7 Overpriced Applebee's Menu Items, According To Diners

Offering affordable, good-quality food has long been part of Applebee's DNA. Well, at least, that's what it claims, anyway. The truth is, for some diners, the reality doesn't always match up to that promise. In fact, one of the most frequent customer complaints about the chain, which has more than 1,400 locations across the U.S., is that it doesn't actually offer good value for money at all. At least, not anymore.

On multiple occasions, people have compared Applebee's menu items to microwave meals. That might be passable for some if those items were being sold at microwave meal prices, but if you're paying more than $20 for an entree, well, it's a little more painful to say the least. One Redditor claimed: "I actually wouldn't even hate on [microwaved food] if it was priced accordingly. But it's not inexpensive ... Basically it's just not very good value for what they're charging."

So what are the most overpriced items at Applebee's that you should be avoiding? We combed social media and review platforms to find the menu items that diners think are just too expensive for what they are. Check out the findings from our investigation below.

The Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp has been on the menu at Applebee's for more than a decade, and for the most part, people like it. In fact, when our taste tester ranked Applebee's entrees in June 2026, they declared the Cajun-inspired dish as their number one, comparing it to a "premium steakhouse dish." But not everyone agrees that the Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp is much to write home about. In fact, some say it's overpriced and underwhelming.

In one post in the subreddit r/ExpectationVsReality, for example, one Applebee's customer shared a photo of their sad-looking takeout Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp versus the tantalizing image on the website. The title of the post, which has garnered 5,700 upvotes at the time of writing, reads: "My expectations were low Applebee's, but $22 for this? Wow." One commenter said,"My wife and I call Applebee's 'Microwaves.' I'm glad I'm not the only one that knows they obviously make microwave dinners and try to sell them for $20."

The Redditor isn't alone. Other customers have also noticed that the portion of Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp is seriously lacking for the money. In one post in a Facebook group for restaurants in Charlotte County, Florida, another frustrated customer claimed that their husband had been given a "very small piece of chicken" and four shrimp at Applebee's. They added, "$23.79 for his little tiny meal!!!!"

In 2016, Applebee's introduced American-made, wood-fired grills to its restaurants, alongside USDA choice top sirloin steaks. The idea, at the time, was to pull in more customers with premium hand-cut steaks, sold at chain restaurant prices, of course. But recently, Applebee's hasn't been winning over every customer with its sirloin. In fact, for some, the chain has actually been doing the opposite.

In a Facebook group for Hip Dickson, Tennessee, a customer complained about the size of the 6-Ounce Top Sirloin steak they'd received for delivery, posting an image of their hand next to the small-looking cut of meat for reference. "[I'm] not normally one to complain but Applebee's what is this?" they wrote. "$30 for what a .6oz steak...?" 

They added that they felt they had been given a much smaller steak than they'd ordered — despite the fact the 6 ounce is supposedly the smallest Top Sirloin on the menu. Many people chimed in on the post, which had more than 100 likes at the time of writing, claiming that they had stopped going to Applebee's due to similar complaints. "It's [Applebee's] my guy," said one commenter. "What do you expect?"

If you like steak, Applebee's is a pretty reliable option, as the chain offers three different choices: the aforementioned 6-Ounce Top Sirloin, as well as an 8-Ounce Top Sirloin and the Bourbon Street Steak. But if you like good value steak, well, not everyone agrees Applebee's is the place to go. Just like the 6-Ounce Top Sirloin, the Bourbon Street Steak has also pulled in a few complaints for being overpriced.

This dish features a Cajun-seasoned, 8-ounce sirloin steak, served with sauteed mushrooms, onions, and garlic mashed potatoes. But some people think this simply isn't enough for the cost. "It used to be a [great] steak, mashed potatoes and a vegetable (broccoli)," wrote one person on Trustpilot. "Somebody, somewhere decided to make it just a [steak] and potatoes, for $17."

The Bourbon Street Steak has been served with mushrooms, onions, and potatoes since 2011. However, this doesn't do much to mitigate some customers' concerns that the price is still too high for what you get. "If I am going to pay $17 for a steak I expect more than a piece of meat and potatoes," continued the reviewer. "I mean really, who makes these decisions?"

With seven different options on the menu, Applebee's is a pretty popular burger destination. While many people choose to keep it simple and opt for the Classic Cheeseburger, if you want value for money, this might not always be the best choice. In fact, some say this is a pretty overpriced choice.

