Applebee's vs IHOP Menu Guide
A quick comparison of two major Dine Brands restaurant concepts.
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.
Menu Focus
Applebee's menu strength is in burgers, chicken, steaks, appetizers, and specials like 2 for $25. IHOP's strength is pancakes, omelettes, breakfast combos, and family breakfast bundles. Applebee's generally has more dinner and cocktail options, while IHOP has broader breakfast and brunch variety.
Typical Pricing Pattern
Applebee's entrees commonly sit in a mid-range casual dining bracket, with deal pages like happy hour and 2 for $25 delivering better value. IHOP pricing usually emphasizes bundled breakfast combos and lower individual check averages for breakfast-heavy orders. Both brands can vary by location.
Which One to Choose
If you want a dinner-style menu with appetizers and drinks, Applebee's is typically the better fit. If you want breakfast-first options, pancakes, and all-day breakfast comfort food, IHOP is usually the better fit. For family groups, both can work, but menu preference is the deciding factor.
Related Guides
Use this site for full Applebee's category coverage and item pages. For IHOP-specific menus and pricing, visit the sister guide below.