Applebee’s Hack: How to Get a Full Meal For an Unbelievable Price

Amid soaring restaurant costs, a devoted customer and ex-employee of Applebee’s has shared an insider trick that could help you savor a burger, fries, and a beverage for only $7.

Food blogger Kayleigh L’Eon is showing people how this simple hack is done.

Initially, the video shows her requesting an Applebee’s traditional cheeseburger with fries, priced at $12.99. The meal arrives in a standard takeout container, with the burger occupying a significant portion of it, while a generous helping of fries is neatly packed alongside.

Following that, she requests a children’s cheeseburger from Applebee’s, accompanied by fries, and this meal includes a beverage – all for $6.99. Remarkably, it arrives in a standard takeout container, with the burger occupying the same space as the adult version, and an equal portion of fries! Additionally, you receive a drink as part of the deal.

If there are any uncertainties, she positions both items before the camera, enabling viewers to assess their dimensions side by side. In the process, she even momentarily forgets which one is which.

So for half of the price, you get what looks to be the same exact meal, plus a drink. What gives?

The video has spread rapidly, amassing over a million views, and the comment area is overflowing with opinions – some confirming, others disputing – about an alleged clever trick for Applebee’s, as claimed by the poster.

A previous employee of Applebee’s appears to back up her statement by writing: “As someone who used to work at Applebee’s, I can assure you there’s absolutely no difference.

In simpler terms, it means that when a customer orders either a standard classic cheeseburger or a children’s version of it, the kitchen staff don’t prepare anything differently.

Additionally, there are individuals in the comment section expressing frustration towards the food blogger for exploiting the restaurant or eatery.

According to some people, this trick has been successful in certain Applebee’s restaurants, but not all. Still, it’s an approach worth giving a shot.

Popular Restaurants That Have Faded Away

All-Star Cafe

The global triumph of Hard Rock Cafe led to a trend of imitation themed eateries. However, restaurants modeled after trinkets proved less durable than those centered around tasty cuisine, and most of Hard Rock’s competitors faded away within a few years.

One notable instance is the Official All-Star Cafe, a spin-off from the Planet Hollywood chain, but instead of movie stars, it was supported by sports legends such as Shaquille O’Neal, Ken Griffey Jr., and Wayne Gretzky. The initial location opened in New York City in 1995, yet the chain failed to thrive. It could be that people often associate sporting events with overpriced, unappealing food that might have contributed to its downfall. The chain ceased operations in 2007.

Beefsteak Charlie’s

Over time, a restaurant in New York City grew significantly and became well-known across the Tri-State area with numerous branches. Their ads promoting their steaks and endless salad bar were common sights on TV. The chain and its catchphrase “You’re gonna get spoiled!” were lampooned in an early sketch of Saturday Night Live, titled “Pre-Chewed Charlie’s.” Despite having a strong brand identity, the chain eventually struggled and ultimately closed down completely in the late 2000s.

Burger Chef

Back in the day when I first witnessed the magic of the original “Star Wars” on the big screen, you wouldn’t find any tie-ins with the mighty McDonald’s. Instead, it was Burger Chef, a burger chain that boasted over 1,000 restaurants during its peak in the ’70s, who partnered up. Although they faced a decline through the ’80s, Burger Chef remains a significant player in fast food history. They introduced their “Funmeal,” which was essentially their Happy Meal, more than five years prior to McDonald’s!

Chi-Chi’s

In the 1970s and 1980s, a restaurant chain named Chi-Chi’s flourished, taking its name from one of its founders’ wives. By the 1990s, the company boasted over 200 locations, with Hormel Foods licensing their name for popular lines of tortilla chips and salsas. Today, these products can still be found on grocery store shelves, but the restaurants themselves ceased operations by the mid-2000s – a period not long after they were associated with a significant hepatitis outbreak. (It appears that people generally prefer to avoid eating at restaurants linked to such health concerns.)

Dive!

Steven Spielberg: Renowned film director and at one point, sandwich maker too? Indeed, for a brief period in the ’90s, Spielberg ran his own Los Angeles sandwich shop called Dive!, known for its underwater theme with a massive yellow submarine outside. The menu at Dive! boasted unique items like a soft shell crab sandwich and a “Nuclear Sicilian Sub Rosa,” whatever that might be. However, despite opening another Dive! in Las Vegas, both restaurants ultimately closed by the early 2000s.

Don Pablo’s

Back in the late ’90s, if you weren’t dining at a Chi-Chi’s, chances are you were enjoying a meal at Don Pablo’s, one of the country’s second-largest Mexican and Tex-Mex chains. However, much like a well-loved movie that disappears from the silver screen, its success didn’t endure. Regardless of its extensive menu offering everything from tacos to fajitas, the corporation behind Don Pablo’s faced financial difficulties in the 2000s and, sadly, the last location closed its doors as recently as 2019.

Fashion Cafe

At approximately the same period as the All-Star Cafe, a cluster of top models agreed to spearhead a Fashion Cafe chain. Regrettably, this venture didn’t thrive significantly, despite being supported by Elle Macpherson and Naomi Campbell, among others. The menu, claimed to span across seven pages, also couldn’t prevent its downfall. The main branch in New York City was operational for only three years before it shut down.

