Shrinkflation isn’t just hitting grocery store aisles—it’s showing up at restaurants, too.
Diners are increasingly noticing smaller portions for the same (or higher) prices, leading to a growing frustration with what they’re actually getting for their money.
Now, one Applebee’s customer thinks she got the short end of the deal.
Applebee’s diner says steak is too small
TikTok creator @thisisntana shared a video of what she called a disappointing meal.
Her clip, which now has more than 1.1 million views, shows her picking up her steak with her fingers and turning it around, clearly unimpressed.
“Applebees ‘8oz’ steak,” she wrote in the video’s text overlay. On the plate were mashed potatoes and a side of broccoli, but the focus was on the small piece of meat.
In her caption, she added, “The way I was starving and then they hand me this. (i asked for Medium Rare btw lol).”
Is the steak really smaller than 8oz?
It’s tough to know just by looking at it. Restaurant menus typically list the pre-cooked weight of their meat, not what’s served after it hits the grill.
And steaks are known to shrink significantly during cooking, by as much as 25% in size and up to 30% in weight, depending on how they’re prepared.
That means an 8-ounce steak could look much smaller once it reaches your table, especially if it’s cooked beyond rare.
Plus, this isn’t exactly a new debate. Customers have been complaining about the size of Applebee’s steaks for years—a Reddit post from eight years ago raised similar concerns—suggesting this might not be a case of recent portion cuts.
However, this isn’t the first time Applebee’s customers have complained about shrinkflation. Recently, another TikToker said they noticed it when ordering the chain’s all‑you‑can‑eat chicken tenders.
Commenters are split
Some viewers thought the steak looked about right for what she ordered. “It was 8oz before they cooked it,” one person wrote.
Others sided with her. “First mistake is ordering steak at Applebee’s,” one commenter said. Another joked, “I’m about to start bringing my food scale to restaurants.”
And a few were ready to take action: “This would pmo. I’d ask for a refund and leave lol.”
A commenter who identified themselves as an Applebee’s server also confirmed the TikToker’s suspicion. “Steakhouse server here – that’s def a 5-6 oz,” they wrote.
@thisisntana the way i was starving and then they hand me this? ? (i asked for Medium Rare btw lol) #applebees #applebeesbarandgrill #Foodie #food #8ozsteak #steak #wtf ♬ get out! – auxmit☆
The Mary Sue has reached out to @thisisntana and Applebee’s for comment.
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