One Facebook user, who posted in a group for the community of Cheyenne, Wyoming, for example, ordered an Applebee's Classic Cheeseburger for takeout and received a small portion of fries and a "$15 dollar burger" that was "literally the size of a small slider." The post racked up nearly 100 likes and more than 100 comments, many of which agreed that the option was overpriced for the portion size.

They're not alone in being frustrated about the size of their burger. Another post in the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, with 6,500 upvotes, shows a very small burger tucked inside a significantly larger bun at Applebee's. "I hope you did not pay for that," read one comment underneath the post. "That's a rip-off," another person added. When our taste-tester reviewed all of the burger options at Applebee's, they also weren't overly impressed with the Classic Cheeseburger. In fact, they called it "pretty boring."

Not everyone who eats at Applebee's wants to indulge in a steak or a burger. Sometimes, it's all about the salad. The chain offers several different options, including Blackened Shrimp Caesar Salad, Strawberry Balsamic Chicken Salad, and the simple Grilled Chicken Tender Salad, which, according to Applebee's, is a "hearty" choice. However, not everyone would agree with that phrasing.

"Please tell me how this is a $15 salad?" reads one Facebook post in a group for foodies in Waterloo, Iowa, above an image of what appears to be the Grilled Chicken Tender Salad in a takeout container. "I mean it's delicious but not worth $15." In the comments, dozens of people agreed that the salad appeared to be lacking in the substance to match the price. "You're paying more because of the name on the outside of the building," said one Facebook user. Another added, "About $5 value."

Applebee's has offered some form of Alfredo pasta on its menu since opening in the 1980s. For example, one of its original menus lists Fettucine Alfredo, with fettuccine, Parmesan sauce, bacon, and garlic bread, for $5.45. Of course, that sort of price for an entrée isn't common in most fast-casual chains today (thanks, inflation), but even with that said, some people think the price of the Alfredo has gotten a little out of hand at Applebee's.

The Fettuccine Alfredo is no longer available on the Applebee's menu. Instead, customers can order the Classic Broccoli Chicken Alfredo, which is very similar to the original, but with chicken instead of bacon and added broccoli. Depending on your location, the dish might set you back more than $20.

For some, that sort of price just isn't reasonable, especially given that you may not always be able to rely on quality food from the chain. "I was better off throwing a frozen Marie Callender's dinner in [the] microwave," reads one post in a Facebook group dedicated to restaurant complaints. "It tastes better and I would have saved $$$!"

In the summer of 2026, Applebee's decided to combine two popular menu items, the Chicken Wonton Tacos and the Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, to make something entirely new: Bacon Cheeseburger Wonton Tacos. And many customers were pretty pleased with the new offering. In fact, in a ranking of Applebee's appetizers, our taste-tester said they were "thrilled" with the mashup and thought the price was "reasonable." Of course, you know what we're going to say next: Not everyone agrees with that conclusion.

In one Facebook group devoted to food in Texarkana, Texas, one user said they were "shocked at how small they were." They continued, "Everything else was fine about my visit, but definitely not worth the $10.99." While some weren't surprised that the tacos were small, others agreed with the original poster's frustration. "[$2.50] each for some [Doritos] with some ground beef and pickles," commented one Facebook user. Another added, "Thanks for the heads-up...I sure won't try them at that price!!!"

Let's be honest: Leaving a restaurant feeling disappointed isn't fun. In this economy, we all want to make sure our money is spent on food that leaves us feeling full, satisfied, and, to put it bluntly, not ripped off. So, that's why we pulled together this list of overpriced menu items at Applebee's.

To come up with the list, we scoured social media groups and review platforms like Trustpilot to get a sense of the kind of menu items several people felt were a little (or a lot) on the pricey side. For the most part, we paid attention to the posts and reviews where people felt that the portion size didn't match the price, or where they felt disappointed with the quality of the food in general.

Of course, you might not agree and feel these prices will be worth it, and that's okay. We just want you to be informed that there's a chance you might receive, say, a tiny burger in a huge bun and feel ripped off. For some, it's a risk they're willing to take for an evening at Applebee's, but for others, it's a red flag and a sign to stay at home and switch on the oven (or, ahem, the microwave).