The Most Expensive Fast Food Chains in the U.S.

Remember when a quick run through the drive-thru was an affordable way to feed the whole family? Now, a trip to your favorite fast food joint needs to be budgeted, as prices continue to skyrocket. What in the world happened to cheap fast food?

Though McDonald’s famous $18 Big Mac is an extreme example, it just goes to show that the rising cost of food is leading price hikes all over the place—including your favorite fast food chains. Some brands have rolled out the occasional good deal (like a Wendy’s $1 sandwich), but it can’t hide the fact that popular menu items are getting more expensive.

Like our recent review of grocery store chains, we’ve compared menu prices as well as fan discussions online and there are certainly some fast food brands we can no longer call “budget friendly.” The following chains boast some of the highest prices in the U.S.—and while we’d never tell you to avoid them completely, we at least want you to have all the information.

Fast Food Chains With the Highest Prices

Five Guys

Five Guys’ burgers, hot dogs, and fries are legendary (I continue to love the chain after being a patron for decades.), but what’s not so swoon-worthy are its prices. The most expensive item, a bacon cheeseburger, costs $11.49 at my nearest location, and that’s without including fries, which start at $4.69. That would make a burger and fries meal (sans drink and before tip or tax) $16.18. After including a drink, tax, and tip, you’re definitely looking at more than $20.

Other customers seem to agree that Five Guys costs more than its worth. One Redditor posted a picture of a receipt totaling $59.75 for two cheeseburgers, two regular fries, and two sodas, plus tax and tip. $60 for two meals seems a bit ludicrous, and the Redditor commented, “I could get twice as much for the same price at In-N-Out. Not to mention In-N-Out tastes just as good if not better.”

Jack in the Box

I’ll be honest: I’m not a big fan of Jack in the Box, which makes its prices even more unappealing to me. In no world do I find it reasonable to pay nearly $16 for a drive-thru combo, which is what I’d fork over if I ordered the chain’s most expensive menu item: a large Bacon Double Smashed Jack Combo.

I’m not the only one of this opinion. One Redditor called the chain’s prices “out of control,” saying, “Items used to cost $5 to $8. Now most items are $12 to $18.” Other Redditors noted that the company’s products seem to be getting smaller, even though prices are rising, as one person said, “The Jumbo Jack now fits in the palm of my hand. Three bites is all it took for it to be gone.”

Shake Shack

Sure, Shake Shack is known to release mouthwatering specials every now and then (I’m looking at you, French Onion Soup Burger.), but it might as well be considered a straight up casual dining spot considering its prices. Getting a triple French Onion Soup Burger (currently the most expensive menu item) would set me back just about $17—without a side. And adding fries and a drink on top of that would bring my total to a bare minimum of $25 after tax and tip.

Moreover, a 2024 Preply study concluded that consumers consider Shake Shack the most overpriced fast food restaurant in the U.S. One Redditor took to the platform this year to vent, saying that even though the Shack’s burgers are good, they’re definitely not worth what they cost. “Don’t get me wrong. They make good food, but I just spent $15 on a single double truffle burger.” The post went on to say the expensive burger was “literally smaller than a Double Slider from White Castle.”

Cava

Some (myself included) will gladly spend good money on the filling Mediterranean bowls that Cava offers. Nevertheless, it’s still on the more expensive end of the fast food spectrum—and customers are increasingly wondering whether exorbitant prices are worth what you get. At the moment, the most expensive menu item is the chain’s Spicy Lamb + Avocado bowl, which is a whopping $16.55 at one location in North Virginia. Of course, prices only climb if you add any extras.

One recent customer was left panic-stricken when a build-your-own bowl came out to $37. They took some of the blame, saying they mistakenly ordered double lamb and double harissa chicken. Still, $37 seems a bit outrageous. Some Redditors mention that the choice of protein seriously affects the price of your meal, with one person sharing, “Chicken comes out to ~$13 total. The issue is that switching to steak/lamb jacks the price to ~$18.”

So, be aware of those price gaps before you switch up your choice of protein—or just be prepared to budget a few extra dollars for premium selections. 

Chipotle

Ah, Chipotle. I’ve been a fan of the fast-casual chain for more than a decade, but it’s fallen out of favor for me in recent years, largely due to notable price hikes. I still remember the price of my regular order that I’d pick up after work a few times a week: A burrito with chicken, brown rice, all the salsas, corn, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce set me back $7.49. Now, the exact same order from the same location costs $10.15. And that’s not even the most expensive item on the menu. That would be Chipotle’s Wholesome Bowl With Carne Asada, which costs a staggering $16.05 at my location.

