I tried Applebee's new Ultimate Trio appetizer combo. It could rival Chili's famous Triple Dipper.

Appebee's just launched a new appetizer combo sampler. It could rival Chili's viral Triple Dipper.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderThe appetizer combo wars are heating up as restaurants battle to be the king of the sampler platter.Applebee's just launched its Ultimate Trio, an appetizer sampler similar to Chili's Triple Dipper.I preferred the selection of the Triple Dipper, but the Ultimate Trio is an undeniably great value.Just when the chicken tender wars seem to have declared a truce, a new front is opening: the appetizer combo wars.Chili's fan-favorite — and viral — appetizer sampler platter, the Triple Dipper, has helped the company achieve huge gains in recent years, especially among younger consumers who prioritize customization and value.In October, the chain's parent company announced that Triple Dippers accounted for 11% of Chili's overall business, and sales of the menu item had increased 70% compared to the previous year.Now, other casual-dining chains like Applebee's are getting in on the appetizer action with their own versions.Applebee's new Ultimate Trio, launched last week, invites customers to choose three appetizers and three accompanying dips.Applebee's president John Peyton refers to it as the "centerpiece of [the chain's] new Everyday Value platform." The concept is strikingly similar to the Triple Dipper's, though the appetizer and dip choices are different.I tried Applebee's new Ultimate Trio to compare it to Chili's Triple Dipper.I arrived around lunchtime on a weekday to try Applebee's new Ultimate Trio appetizer combo.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderApplebee's is no stranger to appetizer samplers. The chain's Classic Combo, which features boneless wings, spinach and artichoke dip, chicken quesadillas, and mozzarella sticks, has been on the menu for years and still holds a place there.The Ultimate Trio is a completely new menu item, rather than a revamp of its classic appetizer sampler.Branded around football season, it asks customers to draft their "perfect team" of appetizers by choosing three of 10 appetizer options and three dips."Today, guests want more choice, more flavor, and more fun for a great value—and we're here for it. The Ultimate Trio is our answer: three apps, three sauces, endless combinations — in fact, more than 80,000 flavor combinations," Dine Brands CEO and Applebee's president John Peyton told Business Insider in an emailed statement.The concept is similar to Chili's fan-favorite Triple Dipper appetizer sampler.Jordan Hart/Business InsiderThe Triple Dipper, which has been on Chili's menus for years, is having a moment. After going viral on TikTok and accounting for 11% of Chili's overall sales, it's no surprise that copycats may begin popping up at other casual-dining chains.Both the Triple Dipper and the Ultimate Trio allow customers to mix and match three apps and three dipping sauces.However, Chili's only offers six main appetizer options in various flavors, compared to the 10 options offered by Applebee's.Chili's dipping sauces are also pre-selected depending on which appetizers you choose, though you can customize by asking your server for specific dips.Business Insider asked Applebee's for comment on the similarities between the two menu items."The new Ultimate Trio is signature Applebee's — our flavors, our style, our rules. Mixing and matching apps isn't new, but we've leveled it up," Peyton told Business Insider.There's also a price difference between the two samplers. The Triple Dipper runs for about $17 to $20, depending on location, while the Ultimate Trio retails for $14.99.There was a wide variety of appetizers to choose from in Applebee's Ultimate Trio.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderThe full list of options includes:Boneless wings (available in Buffalo, extra hot Buffalo, garlic Parmesan, honey BBQ, hot honey glaze, and sweet Asian chile)Brew pub pretzelsChicken quesadillaChicken wonton tacosClassic friesCrunchy onion ringsDouble crunch shrimpMozarella sticksRibletsWaffle friesBy comparison, Chili's Triple Dipper includes six main appetizer options.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderCustomers can choose from:Big Mouth BitesBoneless wings (available in Buffalo, honey-chipotle, house BBQ, Nashville Hot, and Sweet Chili Zing)Bone-in wings (available in Buffalo, honey-chipotle, house BBQ, Nashville Hot, and Sweet Chili Zing)Chicken Crispers (available in classic, Nashville Hot, and honey-chipotle)Fried mozzarella (available in classic, Nashville Hot, and honey-chipotle)Southwestern egg rollsAt Applebee's, I ordered the Ultimate Trio with boneless wings, mozzarella sticks, and crispy chicken wonton tacos.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderEven though the Ultimate Trio offered more options, I personally preferred some of the appetizer options offered in the Triple Dipper.For example, Appebee's only offers boneless wings as part of its new appetizer sampler, while Chili's offers boneless wings, bone-in wings, and chicken tenders.I also prefer Chili's Big Mouth Bites burger sliders compared to Applebee's riblets. So even though I had more options at Applebee's, I personally preferred the selection at Chili's.I tried Applebee's mozzarella sticks first.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderThese are your classic mozzarella sticks — they're finger-shaped and evenly fried to a golden crisp, and they paired well with the marinara sauce I ordered for dipping.I prefer Chili's blocks of fried mozzarella, but these hit the spot.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderThe Applebee's ones are better for dipping, and the cheese inside was soft and creamy.However, if you're looking to get that eye-catching cheese pull, you'll probably be better off going to Chili's, which has larger, square-shaped mozzarella sticks.Next up, I tried the chicken wonton tacos.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderI received three crispy tacos filled with grilled chicken meat and topped with coleslaw.These tacos blended sweet and tangy flavors, with the crispy wonton shell adding the perfect crunch.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderThe coleslaw was vibrant and fresh, though I wish the diced chicken meat had a bit more flavor. The taco shell added the right crunch without being too oily or greasy from the frier.Overall, I enjoyed these tacos and thought they were a fresh, yet filling, appetizer.But the star of the sampler was Applebee's famous boneless wings.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderI ordered them in the classic Buffalo flavor. I received six boneless wings, which I thought was a generous portion given that they were just part of the sampler.The wings were evenly coated in the Buffalo sauce.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderI ordered blue cheese and ranch as my two other dipping sauces to pair with the wings.The wings paired well with both dipping sauces.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderThe blue cheese was creamy and thick, while the ranch was slightly lighter in consistency and more tangy.As for the boneless wings themselves, I was impressed by the rich flavor of the sauce that struck the perfect balance between buttery and spicy.The wings were tender and juicy, and packed with flavor thanks to the sauce.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderApplebee's is known for its boneless wings and is the NFL's official grill and bar sponsor. Therefore, I expected the boneless wings to blow me away.They delivered.The Buffalo boneless wings were packed with flavor and were adequately spicy without forcing me to reach for my water. I was impressed and would definitely order these again for my next game-day party.When comparing the two appetizer samplers, it all comes down to personal preference. However, Applebee's certainly delivered on value.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderAs a fan of Chili's bone-in wings and crispy chicken tenders, I'd sooner order the Triple Dipper over the Ultimate Trio.However, when it comes down to value, Applebee's is a strong competitor.For a few dollars less than the Triple Dipper, the Ultimate Trio was more customizable and offered more variety.I really enjoyed Applebee's dippable mozzarella sticks — though I still prefer Chili's massive blocks of cheese-pulling mozzarella — and thought the boneless wings were filling, flavorful, and perfectly coated in sauce.In the battle for appetizer-sampler supremacy, Applebee's does have a fighting chance.Read the original article on Business Insider

