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The Applebee’s breakfast menu is not a standard nationwide offering, most Applebee’s restaurants across the United States open at 11:00 AM and serve only lunch and dinner.
However, the Applebee’s breakfast menu does exist in four specific contexts: select hotel and airport locations that open at 6 to 7 AM, certain urban locations (especially in New York City) that offer weekend brunch from 8 AM, the annual Breakfast with Santa holiday event held at participating franchise locations each December, and the Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser program which any qualifying nonprofit, school, or sports team can book year-round.
This guide covers all four contexts of the Applebee’s breakfast menu items, prices, hours, and how to find or book each one.
Visit applebees.com → Applebee’s was founded in 1980 in Atlanta, Georgia by Bill and T.J. Palmer and is now owned by Dine Brands Global, operating approximately 1,478 US locations.
Planning more than breakfast? See the full Applebee’s menu with prices, Applebee’s kids menu and Applebee’s happy hour, visit the Applebee’s guide, or compare breakfast menus at 70+ restaurant chains.
The vast majority of Applebee’s locations do NOT serve breakfast. Standard restaurants open at 11:00 AM for lunch. Do not arrive expecting the Applebee’s breakfast menu at 8 or 9 AM. It will not be available at most locations. The four contexts below are the only situations where the Applebee’s breakfast menu exists in the US.
Guide
The 4 places the Applebee’s breakfast menu actually exists
Hotel and airport stores · NYC weekend brunch · Breakfast with Santa · Flapjack Fundraiser
Most Applebee’s open at 11:00 AM, so the Applebee’s breakfast menu only exists at hotel and airport stores, some NYC brunch locations, Breakfast with Santa events and Flapjack Fundraisers.
Applebee’s locations embedded in or adjacent to hotels (particularly Hyatt Place properties) and airports open as early as 6:00 to 7:00 AM to serve breakfast to guests and travelers. These locations run a simplified breakfast menu covering eggs, pancakes, omelets, and combo plates. Hours: 6 to 11 AM.
Select Applebee’s in high-density urban markets, particularly New York City (Times Square, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Fresh Meadows), offer weekend brunch service from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, blending breakfast items with the regular menu. Best bet for a walk-in morning Applebee’s in the US.
An annual holiday event hosted at participating franchise locations each December. A ticketed morning event ($4 to $15/person) featuring pancakes, photos with Santa, raffles, and charity components. Has run every year since at least 2018. Separate from normal operating hours.
Applebee’s official community fundraiser program. Schools, nonprofits, and sports teams book an early-morning pancake breakfast at a participating location. ~$7/ticket includes 3 pancakes, 2 sausage links, and a drink; the organizing group keeps ~$5 per ticket sold.
Hours
Applebee’s breakfast hours
Standard Applebee’s locations do not serve breakfast; where the Applebee’s breakfast menu is offered, hotel and airport stores open as early as 6:00 AM and NYC brunch runs 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on weekends.
Hours depend entirely on location type. Standard Applebee’s do not open until 11 AM.
Applebee’s breakfast hours
| Location type | Opens | Breakfast ends | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard US locations (~1,400+) | 11:00 AM | N/A, no breakfast | Lunch menu only from open. No breakfast items available at any time. |
| Hotel / airport Applebee’s Breakfast available | 6:00 to 7:00 AM | 10:30 to 11:00 AM | Most reliable breakfast option; open early for hotel guests and travelers |
| NYC & urban brunch (weekends) Brunch available | 8:00 AM | 2:00 PM | Saturday & Sunday; Times Square, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Fresh Meadows confirmed |
| Breakfast with Santa event | 8:00 AM (event start) | ~10:30 to 11:00 AM | December only; ticketed; not walk-in; check Eventbrite for your local event |
| Flapjack Fundraiser | 7:00 to 8:00 AM (event start) | ~10:00 to 11:00 AM | Year-round; pre-booked only; contact your local GM to schedule |
Guide
Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser: complete booking guide
The Flapjack Fundraiser lets schools, teams and nonprofits sell tickets to a pancake breakfast served from a special Applebee’s breakfast menu at a local restaurant.
The Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser (official name: Flapjack Breakfast Fundraiser, run through applesunneighborhood.com) is a community fundraising program where schools, sports teams, nonprofits, and other organizations partner with a local Applebee’s to host a morning pancake breakfast fundraiser. Applebee’s supplies the food, staff, and venue. The organization sells tickets and keeps a significant portion of every ticket sold. It has been used by groups ranging from school bands and baseball teams to Big Brothers Big Sisters chapters. The pancake breakfast can also be upgraded to a "Breakfast with Santa" format during the holiday season with advance coordination.
| Event detail | Typical format |
|---|---|
| When | December, usually a Saturday 2 to 3 weeks before Christmas (e.g., Dec 7, Dec 14, Dec 21) |
| Ticket price | ~$4 to $15 per person depending on location and organizer. Some events are $4/pp (cash only, first-come-first-served); ticketed events on Eventbrite run ~$15/pp |
| What's included | Pancake breakfast (typically 3 pancakes + sausage links or bacon + drink), photo with Santa, raffle entry, holiday activities |
| Charity component | Many locations donate proceeds to local causes; some coordinate with Toys for Tots toy drives |
| Reservation | Varies, some are first-come-first-served; others sell tickets on Eventbrite in advance. Check Eventbrite.com for your nearest location each November |
| Confirmed locations | Brooklyn NY (Gateway Shopping Center), Long Island NY (Brentwood), Rhode Island (South County Commons), Big Brothers Big Sisters partnerships (Texas), and many others annually |
| Annual history | Documented events in 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, recurring annual program at franchise level |
Search "Applebee’s Breakfast with Santa [your city]" on Eventbrite each November/early December, many locations sell tickets there. Also check your local Applebee’s Facebook page or call the restaurant directly in late October to ask if they're hosting one this year. Events are organized at the franchise level, not listed on applebees.com.
Guide
Applebee’s Breakfast with Santa: full event guide
Breakfast with Santa is a December event at participating franchise locations, with a holiday Applebee’s breakfast menu and photos with Santa.
Applebee’s Breakfast with Santa is an annual holiday breakfast event held at participating franchise locations each December, typically on a Saturday morning 2 to 3 weeks before Christmas. The event combines a pancake breakfast with a live Santa Claus appearance, photo opportunities, raffles, holiday entertainment (carolers, balloon twisters at some locations), and often a charity toy drive component. It has been running at franchise locations across the US since at least 2018, confirmed through 2024. Proceeds benefit local charities or are organized through the Flapjack Fundraiser format for a specific nonprofit.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Flapjack Breakfast Fundraiser (Applebee’s Neighborhood program) |
| Ticket price (typical) | ~$7 per person |
| Fundraiser menu included per ticket | 3 pancakes + 2 sausage links + choice of coffee, tea, juice, or soda |
| How much the org keeps | ~$5 per ticket sold, approximately 70% of each ticket goes to the organizing group |
| Who can book | Schools, nonprofits, sports teams, churches, youth organizations, any qualifying community group |
| Timing | Early morning before normal Applebee’s opening hours, typically 7:00 to 8:00 AM start, runs to ~10:30 AM |
| Availability | Year-round; not limited to holidays. Must be pre-booked with the local Applebee’s general manager |
| Add-ons | Car wash alongside breakfast (weather permitting); Breakfast with Santa format during December with advance notice |
How to book the Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser, Step by Step
Go to applesunneighborhood.com, this is Applebee’s official Flapjack Fundraiser microsite with program details, tips, and participating location information.
Not every Applebee’s participates. Use the site's location tool or call your nearest Applebee’s and ask specifically for the General Manager to discuss a Flapjack Fundraiser.
Work with the GM to pick a Saturday or Sunday morning date. Discuss ticket price, expected attendance, add-ons (car wash, Santa), and any special requirements for your organization.
Your organization sells tickets to supporters. Applebee’s handles all food, staff, and venue setup. You collect proceeds at the door. Average successful fundraiser: 100 to 200 tickets at ~$5 profit each = $500 to $1,000 for your org.
Guide
The Applebee’s breakfast menu in New York
New York City is the strongest market for the Applebee’s breakfast menu, with weekend brunch from 8:00 AM at participating locations such as Times Square.
