5 overpriced burger chains in the US
Once upon a time, grabbing a burger, fries, and a drink was the go-to move for an affordable meal. But in 2025, that quick fix has become a pricey splurge at many chains. While some restaurants are winning back customers with great value (Chili's, you've still got fans), others are being called out for sky-high prices without the quality to match.
1. Five Guys
Five Guys has long been praised for its fresh ingredients, but the price tag? Not so much. One disappointed customer recalled, 'Yeah, I used to go back in my undergrad when there was a Five Guys down the street,' they shared on Reddit.
They continued: 'The prices were in line with other fast food at the time, at least from what I remember. But I went to one around a year or so ago and now I'm looking at the menu and seeing $12 for only cheeseburger… It's not a meal without a drink, burger, and fries. That's $11.39 cheeseburger, $5.49 "little" fries, and a soda is $2.89. $20 is absolutely ridiculous. You can literally go to any sit down restaurant and get a burger meal for that price.'
2. McDonald's
The Golden Arches have always promised fast and cheap eats, but customers aren't buying it anymore. One diner shared their frustration: 'I went to a drive-thru to order a McChicken and medium fries. They charged me $8.35, but I drove out of the line before I reached the window.'
3. Burger King
They continued: 'Later that evening I ordered the Sirloin Steak burger to-go from the most legendary historic steakhouse in my city for the same amount.'
4. Shake Shack
Once celebrated for its gourmet take on fast food, Shake Shack is facing backlash over price hikes. One insider even admitted: 'Us employees believe the same. The price IS more expensive, but instead of doing fair prices, Shake Shack corporate does deals now, especially through the Shack App and delivery apps.'
They added: 'I cannot tell you how much we have been overwhelmed and the quality of our food has gone way rock bottom. We are not the same company that the Meyers built. That being said, I would probably never eat at Shake Shack besides when I work and get a discount. Our meals are not paid for but are 60% off, so it ends up costing around 6-8 depending what you get.'
5. Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box customers have also taken to social media to vent about the steep prices. 'Went to get a Buttery Jack today… $18.92 for the combo.. just the combo. They got my drink and fries wrong… Asked for a refund before they even handed me the bag,' one user shared.
Another wrote: 'I used to be able to get a good deal on the "App only" section or their coupons because there was variety. Now they just force you to spend $10+ in order to get something. Thought about trying that chicken Sambo but for $8 it was a hard pass. And the food doesn't taste as good as before so sometimes I will use the coupon to get my kids 2 Oreo shakes but that is like once a month.'
Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
5 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump's approval rating dips again in new poll as some of his supporters sour on his performance
President Donald Trump 's approval rating has declined again in a new poll as some of his supporters sour on his performance. Trump's so-called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' and other policies, don't seem all that pretty to Americans, whose views of the president have grown more negative in the almost seven months he's been in office. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted between August 4 and 10, just 38 percent of respondents approve of the way Trump is handling his job, while 60 percent disapprove. A majority of Americans, 53 percent, say Trump is making the federal government work worse, while just 27 percent say he's making it work better. In early July, Trump signed the massive bill that extended his 2017 tax cuts and increased border security spending while cutting social programs including Medicaid and SNAP. The new poll shows 46 percent of Americans disapprove of the 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' while 32 percent approve. An even larger group of respondents, 61 percent, disapprove of Trump's sweeping global tariffs. Trump announced a baseline 10 percent tariff. Even Trump's own party has a less glowing view of him than when he first took office. In the new poll, 55 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said Trump is making the federal government work better, which is down from the 76 percent of Republicans who expected he would make it work better in the weeks after he took office. Trump's approval rating among people who identify as strong Republicans sits at 93 percent, which is only slightly down from 96 percent at the start of his term. When looking at another key issue, the Trump administration's handling of the files related to the government's investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Republicans are divided. The new poll finds 53 percent of Republicans disapprove of the administration's handling of the so-called Epstein files, while 44 percent approve. In general, 70 percent of Americans disapprove of the administration's handling of the Epstein files, and 63 percent have little to no trust in what the administration is saying about the information related to the wealthy financier who socialized with the president decades ago.
Reuters
36 minutes ago
- Reuters
Oil maintains gains ahead of Trump-Putin summit
Aug 15 (Reuters) - Oil prices nudged higher on Friday to fresh one-week highs after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of "consequences" if Russia blocked a Ukraine peace deal, injecting concerns about supply. Sentiment was also boosted by strong economic data out of Japan, which is among the largest global crude importers. Brent crude futures gained 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $67.00 a barrel by (0017 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 14 cents, also 0.2%, to $64.10. All eyes are on Friday's meeting of Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska where a ceasefire in the Ukraine war is at the top of the agenda. A continued conflict between Russia and Ukraine supports oil markets by limiting the supply of Russian oil. Trump, however, also said he believes Russia is prepared to end the war in Ukraine. Fresh Japanese government data released on Friday showed the economy expanded an annualised 1.0% in the April-June quarter, compared with a median market forecast for a 0.4% increase. The rise in gross domestic product (GDP) translated into a quarterly increase of 0.3%, compared with a median estimate of a 0.1% increase. Strong economic activity typically spurs oil consumption. Prospects of higher-for-longer U.S. interest rates, however, kept oil prices from rising further. Higher-than-expected inflation data and weak jobs numbers out of the U.S. raised concerns that the Federal Reserve would keep interest rates high, usually a dampener of oil consumption.
Daily Mail
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Walmart must pay millions for overcharging customers
Walmart will shell out $5.6 million to settle a civil lawsuit that claims the company overcharged its customers. The grocery giant — the largest retailer in the country — was accused by several California counties of ripping off its customers in those areas. The consumer protection lawsuit claimed that Walmart sold products that weighed less than was indicated on the packet. The items that were allegedly affected included fresh produce, baked goods and other packaged foods. The complaint also argued that Walmart was guilty of charging customers more than items were advertised for. 'When someone brings an item to the register to be scanned, the price must be right,' Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said following the settlement. 'They expect it. California expects it. My Office expects it — and we will apply the law to make sure of it.' Walmart will pay $5.6 million in civil penalties for violating California's False Advertising and Unfair Competition Laws, the County of Santa Clara said. The penalties paid by the company will not go directly to consumers, but will go to the Santa Clara County DA's Consumer Protection fund. In addition Walmart must also cover the cost of the investigations, adding $139,908.92 to its bill. The chain has also agreed to employ workers specifically to ensure weight and price accuracy in its 280 California stores. Walmart previously settled a similar lawsuit in California in 2012, forking out $2.1 million. Last year the mega retailer also shelled out $45 million to settle a class action suit brought by angry shoppers in Florida after they also claimed they were being overcharged. The settlement class included those who bought weighted goods or bagged citrus in person at a Walmart in the US or Puerto Rico between October 18, 2018 and January 19, 2024. Some individual customers could claim up to $500 as part of the settlement. In another similar lawsuit filed last year, plaintiffs argued that even though price discrepancies might be just a matter of a few cents each they 'add up to hundreds of millions of dollars each year.' Lawyers and other consumers said they found price discrepancies in Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. Customers also found cost discrepancies in North Carolina — even after a regulator there fined Walmart in 2022 for price-scanning errors. Walmart recently introduced 'digital shelf labels' in thousands of stores across the country. It means the company can update — in minutes — the prices on the 120,000 items each store stocks. Weekly updates to paper shelf labels typically took a store worker about two days. Retail experts in the past have pointed out that such digital labels, and the speed that prices can be altered, could usher in an era of dynamic pricing.
