Skip These 12 Fast Food Places If You Want To Avoid Overpaying
Fast food used to mean affordable meals on the go, but these days, some chains charge prices that’ll make your wallet weep. Many popular spots have quietly jacked up their prices while shrinking portions, leaving customers feeling ripped off.
Before you pull up to the drive-thru window, check out these fast food joints where your money doesn’t stretch as far as it once did.
1. Shake Shack’s Premium Pricing Problem
Money flies out of your pocket faster than those famous crinkle-cut fries disappear from your tray at Shake Shack. The chain consistently tops lists of America’s most overpriced fast food restaurants.
A basic ShackBurger, fries, and shake can easily set you back $20—practically sit-down restaurant territory! When I visited their Chicago location last summer, my jaw dropped harder than my wallet thinned.
2. Five Guys’ Five-Star Pricing
Brace yourself for sticker shock when ordering at Five Guys. Their basic hamburger starts around $9, and adding fries and a drink pushes your meal well into the $15+ range.
The absence of any value menu options means budget-conscious diners have zero affordable alternatives.
While their burgers may be tasty and the free peanuts a nice touch, your bank account will feel significantly lighter after just one visit.
3. Chipotle’s Shrinking Portions, Growing Prices
Remember when Chipotle bowls were packed to the brim and cost under $8? Those days vanished faster than guacamole during an avocado shortage. Now you’ll shell out $10-13 for noticeably smaller portions.
During my lunch break last week, I paid nearly $14 for a chicken bowl that was half the size I used to get five years ago! Reddit threads constantly debate whether Chipotle still deserves our hard-earned cash.
4. Dairy Queen’s Not-So-Sweet Deals
Blizzard prices have skyrocketed while their sizes have mysteriously shrunk. A medium Blizzard now costs around $6-7, making these frozen treats less of a casual indulgence and more of a calculated splurge.
The quality hasn’t improved to justify these premium prices. Customer feedback consistently mentions feeling shortchanged when comparing today’s smaller, pricier Blizzards to the generous servings of yesteryear.
That iconic upside-down trick doesn’t seem so magical anymore.
5. Burger King’s Royal Tax
The home of the Whopper now charges whopping prices. A standard Whopper meal hovers around $10 in most locations, approaching casual dining territory for what’s essentially a basic burger combo.
Customers frequently report feeling that the value proposition has disappeared faster than their French fries at the bottom of the bag. I still remember when the BK Value Menu actually contained items under $1!
Today’s Burger King seems determined to charge palace prices for peasant food.
6. McDonald’s Farewell to Affordability
The golden arches no longer represent golden opportunities for budget meals. Big Mac prices have jumped over 20% since 2019, with combo meals routinely exceeding $10 in many markets.
Sales are slumping as customers realize their dollars stretch further elsewhere. The Dollar Menu’s transformation into the “$1 $2 $3 Menu” (with precious few $1 options) symbolizes McDonald’s gradual retreat from its affordable roots.
Their app deals remain the only real way to score reasonable prices.
7. Dunkin’s Costly Coffee Break
Your morning coffee routine might be draining your bank account if Dunkin’ is your go-to spot. A basic breakfast combo featuring a bagel with cream cheese and medium coffee easily exceeds $8 in most locations.
The quality rarely justifies these premium prices. Many value-conscious customers have switched to brewing at home or finding local alternatives.
During my recent road trip, I nearly spilled my coffee when the cashier announced my total for what used to be a budget-friendly breakfast stop!
8. Panera’s Bread-Breaking Bank Account
Panera somehow convinced customers that fast-casual pricing deserves fast-food convenience. Their “You Pick Two” combo regularly costs $12-15—highway robbery for half a sandwich and a cup of soup.
Bakery items don’t fare better in the value department. A single pastry often costs $4+, while coffee prices rival specialty cafés.
The quality rarely matches the premium pricing strategy, leaving many customers wondering why they’re paying sit-down restaurant prices for glorified fast food.
9. Subway’s Footlong Ripoff
Subway’s famous $5 footlong jingle has been retired for good reason—those same sandwiches now cost $9-13, depending on protein choice and location. The value proposition has vanished faster than their declining popularity.
Customers consistently complain about meager meat portions and declining quality. The New York Post even ranked Subway among the worst major chains for value.
When a basic turkey footlong with no extras costs more than $10, it’s time to find alternative lunch options.
10. Jamba Juice’s Liquid Gold Pricing
Fruit blended with ice shouldn’t cost as much as precious metals, yet Jamba Juice charges around $10 for their signature smoothies. These prices are particularly jarring considering you can make similar concoctions at home for a fraction of the cost.
The nutritional benefits hardly justify the premium pricing. Last month, I grabbed a medium Strawberry Surf Rider and nearly choked when the cashier announced my total.
For what these drinks cost, they should include actual gold flakes or at least a winning lottery ticket!
11. KFC’s Colonel-Sized Markup
The Colonel’s secret recipe now includes secretly raising prices while reducing portion sizes. A standard chicken combo meal easily costs $12-14, prices that would make the original Colonel Sanders clutch his string tie in shock.
Customer satisfaction scores have plummeted as value perception erodes. The Washington Post reported that KFC’s pricing strategy has pushed many loyal customers to seek alternatives.
Their famous bucket meals now cost as much as some family-style restaurant dinners without matching the quality or experience.
12. Jimmy John’s Wallet-Thinning Subs
Jimmy John’s “freaky fast” delivery comes with freakishly high prices. Their basic 8-inch subs start around $8-9, with signature sandwiches climbing well beyond $10 before adding chips and a drink.
The value proposition doesn’t stack up against competitors. Many customers describe the experience as “meh-for-price” in online reviews.
The thin meat portions and basic ingredients hardly justify premium pricing, especially when local sub shops often deliver better quality and quantity for similar prices.