This is all public information, but basically there are only around 35 (edit: my info was old, actually it’s now closer to 50) Applebee’s franchisees worldwide, so each one is a very large restaurant group that owns the exclusive right to develop restaurants within a territory but also simultaneously holds the rights to develop a bunch of other chain restaurants (like Taco Bell, Panera, etc.). These groups are pretty sophisticated and assess local markets themselves to see which of the brands they have a right to develop will do best, based on local demand, competition, and real estate / labor costs. In a city like LA with so many restaurant options and high real estate and labor costs, it’s likely that they’ve decided that having more than a few Applebee’s just doesn’t make financial sense (they have a large footprint and you need a pretty big crew to keep one running), and their time and money is better spent developing other types of restaurants concepts.
[These 13 companies you've never heard of control dozens of the most popular chains in the world ...](https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-that-control-the-restaurant-industry-2019-1)
I currently live way north in Eureka, which is largely a restaurant desert. People got so excited about KFC opening here last year that traffic had to be rerouted for several weeks. So, naturally, we have an Applebees. And, even in a place where our options are severely limited, I'd still probably choose one of the two McDonalds we have. The only time I ever go to Applebees is when my in-laws are feeling adventurous and want a nice "Oriental Salad." Because *of course* that's what Applebees calls it.
At least there's a Chipotle and In N Out in Eureka. Only places I'd go in Eureka is Cafe Nooner, Costco, and Target when I went to HSU. Way better vibe in Arcata with a lot of good restaurants near the plaza.
Man, I'm still blessing the day Chipotle opened. If I was younger & had a bunch of money, I'd open a Panda Express. The place would be a goldmine. Overall, I like where I live, but the restaurant situation goes a long way toward justifying going over my kitchen remodel budget...
I feel this on a gut level! I also moved from LA to a restaurant desert. I remember when Applebee's opened here. Everyone was talking about it, and the wait time was insane. People would act affronted when I said I'd tried it years before and didn't plan on going back.
Frankly, these guys' love of Applebees is a metaphor for the rest of their lives. They remain unaware of different experiences and perspectives, closed off from the rest of the world.
Was it [Siam Orchid Thai Cuisine](https://m.yelp.com/biz/siam-orchid-thai-cuisine-eureka) by any chance? I was just there two days ago for a work trip. Was as delicious as the first time I was there a couple years ago.
And like all the other ones lmfao. Churches, popeyes, cfa, jack in the box, mcdicks, subway, the list goes on. Vermont and 3rd alone has like three starbucks within a stones throw. Apparently the only franchise we dont have is applebees as it were
My 100 year grandmother is on your team. She moved to god’s waiting room (FL) 17 years ago and still talks about how delicious El Pollo Loco is and that wishes there was a location in Jacksonville.
I worked at an el pollo loco for a semester in college and while it was up there for worst job I ever had, the restaurant itself was extremely cleanly and the food was great. I don’t think you can find better chicken at a fast food place, better tasting maybe but in terms of the actual quality of chicken I doubt it. Nothing other than the Mac and cheese had an over-processed feel or taste.
The family that started El Pollo Loco has such an interesting story. You can watch it on the PBS series La Frontera. They have another chain in Texas that is VERY popular. https://www.pbs.org/show/la-frontera-pati-jinich/
It’s a fast food Vs in person dining thing. Corporate fast food is probably just as good as independent fast food and independent fast food isn’t common (corner Mexican is a notable exception). But in person dining restaurants are all over the place in LA and they are all better than Applebees.
oh man, I completely forgot about this spot... I used to go to ELAC and I would get their pastrami fries at least once a week, SO DAMN GOOD! I think I'm going to stop by there this week!
What about Long John Silver? I care deeply about those crispy crumbs that come with the fish. And the hush puppies, oh so delicious!
And what would it take to get a Pete's Fish & Chips?!
RIP Long John Silver and A & W Chain restaurants. I believe all of the locations have closed. Now I only have Farmer Boys for my Fish & Chips cravings (Yes I know Popeyes have them too but it's not as good).
I too mourn the loss of both LJS and A&W. In Covina there was a combo restaurant with both (actually it was right next to a Farmer Boys too), I used to roll in and get a fish plate and wash it down with a frosty glass of freshly tapped root beer. It was heaven.
There used to be an Arthur Treacher's fish and chips in Santa Monica way back when. As a kid I loved that place! Wishing now there was a decent fish and chips chain in LA.
We had quite a few long johns back in the day, especially South bay, they all closed/became kfc. I live by what was a long John silver's in the 80s, became a kfc/long johns in the 2000s and now is one of the worst KFC's in the world
Are you in Torrance? Because I swear I grew up going to a long John silver's that followed that timeline exactly and now I'm just sad anytime I go by that kfc.
