<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF IHOP CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 3,616 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 23,438 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,091 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 30,411 <PP&E> 96,060 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 269,787 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,273 <BONDS> 105,497 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 95 <OTHER-SE> 116,623 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 269,787 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 84,757 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 51,323 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,870 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,389 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,282 <INCOME-TAX> 4,851 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,431 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,431 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.78 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.78