An Applebee’s customer may have experienced the all-you-can-eat version of shrinkflation.
Creator Shana (@shana5824) recently dined out at Applebee’s with a man who appears to be her significant other. He ordered the all-you-can-eat chicken tenders, she says in a TikTok about the experience.
What happened at Applebee’s?
In the video, Shana shows the second plate he purportedly received of chicken tenders. It has a bunch of French fries, a two-ounce portion of dipping sauce, and three chicken tenders on it.
She pans the camera to her companion, who sits looking disappointed with his arms crossed. Laughing, she says, “Put your finger next to it.”
He holds his pinky finger up next to a chicken tender. They’re about the same size.
“That’s crazy,” Shana says, still laughing. “Pinky tenders.”
The text overlay says they paid $15 for all-you-can-eat chicken tenders at Applebee’s. They don’t appear to think the price matches the value.
Shana’s post has inspired something of a pile-on about the 45-year-old restaurant chain. As of this writing, it has 400,000 views and counting.
Applebee’s did not immediately reply to an emailed inquiry sent Friday morning.
Recession fried chicken
Inflation and recession fears have people and businesses across the country looking for ways to tighten their budgets.
Consumers may opt to dine at home, rather than in a restaurant, or forego that luxury hair care product in favor of a generic.
Businesses, on the other hand, may lay off workers, raise prices, or scrap expansion plans. They may also engage in shrinkflation or skimpflation.
Shrinkflation refers to reducing quantity without adjusting prices.
Skimpflation, on the other hand, reduces services or item quality. A hotel may clean rooms less frequently, for example, or a snack maker may use cheaper ingredients.
Both are widely panned by consumers, who view shrinkflation and skimpflation as sneaky ways to cut costs.
At least one person who commented on Shana’s post believes that the little tenders are an industry-wide example of shrinkflation.
“Yup this is just common at every chicken spot. These days tenders are smaller than ever,” they said.
Eatin’ less in the neighborhood
Shana’s post about the meager serving of chicken tenders at Applebee’s inspired hundreds of comments, many criticizing the company.
“You, as a human being, have free will and choose to walk into an Applebees?” reads a particularly scathing barb.
A lot of people said that the brand has gone downhill since it was acquired by IHOP in 2007.
Others opined that the tenders are “dry,” that the restaurant hopes he fills up on fries, or is trying to wait him out so he gets fed up, if not full, and leaves.
Applebee’s use of pre-fabricated foods also earned some criticism. “There’s no reason to go to Applebees if you own a microwave,” opined one.
Another similarly said, “From the freezer bag to your plate. At least they sprinkled spice on top of the dipping sauce to finish the presentation.”
One person who identified themselves as an Applebee’s employee offered an explanation for the tenders’ diminutive size.
“It’s small because of ayce [all you can eat]. They’re usually bigger but the company gets the small ones during ayce so they don’t lose money,” they said.
A prevailing sentiment in the comments on Shana’s post was simple: order more.
“It doesn’t matter how small they are if you have unlimited,” wrote one. “Infinite $1 bills and infinite $20 bills are still the same amount.”
@shana5824 This was the second plate brought out a half hour after he ordered more ? #applebees #allyoucaneat #scammed #fyp #tenders @Jorge Guapo ♬ original sound – Love Marie
Shana didn’t immediately respond to a direct message sent via TikTok.
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