By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
IHOP has launched a limited-edition menu as part of a promotional licensing partnership for Warner Bros. Pictures’ new feature film, Wonka.
IHOP (aka the International House of Pancakes) is a global restaurant chain that offers food and beverage items based on American cuisine.
While IHOP is best known for its extensive menu of breakfast and brunch dishes, the restaurant chain also offers a wide selection of meals for both lunch and dinner.
There are currently more than 1,700 IHOP restaurant locations operating across the globe by affiliates of IHOP’s parent company Dine Brands Global.
“IHOP has established itself as a highly creative and collaborative theatrical partner in the family dining category, and the latest Wonka menu is the brand’s most creative partnership yet,” said IHOP CMO, Kieran Donahue. “Every good thing in this world started with a dream, and we are excited to continue serving more joy to more people every day and bringing families together for breakfast, lunch or dinner with this innovative menu of original items, inspired by the story of Willy Wonka.”
Licensed and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, the Wonka feature film is intended to serve as a prequel to Roald Dahl’s popular novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The film follows the adventures of a young Willy Wonka as he works toward his dream of changing the world with his eccentric inventions and sugary creations.
IHOP’s licensed Wonka menu includes nine exclusive food and beverage offerings that are designed to fit the theme of pure imagination.
The Wonka menu features seven inventive food items including Wonka’s Perfectly Purple Pancakes, Hoverchoc Pancake Tacos, Daydream Berry Biscuits, Willy’s Junior French Toast Dippers, Fantastical Wonka Burgers and a Junior Magical Breakfast Medley.
Wonka’s Perfectly Purple Pancakes features purple-colored buttermilk pancakes layered with creamy cheesecake mousse and topped with purple cream cheese icing, whipped topping and glittery golden sugar.
The Hoverchoc Pancake Tacos item includes three chocolate pancakes that are folded and filled with a mix of chocolate chips, cheesecake mousse, sliced strawberries and chocolate drizzle.
IHOP’s Daydream Berry Biscuit features a flaky buttermilk biscuit that is filled with cheesecake mousse and a mixed berry topping and finished with a purple cream cheese icing and powdered sugar topping.
Willy’s Jr. French Toast Dippers is a children’s sized menu item that includes French toast slices with a side of fresh strawberries, bananas and chocolate dipping sauce.
The Fantastical Wonka Burger features a patty made from 100% USDA Choice Black Angus beef steakburger served on a brioche bun. The burger is then topped with fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, a four-cheese blend, avocado, two strips of bacon, fried hash browns, IHOP sauce and a drizzle of ranch dressing.
Finally, the Jr. Magical Breakfast Medley is a kid’s menu offering that includes one Wonka’s Perfectly Purple Pancake, alongside single portions of scrambled egg, bacon strip and pork sausage.
The menu also include two sugary-sweet Wonka-themed drinks called Scrumdiddlyumptious Strawberry Hot Chocolate and Dreamy Lemonade.
Scrumdiddlyumptious Strawberry Hot Chocolate is a decadent hot chocolate beverage that is flavored with strawberry syrup and topped with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and gold glitter sugar.
Dreamy Lemonade is a prickly pear-flavored lemonade beverage that is served with a cream cheese icing rainbow sprinkle rim and topped with a cloud of pink cotton candy.
IHOP’s limited-edition Wonka-themed menu is available at participating IHOP restaurants throughout North America until Jan. 7, 2024.
As an additional promotional incentive, children that are 12 years old and under can receive a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entrée every day between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. at participating IHOP locations.
The Wonka movie launches in theaters and IMAX internationally on Dec. 6, 2023, with a North American release scheduled for Dec. 15.
The film was co-produced by Village Roadshow Pictures, Heyday Films and The Roald Dahl Story Company in association with Warner Bros. Pictures.
Simon Farnaby and Paul King were responsible for the screenplay, which was based on an original story by King and characters created by the late children’s author Roald Dahl.