Applebee’s Seafood Menu

Why I Almost Skipped the Seafood Section, and Why I Am Glad I Did Not

I have sat at Applebee’s tables more times than I can count. For years, my eyes went straight past the seafood section. I assumed it was the weak part of the menu, a filler category, something added just to say they had options.

Then a friend ordered the Blackened Cajun Salmon. It arrived looking better than I expected. Deeply seasoned, properly seared, steaming next to garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli. I asked for a bite. Then I spent the rest of dinner regretting my burger.

That experience is something a lot of Applebee’s guests miss. The seafood section is short. There are only a handful of items. But the items that are there are done well. They hold their own against any casual dining chain in the country. The problem is that nobody talks about them.

This guide fixes that. I have ordered every item on the Applebee’s Seafood Menu, tracked the prices, compared the calories, and looked up the nutrition data from verified sources. If you are trying to decide whether the salmon, the shrimp, or the fish and chips is worth ordering, you will have a clear answer by the time you finish reading this. If seafood is not what you are craving today, Applebee’s has plenty of other choices worth exploring. From juicy steaks and handcrafted burgers to chicken, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and desserts, there is something for every appetite. You can explore the complete Applebee’s Menu to compare every category, check the latest prices, and find the meal that best fits your budget and taste before placing your order.

What Is on the Applebee’s Seafood Menu?

The Applebee’s Seafood Menu is smaller than most of the other menu categories. That is intentional. Applebee’s does not try to be a seafood restaurant. What it offers is a focused selection of well-prepared seafood dishes that cover three main styles guests look for: grilled and blackened, crispy fried, and classic battered.

• Grilled and blackened: Blackened Cajun Salmon and Blackened Tilapia, both cooked with a Cajun spice blend of paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder, and both served with two classic sides
• Crispy fried shrimp: Double Crunch Shrimp, double-battered and fried to a golden, crunchy finish
• Classic battered fish: Hand-Battered Fish & Chips, a straightforward golden-fried white fish plate with fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce
• Cross-category shrimp: the Tex Mex Shrimp Bowl and Blackened Shrimp Alfredo appear in the bowls and pasta sections but are heavily seafood-focused and worth including in any seafood comparison

Every main seafood entrée is available for dine-in, Curbside To Go, and delivery through Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. Delivery prices may run slightly higher than dine-in prices due to platform fees.

Full Applebee’s Seafood Menu With Prices and Calories (2026)

Prices below are national averages based on verified data across multiple U.S. locations. Prices may vary slightly by region, franchise, and ordering method.

Every Item Reviewed, Fish by Fish, Shrimp by Shrimp

Calories and Nutrition Guide

The Applebee’s Seafood Menu covers a meaningful calorie range, from a light 410-calorie plate to a hearty 1,250-calorie fish fry.

Smart swaps to reduce calories:

• Swap garlic mashed potatoes for double steamed broccoli, saving approximately 150 to 200 calories and reducing carbohydrates significantly
• Swap fries for a house salad with dressing on the side, saving around 200 to 250 calories from the Fish & Chips plate
• Ask for tartar sauce and cocktail sauce on the side, since both are calorie-dense when served generously

Protein standout: the Blackened Cajun Salmon delivers up to 54 grams of protein in a single plate, comparable to what many fitness-focused diners get from dedicated protein meals, and one of the best high-protein options at Applebee’s across any menu category.

Blackened Tilapia: What You Need to Know

The Blackened Tilapia deserves its own section because it is the least-discussed item on the Applebee’s Seafood Menu and also the most underrated.

Tilapia is a mild, white freshwater fish. It does not have the richness of salmon or the boldness of a heavily seasoned shrimp dish, but it is lean, low in saturated fat, and takes seasoning well. When blackened with Cajun spices, it picks up a smoky, spiced crust that transforms what would otherwise be a plain fish fillet into something with actual character.

