The 10 Chain Restaurants Most Often Slammed as Overpriced Across the U.S.

Shake Shack

When it comes to getting hammered for overpriced food, Shake Shack takes the crown as America’s most criticized fast-food chain. According to a Preply study that analyzed over 57,000 Google reviews from more than 10,000 restaurants, Shake Shack received the most complaints about overly expensive fast food in 2024. A single ShackBurger typically costs between $6.99 and $7.99, and adding fries for around $4.49 brings the total to at least $11.48. This comes after two price hikes in 2024.

Five Guys

Five Guys followed Shake Shack as the chain with the second most overpriced food complaints, with customers describing prices as “out of control”. Burgers with two beef patties cost between roughly $9 and $13 depending on location, and that’s before adding the famous Five Guys fries. Some customers report paying as much as $20 at their local Five Guys for a basic cheeseburger, regular fry, and regular drink. When a basic burger and fries can easily cost upward of twenty dollars in many markets, customer frustration becomes crystal clear.

Waffle House

Waffle House took the top spot for price increases with a staggering 96 percent price hike, followed by IHOP at 82 percent, according to a FinanceBuzz study that tracked 16 chain restaurants from 2020 to 2025. The national inflation rate during those five years was only 22%. What makes this particularly frustrating is that Waffle House built its entire reputation on being affordable comfort food. Now diners are feeling betrayed by a chain that used to represent accessible dining for everyone.

IHOP

IHOP had steep increases of 82%, compared to inflation that was up only 22% since 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These restaurants once occupied the sweet spot between fast food and upscale dining, but their pricing has pushed them firmly into expensive territory, with both chains having built their brands on being the place where regular folks could enjoy a night out without breaking the bank. The chain that once symbolized family breakfast affordability now leaves many customers staring at the menu in disbelief.

Starbucks

Starbucks customers say they’ve had their fill of expensive prices amid inflation, with the coffee chain now charging over $7 for some beverages. One Redditor slammed soaring prices for a hazelnut mocha, claiming it was just $4.95 when they first started going to Starbucks but now costs $7.10. New offerings like olive oil-infused coffee didn’t attract customers, who also grew tired of Starbucks’ high prices. Let’s be real, when your morning coffee costs more than a full meal elsewhere, you have to wonder if it’s worth it.

Chipotle

An average burrito bowl has increased from $7.65 in 2020 to over $10 today, a 20% increase that customers noticed. A recent viral TikTok showed a man visibly upset with a burrito bowl that came out to almost $21, with comments littered with sympathizers who blasted the chain’s skimpy portions and expensive extras. CEO Brian Niccol disclosed in July 2024 that a company investigation found that 1 in 10 restaurants were too meager with their servings. The issue struck a nerve because customers felt they were paying more while getting less.

Applebee’s

According to FinanceBuzz, Applebee’s raised prices by 41% from 2020 to 2024, with the Quesadilla Burger jumping from $10.49 five years ago to $15.99. This specific example perfectly illustrates how a once-reasonable meal has crossed into expensive territory that many families simply cannot justify. Sales at US Applebee’s locations open at least a year slumped 4.6% in the first quarter, with customers who earn $50,000 a year or less visiting less often and spending less when they did, making up about 45% of Applebee’s customers.

The Cheesecake Factory

While The Cheesecake Factory serves enormous portions, complaints about overpriced meals flood review sites constantly. All the meals are overpriced, with customers reporting that 3 adult meals, 1 kids meal, and 2 cheesecakes cost over $100. The typical experience includes a $25 pasta and a $40 check at the end of the meal. Sure, the servings are massive, but when you’re essentially paying casual dining prices for food you could prepare better at home, the value proposition starts to crumble.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s menu prices doubled since 2014, showing a 100% increase, the highest of any chain analyzed, with Popeyes following at 86% and Taco Bell at 81%. Customers complained that a double quarter pounder meal and a cheeseburger kids meal totaled $24.99, expressing disbelief that 2 meals cost $25. The company’s sales slumped as inflation-weary customers chose to eat at home instead of grabbing fast food. When the golden arches no longer represent affordable convenience, something fundamental has shifted.

Texas Roadhouse and TGI Fridays

Texas Roadhouse, TGI Fridays, Applebee’s, and other American-style restaurants raised prices by around 40 percent. Several decades-old chains threw in the towel in 2024, succumbing to rising competition and changing dining patterns, with TGI Fridays filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and shuttering dozens of locations. Both chains lost their identity as affordable neighborhood spots. The steep price hikes alienated the core customers who used to rely on these places for reasonably priced meals, creating a situation where longtime fans simply stopped showing up.

What’s striking about this list is how it represents a broader shift in American dining. Places that built their reputations on value and accessibility have priced themselves into a corner. Did you ever think you’d see the day when fast food felt like a luxury?

Why Restaurant Chains Keep Raising Prices Despite Customer Backlash

The brutal truth is that these chains are caught between a rock and a hard place, and they’re betting you’ll keep coming back anyway. Labor costs have skyrocketed as minimum wages climbed in major markets, and food suppliers aren’t cutting anyone a break either. Restaurants operate on razor-thin profit margins – typically around 3 to 5 percent – so when their costs jump by even 10 percent, they feel it immediately. Here’s the kicker though: many chains discovered during the pandemic that customers would actually pay premium prices for the same food, especially through delivery apps where people seemed less price-sensitive. That little experiment changed everything. Now these companies are addicted to those higher margins, even as inflation cools down and their costs stabilize. They’re essentially testing how much they can squeeze before you finally walk away for good, and judging by their continued price increases, they haven’t found that breaking point yet.

The Hidden Menu Hacks That Actually Save You Money

Before you swear off these chains forever, savvy diners have figured out some legitimate workarounds that let you enjoy the same food without the sticker shock. The secret menu isn’t just an urban legend – it’s your best weapon against inflated prices. At Chipotle, ordering a burrito bowl and asking for tortillas on the side gives you essentially two meals for the price of one, since they don’t charge extra for those tortillas. Starbucks regulars know that ordering a grande drink in a venti cup with extra ice gives you more beverage for less money, and asking for light ice in iced drinks means you’re getting actual coffee instead of paying $6 for a cup of frozen water. McDonald’s app users are cleaning up with deals that slash prices by 30 to 50 percent – we’re talking $1 large fries and buy-one-get-one sandwiches that make the regular menu prices look absolutely ridiculous. The chains hate when people figure this stuff out, but here’s the thing: if they’re going to play pricing games, you might as well learn the rules and beat them at it.