Have you dialed back on eating fast food like McD's and such?

[XutvJet]

Given how expensive fast food from places like McD's, Burger King, Taco Bell, and like have become, I'm curious as to if many of you have stopped eating there or reduced how often you go.

I very rarely eat at those places and tend to go to Chipotle, Hawaiian Bros, and similar. The costs are still sky high at those places, but it's crazy to me that I'm spending nearly $13 for a chicken sandwich, medium fries, and medium drink at Chick-fil-a for my daughter in Kansas City when I could spend the same at Chipotle and get more food and obviously far more healthy.

I've checked local prices at McD's and it's damn near $13 for a Big Mac meal. That's bonkers. How do lower and lower-middle income people eat there as much as I see them there? I just don't get how people afford to eat it anymore. McD's, Burger King, etc. have recently said they plan to raise prices even more! Insanity.

I'm 49 and remember in high school in the early 1990s that we could get a Big Mac meal for $2.99. $3 in 1991 equates to $7 in today's money. What am I missing? Greed anyone?

[c1pher]

I am trying to eat “cleaner” but do still go to fast food occasionally. I am trying to limit ultra processed especially and generally processed foods. To me hamburger and bacon aren’t really processed to the extent I worry about it but if I have to look up the chemical names for the ingredients, I don’t buy it anymore.

[dreamingat30fps]

I've never been a big fast food eater to start with so... not really I guess. We typically only eat fast food when we travel from FL to NC and it will usually Bojangles, Culvers or Chipotle. We do tend to eat out a lot though, just not fast food.

But yes it's very expensive. I don't see the point other than convenience maybe. We just went to a local Mexican place today for lunch and had some tasty tacos with chips and salsa and I had a beer with a nice view and it was like $24. Sure that's not everywhere and not everyday as they have specials today, but you can find decent none fast food for about the same or just a little more than fast food.

[///MPhatic]

I have, but it's not about the money, or healthy eating reasons, it's because they just refuse to get my order right. I still go there every once in a while, for breakfast, but they can even mess that up. Worthless.

[Oldgixxer]

Been loving Five Guys burgers since they opened up in our area(before we moved). Has to be my favorite "fast food" chain.

Anyways when we first started going there 10yrs ago you could get bacon cheeseburger(2 patties),regular fry,regular drink for about $12-$13, and around $25 for my wife and I and we split the fries.

My daughter was home from school this weekend and she treated me to Five Guys. Same order that used to be $25ish awhile back was now $45+. The burger literally doubled in price,it was $15 now. Prices are insane

[nerdogray]

I can't remember the last time I had true fast food like McDonald's or Taco Bell. But I have always loved a good sandwich, and Subway *used* to scratch that itch. The sandwiches are now pitiful and grossly overpriced. I'm also tired of the expectation that I tip for everything now.

[Chihuahua]

The only ‘fast food’ I do is Chipotle, I might grab Subway if I’m on a long road trip but that’s it. I cut it all out when I turned 30 (48 now). It’s gross IMO.

On the price topic, I remember going to taco bell in high school and getting two tacos, cinnamon twists, and a small drink for $3.12 out the door.

[floridaorange]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

I've never been a big fast food eater to start with so... not really I guess. We typically only eat fast food when we travel from FL to NC and it will usually Bojangles, Culvers or Chipotle. We do tend to eat out a lot though, just not fast food.

But yes it's very expensive. I don't see the point other than convenience maybe. We just went to a local Mexican place today for lunch and had some tasty tacos with chips and salsa and I had a beer with a nice view and it was like $24. Sure that's not everywhere and not everyday as they have specials today, but you can find decent none fast food for about the same or just a little more than fast food.

Haha we do the exact same thing with Culver’s on the same trip. The only time we ever buy fast food.

[Llarry]

Fifty-plus years ago as a full-time college student with an almost full-time job as well, I practically lived on McDonalds for a year or two.

As the years have gone by, I eat fast food less and less. I still enjoy it once in a long while but recognize that too much fast food is not part of a healthy diet.

[BRAKE!]

