Applebee’s Announces Half-Off Burger Mondays. Here’s What You’ll Get

Applebee’s has announced its latest in-store promotion to encourage customers to come through its doors. For a limited time, the fast-casual dining chain is offering a buy-one, get-one half-off promotion in what some are calling the restaurant’s latest salvo in the ongoing fast-food wars. Let’s take a look at what we know about this latest promotion.

Applebee’s: Buy One Burger, Get One for Half Off

In an official press release shared with RetailWire, it was revealed that burger enthusiasts can receive a half-priced second burger every Monday from Aug. 12 to Sept. 9 when they buy any burger from Applebee’s. Guests who order pickup or delivery through the Applebee’s app or website and use the code “BURGERS” are eligible for this special discount, which is valid for a short period of time.

There are plenty of juicy burgers at Applebee’s — nine, to be exact — that will satisfy any fan of the food. You will be satisfied with any choice, whether it’s the Impossible Burger or traditional beef patties. There are some Applebee’s burgers, however, that are much more popular than others.

There is a ton of bacon on the Whole Lotta Bacon Burger, which is one of the most popular options. This burger has a juicy all-beef patty with seared Applewood-smoked bacon on top, along with three more bacon slices, bacon sauce, and American cheese. Together with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles, the burger is presented on a toasted Brioche bread. What more could you ask for when there’s bacon on bacon on bacon?

The Whisky Bacon Burger is another favorite among bacon enthusiasts. Two slices of Pepper Jack cheese, two pieces of Applewood-smoked bacon, and steak sauce flavored with Fireball Whisky are placed on top of the patties. But the crunchy onions are what actually elevate the burger. The onions give this burger a remarkable crunch that steals the show. On a Brioche bun, the burger is additionally served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles.

Combating Sales Slumps

Like other casual dining chains and fast-food restaurants, Applebee’s is trying to combat ongoing sales slumps.

According to Restaurant Business, sales at the casual dining company fell by 4.6% in the first quarter of 2024. Executives attributed the sales decline to the harsh weather in January as well as a decline in spending by their target market, lower-class consumers, as a result of inflation.

Back in May, the company began luring customers in with a variety of affordable promos, such as $1 margaritas, unlimited appetizers, and 50-cent wings.

The fast-casual restaurant chain also revealed a new, less expensive burger choice. For $9.99 plus applicable sales tax, customers could purchase a signature burger stuffed with bacon and a side order of fries for a limited time.

“The Whole Lotta Burger for $9.99 — if you can have our burger for $10, which is great quality, abundant and eat in our restaurant, in our experience, why would you eat a $10 burger out of a paper bag in your car?” John Peyton, the CEO of Applebee’s parent company Dine Brands, told CNBC at the time.

Similar to Applebee’s, McDonald’s has seen a steep decline in sales as customers become more cautious about inflation-related cost increases. To entice customers back into its locations, the firm has begun to provide better burger options. McDonald’s has been rotating its menu since the start of Q1, promising that as customers’ palates get more discriminating, their renowned burgers would continue to taste better. However, the giant fast-food chain is now putting more on the line.

The development of a “larger satiating burger” is the brainchild of McDonald’s CFO Ian Borden, who aims to “further build on our leadership in beef.”