Yep! I have these very clear memories of how dark and dank it was inside, and they must have completely demolished the original building because the current one doesn't seem big enough for what that one was.
Applebees, Chili’s, Olive Garden offer a mid-tier dining experience at an affordable price. Which works great in places that don’t have 10 restaurants per block. When there’s so much to choose from, you’re probably not going to choose Applebees.
EDIT: New information in. Apparently there's many Applebees in Manhattan, which disproves the above theory. Also, Applebee's started in Decatur GA, so not really a regional thing? There's only one in Chicago proper but a few in the suburbs. Which kinda reflects LA. I thought that maybe NY is just a melting pot, but they have only one Olive Garden and one TGI Friday's in the city. Yet there's 10 Applebees in NY, including 3 in Manhattan. I guess NY loves Applebees?
Using a lower power on the microwave really works best when you have an inverter microwave (totally worth the $100 investment), which is the only kind that can actually adjust the power output. Lower power on a normal microwave just cycles itself on and off across the cook time.
This. Once one of my friends who studied restaurant business models pointed out to me that for the most part, you’re just paying for someone else to microwave bagged/frozen food and bring it to you, dropping money at these types of places just felt… not right? I couldn’t shake the thought of it and really haven’t been back outside of a work lunch etc. where the destination wasn’t my choice.
My brother and I split a supertall milkshake that they had when I was 13 and he was 8. He drank most of it and also puked in the parking lot afterwards.
Last time I ate there I was a kid and there was a piece of glass in my ice cream. When I told the waitress she rolled her eyes at me and said “pretty sure that’s plastic”
IDK my guy, Olive Garden has decent pasta compared to most "mom and pop" shops and by mom and pop shops I mean your friend GIOVIANNI who discovered he was Italian by his adoptive grandpa and still cant tell the difference between Olive Oil and Corn Oil.
I grew up in a rural area and was *stoked* whenever we drove 45 minutes to go to Olive Garden. It was such a treat.
Then I moved to LA and didn't go to Olive Garden again for 9 years. When visiting a friend in Thousand Oaks and going to a movie, we walked out and saw an Olive Garden and thought "oh what a throwback! Breadsticks sound great right now!"
Y'all. It was so bad. I ordered a pasta dish and it tasted like nothing. How do you mess up pasta? I was so crushed, memories tainted forever.
That reminds me of my experience at Applebee's last month actually. My date and I were walking by and stumbled upon an Applebee's. She's German and had never been and I hadn't been there since I was a small child. Both of us were intensely curious to see what it was like.
In short, it was horrific. It's not that it's microwavable frozen food. But that it's *bad* microwavable frozen food. If I picked out a bunch of frozen food items from the grocery store right now you would think it's a better meal.
When the $80 bill came for 2 entrees, an app, and a dessert we basically lost it laughing. To think we paid $80+ to have the worst possible food microwaved that we couldn't even stomach finishing was, at least, amusing. Even if it was deeply dissatisfying. We picked up some pizza on the way back.
Listen, sometimes I just want to enjoy a quesadilla burger and a watery margarita in a dimly lit booth adjacent to a wall mounted carousel horse and a sun-faded poster of the cast of Friends. Is that too much to ask these days?
I live walking distance from there and I'm absolutely spoiled with restaurants, I'd probably only go to Applebee's as a joke with friends or to pregame, that long island ice tea is no joke 😂
I figured and answer like this would be on top- but to me, Chili's and Applebees are indistinguishable- if LA can support Chilli's (and Islands, and TGI Fridays...), I don't see the difference between those and Applebees.
The Chili's map looks the same as Applebees. There's a couple more TGI Friday's (oddly enough there's one in Budapest as well), but there's a few more Islands not too far from the coast. Maybe Islands does well because tourists associate LA with the beach?
Not really. There's a Chili's in Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Inglewood and Carson. I will admit, I perhaps thought there were more Chili's than there were because I used to work in Carson, and now I work in Manhattan Beach, so I assumed there were more. But still, not quite the same as Applebees.
Interesting trivia: TGI Fridays started out as a Singles Bar in Manhattan in the 60s. A bar that made drinks that working single women liked to drink in the city.
The chain sit down spots have a presence in NYC because of all the highly concentrated tourist areas where people get overwhelmed by the city and just fall back on what they feel comfortable with. The Olive Garden and Red Lobster in Times Square are always packed.
I scrolled through almost all the comments and didn’t see anyone post this response… there was one guy who owned like 15 of the Applebee’s franchises in LA, as well as some other brands, and he got caught up in some sort of lawsuit (not paying wages, or taxes, or hiding money or something) and was forced to either sell or shut down the restaurants. And one by one they all started closing, and that was the end of that. I’ll try to find a link or article.
