INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


We consent to the  incorporation by reference in this  Post-Effective  Amendment
No.  1 to  Registration  Statement  No.  333-95705  on  Form  S-8 of  Applebee's
International, Inc. of our report dated March 4, 2004 (which report expresses an
unqualified  opinion and includes an explanatory  paragraph relating to a change
in accounting  principle in the year ended December 29, 2002),  appearing in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Applebee's International,  Inc. for the year ended
December 28, 2003.






DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Kansas City, Missouri
May 19, 2004