I ordered the same meal at Chili's and Applebee's and the winner impressed me with its generous portions and mouthwatering appetizers

Erin McDowellJan 13, 2024, 21:23 IST

I tried the same meal at Chili's and Applebee's, and one chain knocked it out of the park.Erin McDowell/Insider

I dined at Chili's and Applebee's to see which American chain restaurant had the tastiest food.
Chili's impressed me with its choice of customizations, baby-back ribs, and delicious appetizers.

I recently dined at Chili's and Applebee's to compare the chains' drinks, appetizers, baby-back ribs, and desserts.

I grew up going to Applebee's, but I only tried Chili's for the first time a month ago. Still, I went into this comparison ready to give each restaurant a fair shot and see which one would be my favorite.

Here's how the same meal at Chili's and Applebee's compared.

First, I visited Chili's on a busy Friday night in Queens, New York.

The outside of the Chili's restaurant.Erin McDowell/Insider

My friend and I were immediately seated at a booth in the restaurant's dining room.

The inside of the Chili's restaurant.Erin McDowell/Insider

At Chili's, I started with a classic presidente margarita.

The presidente margarita.Erin McDowell/Insider

We ordered two appetizers at Chili's. The first one we received was the dip trio.

The dip trio from Chili's.Erin McDowell/Insider

We also ordered the Triple Dipper appetizer sampler.

The Triple Dipper appetizer sampler.Erin McDowell/Insider

For my main, I chose the half-order of baby-back ribs and two sides. I was really impressed by the chain's signature dish.

The baby-back ribs with mac and cheese and street corn.Erin McDowell/Insider

The baby-back ribs had a crispy char on the outside, but the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender.

The baby-back ribs.Erin McDowell/Insider

I liked both of the sides that came with the ribs.

The white-cheddar mac and cheese.Erin McDowell/Insider

For dessert, we opted for the chocolate lava cake.

The chocolate lava cake.Erin McDowell/Insider

A few weeks later, I ate at an Applebee's in Massachusetts with my brother on a Thursday night.

The outside of the Applebee's restaurant.Erin McDowell/Insider

The dining room was clean and well-decorated, but our table was less private than the one at Chili's.

The inside of the Applebee's restaurant.Erin McDowell/Insider

We both ordered the "perfect margarita" in the classic flavor.

The Perfect Margarita.Erin McDowell/Insider

To compare the two chains, I decided to try out Applebee's queso, which was my favorite dip at Chili's.

The chips and queso.Erin McDowell/Insider

We also ordered the classic combo appetizer platter, which came with four different appetizers.

The Applebee's appetizer sampler.Erin McDowell/Insider

For my entrée, I ordered the half-rack of baby-back ribs and a side of the four-cheese macaroni and cheese.

The half-rack of ribs with a side of four-cheese macaroni and cheese.Erin McDowell/Insider

The ribs were hot to the touch and coated in the sticky barbecue sauce.

The half-rack of ribs.Erin McDowell/Insider

I really enjoyed the side of four-cheese macaroni and cheese with bacon.

The four-cheese macaroni and cheese with bacon.Erin McDowell/Insider

We also ordered Applebee's version of a chocolate lava cake.

The Chocolate Meltdown lava cake.Erin McDowell/Insider

From the food to the service and the private-feeling atmosphere, Chili's was the clear winner for me.

The author and a friend outside the Chili's restaurant.Erin McDowell/Insider

I tried Ina Garten's easy apple spice cake and the delicious dessert is perfect for fall

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