Comments

Business News

ABC News

How major US stock indexes fared Wednesday, 8/27/2025

about 2 hours ago

Newyork Post

Angry Cracker Barrel workers dish on skimpy pay and ‘frozen’ food that’s passed off as homestyle cooking: ‘in a bag off a truck’

about 2 hours ago

Lotte Duty Free Sees Jewelry Sparkle As Quarterly Sales Grow By 25%

Forbes

Comments

Business News

How major US stock indexes fared Wednesday, 8/27/2025

Angry Cracker Barrel workers dish on skimpy pay and ‘frozen’ food that’s passed off as homestyle cooking: ‘in a bag off a truck’

Lotte Duty Free Sees Jewelry Sparkle As Quarterly Sales Grow By 25%

Summer Songs: ‘Ordinary’ Tops Charts—But Critics Question Whether There’s A Song Of The Summer This Year

Palencia Arrives With Style (And Maybe Staying Power) As Cubs’ Closer

Germany’s 23-Man Squad Against Slovakia And Northern Ireland Analyzed

‘SNL’ Drops Emil Wakim As Shakeups Continue

J-Hope Scores A Top 10 Hit — Again

Trump Approval Rating: Crime Crackdowns Divide Voters Along Party Lines

Why Was Netflix’s ‘The Waterfront’ Cancelled After Just One Season?