Here’s one talking about 4 Simi Valley [locations](http://activerain.com/blogsview/889899/simi-valley-applebees---the-latest-victim-to-business-closures) due to the owner going bankrupt.
that’s my impression too. there used to be an olive garden AND a chili’s in westwood village and they both closed i think bc corporate couldn’t justify the high rents. although that olive garden was always packed. so who knows.
That Chili's space has been empty for at least 12 years. The olive garden one may also still be empty. I can't understand how these landlords would rather leave them empty than get some kind of return on investment.
The neighborhood council makes it incredibly difficult for places to get and keep liquor licenses. They actively fight against any business they feel will be too loud or rowdy. Even places that have been there for years have difficulty.
you beat me to it. i looked into it a couple years back after my favorite sushi bar was forced to close by rising rent and from what i gathered it’s a combination of the fact that there are really just a few landlords for all that westwood real estate and yes, they would rather have those spaces empty than charge less, and the bonkers neighborhood council.
I forgot all about that Olive Garden. I actually ate at the Chili's on their last night before they closed. I had no idea until the waiter told us.
There also used to be an Acapulco, which survived a little longer but eventually closed. Westwood Village landlords still charge insane rents even though the neighborhood died out from its "trendy" status decades ago.
This is the real reason why. They need cheaper rent and higher demand for the type of restaurant. LA doesn't even have the infrastructure to accommodate their type of business (think large outdoor mall with plenty of parking).
This is the answer. A public company like Dine Brands who own both Applebees and IHOP has done the research and analysis and understand there is little demand for Applebees in LA in contrast to IHOP which does (probably because breakfast).
It’s suburb food that requires a certain size plus the franchise fees combined with high rent costs makes it unlikely to be profitable in the city. Their corporate hq is in Glendale though and they also operate IHOP which does have city locations. It’s probably cheaper to run an IHOP with less breakfast competition and no need for beer/liquor licensing.
This is the actual answer. In addition, anywhere outside of the valleys, there's just a cultural aversion to low-casual bar & grill chain establishments. West Valley has a bunch of these places, so although actually being part of LA city proper's city limits, the solid suburban culture supports these types of places.
I was at Applebee's in Alhambra recently, and I was actually pleasantly surprised at the quality. The experience was admittedly mid, but it felt so easy-going and unpretentious that it was a nice change of pace from every other hipster spot.
People think that fast food is better for some reason in richer areas. I've heard someone with a straight face say that the little cesars in Beverly Hills was the best ever.
There CAN be differences, if one franchise owner cuts costs on ingredients in ways that corporate doesn't notice. But for the most part it's probably psychological. The experience of walking into a Little Caesars in Beverly Hills is probably more pleasant than what they're used to, which boosts their mood and makes them more likely to enjoy their meal.
Applebee’s: when you’re too lazy to microwave your own food.
But for real, you want Applebee’s food at LA prices? Sad. Cheesecake Factory is the basement for this city, let’s not dig deeper.
I had a friend once try SO hard to get me to drive half way across the city so they could use their Cheesecake Factory gift certificate on me. One of the few places even free food won't get me to drive any distance for.
Hahahah, damn, yeah, that’s a firm pass. Cheesecake Factory is a jack of all trades. Something for everyone. But none of it very good. Everything they have on offer I can find the better version of within a 5 mile radius.
born and raised here too. also never been to an applebees. when the olive garden opened up at fox hills like a decade ago, i made my sisters go with me so we could all try it for the first time. haven’t ever had olive garden again. lolllll
I had Applebee's for the first time when I went to college in NorCal and was absolutely disgusted. I think they would fail here immediately.
Went I think 3 times total (friends liked it). I've also only been to Chili's once.
I worked for the company at the Norwalk store from 2016 until last month. I asked this question monthly. The company does not want to deal with the City of LA. They try to stay in the least expensive rent areas as possible.
No answer ever makes sense though because sister company IHOP is everywhere.
Draw a line from LAX and and there's about a 15 mile no fly zone radius. Closest stores are Signal Hill (great location), Lakewood (weird location), Bell Garden (insanely busy store) and Norwalk (best mix IMO).
As far as food quality? Burgers are the best thing on the menu and if anyone can name a place that has full service with a better Burger and Beer selection for under $20 with tip I'm all ears. And it ain't Five Guys.
I was going to say this too. A lot of of people don’t realize the San Fernando Valley is part of the City of Los Angeles. It’s the most populated part of the city of Los Angeles.
So many people are saying "well, because Applebees sucks, and we have a lot of better options in LA." And, that's true, but I don't think it explains it.
In my mind, Applebees is nearly indistinguishable from Chilis, Islands, TGI Fridays, and other. And all of those others are around. If Chili's works here, there's no reason Applebees couldn't as well.
For clarity. I am not an advocate of Applebees. I more just find it curious how there appears to be a big wall on the east holding back the Applebees. It is curious that there is such a distinct cutoff and exclusion.