The sodium is high, which is typical for any blackened preparation due to the spice blend. Guests watching sodium intake should take note. At $15.99 to $17.49, the Blackened Tilapia is the lowest-calorie full-plate seafood option at Applebee’s, the pick for guests who want a proper fish dinner without the calorie load of a battered or fried option, and without the price premium of the salmon.

Allergen and Dietary Information

• Fish allergens: all fish items contain fish. The Hand-Battered Fish & Chips and Blackened Tilapia both contain wheat (gluten) from the batter or coating. The Blackened Cajun Salmon may contain gluten depending on the spice blend and preparation at your location
• Shellfish allergens: the Double Crunch Shrimp contains shellfish. Guests with shellfish allergies should avoid this item and confirm with staff regarding cross-contamination risks
• Dairy: garlic mashed potatoes, a standard side with most seafood entrées, contain dairy. Request a side swap to avoid dairy
• Gluten-free: no seafood entrée is certified gluten-free due to shared kitchen preparation and batter-based coatings

Applebee’s cannot ensure that any menu item is free from allergens due to shared kitchen preparation. Full allergen information is available at Applebees.com. If you have a food allergy or dietary restriction, always confirm with your server at your specific location before ordering.

How the Applebee’s Seafood Menu Compares to Competitors

Applebee’s is not a seafood chain. But how does its focused seafood section hold up against competitors who also offer seafood within a broader casual dining menu?

Red Lobster is the clear winner if seafood variety is the priority, since it is a dedicated seafood chain with a depth no casual dining menu can match, though it also costs significantly more. Within casual dining, Chili’s, TGI Fridays, Denny’s, and Applebee’s hold up well. The Blackened Cajun Salmon competes directly with the Ancho Salmon at Chili’s and the Grilled Salmon at TGI Fridays on both price and quality. Where Applebee’s loses slightly is variety, four core items is thinner than five or six at competitors, but it makes up for that with consistency and value per plate.

Best Picks, by Appetite and Goal

Photo Gallery

Tips for Ordering Seafood at Applebee’s

• Confirm availability at your location, since Blackened Tilapia and some shrimp items are not available at every Applebee’s franchise; call ahead or check the app before visiting specifically for a seafood item
• Swap sides to manage calories; the biggest calorie difference comes from the sides, not the fish, so swap fries or mashed potatoes for steamed broccoli or a house salad to reduce your plate by 150 to 250 calories
• Ask for sauces on the side, since tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, and Cajun butter are all calorie-dense
• Order Curbside To Go through the Applebee’s app, since delivery prices on DoorDash and Uber Eats are typically 10 to 15 percent higher than dine-in prices
• Pair the Blackened Cajun Salmon with a house salad instead of mashed potatoes if you are tracking sodium
• Check the 2 for $25 deal, which covers one appetizer and two entrées and can significantly improve the value of a salmon or shrimp order

FAQs About the Applebee’s Seafood Menu

Final Take: Is the Seafood Menu Worth It?

That first bite of the Blackened Cajun Salmon converted me from a skeptic into someone who now checks the seafood section before everything else at Applebee’s. I did not expect it to. I expected it to be average. It was not.

Over time, I have worked through every item on the Applebee’s Seafood Menu at multiple locations across different states. The salmon is the standout every time. The Double Crunch Shrimp is the right call when you want something indulgent and textural. The Hand-Battered Fish & Chips is exactly what it says it is, nothing more, nothing less, but done properly. And the Blackened Tilapia is the underrated gem: low calories, solid protein, real Cajun flavor, and a price that makes it one of the better values in casual dining seafood in 2026.

The Applebee’s Seafood Menu will not replace a dedicated seafood restaurant, and it is not designed to. But within the casual dining space, it offers focused, well-executed options that consistently outperform expectations. If you have been skipping past the seafood section on your visits, try the Blackened Cajun Salmon on your next trip, swap the mashed potatoes for double broccoli if you are watching calories, and ask for the sauces on the side.

You might end up where I did, regretting every burger you ordered before it.