- I tried value meals at Chili’s and Applebee’s to see which one was a better deal.
- Chili’s 3-For-Me included bottomless chips and salsa and could be upgraded with a classic margarita.
- Applebee’s chicken sandwich was heartier, but the lunchtime deal didn’t feel like a better value.
Casual dining chains like Chili’s and Applebee’s are trying to lure customers in with deals as the “value wars” continue.
I tried Chili’s 3-For-Me — which included an appetizer, a drink, and an entrée — and Applebee’s $12.99 lunch deal, which included the choice of a burger or chicken sandwich and a bottomless soda, to see which chain offered the best value combo meal.
John Peyton, the CEO of Dine Brands, which owns Applebee’s, told Business Insider in February that the chain will be thinking a lot about value in 2025.
“It’s important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that value’s got a very specific definition for us, which is great food, a really generous portion, and great service at an accessible price,” he said.
George Felix, the chief marketing officer at Chili’s, had a similar outlook when he spoke with BI in January.
“You’re seeing a lot of competitors throwing different combo meals and meal deals out there at different price points, but I think what’s really hard to replicate is we’re delivering all of that, combined with a really excellent experience,” he said.
“I think a lot of brands mistake the lowest price point for being [the best] value, and I don’t think that’s giving consumers enough credit,” Felix continued. “So for us, we believe value is the entire holistic experience of what you pay for what you get.”
When I tried meals from the two chains, I thought both delivered on flavor, but Chili’s edged out Applebee’s with its portion size, option to upgrade the deal, and its addition of bottomless chips and salsa.
Here’s what you get in both chains’ value meals.
