If you like pancakes (duh, who doesn’t?) and you’re one of those people who believes breakfast for dinner is the right way to live, Friday, Sept. 26, is your day. It’s National Pancake Day, and chains everywhere will be serving cheap stacks and freebies. Find out where to find the best National Pancake deals and freebies at restaurants near you.
What Is National Pancake Day?
It may sound like a made-up marketing holiday (and technically it is), but National Pancake Day has stuck around long enough to become a regular calendar event. IHOP began its own version in 2006 as a way to give away pancakes and raise money for charity, and the tradition has since grown. There are actually two National Pancake Days each year: IHOP’s event in late February or early March, and the Sept. 26 celebration that started in 2005.
For 2025, the fall National Pancake Day falls on Friday, Sept. 26, and here are some chains that offer deals.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel is celebrating with a $5 all-you-can-eat pancake deal on Friday, Sept. 26.
If you miss the main event, the chain is also keeping pancakes on the menu through October with a football-themed twist. Customers who wear a football jersey or show a same-day game ticket stub can get a free side of pancakes with any entrée purchase.
Farmer Boys
Farmer Boys is offering a pancake deal through its VIF loyalty program. Members can get a Hot Cakes Platter or Chocolate Chip Hot Cakes Platter for $7 on Thursday, Sept. 25, and Friday, Sept. 26.
The promotion varies by region, so checking the Farmer Boys app or Instagram before heading out is a good idea.
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
Perkins is running a National Pancake Day contest with a year of free pancakes as the grand prize. To enter, you need to like the Perkins post on Facebook or Instagram, follow the account, and tag someone you’d want to eat pancakes with.
They’re also making it fun in-store. On Friday, Sept. 26, if you show up in pajamas at participating locations, you’ll get a free small stack of two buttermilk pancakes with any purchase. Mention the holiday at checkout and you’ll also score an extra contest entry. The dine-in deal is limited to one order per guest.
Corner Bakery Café
Corner Bakery Café is offering any pancake for $4.99 on Friday, Sept. 26, at participating locations. The deal is available all day, but it’s dine-in only, so you’ll need to secure a table to receive the discount.
“We’re excited to do something special for National Pancake Day. Our pancakes are one of our guests’ favorite items on the menu,” said Erin Hasselgreen, president of Corner Bakery Café.
The chain is also debuting Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pancakes — layered with cheesecake filling, caramel apples, and caramel sauce — alongside returning favorites like Berries & Cream. The offer is dine-in only at participating cafés.
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Sugar Factory
Sugar Factory is leaning into the over-the-top side of Pancake Day. For the day, the chain will feature specialty stacks like Banana Strawberry Pancakes, Chocolate Covered Oreo Cookie Pancakes, and the Insane Double Stack Rainbow Pancakes. The rainbow version comes in every color and is topped with a rubber duck, making it the most Instagram-ready option of the day.
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