Nothing stings quite like opening your wallet at what used to be your go-to affordable restaurant only to discover the bill has ballooned beyond recognition. Fast food chains and casual dining spots that once promised budget-friendly meals have left customers with serious sticker shock. Though inflation affects everyone, some restaurants have pushed prices far beyond what rising costs alone would justify.
Recent comprehensive studies analyzing thousands of customer reviews and price data reveal exactly which chain restaurants Americans now view as the most overpriced. The findings paint a stark picture of an industry where dining out has transformed from everyday convenience to luxury splurge.
Shake Shack: Fast Food with Premium Price Tags
According to Preply’s study, Shake Shack received the most complaints of any national chain about its food being overly expensive, with customers using words like “overpriced,” “pricey,” “expensive,” and “rip-off” more frequently than any other restaurant chain. This comes after two price hikes in 2024, followed by another 1.5% increase in October to offset inflation. The timing couldn’t be worse for customer relations.
A single hamburger, or ShackBurger as it’s called, typically falls between $6.99 and $7.99, depending on the region. An order of fries will run you around $4.49, bringing your grand total to at least $11.48, with even a standard hamburger, fries, and small soda coming to more than $20. For reference, one of the most expensive items on the menu is a ShackStack, which features a beef burger, a Shroom burger, cheese, salad, a potato bun, and ShackSauce, and will set you back $17.59.
A simple burger, fries, and shake should not total over $20 as one social media user recently complained. While Shake Shack makes every item to order and positions itself more like casual dining with sustainable materials, giant windows, and outdoor dining areas, customers are questioning whether premium fast food justifies these prices.
Five Guys: “Out of Control” Pricing Pushes Limits
Five Guys, whose prices have been decried as “out of control,” followed Shake Shack as the chain with the second most overpriced food complaints. The beloved burger joint has built a reputation for quality but now faces serious backlash over pricing that many consider unreasonable. At Five Guys, burgers with two beef patties cost between roughly $9 and $13, depending on where in the country you dine, and that’s before you add the famous Five Guys fries.
The irony hits hard for longtime customers who remember when Five Guys represented a step up from typical fast food without breaking the bank. Now families find themselves paying steakhouse prices for what’s essentially elevated fast casual dining. The chain’s generous portions and fresh ingredients once justified slightly higher costs, but current pricing has crossed into territory that feels exploitative to many customers.
What makes the situation more frustrating is Five Guys’ inconsistent pricing across locations. A meal that costs one price in suburban areas can jump significantly in urban markets, creating confusion and resentment among customers who expect consistent value from national chains.
IHOP: International House of Price Shock
IHOP took the second spot with prices increasing by 82% between 2020 and 2025, earning it the nickname “International House of Price Shock.” According to the study, the largest price increase is with its 2x2x2 combo, which has gone up 129%. Compared to Denny’s, Cracker Barrel, and Waffle House (with increases below 40%), IHOP’s price ramp-up outpaces similar restaurants by far. This betrays the chain’s family-friendly positioning.
This chain once marketed itself as a family-friendly destination where parents could afford to take their kids for weekend breakfast treats. Now customers find themselves paying steakhouse prices for pancakes and eggs, creating a cognitive dissonance that’s driving families away from what used to be a reliable breakfast tradition. The irony is painful when you consider IHOP built its reputation on generous portions at reasonable prices.
With food prices still climbing, people are cutting back. This is not because they don’t like IHOP, but because the math doesn’t math anymore as one industry expert explained. IHOP recently introduced its first everyday value menu, seemingly in response to ever-growing criticism about the chain’s price hikes, promising delicious food, variety, abundance, and affordability without compromise.
Texas Roadhouse: Mid-Range Steakhouse with High-End Prices
Texas Roadhouse, TGI Fridays, and other American-style restaurants raised prices by around 40 percent, with Texas Roadhouse specifically showing a 46% increase that far exceeds the national inflation rate of 22%. These restaurants once occupied the sweet spot between fast food and upscale dining, but their pricing has pushed them firmly into expensive territory. The particular sting comes from the fact that both chains built their brands on being the place where regular folks could enjoy a night out without breaking the bank.
Its largest price increase is with its Macaroni and Cheese kids meal, which now costs 63% more than in 2020. When a children’s menu item sees price increases exceeding sixty percent, families feel the squeeze most acutely. The restaurant’s signature atmosphere of line dancing, peanuts on the floor, and warm bread once created value that justified slightly higher prices than typical chains.
However, as prices approach levels traditionally associated with premium steakhouses, customers question whether the casual dining experience still provides adequate value. The chain’s success in maintaining customer satisfaction despite price increases suggests some diners still find value, but the complaints indicate a growing segment of priced-out former customers.
TGI Friday’s: Casual Dining Chain Struggling with Value Perception
TGI Fridays increased prices by about 45%, whereas inflation is up 22% since 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Plenty of skepticism came with restaurant visits given Fridays filed for bankruptcy in late 2024 and closed a lot of stores, tried and failed to merge with its largest franchisee, and went through three CEOs in 2023. The chain’s financial instability has coincided with pricing strategies that alienate customers.
TGI Fridays, which is undergoing a menu overhaul, rose 4 percent to 79 in customer satisfaction ratings. Despite attempts at improvement, the brand faces an uphill battle rebuilding trust with customers who feel deceived by price increases that far outpace inflation. The restaurant industry’s casual dining segment has struggled with identity in recent years, and TGI Friday’s exemplifies these challenges.
The chain’s attempts to modernize while maintaining its casual dining roots have resulted in confusion about value proposition. Customers who remember Friday’s as an affordable place for drinks and appetizers now find themselves facing bills that rival more upscale establishments without corresponding improvements in food quality or service.
