundreds of films and TV shows such as “Barbie” and “Baywatch,” IHOP’s Chef Art Carl and others on his team will serve the brand’s free pancakes to attendees. The brand will donate $1 to Feeding America for each pancake served during event, which will directly benefit the Los Angeles Food Bank.

Those pancake enthusiasts across the country that can’t make it to Santa Monica Pier event won’t miss out on the celebrations, though. On the actual National Pancake Day on Mar. 3, IHOP customers can also get a free Short Stack from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. In store customers will also be invited to round up their check or make an on-check donation to Feed America from Mar. 1 to Mar. 31.

The current record holder for Most Pancakes Served in an Eight Hour Period is held by the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada, with 17,182 pancakes. The Calgary Stampede isn’t a quirky name for a pancake house; it is a literal yearly stampede of more than 7,500 animals, including horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, donkeys, goats and poultry, that began in the city in 1923. Along with the annual event, bystanders often dined on pancakes, comprising the traditional Stampede Breakfast still held today, per the organization’s website.