While it’s a reflection larger changes at Chipotle, such as raising its employees’ wages, that doesn’t mean customers are happy with the rising prices. On Facebook, one Chipotle fan took on the task of comparing the cost of Chipotle’s chicken burrito with a comparable one they could make at home. And although we expected the homemade version to be cheaper, the difference was staggering: $2.67 for a homemade bowl vs. $12.20 for Chipotle’s. That’s more than a 350 percent increase.

Panda Express

I’ll give Panda Express this: My plates always have a ton of food, and I never leave hungry. In fact, I often have enough to save leftovers. I still can’t say that makes it the most wallet-friendly choice. I’d be happy with a plate that’s less than $10. Instead, my standard choice (with chow mein and two premium entrées) costs a bare minimum of $13.70 before tax and tip. The most expensive option? The “Bigger Plate,” which comes with one side and three entrées. You’ll fork over at least $12.30 for the plate, and if you go with only premium entrées, your total will be more than $16.

Or, as one Redditor shared when ordering the Orange Chicken, “For $8, this is not worth [it]!” And prices have only risen since that thread was created. Fellow Redditors were nostalgic about Panda prices of old, which were far more reasonable. One person said, “Panda used to be a good value for the amount of food given, but those times have long passed.”

Jersey Mike’s

Say I want a “regular” sub at Jersey Mike’s, which typically measures around seven inches. I’m in the mood to treat myself a little, but I don’t want anything too over-the-top, and there’s no way the Cancro Special (currently the most expensive menu item featuring top round, provolone, and pepperoni) could cost more than $10…right? Wrong. That sandwich alone would set me back $11.85 before tax, tip, drink, or chips. And if I’m really hungry and want to size up, the “giant” (typically 14 to 15 inches) version of the same sandwich would cost $19.55. No, thank you. 

Customers agree that the chain’s prices have gotten a bit out of hand, but even penny-pinchers will vouch for Jersey Mike’s quality. When one Redditor posted to the platform lamenting how “expensive” the sandwiches are, many Redditors agreed—but with some justification. One said, “I get the wife and I a giant sub each on Friday, eat half, and the other half on Saturday for lunch. I don’t mind paying money for good food, I hate paying good money for bad food.”

Sweetgreen

I’ll give Sweetgreen this: It makes a pretty mean salad, and I do love that it offers a way to get plenty of veggies and protein into my day without spending hours building my own concoction. That said, its prices are still the subject of much outrage, and I’m of the opinion that Sweetgreen should dial it back a bit. The most costly menu item sounds absolutely delicious, but I don’t know how I feel about paying $17.65 for the Caramelized Garlic Steak protein plate. Build your own bowl and you might be met with a shock, too. I went through the online ordering process at a California location, and my custom bowl cost $33.

Moreover, some of the chain’s regulars suggest it may be steadily declining in quality. One customer took to Reddit to mourn about Sweetgreen days of old, saying, “I feel like each time I consider getting a salad from Sweetgreen they’ve removed my favorite items, prices have increased, and overall the salads are just not as good lately…Sad, too, because I used to order Sweetgreen three times a week and now it just doesn’t feel worth it to me anymore.” Comments on the thread are rife with complaints about discontinued ingredients such as arugula and lentils, and price hikes caused one Redditor to call the chain “officially overrated.”

Wendy’s

Yes, even the big names in fast food merit a mention here. As a long-time fan of the Baconator, I remember getting the meal in my teenage years, so I called my mom to see if she had any vague memory of how much a Baconator combo cost around 2009. She guessed around $6-$7, and said she wouldn’t have paid more than $8 for the meal. Nowadays, a regular-sized Baconator meal (the priciest menu item) costs $13.09, a staggering price hike.

Redditors seem of the opinion that, though rising prices have been inevitable due to inflation, Wendy’s prices have been rising “disproportionately.” One commenter agreed, adding that even though all of the “Big Three” (Wendy’s, McDonald’s, and Burger King) have raised prices, Wendy’s is out of control. “Most of the big three have similar pricing on their meals. But in my area, Wendy’s has by far the most overpriced value options. All the value sandwiches are like $3 to $5 each at Wendy’s and right across the street at McDonald’s they at least still have a 2 for $4 Menu,” they posted.