Applebee's 2 for $25 Upcharge Guide (2026): Which Items Cost Extra?
Which 2 for $25 Items Carry an Upcharge?
Applebee's publishes no national upcharge list — the only per-item figures anywhere are location-reported numbers from deal trackers. The freshest source (FrugallyDelish, updated October 17, 2026) lists these premium picks with typical extra charges:
| Item | Typical upcharge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whiskey Bacon Burger | $2.50 | Premium burger pick — verify on your local menu |
| Half Back Double Glazed Baby Back Ribs | $2.50 | Premium pick — verify on your local menu |
| Riblet Platter | $3.00 | Highest flat fee reported on the deal |
| Bourbon St. Chicken & Shrimp | $2.50 | Premium pick — verify on your local menu |
| 3 Cheese Chicken Pasta | $2.50 | Premium pick — verify on your local menu |
| 8 oz Top Sirloin | $2.50 | Steak swap — verify on your local menu |
Treat these as reported-at-locations figures, not company quotes: another 2026 tracker puts the general range at $2–$5 per item, and Applebee's own disclaimer is that "price, participation and selection may vary." The full entrée picklist (upcharge items included) lives on our 2 for $25 menu page.
Which Items Are Included Flat ($0 Extra)?
Most of the picklist carries no surcharge at all. Per the same October 2026 research, these come in at the flat $25: the Classic Burger, Classic Cheeseburger, Fiesta Lime Chicken, Grilled Oriental Chicken Salad, Oriental Chicken Salad and Riblet Plate — plus all five deal appetizers (2 Side Salads, Boneless Wings, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Mozzarella Sticks and Onion Rings). If you want the deal with zero surprises, build your order from this list — and our best-combos guide ranks which pairings save the most.
The 6 oz Top Sirloin: Included or Extra?
This one confuses people because sources describe it two ways — and both are right. The 6 oz Top Sirloin is included flat in the $25 (FrugallyDelish's October 2026 picklist lists it with no upcharge, and MenuPricesUSA verified September 1, 2026 agrees) — but Applebee's added it as a limited-time item (per the company's own press release), so it's a franchise-dependent offer that isn't guaranteed at every restaurant. The 8 oz Top Sirloin is the one that can carry the ~$2.50 surcharge. If your local menu shows steak in the 2-for-25 list with no asterisk, it's the 6 oz flat.
Upcharge vs the 2 for $30 Tier: The Math
Two premium picks on the $25 deal can quietly total what the premium tier costs outright. Here's the arithmetic:
| Scenario | What you pay |
|---|---|
| 2 for $25 + two $2.50 upcharges | $30 |
| 2 for $25 + two $3.00 upcharges | $31 |
| 2 for $30 tier (steak picks included, no surcharge) | $30 |
The 2 for $30 tier — offered at select markets — folds steak picks like the 7 oz Top Sirloin into a flat $30 with no per-item surcharge. If you're ordering premium picks on the $25 deal anyway, ask whether your restaurant runs the $30 tier: it's the cleaner route to steak and ribs. Full breakdown in our 2 for $30 guide, and all current offers with fine print on our specials and deals page.
Why Some Locations Charge More
Upcharges feel random because they're local decisions, not national policy:
- Nearly every Applebee's is franchise-owned — the operator sets local prices, including which premium picks carry extra.
- Applebee's publishes no national upcharge list — there are no official per-item figures to compare against, which is why tracker sites report location-by-location.
- The order app and website show upcharges next to each item where they apply (per menuprices.us, 2026) — the digital menu is the most reliable place to see your location's real numbers.
- The official disclaimer covers all of it: "price, participation and selection may vary."
How to Avoid a Surprise at the Register
- Check your local menu first. Enter your ZIP code on applebees.com — upcharge items are marked on the restaurant's own menu.
- Ask your server which picks carry extra before you order. Thirty seconds, no surprise.
- Remember tax and gratuity are never in the $25. The deal price is the food subtotal; everything else stacks on top regardless.
How We Verified This
Official applebees.com 2-for-25 landing page fetched October 21, 2026 — it lists featured items only; per-item upcharges sit behind the JS-gated order menu, so no official national list exists. Per-item figures: FrugallyDelish, updated October 17, 2026 (location-reported; the only current itemized source). 6 oz sirloin flat-inclusion: FrugallyDelish plus MenuPricesUSA, verified September 1, 2026, plus Applebee's own press release on the limited-time steak addition. $2–$5 general range and in-app upcharge display: menuprices.us, 2026. One site claims a "$4–$6 per person" steak surcharge, but no current source verifies it — that figure is not published here. No prices invented.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the upcharge on Applebee's 2 for $25?
Typically $2.50 per premium pick and $3.00 for the Riblet Platter, at some locations (per FrugallyDelish, October 2026). Most items carry no upcharge at all. Your local menu marks which items carry extra.
Is the steak included in Applebee's 2 for $25 or does it cost extra?
The 6 oz Top Sirloin is included flat where offered — it's a limited-time addition, so availability varies by restaurant. The 8 oz Top Sirloin can carry a ~$2.50 upcharge at some locations.
Which appetizers in the 2 for $25 have an upcharge?
None on the current picklist per the freshest October 2026 research — Boneless Wings, Mozzarella Sticks, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Onion Rings and 2 Side Salads are all flat. Older pages mention premium apps like Neighborhood Nachos, but that's unverified nationally — check your local menu.
Do all locations charge the same upcharges?
No. Nearly all Applebee's restaurants are franchise-owned, and price, participation and selection vary by location. The upcharge list and the amounts are set by your local restaurant.
Is the 2 for $25 still a good deal with the upcharge?
Usually yes — two premium picks at +$2.50 each totals $30, roughly matching the regular-menu savings. But if you're ordering premium picks anyway, compare with the 2 for $30 tier (select markets), which includes steak picks with no per-item surcharge.
