UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 Current Report




                PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)       August 27, 2004
                                                --------------------------------



                         Applebee's International, Inc.
              ----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


            Delaware                   000-17962               43-1461763
  ------------------------------      ------------       -----------------------
 (State or other jurisdiction of      (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)       File Number)         Identification No.)

                4551 W. 107th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66207
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

                                 (913) 967-4000
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                      None
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written  communications  pursuant  to Rule  425  under  the  Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications   pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications   pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

<PAGE>



Item 7.01.           Regulation FD Disclosure

On August 27, 2004, Applebee's  International  provided an update on a voluntary
recall of frozen beef products by Quantum Foods that included Applebee's steaks.

The health and safety of its guests is the company's first priority. Applebee's,
along with many other  companies,  participated in a voluntary recall of Quantum
beef  products  which  began on August  21,  2004.  The  recall,  which has been
completed,  was based on four  reported  cases of E. coli 0157:H7 in mid-July in
the Denver area.

After being advised of the recall, the company immediately  conducted a thorough
and vigorous review of the matter.  Neither the USDA nor the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment,  nor the company's  investigation,  identified
any  additional  cases.  The company has been  assured by its  supplier  that an
independent third-party service tested for E. coli 0157:H7 on the day subject to
the product  recall.  The results of all 50 tests were  negative,  and no E coli
0157:H7 was found.

Prior to the recall, no guest had reported any such illness to the company.  Not
surprisingly, in today's litigious society, an out-of-state trial lawyer filed a
lawsuit  against  the  company  on August  26,  2004.  The  company  intends  to
vigorously defend itself against this claim.


                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                              APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                              (Registrant)


Date:    August 27, 2004                   By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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