Breakfast chains in the United States:Which are most popular?
In September 2026, IHOP was the most searched breakfast chain in the United States, accounting for 27.9% of all searches among the seven chains we track. When we checked with ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews, IHOP, Cracker Barrel and Denny's showed up in every answer. Cracker Barrel was recommended most often, though no response put it first.
IHOPShare of searches 27.9%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
First WatchShare of searches 22.8%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Waffle HouseShare of searches 22.8%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Cracker BarrelShare of searches 12.5%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Denny'sShare of searches 8.3%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
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Top breakfast chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions, IHOP, Cracker Barrel and Denny's appeared every time. Cracker Barrel was recommended most often, though no answer put it first. First Watch was second, and IHOP was third.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Cracker Barrel1st
- First Watch2nd
- IHOP3rd
- Waffle House4th
- The Original Pancake House5th
- Denny's6th
Bob Evans7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- IHOP3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Cracker Barrel3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Denny's3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- First Watch2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Waffle House2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- The Original Pancake House2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Bob Evans1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about breakfast chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which breakfast chain is the best in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best breakfast restaurant chains in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which diner chain in the US has the best pancakes?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“breakfast places”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best breakfast”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Which breakfast chains do people search for most?
This chart shows how often people search Google for each breakfast chain by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven breakfast chains we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for IHOP, First Watch, Waffle House, Cracker Barrel, Denny's, Bob Evans. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | IHOP | First Watch | Waffle House | Cracker Barrel | Denny's | Bob Evans | The Original Pancake House |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24.4% | 16.3% | 19.9% | 13.3% | 19.9% | 4.9% | 1.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 27.1% | 14.9% | 18.2% | 14.9% | 18.2% | 5.4% | 1.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 27% | 14.8% | 22.1% | 12.1% | 18.1% | 4.5% | 1.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 25.2% | 16.9% | 20.6% | 11.3% | 20.6% | 4.1% | 1.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 27.5% | 18.4% | 18.4% | 12.3% | 18.4% | 3.7% | 1.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 30% | 20.1% | 20.1% | 11% | 13.5% | 4% | 1.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 27.8% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 12.4% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 1.4% |
| May 2026 | 26.4% | 26.4% | 21.6% | 11.8% | 7.9% | 4.3% | 1.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 27.8% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 12.4% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 27.8% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 12.4% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 27.8% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 12.4% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 1.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 27.9% | 22.8% | 22.8% | 12.5% | 8.3% | 4.6% | 1.1% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 27.9% | 4.1M | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 22.8% | 3.4M | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 22.8% | 3.4M | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 12.5% | 1.8M | 0% | 0 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 8.3% | 1.2M | 0% | 0 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 4.6% | 673K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 1.1% | 165K | -17.9% | -0.2 points |
1.
IHOP27.9%
Held 1st. 4.1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
22.8%
Held 2nd. 3.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
22.8%
Held 3rd. 3.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
12.5%
Held 4th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
5.
Denny's8.3%
Held 5th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
4.6%
Held 6th. 673K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Held 7th. 165K estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
Which brand is most popular in search among breakfast chains in the United States?
7 brands
In September 2026, IHOP was the most searched among breakfast chains in the United States, with an estimated 4.1M branded searches, 27.9% of all searches for the seven we track. First Watch is in 2nd place, 5 percentage points behind at 22.8%.
| Brand | Share of searches | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IHOP | 24.4% → 27.9% | 30%Mar 2026 | 24.4%Oct 2025 | 1st |
| First Watch | 16.3% → 22.8% | 26.4%May 2026 | 14.8%Dec 2025 | 4th → 2nd |
| Waffle House | 19.9% → 22.8% | 22.8%Sep 2026 | 18.2%Nov 2025 | 3rd |
| Cracker Barrel | 13.3% → 12.5% | 14.9%Nov 2025 | 11%Mar 2026 | 5th → 4th |
| Denny's | 19.9% → 8.3% | 20.6%Jan 2026 | 7.9%May 2026 | 2nd → 5th |
| Bob Evans | 4.9% → 4.6% | 5.4%Nov 2025 | 3.7%Feb 2026 | 6th |
| The Original Pancake House | 1.2% → 1.1% | 1.6%May 2026 | 1.1%Sep 2026 | 7th |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IHOP’s share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States increased from 24.4% to 27.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, First Watch’s share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States increased from 16.3% to 22.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Waffle House’s share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States increased from 19.9% to 22.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cracker Barrel’s share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States decreased from 13.3% to 12.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Denny's’ share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States decreased from 19.9% to 8.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, IHOP’s share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States peaked at 30% in March 2026 and was lowest at 24.4% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, First Watch’s share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States peaked at 26.4% in May 2026 and was lowest at 14.8% in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Waffle House’s share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States peaked at 22.8% in September 2026 and was lowest at 18.2% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cracker Barrel’s share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States peaked at 14.9% in November 2025 and was lowest at 11% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Denny's’ share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States peaked at 20.6% in January 2026 and was lowest at 7.9% in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bob Evans’ share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States peaked at 5.4% in November 2025 and was lowest at 3.7% in February 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, First Watch rose from 4th to 2nd among breakfast chains in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cracker Barrel rose from 5th to 4th among breakfast chains in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Denny's fell from 2nd to 5th among breakfast chains in the United States.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bob Evans and The Original Pancake House held steady: their share of searches among breakfast chains in the United States each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States breakfast chains in September 2026?
5 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for First Watch in the United States rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 2.7M to 3.4M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Denny's in the United States fell 63.6% over 12 measured months, from 3.4M to 1.2M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Cracker Barrel in the United States fell 18.3% over 12 measured months, from 2.2M to 1.8M in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Bob Evans in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 823K to 673K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for The Original Pancake House in the United States fell 17.9% over 12 measured months, from 201K to 165K in September 2026.
Compare popularity between leading brands
- IHOP vs First Watch: compare popularity
- IHOP vs Waffle House: compare popularity
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- First Watch vs Cracker Barrel: compare popularity
- First Watch vs Denny's: compare popularity
- Waffle House vs Cracker Barrel: compare popularity
- Waffle House vs Denny's: compare popularity
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- Compare any of these brands
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