Dine Brands Global Inc., the parent company of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar, IHOP and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop restaurants, has opened its first dual-brand Applebee’s|IHOP restaurant in the U.S. in partnership with franchisee Ramzi Hakim Group. The new restaurant opened to the public on February 18 in Seguin, Texas, just outside of San Antonio.
At the dual-branded Applebee’s | IHOP restaurant guests can enjoy all the classics from IHOP’s world-famous pancakes and breakfast offerings to Applebee’s fan-favorite boneless wings, burgers, and appetizers from morning to late-night. The unique menu features items from both brands that can be mixed, matched, and ordered any time of day, including specialty cocktails such as an espresso martini or Irish coffee – all under one roof. This restaurant also introduces new, exclusive menu items, like the Buffalo Chicken Omelette and Ultimate Breakfast Burger, available only at U.S. dual-branded locations.
“For decades, Applebee’s and IHOP have been places where friends gather, families celebrate and careers begin. Now, with our dual-branded restaurant, we are combining the strengths of both brands to create a unique and innovative dining experience that offers choice, variety, and value to guests,” said Dine Brands CEO John Peyton. “Our international success with this concept has shown that our brand menus complement each other, providing something for everyone, from early mornings to late nights. We are excited to bring this new dining option to Seguin and look forward to expanding it to more communities across the country.”
The dual-branded location features two distinct dining areas to choose from—the warm, familiar atmosphere of Applebee’s or the bright, cheerful ambiance of IHOP. The shared common areas, including the host stand and bathrooms, create an integrated experience, and the optimized back-of-house and single kitchen, provide operational efficiencies.
“We’re thrilled to welcome guests and serve the community of Seguin with all the IHOP items they know and love, while also introducing them to Applebee’s selection of lunch and dinner favorites,” said Ramzi Hakim, president of Ramzi Hakim Group. “As owners of both IHOP and Applebee’s restaurants, we are no strangers to these iconic brands and are honored to open the first U.S. dual-branded location in this great community.”
Dine Brands franchises 13 international dual-branded locations across Canada, Mexico, Honduras, and the Middle East, as of September 30, 2024. The system is slated to break ground and open 14 more dual-branded locations in the United States through 2026 by transforming existing single-branded restaurants and building new locations from the ground up.