NYC Applebee’s locations are the most likely in the US to serve weekend brunch. Brunch hours: 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Saturday & Sunday) at participating locations.
| NYC location | Breakfast/brunch? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Times Square, 42nd St Tourist hub | Weekend brunch confirmed | One of the most visited Applebee’s in the world; hosts NYE events; brunch from 8 AM weekends. Breakfast Burger available. |
| Times Square, 50th St | Weekend brunch confirmed | Second Times Square location; same weekend brunch program as 42nd St |
| Staten Island | Select locations, confirm | Multiple Staten Island Applebee’s; some confirmed for weekend brunch. Call ahead, not all SI locations serve breakfast. |
| Brooklyn, Gateway Shopping Center | Weekend brunch + Santa events | Annual Breakfast with Santa events documented here (2023 confirmed on Eventbrite); weekend brunch available select dates |
| Fresh Meadows (Queens) | Select, confirm locally | Part of the Queens/NYC franchise cluster; brunch availability varies by season and demand |
| New York general (outside NYC) | Limited, check locally | Upstate NY, Long Island (Brentwood confirmed for Santa events), suburban locations vary significantly |
Applebee’s breakfast Niagara Falls
The Applebee’s Niagara Falls location (Niagara Falls, NY and/or Ontario side) is a high-traffic tourist destination restaurant that may offer extended hours or breakfast service to accommodate early-morning visitors to the Falls. As a major tourist area, Niagara Falls Applebee’s is more likely to serve a morning meal than a suburban location but confirm directly with the restaurant before planning a breakfast visit, as availability is location-specific and not guaranteed.
Guide
Applebee’s breakfast buffet: what happened to it?
Some franchise locations once ran a Sunday breakfast buffet, but it is no longer part of the Applebee’s breakfast menu at most stores.
Many searchers remember an Applebee’s Sunday breakfast buffet and it did exist. Some franchise locations offered a Sunday morning all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet covering pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, pastries, and coffee for approximately $8.99 to $12.99 per person. This was never a chain-wide program, it was always a franchise-level decision and most locations that offered it have discontinued it over the past several years, particularly after the operational changes that followed 2020 to 2021. As of 2026, the Applebee’s breakfast menu buffet is no longer widely available. A small number of franchise locations may still offer it seasonally or on specific Sundays, call your local restaurant directly if this is what you’re looking for. The Flapjack Fundraiser is the closest equivalent to a group breakfast experience at Applebee’s today.
If you're searching for "Applebee’s breakfast buffet" because you remember it from years ago, you're not imagining it, but it's largely gone. The best morning group breakfast experience available at Applebee’s in 2026 is the Flapjack Fundraiser, which offers a similar pancake-and-sausage format in a pre-booked group setting.
Guide
How to find an Applebee’s serving breakfast near you
An Applebee’s that opens at 8 AM or earlier probably serves the Applebee’s breakfast menu; one that opens at 11 AM does not.
Search "Applebee’s near me." If a location opens at 8 AM or earlier, it likely serves breakfast. Standard 11 AM open = no breakfast, no exceptions.
Open the Applebee’s app, select a nearby location, and check its menu. If the menu shows breakfast items, that location serves breakfast. If only lunch/dinner appears, it doesn't.
Call the location directly and ask
"Do you serve breakfast, and if so, what are your hours?" Takes 60 seconds and saves a wasted trip. Ask specifically about weekends if that's when you plan to visit.
Applebee’s inside or adjacent to hotels are the most consistent breakfast-serving locations. Search "Applebee’s hotel [your city]" to find them.
Tips
Applebee’s breakfast menu ordering hacks
These tips help you find and make the most of the Applebee’s breakfast menu.
If you're visiting NYC on a weekend, the Times Square locations (42nd St or 50th St) are your best walk-in bet for the Applebee’s breakfast menu in the US. Both open at 8 AM on weekends and serve the full brunch menu including the Breakfast Burger.
For the Flapjack Fundraiser, aim to sell at least 100 tickets before the event
at $5 profit per ticket that's $500 for your organization. Events with 150 to 200 attendees are considered successful by Applebee’s franchise standards.
Book the Flapjack Fundraiser for a Saturday morning
weekday morning events are harder for community members to attend. Saturday 8 to 10:30 AM is the standard window that yields the best attendance at most locations.
For Breakfast with Santa, arrive early
first-come-first-served events (like the South County Commons one at $4/pp) are known to have long waits. The 2024 South County Commons event noted "long wait times" and was considering starting earlier. Be there at 8 AM opening.
Traveling through an airport? Many airport-terminal Applebee’s open at 6 AM and serve a full breakfast menu to departing passengers. Check your terminal's dining map before heading to a standalone location.
