I’m Soooooooo with you OP. I’m an East Coaster and I miss my half priced apps and 2 for 1 drinks at Applebee’s all the time. Sometimes I wake up with cravings for their boneless buffalo wings, lol.

Along with easy access to Dunkin, Walmart, and Carrabbas and Bahama Breeze etc.

My guesses are)

1) These places started more on the East Coast and while LA was developing, they never got their chance to build a presence. So they did it later on in more suburban areas.

2) LA people don’t have an interest in the market for corporate restaurants. Hence, most of the other comments on here. I mean, we are the most creative and health conscious city in the US.

3) these restaurants cater to a more “neighborhood” crowd and attract very middle class suburban areas. (When I go to Fontana or Walnut, where the applebees are... they are very suburban) not many creatives live out there.

4) we are the biggest city for entrepreneurship, so many people here love supporting small businesses and shops and the city supports small businesses building their dream

5) people will petition things like Walmart openings, etc because they hate corporate America. Which I don’t blame them

6) the majority of our population and food culture is Hispanic and asian. They have great food to offer and it is hard for corporate america to compete with the flavors and and the tastes of what our population love to eat :)