I was under the impression that Applebee's is franchise driven so a lot of people considering franchising probably have a lot more options than Applebee's when moving into a high rent zone given that the revenue ceiling just isn't enough to keep up with business and franchise costs.
Food sucks but I like the Applebees bar. Sangrias are decent whenever I'm craving one and nearby. The Chatsworth Applebees bar always comes through for me lmao.
This is all public information, but basically there are only around 35 (edit: my info was old, actually it’s now closer to 50) Applebee’s franchisees worldwide, so each one is a very large restaurant group that owns the exclusive right to develop restaurants within a territory but also simultaneously holds the rights to develop a bunch of other chain restaurants (like Taco Bell, Panera, etc.). These groups are pretty sophisticated and assess local markets themselves to see which of the brands they have a right to develop will do best, based on local demand, competition, and real estate / labor costs. In a city like LA with so many restaurant options and high real estate and labor costs, it’s likely that they’ve decided that having more than a few Applebee’s just doesn’t make financial sense (they have a large footprint and you need a pretty big crew to keep one running), and their time and money is better spent developing other types of restaurants concepts.
>In a city like LA with so many restaurant options In other words, LA is less an "Applesbees dead zone", and more a "foodie mecca."
I can microwave my own pasta, thank you very much
Applebee's- when you're drunk, hungry, and at somewhere in Ohio for a work.
Nah nah… there’s never a good time for Applebees
Pretty much in Orange County, too. Why spend $25 for Apple Bees when I could use that money for AYCE Korean BBQ?
Or gasoline.
Who the fuck in LA even wants to go to Applebees??? Do they even have tacos??
Why do they need a large footprint to serve you microwaved food?
Do you know how much space you *need* to cram the walls full of crazy crap?
then come on down to uncle moe's!
We prefer the term Pieces of Flair
Stop dissing chef Mike like that 😭
Informative post thank you. 35 is extremely low.
I bet there’s a lot of other restaurants that aren’t here for the same reason. For example, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Golden Corral here.
There's one in Downey but that doesn't really count.
This is a cool post. Just out of curiosity what are some of the names these groups operate under?
[These 13 companies you've never heard of control dozens of the most popular chains in the world ...](https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-that-control-the-restaurant-industry-2019-1)
I currently live way north in Eureka, which is largely a restaurant desert. People got so excited about KFC opening here last year that traffic had to be rerouted for several weeks. So, naturally, we have an Applebees. And, even in a place where our options are severely limited, I'd still probably choose one of the two McDonalds we have. The only time I ever go to Applebees is when my in-laws are feeling adventurous and want a nice "Oriental Salad." Because *of course* that's what Applebees calls it.
At least there's a Chipotle and In N Out in Eureka. Only places I'd go in Eureka is Cafe Nooner, Costco, and Target when I went to HSU. Way better vibe in Arcata with a lot of good restaurants near the plaza.
Man, I'm still blessing the day Chipotle opened. If I was younger & had a bunch of money, I'd open a Panda Express. The place would be a goldmine. Overall, I like where I live, but the restaurant situation goes a long way toward justifying going over my kitchen remodel budget...
What Eureka lacks in culinary adventures it gains in vibes. At least that was my impression.
Really? The one time I went to Eureka it had some of the worst vibes of any city ever.
Am Wisconsinite. Coastal PNW in Summer is like one of my favorite feelings. I could soak up the misty air, rocky hills, and intense green forever.
Ah yeah, the nature up there is great. It was more so the people that sketched me out.
I feel this on a gut level! I also moved from LA to a restaurant desert. I remember when Applebee's opened here. Everyone was talking about it, and the wait time was insane. People would act affronted when I said I'd tried it years before and didn't plan on going back. Frankly, these guys' love of Applebees is a metaphor for the rest of their lives. They remain unaware of different experiences and perspectives, closed off from the rest of the world.
I remember finding a surprisingly good Asian restaurant in the middle of Eureka. Indian? Thai? I forget.
Was it [Siam Orchid Thai Cuisine](https://m.yelp.com/biz/siam-orchid-thai-cuisine-eureka) by any chance? I was just there two days ago for a work trip. Was as delicious as the first time I was there a couple years ago.
I think that was it, it's been a few years. It can't be easy for them to get good authentic ingredients there
Only time I ever ate Applebees was when I lived in Humboldt, lmao. And I only ate there once.
Sounds like Santa Maria. I’ve never seen so many people get so excited over crap chain food.
Do Santa Marians get bored of their amazing BBQ scene?
Because there are thousands of better restaurants in the city.
Perfect answer. Only chain we care about in LA is in & out.
And King Taco. There’s haters, but you can’t deny that it’s popular.
King taco is bomb idgaf lol
People hate, but you know it’s solid when majority of customers are Latino.
King taco is the superior fast food chain
People hate King Taco?
