Fast food and major chains have gotten absurd. I used a gift card at Red Robin a couple months back. It was $19 before tip for a dry burger and bland fries. Two bucks more could’ve gotten me a seat and meal at a five-star local place just down the street. The value just isn’t there anymore. Eating local almost always tastes better, feels better, and costs the same or less. Why settle for mediocrity when better is right around the corner?
Thing is, I make more than ever, but yet due to increased (mostly) energy costs, I can afford nothing.
Few years ago I was able to eat a few times a week out, but nowadays I eat at most a few times a month. Base price for döner was 6-7 euros, now they are starting off 12 euros. However my salary has not doubled. Lately, I usually just pick up take away food for the kids, not for us parents.
I was able to upgrade my phone once a year or two, now I've been using the same phone (even with screen cracked) for 3,5 years.
Best thing last, I'm a co-founder for a fabrication company. We aren't turning profit because everything is expensive. Our costs have doubled, and salary costs gone up 75%. It would be easier to just run the business down nowadays than struggle.
Only fast food that is worth the money is Döner Kebab. But man they went up more than 100% in price in the last 15 years.
I used to buy one each Friday on my way home from school for 3€, now they are 6.50€ at the same place. Still a lot cheaper and way more tasty than most other fast food, so I still consider it king.
Yeah I go to the food court inside my local Asian grocery store instead. $12 gets you 2-3 proteins and 1 side. And they put so much food they have a hard time closing the bento takeout containers and you can technically split it into 2 meals. More filling and healthier than a burger and fries at the same price.
I agree with the people saying that being able to cook for yourself should be considered a key skill. My birthday meal when I was a kid was called a jigs dinner and if my grandma hadn't taught me how to make it her way then it would have been lost. Having that said. We are talking about eating out, which is a thing that humans have been doing for awhile. I can get a feature meal at McDonald's for just over $15. Across the street I can get a half pound jalapeno burger with onion rings and a beer for about $20. We need to start giving value to small businesses. Because they do produce quality and value.
Yeah, prices went up and the quality went down. The best thing to do is stop buying there. As multiple people already pointed out, you can get a lot more and better food for 25 bucks.
The fast food chains forgot that they aren’t actual restaurants. The customers have to remind them. Aaaaaaaand that’s the problem.
A lot of people are saying to learn to cook, but things aren't that simple. Many people know how to cook perfectly well but order out anyway, either because they're busy or because they have mental health conditions that make cooking incredibly stressful.
We need to change our economic system so that CEO bonuses aren't inflating the prices of people's food. This would make it easier for people to eat out more often if they feel they need to. It shouldn't break the bank to get simple meals at a restaurant.
My local burger, taco, and sub shops are half the price of the international chains, plus the food is better and the staff are paid more. Shop locally every time you can
I started getting gyros instead. It’s fast, as cheap as fast food used to be a couple years ago, and tastes better. Plus, it’s a local restaurant and not a national chain.
"fast" food? ha! try standing in line while a bunch of dickhead doordashers get to cut you in line. try walking into an empty establishment only to wait 20 minutes for a sandwich because of all the idiots that want to pay twice the price for a fucking meal.
Lately, instead of picking up a fast food buyer and fries for $13, I've been going to Chili's. They have a $10.99 special that is a REAL bacon cheeseburger, excellent fries, and a drink, and it even includes a salad or a cup of soup. With tax and tip, it's $15.
The last time I went to 5 Guys, it was $24.50, and it wasn't nearly as good.
Or order delivery, and buy the same thing from 3 different places because all of them sell the same cheap frozen / deep fried crap that turns cold amd soggy by the time it gets to you
Apparently chili's is doing some meal deal where you can get a 1/4lb burger, fries, and a drink for around $10 and I believe you can order to pickup from those places.
Prices have definitely gone way up, but the only way you're paying $25 for fast food is if you're getting it doordashed, and if you're doing that, you are the problem.