Applebee's vs IHOP Menu Comparison

Applebee's and IHOP are both part of Dine Brands Global, but they serve different dining intents. Applebee's focuses on lunch, dinner, drinks, and bar-centric casual meals. IHOP is centered on breakfast, pancakes, and all-day breakfast value. If you are choosing between them, the right pick usually depends on time of day and meal type. Both chains have over 1,600 US locations each making them two of the largest full-service restaurant brands in the country.

Applebee's vs IHOP: Side by Side Comparison

When to Choose Applebee's Over IHOP

Choose Applebee's when you want a full bar experience with cocktails and beer, when you are craving steaks, ribs, or sizzling skillet dishes, when you want to use the 2 for $25 value deal for two diners, or when you want happy hour half price appetizers. Applebee's is the stronger choice for lunch and dinner occasions, sports viewing at the bar, and group dining events. The 2 for $25 deal is especially good value giving two people a shared appetizer and two entrees that would normally cost $35 to $47 purchased separately (prices may vary by location).

When to Choose IHOP Over Applebee's

Choose IHOP when you want an all-day breakfast experience with pancakes, omelettes, waffles, and crepes. IHOP has a significantly stronger breakfast menu with over 15 pancake varieties compared to Applebee's very limited breakfast selection. IHOP is also the better choice for family breakfast outings and for anyone using the IHOPPY Hour deal which runs from 2PM to 10PM daily for discounted items, giving a longer happy hour window than Applebee's 3PM to 7PM schedule. IHOP's breakfast combos like the 2x2x2 at around $14.99 give generous portions at reasonable prices.

Price Comparison: Applebee's vs IHOP

For dinner, Applebee's generally offers better value with the 2 for $25 deal saving $10 to $22 versus ordering separately. Applebee's burgers from $13.99 compete well against IHOP's limited burger menu. For breakfast, IHOP is more affordable with pancakes starting at $9.29 for a short stack versus Applebee's very limited breakfast options. Both chains have comparable kids menu pricing starting around $6.99 to $7.59 per meal including a side and drink. Applebee's happy hour offers half price appetizers from 3PM to 7PM while IHOPPY Hour runs 2PM to 10PM with discounted items (prices may vary by location).

What Applebee's Has That IHOP Does Not

Applebee's offers several menu categories that IHOP does not have including steaks from $17.99, slow-cooked Double-Glazed Baby Back Ribs from $24.99, sizzling Bourbon Street skillets, a full bar at every location with signature cocktails, and the 2 for $25 two-person value deal. Applebee's appetizer menu with 13 shareable options from $6.99 is far more extensive than IHOP's starter options. The handcrafted burger lineup at Applebee's with nine distinct burger options significantly outmatches IHOP's limited burger selection.

Conclusion: Which Restaurant to Choose

The choice between Applebee's and IHOP comes down to what meal you want. For lunch and dinner with appetizers, burgers, steaks, ribs, and cocktails, Applebee's is the clear winner. For breakfast any time of day with pancakes, waffles, omelettes, and crepes, IHOP is the better choice. For families with mixed preferences, Applebee's offers a wider range of dinner options while IHOP excels at breakfast and brunch. Since both are owned by Dine Brands Global, you can expect consistent service standards from both chains with similar price points in the casual dining category.