The Applebee’s app shows real-time hours and menus. If you open the app and select a location, a breakfast-serving location will show morning items in its menu tab. This is faster than calling and more reliable than Google Maps which sometimes shows outdated hours.
Compare
Compare the Applebee’s breakfast menu with other chains
Since most Applebee’s do not serve breakfast, compare the Applebee’s breakfast menu with these chains that do.
Spangles
6:30 to 10:30 AM · Kansas onlyView breakfast menu →
Waffle House
24/7 · every dayView breakfast menu →
Portillo’s
Discontinued Sept 2025View breakfast menu →
Dairy Queen
Select locations onlyView breakfast menu →
IHOP
All day · pancakes & omelettesView breakfast menu →
Dunkin’
All day, every dayView breakfast menu →
Taco Bell
7 to 11 AMView breakfast menu →
Starbucks
All day, every dayView breakfast menu →
Panera Bread
Until 10:30 AM weekdaysView breakfast menu →
Chick-fil-A
6:30 to 10:30 AM · closed SundayView breakfast menu →FAQ
Applebee’s breakfast menu FAQs
Q1Does Applebee’s have breakfast?
Not at most locations, the vast majority of Applebee’s restaurants in the US open at 11:00 AM and serve only lunch and dinner. However, the Applebee’s breakfast menu does exist in four specific contexts: (1) hotel and airport-adjacent Applebee’s that open at 6 to 7 AM, (2) select NYC and urban locations that offer weekend brunch from 8 AM, (3) the annual Breakfast with Santa holiday event each December, and (4) the Flapjack Fundraiser program available year-round by pre-booking with your local Applebee’s general manager.
Q2Is the Applebee’s breakfast menu served all day?
No, even at the select locations that do serve breakfast, it is a morning-only offering. Standard hotel/airport locations serve breakfast from 6 to 7 AM until 10:30 to 11:00 AM. NYC weekend brunch runs from 8 AM to 2 PM. Flapjack Fundraiser and Breakfast with Santa events run until approximately 10:30 to 11:00 AM. No Applebee’s location serves breakfast all day.
Q3What time does the Applebee’s breakfast menu start?
It depends on the location type. Hotel and airport Applebee’s typically start breakfast at 6:00 to 7:00 AM and end at 10:30 to 11:00 AM. NYC weekend brunch locations start at 8:00 AM and run to 2:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Standard Applebee’s locations do not open until 11:00 AM and do not serve breakfast at any time.
Q4What is the Applebee’s Breakfast with Santa event?
Applebee’s Breakfast with Santa is an annual holiday event hosted at participating franchise locations each December. It typically includes a pancake breakfast (3 pancakes, sausage links, drink), a live Santa Claus appearance with photo opportunities, raffles, and charity components. Tickets typically run $4 to $15 per person depending on location and organizer. The event is not listed on applebees.com, it is organized at the franchise level. Search Eventbrite for “Applebee’s Breakfast with Santa” in November to find events near you, or check your local Applebee’s Facebook page.
Q5How do I book the Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser?
Visit applesunneighborhood.com (Applebee’s official fundraiser site) to learn about the program, then call your nearest participating Applebee’s and ask to speak with the General Manager about booking a Flapjack Breakfast Fundraiser. Your organization sets a date, sells ~$7/pp tickets (keeping approximately $5 per ticket), and Applebee’s handles all food and staffing. Most events run Saturday mornings from 7 to 10:30 AM before the restaurant’s normal lunch service begins.
Q6Does Applebee’s Times Square serve breakfast?
Yes, the Applebee’s Times Square locations (42nd Street and 50th Street) offer weekend brunch from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. These are among the most reliable breakfast-serving Applebee’s in the United States. The brunch menu includes pancakes, omelets, the Classic Brunch Burger, eggs, and standard breakfast sides. No reservation required for walk-in weekend brunch at Times Square locations.
Q7Does Applebee’s have a breakfast buffet?
Applebee’s used to offer a Sunday breakfast buffet at select franchise locations, an all-you-can-eat morning meal covering pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns for approximately $8.99 to $12.99. This was never chain-wide and has been largely discontinued as of 2026. A small number of franchise locations may still offer it seasonally. The Flapjack Fundraiser is the closest equivalent available today for a group pancake breakfast experience at Applebee’s.
