The other day, on March 2, 2026, my mother, Chad, and I decided to go out for an early dinner instead of cooking at home. Since we were already in Pikeville, Kentucky, running an errand, we stopped by Applebee’s Grill + Bar. I noticed a new item on the menu I wanted to try, and Chad was curious about it too—the O-M-Cheese Burger.
The O-M-Cheese Burger is served in a sizzling skillet of molten queso and a blend of cheddar cheeses. The all-beef burger is topped with American cheese, Applewood-smoked bacon, and spicy honey mustard, with fries on the side.
Before our burgers arrived, Chad ordered some appetizers for the table: Brew Pub Pretzels & Beer Cheese Dip and Spinach & Artichoke Dip (a free appetizer, a $25 deal for two O-M-Cheese Burgers). I decided to skip the appetizers, so I wouldn’t get too full before my burger arrived.
For a drink, I ordered a Sugar-Free Red Bull. Normally, I prefer Monster Energy Zero, but since Applebee’s didn’t have it, Red Bull was the next best option.
The O-M-Cheese Burger is priced at $11.99, but the Pikeville location was offering a deal: two O-M-Cheese Burgers and one free appetizer for $25. Chad and I decided to take advantage of that offer.
Keep in mind that the O-M-Cheese Burger is a limited-time menu item, and promotions like the $25 deal may only be available at select Applebee’s locations.
My Order and First Impressions
When placing my order, I customized the burger slightly. I asked them not to include the honey mustard, and when the burger arrived, I also removed the bacon and gave it to my mother and Chad, since I’m not really a fan of bacon or pork.
So my version of the O-M-Cheese Burger ended up being:
- The burger
- Lots of melted cheese
- No honey mustard
- No bacon
- Fries on the side
Visually, the burger looked very similar to the photos shown on Applebee’s menu and website, which is always a good sign.
The burger itself tasted freshly grilled and juicy, which was a relief. Some restaurant burgers can end up dry or bland, but that was definitely not the case here.
As someone who loves cheese, the molten queso-and-melted-cheddar blend was the highlight of the dish. However, as the burger cools, the cheese naturally thickens and sticks to the skillet.
My advice: use a spoon or fork to scoop some of the melted cheese onto the burger or bun while it’s still hot. Once it cools down, it becomes much harder to scoop.
The Fries
The fries were the only part of the meal that didn’t fully impress me.
To my taste, they were a bit too salty, and I only ended up eating a few. Personally, I’d rather restaurants go lighter on the salt and let customers add more at the table if needed.
Feedback from My Dining Companions
My mother and Chad shared one of the burgers, and they had their own thoughts about the meal.
My mother’s feedback:
She thought the burger tasted great overall, but wished it came with lettuce and sliced tomatoes. She also felt the fries were a bit soggy.
Chad’s feedback:
Chad really enjoyed the burger and liked the generous amount of cheese. His only complaint was that he would have liked more bacon, and he also felt the fries were somewhat soggy.
So while the burger itself was a hit, the fries were the weak point for all of us — though for different reasons.
Final Verdict
Despite the issues with the fries, the O-M-Cheese Burger itself was very good. The juicy beef patty and generous melted cheese made it a satisfying meal.
My rating: 3.8/5 (very good)
My mother’s rating: 4/5 (great)
Chad’s rating: 4/5 (great)
Total rating: 3.93 (almost great)
We recommend the O-M-Cheese burger from Applebee’s Grill + Bar! What about you? Have you tried them yet? If so, please leave a comment!
Applebee's Grill + Bar O-M-Cheese Burger Review
Product Name: O-M-Cheese Burger
Product Description: It doesn’t get any meltier than this. Served in a sizzling skillet of molten queso and a blend of Cheddar cheeses, our juicy, all-beef burger is topped with American cheese, Applewood-smoked bacon and spicy honey mustard. Served with classic fries.
Brand: Applebee's Grill + Bar
Offer price: 11.99
Currency: USD
Overall
-
Joshie (mine)
(3.8)
-
Mom
(4)
-
Chad
(4)
Transparency Note: This meal was purchased by JoshiesWorld and was not provided or sponsored by Applebee’s.
Joshua “Joshie” Sullivan.
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