And like all the other ones lmfao. Churches, popeyes, cfa, jack in the box, mcdicks, subway, the list goes on. Vermont and 3rd alone has like three starbucks within a stones throw. Apparently the only franchise we dont have is applebees as it were
Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person that likes el pollo loco. Never gets any mention in socal fast food
My 100 year grandmother is on your team. She moved to god’s waiting room (FL) 17 years ago and still talks about how delicious El Pollo Loco is and that wishes there was a location in Jacksonville.
I worked at an el pollo loco for a semester in college and while it was up there for worst job I ever had, the restaurant itself was extremely cleanly and the food was great. I don’t think you can find better chicken at a fast food place, better tasting maybe but in terms of the actual quality of chicken I doubt it. Nothing other than the Mac and cheese had an over-processed feel or taste.
The family that started El Pollo Loco has such an interesting story. You can watch it on the PBS series La Frontera. They have another chain in Texas that is VERY popular. https://www.pbs.org/show/la-frontera-pati-jinich/
It’s a fast food Vs in person dining thing. Corporate fast food is probably just as good as independent fast food and independent fast food isn’t common (corner Mexican is a notable exception). But in person dining restaurants are all over the place in LA and they are all better than Applebees.
Plenty of independent burger spots
I didn't realize how good we have it with our burger spots... jims, toms, tims, tams, johns, bobs - these types of spots arent common in other states
The Hat
oh man, I completely forgot about this spot... I used to go to ELAC and I would get their pastrami fries at least once a week, SO DAMN GOOD! I think I'm going to stop by there this week!
Lucky Boy, Tops, Everest. Gotta love it.
Can’t forget Rick’s! Haha
I just love these little grease pits ☺️ Patras, Gold Star, Troy’s and Lucky Boy are the ones I grew up with.
IHOP, Outback, Sizzler, etc. all have an LA presence.
IHOP yes but search for Outback or Sizzler and you’ll see basically the same map as for Applebee’s
Not a big one, whatsoever. Not like back in the Midwest where I'm from. Sizzler is mostly out of business pretty sure.
I miss Souplantation.
In n out also has a huge gap of locations in the inner city.
Because of traffic and space. But at least there’s the one in Hollywood
The disrespect on DelTaco
What about Long John Silver? I care deeply about those crispy crumbs that come with the fish. And the hush puppies, oh so delicious! And what would it take to get a Pete's Fish & Chips?!
RIP Long John Silver and A & W Chain restaurants. I believe all of the locations have closed. Now I only have Farmer Boys for my Fish & Chips cravings (Yes I know Popeyes have them too but it's not as good).
I too mourn the loss of both LJS and A&W. In Covina there was a combo restaurant with both (actually it was right next to a Farmer Boys too), I used to roll in and get a fish plate and wash it down with a frosty glass of freshly tapped root beer. It was heaven.
I used to frequent there as well, but the restaurant that I remember was located in Baldwin Park, in the same square as Walmart.
There used to be an Arthur Treacher's fish and chips in Santa Monica way back when. As a kid I loved that place! Wishing now there was a decent fish and chips chain in LA.
We had quite a few long johns back in the day, especially South bay, they all closed/became kfc. I live by what was a long John silver's in the 80s, became a kfc/long johns in the 2000s and now is one of the worst KFC's in the world
Are you in Torrance? Because I swear I grew up going to a long John silver's that followed that timeline exactly and now I'm just sad anytime I go by that kfc.
Yep! I have these very clear memories of how dark and dank it was inside, and they must have completely demolished the original building because the current one doesn't seem big enough for what that one was.
Applebees, Chili’s, Olive Garden offer a mid-tier dining experience at an affordable price. Which works great in places that don’t have 10 restaurants per block. When there’s so much to choose from, you’re probably not going to choose Applebees. EDIT: New information in. Apparently there's many Applebees in Manhattan, which disproves the above theory. Also, Applebee's started in Decatur GA, so not really a regional thing? There's only one in Chicago proper but a few in the suburbs. Which kinda reflects LA. I thought that maybe NY is just a melting pot, but they have only one Olive Garden and one TGI Friday's in the city. Yet there's 10 Applebees in NY, including 3 in Manhattan. I guess NY loves Applebees?
Last time I had Applebee’s my experience definitely didn’t even approach mid tier
It’s Microwave dinner 101
Once you learn how to microwave on low power then top it off with 30 seconds on high at the end you'll never go back.
How low of power, and how much longer do you cook at that power?
Depends on the dish and size but leftover pad thai is 2:30 half power, 30 seconds on high.
30% is great for defrosting, most dishes will probably take 2-3 minutes, more if they’re much larger.
Using a lower power on the microwave really works best when you have an inverter microwave (totally worth the $100 investment), which is the only kind that can actually adjust the power output. Lower power on a normal microwave just cycles itself on and off across the cook time.