At around the same time as the All-Star Cafe, a group of supermodels tried managing a Fashion Cafe chain with Elle Macpherson and Naomi Campbell’s support, but it lasted just three years in New York City despite having a seven-page menu.

The Ground Round

Originally derived from the successful Howard Johnson’s hotel and restaurant chain, The Ground Round was renowned for its extensive menu of classic American dishes, along with the complimentary basket of popcorn that greeted you at your table upon seating. Initially boasting over 200 locations, the brand faced challenges in the intensifying casual dining industry and ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2004. Though the chain has largely ceased operations, a few independent Ground Rounds persist – primarily in North Dakota. If you find yourself in the vicinity and craving Cajun tortellini or Caribbean sizzling sirloin tips, try conducting a Google search. I can only hope they continue to offer popcorn as well.

Howard Johnson’s

Over the years, the original owners of Ground Round, Howard Johnson’s, have not fared any better. Although they still manage numerous hotels, they were once the leading restaurant chain in the nation and their restaurant business is now defunct entirely; the last one shut down in 2022. If you’re interested in a quirky online exploration, search for Howard Johnson’s Children’s Menu to uncover some of the peculiar dishes they used to offer children, such as the “Humpty Dumpty,” which consisted of a “Small Tuna Fish Salad, Egg, and Tomato on Crisp Lettuce, Potato Chip Garnish, Roll, and Butter, Ice Cream, Sherbet or Gelatin” along with a drink for just 95 cents. Quite appetizing!

Kenny Rogers Roasters

In the 1990s, country music legend Kenny Rogers was famously associated with fast food after being featured on an episode of “Seinfeld” where both Kramer and Jerry became fans of his roaster chicken. Although the U.S. branches of Kenny’s Roasters have since shut down, they continue to thrive internationally, operating more than 100 locations worldwide. It might be time for Kramer and Jerry to plan a trip to Malaysia!

Lone Star Steakhouse

Among the distinctive traits of this steakhouse chain is that each table receives a bucket of roasted peanuts, and it’s even allowed to toss the empty shells on the floor. Kids find this amusing, though it might not be their parents’ favorite aspect of dining in a restaurant where the floor often appears dirty. It is said that only one Lone Star location remains open in Guam, while the rest have closed down and moved on.

This steakhouse chain is renowned for an unusual characteristic – every table gets served a bucket of roasted peanuts, and guests can even throw the empty shells on the floor. Kids seem to enjoy this mess-making privilege, although their parents might not be as thrilled about eating in a restaurant where the floor is usually dirty. Rumor has it that only one Lone Star outlet still operates in Guam, while the rest have vanished long ago.

Marvel Mania

Check out this fascinating piece of history. Here’s where Marvel stood three years prior to the release of X-Men. This was Marvel’s inaugural themed restaurant, nestled within Universal Studios Hollywood. To give you an idea, that’s what the Hulk character in costume looked like on their grand opening. The food at Marvel Mania (a place I really wanted my parents to take me) was disappointing, but the decor, featuring a life-sized Iron Man armor, was like a dream come true back then. Regrettably, the mediocre food seemed to outshine the cool Marvel collectibles, and the restaurant closed before a second branch could be established.

Morrison’s

Once upon a time, numerous Morrison’s Cafeterias dotted the American South, each boasting an array of options numbering in the dozens. I stumbled upon an old commercial on YouTube that showcased their fried shrimp, seafood au gratin, baked fillet, fried fish, fried scallops, blackened fillets, along with any two vegetables, bread, and butter. Quite a feast! In 1998, they were acquired by one of their rivals, Piccadilly, who shut down most of the outlets – except for one that remains operational in Mobile, Alabama. Does anyone have a craving for some seafood au gratin?

NASCAR Cafe

Instead of the allure of motor oil and diesel fuel’s scent being greater than anything else, it seems there’s quite a bit more appeal. This is evident in the persisting fame of NASCAR, yet the NASCAR Cafe didn’t last long, even with its premier location at the Sahara Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, featuring an exclusive roller coaster called Speed: The Ride. Regarding the food, none of the online menus I found show any racing-themed dishes, although the decor was truly impressive, boasting full-size stock cars lining the walls as part of a track.

Old Country Buffet

Many people enjoy dining at all-you-can-eat restaurants, particularly those with extensive menus and affordable prices. In the 1980s and ’90s, buffets boomed, with Old Country Buffet being one of the most successful chains. Regrettably, buffets struggled to adapt during pandemics as they couldn’t transition to a food delivery-driven world. Consequently, their once-enticing food troughs now appeared more like hazardous waste sites than attractive selling points. The corporate owners were forced to close Old Country Buffet, along with other chains such as HomeTown Buffet, in the early 2020s.

Showbiz Pizza Place

During the 1980s, two titans dominated the pizza/arcade industry: Chuck E. Cheese, still in existence today (albeit planning to retire their iconic animatronics), and Showbiz Pizza Place, famous for its unique animatronic animal band, The Rock-afire Explosion – a group that has such a passionate following, they even received a documentary in 2008. In the mid-1980s, Showbiz and Chuck E. Cheese merged, leading to the gradual disappearance of the Showbiz brand. As of now, the show has long ended its run.

2025-04-17 21:33