Nvidia Earnings Beat Wall Street Expectations And Set Another Quarterly Sales Record

Stymied Homeowners Drive Home Goods Sales At Wayfair, TJX, Ikea

NBA Star Centers Battle Turns Lopsided At EuroBasket

AEW Dynamite Faces Protest From IATSE Union Over Wages

Under Receivership, Uncle Nearest Is At Risk

Put Some Italian Style In Your Cocktail Hour

Ford Recalls Over 355,000 Trucks—Here’s What Models Are Included

The Pirates Cannot Afford To Waste Paul Skenes

America’s Best-in-State Residential Architects 2025 Methodology

As NBA Continues To Make Mark In Africa, Pacers Assistant Lloyd Pierce Loves Being Part Of It

Could Trump’s Crime Crackdown Help Him Politically? Democrats Blasting Effort Risk Backfire, Polls Suggest

M&S in bid to win over young male shoppers with celebrity-studded social media campaign

Battle for soul of the Fed - but Trump is unlikely to win without national uproar, says MAGGIE PAGANO

New boss reveals Rio Tinto shake-up with miner under pressure to cut costs and improve value

Summer blues on the High St: Sales tumble 6% at JD Sports as CBI warns over more tax hikes

Trump ramps up pressure on Fed: White House economics chief says top bank official should stand down

Children's speaker firm Yoto backed by Sir Paul McCartney hits the right notes

It's not just Cracker Barrel &mdash; check out 5 other famous logo back-tracks

Businesses are already capitalizing on the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce economy with perks and discounts

Canada’s new major projects office to open this week, energy minister says

Taylor Swift is in her engagement era. Will it give the economy a boost?

Trump’s Push to Fire Lisa Cook Puts Fed Independence on Trial

Ford recalls over 355,000 pickup trucks over instrument display failure on dashboard

Pro-DEI organizers fired up to maintain Target boycott as promises go unfulfilled

Citi wealth boss Andy Sieg denies claims he threw tirades, made execs cry: ‘Not accurate’

What Time Is ‘My Life With The Walter Boys’ Season 2 Coming Out On Netflix?

AI Replacing Entry-Level Jobs: The Impact On Workers And The Economy

Why Jerry Jones’ Contract Standoff With Micah Parsons Feels Similar To Emmitt Smith’s

Your Most Important Retail Hire Might Be Obsolete In Five Years

Jonah Tong May Help The Mets’ Rotation, But Who Can Rescue The Bullpen?

Paris Hilton Fronts New Karl Lagerfeld Ad Campaign

How DC Residents Are Pushing Back Against Trump’s Military Takeover In Court

AI Job Disruption: What It Means For Companies And Competitiveness

The Password Is: Renewal

Belgian Tennis Player Adds $83,000 To US Open Payday After World No. 5 Pulls Out

Huge Drop In Twitch Streams Explained: Platform's Crackdown On 'Viewbotting'

‘Alien: Earth’ Episode 4 Recap And Review — Dreadfully Dull And Goofy

2025 U.S. Open: Photos Of Celebrities At Round 1 Matches

Disney Sues Sling TV Over Day Passes

Phillies Prospect Aidan Miller’s Star Glowing Brighter Than Ever

Cavaliers Lose Starter To Injury; Pressure Mounts To Land Free-Agent Target

Bonuses to rise for Ryanair staff spotting oversized baggage

Swifties Fan Army issues upbeat forecast after Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce merger proposal

The US Air Force is taking notes from Ukraine's shock Operation Spiderweb to protect its strategic bombers

25 vintage photos show what life was like in New York City 100 years ago

Nancy Pelosi's primary challenger, a founding engineer at Stripe, may be even wealthier than her

Uber now allows you to pay with cash. Drivers worry that it will lead to awkward moments or make them theft targets.

Brands are loving Taylor Swift's engagement. Do they need to calm down?

Protesters occupy Microsoft office as company reviews its work with Israel's military

Farm goods store Peavey Mart to stage a comeback with Alberta locations this fall

It's not just Cracker Barrel — check out 5 other famous logo back-tracks