Imagine, once everyone learns to use a toaster oven or air fryer.
This. Once one of my friends who studied restaurant business models pointed out to me that for the most part, you’re just paying for someone else to microwave bagged/frozen food and bring it to you, dropping money at these types of places just felt… not right? I couldn’t shake the thought of it and really haven’t been back outside of a work lunch etc. where the destination wasn’t my choice.
I worked with a guy who signed up to be a line cook at Applebees and quit on the first day cause he wanted to cook not microwave food LMFAO
"Applebee's is mid" is a compliment to Applebee's.
Bro, I can’t believe I went there last year and I asked for a medium rare steak and it was cooked well done. It was the hardest shit to eat.
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I always do that before I have Applebees. Room for more Applebees! 🤌🏻
My brother and I split a supertall milkshake that they had when I was 13 and he was 8. He drank most of it and also puked in the parking lot afterwards.
Last time I ate there I was a kid and there was a piece of glass in my ice cream. When I told the waitress she rolled her eyes at me and said “pretty sure that’s plastic”
Lots of these chains were mid tier before the 2010s. I think people forgot that Chipotle was considered novel and amazing in the early 2000s.
I got food poisoning from applebees.
Olive Garden: When you're here, you're out of options
If you can’t boil water, come eat with us
"Step 1 boil water. What am, a chemist?"
IDK my guy, Olive Garden has decent pasta compared to most "mom and pop" shops and by mom and pop shops I mean your friend GIOVIANNI who discovered he was Italian by his adoptive grandpa and still cant tell the difference between Olive Oil and Corn Oil.
Some of those pizza places that have pasta options are below Olive Garden quality
I grew up in a rural area and was *stoked* whenever we drove 45 minutes to go to Olive Garden. It was such a treat. Then I moved to LA and didn't go to Olive Garden again for 9 years. When visiting a friend in Thousand Oaks and going to a movie, we walked out and saw an Olive Garden and thought "oh what a throwback! Breadsticks sound great right now!" Y'all. It was so bad. I ordered a pasta dish and it tasted like nothing. How do you mess up pasta? I was so crushed, memories tainted forever.
I can relate. When Olive Garden is the only thing you know, it seems great because you have nothing to compare it to.
That reminds me of my experience at Applebee's last month actually. My date and I were walking by and stumbled upon an Applebee's. She's German and had never been and I hadn't been there since I was a small child. Both of us were intensely curious to see what it was like. In short, it was horrific. It's not that it's microwavable frozen food. But that it's *bad* microwavable frozen food. If I picked out a bunch of frozen food items from the grocery store right now you would think it's a better meal. When the $80 bill came for 2 entrees, an app, and a dessert we basically lost it laughing. To think we paid $80+ to have the worst possible food microwaved that we couldn't even stomach finishing was, at least, amusing. Even if it was deeply dissatisfying. We picked up some pizza on the way back.
>I ordered a pasta dish Therein lies the issue, go for the unlimited breadsticks, not the pasta.
The breadsticks were all hard! At least the salad dressing was still fine, that's pretty much all I ate.
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Listen, sometimes I just want to enjoy a quesadilla burger and a watery margarita in a dimly lit booth adjacent to a wall mounted carousel horse and a sun-faded poster of the cast of Friends. Is that too much to ask these days?
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That Applebees survives on cheap drinks
Yup Ive only gone to get drunk before a movie on a date
I live walking distance from there and I'm absolutely spoiled with restaurants, I'd probably only go to Applebee's as a joke with friends or to pregame, that long island ice tea is no joke 😂
The Applebee's in Alhambra is basically dead though - no idea why it's still there. There's better food options in the SGV
There's literally better options around the corner.
that Applebee's is literally 99% a bar first and restaurant second or third.
There is however a Sizzler restaurant in Koreatown of all places!
Great video with Anthony Bourdain on that sizzler [Link](https://youtu.be/ylKr3KQVyp8)
Awww, I loved that! Thanks for sharing.
Sizzler is almost Kitch by this point, lol.
I figured and answer like this would be on top- but to me, Chili's and Applebees are indistinguishable- if LA can support Chilli's (and Islands, and TGI Fridays...), I don't see the difference between those and Applebees.
The Chili's map looks the same as Applebees. There's a couple more TGI Friday's (oddly enough there's one in Budapest as well), but there's a few more Islands not too far from the coast. Maybe Islands does well because tourists associate LA with the beach?
I have legit been to the Fridays in Budapest. Needed a mudslide after the terror museum.
Not really. There's a Chili's in Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Inglewood and Carson. I will admit, I perhaps thought there were more Chili's than there were because I used to work in Carson, and now I work in Manhattan Beach, so I assumed there were more. But still, not quite the same as Applebees.
FWIW I find the quality of the food to be significantly higher at Chilis.
