-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ot8so9iT3FpAIRfSkyakYJZbgkY8GkIDMF9xAqku97SRVQsaWPCWhFfkRy5fPjOD
 XQjONECqcTu0Iyo7H1WmXQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000853665-06-000051.txt : 20060321
<SEC-HEADER>0000853665-06-000051.hdr.sgml : 20060321
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060321165347
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000853665-06-000051
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060321
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060321

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CZINEGE MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001286828

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17962
		FILM NUMBER:		06701757

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
		STREET 2:		4551 W. 107TH STREET
		CITY:			OVERLAND PARK
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66207
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9139674000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APPLEBEES INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000853665
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				431461763
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1225

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4551 W 107TH ST STE 100
		CITY:			OVERLAND PARK
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66207
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9139674000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4551 W 107TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			OVERLAND PARK
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66207
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2006-03-03</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000853665</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APPLEBEES INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APPB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001286828</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CZINEGE MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Information Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.57</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4003</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2150</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted shares vesting 3/1/09.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares held in IRA maintained by reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This Form 4/A is to amend the previously filed Form 4 to include the purchase of 2,150 shares held in IRA as of 2/10/2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mike Czinege</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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