The first ever Applebee’s Grill & Bar is in the Philippines!!! Wow oh wow!!!

And this song played in my mind, “Apple bottom bees, boots with the fur! fur!” Hahaha! The craziness attacked me, shows how excited I was when I was invited to the sneak-peek of Applebee’s first branch in nowhere else but in Bonifacio Global City (BGC)!

Applebee’s Grill & Bar, the quintessential American restaurant that was founded in 1980 in Decatur Georgia, is not stopping its growth as the largest casual dining brand in the world by choosing to expand and open its first branch in the Philippines. The new Applebee’s also represents an expansion of the DineEquity relationship with its franchise partner for its other leading bran IHOP restaurants, Global Restaurant Concepts.

The opening of Applebee’s Grill & Bar will bring the brand’s 35 years of experience serving the best in ribs, steaks, burgers, appetizers and a range of drink choices to guests in the Philippines. This is not the first and last. Expect more branches to open in the coming years.

“We are delighted to bring the classic American grill and bar experience to guests in the Philippines, which has long been a goal for all of us at DineEquity,” said Daniel del Olmo, President of International, Dine Equity Inc. 

Well, the long wait is over Applebee’s fans in the Philippines!

Here are some of the dishes to expect inside Applebee’s Grill & Bar.

I fell inseparably in love with Sriracha Shrimp. Crispy medium-sized shrimps coated with rich and creamy Sriracha chili-lime dip. There was no way I could forget the play of spices and textures on this dish. It was only the start of my palatable day with Applebee’s and my body was already stuck on the chair wanting to live in Applebee’s kitchen.

To get the attention of Asians, Wonton Taco walks confidently for its spicy chicken-stuffed wonton shells, cole slaw and cilantro. The crunchiness of its taco complements the Asian-inspired filling.

If some guys search for the best burger in town, I’m happily in search for the best chicken wings ever. To be honest, I haven’t found the best yet. And, I couldn’t call Double Crunch Bone-in Wings as the best ever but it doesn’t mean it’s not worth the bite. Correcting myself, not bite, but big bites that I couldn’t control myself from taking more than my plate could handle. Double fried meaty yet crispy wings with a choice of honey BBQ, sweet & spicy, classic buffalo or Korean BBQ sauce.

I had a feel of P.F. Chang’s from Pot Stickers, another Asian-style appetizer in Applebee’s. Thick and deep-fried wontons are stacked with shrimp and pork inside, paired with thai peanut and soy dumpling sauces.

I tried to take Boneless Chicken Bites lightly, saving space for other appetizers. I failed eventually. Sorry belly but trying wasn’t enough. I was already hooked to the lightly breaded tender chunks of boneless chicken glazed with not-too-sweet honey bbq sauce. Sweet & spicy, classic buffalo and Korean BBQ sauce are also options for your chicken bites glaze.

Our table full of ladies had heart-shaped eyes on this 4-Cheese Mac & Cheese with Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders. Every minute with this plate is a romantic moment. Cavatappi pasta soaked in 4-cheese cream sauce tossed with bacon and bell peppers. The meal is completed with chicken tenders glazed with honey pepper sauce on top. I give it a perfect score! That means, you have no excuse to skip this dish.

Let me show you my favorite burger in Applebee’s Grill & Bar, this Quesadilla Burger!! Extremely juicy burger with Applebee’s signature Mexi-ranch sauce with pico de gallo and shredded lettuce, served in a unique Jack and Cheddar quesadilla. Exactly what a heavy day needs to end the night with a smile.

This is what Applebee’s brought from the US, the taste of their world-famous classic Applebee’s Riblets to the Philippines. Braised, grilled and basted with a choice of honey bbq sauce, smokey chipotle, spicy sweet Asian sauce or Korean BBQ sauce. Wherever you may come from in the city, I know these ribs are worth the long drive to Fort.

There is always an occasion for burgers when you’re in Applebee’s. The Cowboy Burger, a truly western style burger, is topped with crispy onion strings, melted white cheddar cheese and smoked bacon served on a toasted yet moist brioche bun. It goes well with honey bbq sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles.

Twisted Churros, deep-fried, crunchy but not oily, had to take a dip into the can of toasted marshmallow and chocolate dip for a complete s’mores package. I was in the middle of the serious business of eating and enjoying Churros S’mores until I was told the chocolate used is actually Malagos Chocolates from Davao. Waaaaw! Great job Malagos!!

Triple Chocolate Meltdown (Php 295) Rate: 5/5

I’ll stop the world and melt with you!!! You just read my song for this Triple Chocolate Meltdown. It’s a must to welcome this plate to your table. Moist chocolate cake with a fudge-filled center served with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. Enough said!

In line with Applebee’s specialization in celebrations, the celebration will get more interesting with their creative beverages, alcoholic or non-alcoholic. For alcoholic beverages, let the bar downstairs welcome you for a glass/es of Margarita.

“The new Applebee’s restaurant embodies Applebee’s new 360 brand evolution, which sees a new philosophy.” For the brand, there’s always a reason to celebrate! Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or just a simple joy of finding your keys, we find our way to celebrate. Because of this new philosophy, you would see its reflection from its design and decor, to promotion, to menu innovation and to service and hospitality.

The 2-storey restaurant is divided into two. The bar belongs to the first floor while the main restaurant is situated on the 2nd floor.

What do you think of Applebee’s Grill & Bar in Manila?

 Share with me your thoughts! 🙂

 Cheers,

 The Food Scout

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Location: 30th St. cor. 9th Ave., W Global Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines

Operating Hours: 11:00AM-12:00MN (Sun-Thurs) / 11:00AM-2:00AM (Fri-Sat)

 Contact: (+63 932) 797-9363

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ApplebeesPH

Budget: PHP600++

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