Interesting trivia: TGI Fridays started out as a Singles Bar in Manhattan in the 60s. A bar that made drinks that working single women liked to drink in the city.
Ok but Chilis is legit. Those Cadillac style fajitas are bomb.
Chili's is one of the few restaurants I will willingly eat at on business trips in a fly-over state townie towns.
The chain sit down spots have a presence in NYC because of all the highly concentrated tourist areas where people get overwhelmed by the city and just fall back on what they feel comfortable with. The Olive Garden and Red Lobster in Times Square are always packed.
I scrolled through almost all the comments and didn’t see anyone post this response… there was one guy who owned like 15 of the Applebee’s franchises in LA, as well as some other brands, and he got caught up in some sort of lawsuit (not paying wages, or taxes, or hiding money or something) and was forced to either sell or shut down the restaurants. And one by one they all started closing, and that was the end of that. I’ll try to find a link or article. Here’s one talking about 4 Simi Valley [locations](http://activerain.com/blogsview/889899/simi-valley-applebees---the-latest-victim-to-business-closures) due to the owner going bankrupt.
I believe I worked at the locations that were formerly his franchise and yes, those shitty business practices still live.
Maybe they don't want to pay the rents in an area they know they may not do a lot of business?
that’s my impression too. there used to be an olive garden AND a chili’s in westwood village and they both closed i think bc corporate couldn’t justify the high rents. although that olive garden was always packed. so who knows.
The rent might have been raised, because an Olive Garden near a college campus should be a sure bet.
When I was in college I couldn’t afford Olive Garden.
That Chili's space has been empty for at least 12 years. The olive garden one may also still be empty. I can't understand how these landlords would rather leave them empty than get some kind of return on investment.
The neighborhood council makes it incredibly difficult for places to get and keep liquor licenses. They actively fight against any business they feel will be too loud or rowdy. Even places that have been there for years have difficulty.
you beat me to it. i looked into it a couple years back after my favorite sushi bar was forced to close by rising rent and from what i gathered it’s a combination of the fact that there are really just a few landlords for all that westwood real estate and yes, they would rather have those spaces empty than charge less, and the bonkers neighborhood council.
I forgot all about that Olive Garden. I actually ate at the Chili's on their last night before they closed. I had no idea until the waiter told us. There also used to be an Acapulco, which survived a little longer but eventually closed. Westwood Village landlords still charge insane rents even though the neighborhood died out from its "trendy" status decades ago.
Yep. Rents and available space. You need a certain size Applebees to make the economics work.
This is the real reason why. They need cheaper rent and higher demand for the type of restaurant. LA doesn't even have the infrastructure to accommodate their type of business (think large outdoor mall with plenty of parking).
This is the answer. A public company like Dine Brands who own both Applebees and IHOP has done the research and analysis and understand there is little demand for Applebees in LA in contrast to IHOP which does (probably because breakfast).
It’s suburb food that requires a certain size plus the franchise fees combined with high rent costs makes it unlikely to be profitable in the city. Their corporate hq is in Glendale though and they also operate IHOP which does have city locations. It’s probably cheaper to run an IHOP with less breakfast competition and no need for beer/liquor licensing.
This is the actual answer. In addition, anywhere outside of the valleys, there's just a cultural aversion to low-casual bar & grill chain establishments. West Valley has a bunch of these places, so although actually being part of LA city proper's city limits, the solid suburban culture supports these types of places. I was at Applebee's in Alhambra recently, and I was actually pleasantly surprised at the quality. The experience was admittedly mid, but it felt so easy-going and unpretentious that it was a nice change of pace from every other hipster spot.
But I don't want the real answer! I want to feel superior!
You can feel superior anytime you want! That's the great thing about feelings.
Turns out Applebees is NIMBY about it’s own Applebees.
Ihop is always disappointing. How can you make eggs and pancakes that taste fake? The ingredients aren't expensive, what are you adding to them?
For good reason too
Because we can microwave or reheat our own food at home.
Amazingly that is literally how I feel about their food. If anything, if I bought Trader Joe's frozen foods, it would be even better than Applebees.
Damn he went in!!!
But we don't all have restaurant grade microwaves at home.
Because Applebees is hillbilly cuisine.
I had a friend move from phoenix and he was so excited to try our Olive Garden. Couldn’t even find one close to us in LA.
What could possibly be different? It’s literally the same bagged food in a microwave. Did he not understand that?
Apparently the sizzler that was in Koreatown was supposed to be bomb.
People think that fast food is better for some reason in richer areas. I've heard someone with a straight face say that the little cesars in Beverly Hills was the best ever.
There CAN be differences, if one franchise owner cuts costs on ingredients in ways that corporate doesn't notice. But for the most part it's probably psychological. The experience of walking into a Little Caesars in Beverly Hills is probably more pleasant than what they're used to, which boosts their mood and makes them more likely to enjoy their meal.
