I Tried Applebee’s Ridiculously Cheesy New Burger, and It’s Worth the Hype
And it's a surprisingly good deal.
Image Courtesy of Applebee's
Life moves at the speed of light. Less than ten days into the new year, it’s too early to know for sure what 2026 food trends are coming our way (though we have some guesses). Burgers and meal deals, however, never go out of fashion.
Enter the new O-M-Cheese Burger from Applebee’s, which launched in restaurants on January 5 — here to help guests indulge at that sweet spot where good burgers and good value melt into one. There’s no better way to have a “sizzlin’ start to the New Year,” according to the brand.
What is Applebee’s O-M-Cheese Burger?
The brand-new burger features a juicy, all-beef burger patty topped with American cheese, Applewood-smoked bacon and a spicy honey mustard sauce. And while most burgers stop there, Applebee’s goes the extra mile to truly earn the “O-M-Cheese” name. The burger is served split in half, with each cut side nestled in a sizzling hot pool of molten queso and a rich blend of cheddar cheeses. As the cheese cooks on the hot skillet, it crisps up and provides a really nice texture. The cheese will nearly overflow, and the only solution is to keep scooping it up with fries long after the burger is gone. Luckily, the skillet comes with a side of fries.
“There’s no burger experience like it!” Michelle Chin, Applebee’s chief marketing officer, says in a press release. “Whether pulling, pushing, or dipping, you’ll be sure to get your cheese fix with our new ooey-gooey O-M-Cheese Burger!”
It’s a wonderful embarrassment of riches. The best part? Guests can get the burger meal for only $11.99. Plus, for a limited time, Applebee’s is offering guests the chance to enjoy extra food at a low price. As part of the signature 2 for $25 menu, you can order the new burger plus another choice of entree, along with one appetizer or two side salads.
What are people saying about Applebee’s new O-M-Cheese Burger?
A quick scroll through social media confirms that within days of its launch, Applebee’s new burger has become a certified hit among those who’ve gotten their hands on the meaty molten meal.
“Oh yeah, this is everything you want it to be,” TikTok content creator @ash_loves_condiments says in her video review of the O-M-Cheese Burger.
“Dipping the fries in the cheese was the best part,” confirms TikTok content creator @dondecierraa, who also said the spicy honey mustard sauce in the burger “really ties it all together.”
“Am I in America, or am I in Japan?” asked content creator @floofytiana in her TikTok video, referencing the burger’s resemblance to a burger trend that was made popular by American Diner Andra, a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan.
Even Reddit users in the skeptical Subreddit r/StupidFood are getting on board with this burger.
“I got the ‘stupid’ Applebee’s O-M- cheeseburger,” one user posts. “It was actually good as hell.” They rated it a 9.5 out of 10.
My honest review of Applebee’s new O-M-Cheeseburger:
I got to taste the new burger, and I must say, it totally lives up to the hype. The sizzling cheese was the main event, but it didn’t take away from the other bold flavors of the burger itself. My favorite bites were when the spicy honey mustard, crispy bacon and molten cheese perfectly came together.
If you’ve ever wanted to eat cheese fondue and a burger at the same time, this burger is one you must experience. But be armed and ready with fries: cheese will get everywhere, but that’s part of the fun.
Image Courtesy of Applebee's
What else is new at Applebee’s?
Meanwhile, Applebee’s also brought back its $6 Valentine’s Day cocktail and mocktail menu — another great deal that now includes two new drinks:
- Tipsy Cupid, "a spiked lemonade matchup of Smirnoff Vodka, orange liqueur, strawberry and premium lemon sour."
- Prickly Ever After Rita (new), "a sweet-meets-tart margarita with Cuervo Tradicional Blanco Tequila, orange liqueur, lime and prickly pear."
- Prickly Melon Rush (new), "an energizing mix of Red Bull Watermelon, prickly pear, lime juice and lemon lime soda."
Pairing a margarita with the world's cheesiest burger for under $20? Sign us up.
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