I visited Denny's for the first time after trying Cracker Barrel and IHOP. One chain had the best breakfast — and value.

I've now tried IHOP, Cracker Barrel, and Denny's. Denny's changed my mind about which breakfast chain has the best pancakes.Savannah BornI tried Denny's after it was recommended in the comments of my IHOP vs. Cracker Barrel comparison.I'd never been to Denny's, but its coffee, bacon, and ham easily beat the other chains for me.Denny's pancakes were the best thing I tried, and this chain felt like the best value.Clearly, I'm on a breakfast kick.Last week, I visited Cracker Barrel and IHOP to compare signature breakfasts for Business Insider. I concluded that both offered value, but in terms of taste, IHOP won most categories. That said, there was only one item per chain that I'd actually go back for.I was content with my findings — until I read comments from BI readers singing Denny's praises, some of whom wanted to know my thoughts on the breakfast chain.Honestly, I'd never been. And I was going to find out. Denny's has been around for decades. This past year, it made headlines for going private and appointing a new CEO.Savannah BornDenny's is a California-founded chain known for its classic American diner experience, select 24-hour locations, and all-day breakfast menu, specifically its trademarked Slam meals.What started as a single doughnut shop in 1953 is now a massive operation with over 1,450 locations worldwide.In late 2025, Denny's Corporation agreed to be acquired in a $620 million deal that took the company private in early 2026. The deal included both Denny's and Keke's Breakfast Cafe, the smaller chain Denny's acquired in 2022.The company had been publicly traded for decades, and the shift followed struggles to boost sales and plans for widespread store closures.A few months later, in April, Denny's appointed Christopher Bode, the chain's former president and COO, as president and CEO.He stepped in to lead the brand's so-called transformation with "Project Grand Slam," a 24-month turnaround plan focused on pillars like remodels and culinary innovation."With Project Grand Slam, we aren't just changing the menu," Bode said in a press release. "We are changing our trajectory."Time will tell if the rebranding project is, well, a grand slam. But in the meantime, I wanted to see if a chain I'd driven by a thousand times was actually worth a stop — especially when options like IHOP and Cracker Barrel are also on the table. The Denny's I visited had subtle diner vibes.Savannah BornWhen I hear "diner," I usually think of checkered floors, chrome finishes, bright-red accents, and vinyl booths.Denny's had the old-school booths, but instead of tile, metal, and red, it had cherry-wood-looking floors and burgundy accents. Some elements, like the neon signs, still felt distinctly retro.To me, it felt diner-adjacent, bridging retro and modern elements.The decor didn't scream "diner" to me, but the menu sure did.Savannah BornOpening my menu, I found an impressive lineup of pancakes, crepes, skillets, omelets, and the chain's iconic Grand Slam breakfast platters.I felt Denny's breakfast section had more variety than Cracker Barrel's, which leans Southern and is missing some classics, but a little less than IHOP's, which has an especially impressive array of sweet options.The chain also offered plenty of comfort meals like fried chicken, pot-roast sandwiches, and spaghetti and meatballs. However, I was here for breakfast.I ordered coffee and a build-your-own Grand Slam.Savannah BornTo best match my orders at Cracker Barrel and IHOP, I built my own Grand Slam for $11.99.It came with four items of my choosing, plus up to two additional items for a charge, ranging from $1.29 to $2.29 for more premium options.I picked bacon strips, sausage links, scrambled eggs, and buttermilk pancakes, all served in pairs. I added grilled ham, a premium side, for an extra $2.29.With my $3.29 coffee, the order came to $17.57.Coffee started my meal off right.Savannah BornI felt Cracker Barrel's coffee leaned weak and IHOP's basic, so I didn't anticipate much from Denny's.Yet, it surprised me with a bold profile and a smooth, non-acidic finish. I appreciated the flavorful taste — and the bottomless refills.Denny's pancakes really put the "cake" in pancakes.Savannah BornThe first thing I noticed about Denny's pancakes: They appeared even thicker than IHOP's (and therefore Cracker Barrel's, which were quite thin). Cutting in, they also seemed fluffier.Denny's pancakes had a spongy-turned-pillowy bite that melted in my mouth, almost like actual cake. They even smelled like a birthday cake.The buttermilk and vanilla flavors came through, and with understated sweetness, the texture shone. Denny's pancakes were easily the highlight of the meal, and given their volume, they certainly felt satisfying.My scrambled eggs looked like an omelet.Savannah BornDense and firm, Denny's scrambled eggs lacked the soft, airy texture that typically defines the preparation. They made me wonder if my server accidentally brought out an omelet.However, the eggs

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