First Watch vs IHOP: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated October 15, 2026 3 items matched

The short answer

IHOP is the cheaper of the two. Of the 3 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, IHOP is cheaper on 2 of them, by an average of $1.40 per item.

Typical menu price: First Watch $11.49 · IHOP $12.49

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — First Watch's wording first.

Item	First Watch	IHOP	Difference
Floridian French Toastvs Original French Toast	$12.99	$11.49	$1.50 cheaper at IHOP
Belgian Waffle	$11.99	$11.29	$0.70 cheaper at IHOP
Cinnamon Crusted French Toastvs Cinnamon Roll French Toast	$11.49	$13.49	$2.00 cheaper at First Watch

Make First Watch and IHOP at Home

Whichever of the two wins on price, cooking the favorites at home beats both. These are the sauces, mixes and kitchen tools that get closest to the real thing.

Waffle Maker Diner-style waffles on a Sunday morning. Check price on Amazon Electric Griddle Pancakes, eggs and bacon for the whole family at once. Check price on Amazon Copycat Restaurant Recipes Cookbooks that recreate chain-restaurant favorites. Check price on Amazon

First Watch vs IHOP at a Glance

	First Watch	IHOP
Typical menu price	$11.49	$12.49
Average menu price	$10.32	$11.57
Cheapest item	Breakfast Potatoes — $3.99	Coffee (bottomless) — $3.79
Most expensive item	Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict — $16.99	Sirloin Tips & Eggs — $18.99
Items priced	43	41
Menu sections	7	6
Price range	$$	$$
Founded	1983	1958
Headquarters	Bradenton, Florida	Pasadena, California
Locations	About 600 restaurants in more than 30 states	About 1,650 restaurants in the U.S. and internationally

Which One Should You Order From?

First Watch has the lower typical menu price of the two — $11.49 against $12.49 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, IHOP gets you in cheaper at $3.79.

First Watch is strongest on Million Dollar Bacon, Avocado Toast, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes; IHOP on Original Buttermilk Pancakes, Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity, Breakfast Sampler. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

First Watch

Two Eggs Your Way at about $9.99 is the cheapest complete plate; adding a single pancake ($4.99) still costs less than most skillets.
Project Sunrise coffee is bottomless at about $3.99, so a coffee drinker pays less here than for two cups at a coffee chain.
Instead of a Million Dollar Bacon entrée, order a $10.99–$12.99 plate and share one $5.99 side of Million Dollar Bacon at the table.

IHOP

All You Can Eat Pancakes returns several times a year and is the best value IHOP ever offers — usually around the price of a full stack.
The 55+ menu is available all day to guests 55 and older and runs roughly $2 to $4 below the standard versions of the same dishes.
Coffee and soft drinks are bottomless, so a single drink charge covers the whole meal.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

First Watch vs IHOP — FAQ

Is First Watch cheaper than IHOP in 2026?

IHOP is cheaper on most matched items — 2 of 3. Across the whole menu First Watch is the lower-priced of the two, at $11.49 for a typical item against $12.49 at IHOP.

What is the price difference between First Watch and IHOP?

On matched items the average difference is $1.40, or about 11% overall. First Watch averages $10.32 across 43 priced items; IHOP averages $11.57 across 41.

Which has the cheaper entry price, First Watch or IHOP?

First Watch starts at $3.99 (Breakfast Potatoes) and IHOP at $3.79 (Coffee (bottomless)).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.