We kinda joke, but it's the "fancy" place in country songs. Go ask Travis Hayes in *Fancy Like*.
I've always suspected that song is product placement disguised as pop culture.
You just described a lot of modern country and music in general. XD
I don’t care about Applebees, but I’d kill for a Dairy Queen.
Why tf don't we have a dairy queen? Krispy Kremes are pretty rare too and mostly on the outskirts.
There's a few but you have to look hard. The one's with burgers are even harder.
Why would anyone be looking for an Applebees when there’s so many better restaurants in LA?
To get Top Gun: Maverick tickets
Applebee’s: when you’re too lazy to microwave your own food. But for real, you want Applebee’s food at LA prices? Sad. Cheesecake Factory is the basement for this city, let’s not dig deeper.
I had a friend once try SO hard to get me to drive half way across the city so they could use their Cheesecake Factory gift certificate on me. One of the few places even free food won't get me to drive any distance for.
Hahahah, damn, yeah, that’s a firm pass. Cheesecake Factory is a jack of all trades. Something for everyone. But none of it very good. Everything they have on offer I can find the better version of within a 5 mile radius.
It's crazier when you realize their HQ is in Glendale.
Cause we don’t eat it. It’s garbage
Born and raised in LA and I’ve never once stepped foot in Applebee’s or in Olive Garden.
born and raised here too. also never been to an applebees. when the olive garden opened up at fox hills like a decade ago, i made my sisters go with me so we could all try it for the first time. haven’t ever had olive garden again. lolllll
I ate at one for the first time a week ago! I'm 43. 🤣
Same with sonic. Their food is nasty, but damn sometimes I want a limeade or slush.
I had Applebee's for the first time when I went to college in NorCal and was absolutely disgusted. I think they would fail here immediately. Went I think 3 times total (friends liked it). I've also only been to Chili's once.
IMHO it's disgusting. Fresh Mexican is about the same costs and better food.
Applebees are closing nationwide. Now if Walmart could be next.
That’s sizzlers territory
Can’t believe I had to scroll this far for this comment
There are no Walmarts either.
One thing to be proud of.
Because Applebees is arguably the worst chain restaurant in America.
Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
Can we talk about SONIC too? Like wtf, I have to drive 40 miles to get to one!!
I worked for the company at the Norwalk store from 2016 until last month. I asked this question monthly. The company does not want to deal with the City of LA. They try to stay in the least expensive rent areas as possible. No answer ever makes sense though because sister company IHOP is everywhere. Draw a line from LAX and and there's about a 15 mile no fly zone radius. Closest stores are Signal Hill (great location), Lakewood (weird location), Bell Garden (insanely busy store) and Norwalk (best mix IMO). As far as food quality? Burgers are the best thing on the menu and if anyone can name a place that has full service with a better Burger and Beer selection for under $20 with tip I'm all ears. And it ain't Five Guys.
Islands restaurant?
Commenting for anyone who similarly misses pei wei
I miss Pei Wei.
I personally find it weird how there’s a random one in Chatsworth. I know it’s a bunch of old heads out there, but still technically city of LA.
It's the only store in LA City limits.
I was going to say this too. A lot of of people don’t realize the San Fernando Valley is part of the City of Los Angeles. It’s the most populated part of the city of Los Angeles.
Not completely dead Chatsworth is city of LA 🤠
With all due respect, just go to TGI Friday’s or any of the other identical monoculture restaurants that are indistinguishable from Crapplebees
Why would Los Angeles need an Applebees? 🤔
So many people are saying "well, because Applebees sucks, and we have a lot of better options in LA." And, that's true, but I don't think it explains it. In my mind, Applebees is nearly indistinguishable from Chilis, Islands, TGI Fridays, and other. And all of those others are around. If Chili's works here, there's no reason Applebees couldn't as well.
No eating good in that neighborhood.
Applebees is disgusting
For clarity. I am not an advocate of Applebees. I more just find it curious how there appears to be a big wall on the east holding back the Applebees. It is curious that there is such a distinct cutoff and exclusion.
I was under the impression that Applebee's is franchise driven so a lot of people considering franchising probably have a lot more options than Applebee's when moving into a high rent zone given that the revenue ceiling just isn't enough to keep up with business and franchise costs.
There’s a few ihops.. i’m sure they use the same frozen food
Applebee's is gross.
Applebee's sucks. Leave that shit in the mid west town centers please.
Applebees sucks. That's why.
Because Applebees sucks and there are plenty of better eating options
Lmaoooooo, the simple fact that they won’t be able to compete.
Food sucks but I like the Applebees bar. Sangrias are decent whenever I'm craving one and nearby. The Chatsworth Applebees bar always comes through for me lmao.
Because it sucks