Prices gone up = inflation. It’s just gotten more pervasive to the point where it affects every day items now.

So, yes I’ve cut back due to the cost, the worsening service (from worker shortage), the shrinkflation (whereby instead of increasing prices, they decrease their portions). Overall, it’s been more eat-at-home for us. Not that groceries are any cheaper, but it is definitely healthier from a daily sodium, glucose, and cholesterol intake and you have more control over portions served. More inconvenient, but healthier.

[MassWholeBimmer]

Only time I do fast food is when traveling for business. Locally, never. Too expensive and quality sucks. I'll do local mom and pop places always instead...

Northeast seems to support that better than big metropolis out west.

[ASAP]

I mean I think all this type of food is unhealthy so I've never eaten this type of food often... with that being said, Chipotle also isn't healthy.

[Bruuuce]

short answer is yes, but I didn't go much anyway.

but feels like I can go sit down at a normal restaurant and be served for less some times.

[spazzyfry123]

I’ll run through a Chik-Fi-La maybe once a month when I’m in a rush while traveling. We eat at home for 95% of our meals it seems.

Someone mentioned Mexican. We get way more and better going to a Mexican restaurant for about the same money. Nachos, tacos, beers… same price as a meal at a drive thru.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

I'm 49 and remember in high school in the early 1990s that we could get a Big Mac meal for $2.99. $3 in 1991 equates to $7 in today's money. What am I missing? Greed anyone?

Here’s your answer. $15+/hr. Those incompetent McDonald’s employees who can’t find their own butt with both hands want us to show them the money. They no longer consider working the counter at McDonald’s a part-time, high school, stepping stone job. These days it’s the career they aspire to and they gotta have a “living” wage.

I hate that this is true, but McDonald’s makes good coffee and I like Egg McMuffins, so I still eat there occasionally. It’s hard not to, because there is one literally on the lot next to my condo building. I can get a large coffee for 99 cents, so the total is just under $6. But, I utterly despise McDonald’s as a company.

I love Chick Fil A and I eat there occasionally. I’m not a growing teenager, so I get just the basic chicken sandwich and a small sweet tea and refill the tea. But, it’s still pushing $9 these days.

I like Chipotle, but last time I was there about a month ago I noticed they’ve had a significant price increase.

Right now, for me, Panera Bread is my go to. There’s one on the way to my dad’s place, so I eat there a lot. BUT, here’s the key. Get their “Value Duet” meals. I believe there are seven choices. Depending on location they are $7 - $9. It’s a large half sandwich, chips, and a “cup” of soup, which is actually a bowl of soup. It is plenty of food and I think it’s probably enough for a teenager. There are also two salad and soup options. A Greek salad (the one to get) and a Caesar salad. You need to like tomato soup or chicken with wild rice. They come with a baguette by default, but you can request chips instead, which is what I do with the sandwiches. If it wasn’t for the Value Duets and the drink club I would never eat at Panera, because otherwise it’s way too expensive.

In addition, I am a member of the “Sip Club” which gets your drink free. It’s a monthly subscription. I think it’s about $12/month right now. You can get a free drink every two hours. That includes coffee, so if you’re a coffee drinker you could stop by every day on the way to work. They make special renewal offers and a few months ago I did an annual renewal for $90, which brought the monthly cost to $7.50.

You can do a “Sip Club” trial for free for two or three months. They also give food discounts and rewards along the way to Sip Club members. I have saved a fair amount of money with those offers.

[nawfoo]

McDonalds when I'm driving long distances. I try not to eat burgers and will get something chicken with fries. If I need to use their restroom I'll buy a coffee for the road. I will never eat at Five Guys or Shake Shack anymore. Ive been out priced.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by nawfoo

McDonalds when I'm driving long distances. I try not to eat burgers and will get something chicken with fries. If I need to use their restroom I'll buy a coffee for the road. I will never eat at Five Guys or Shake Shack anymore. Ive been out priced.

Yeah, true. McDonald’s on the road for sure. And I grew to hate Five Guys a couple of years ago. They aren’t getting any more of my money.

[nosbocaj]

I don't eat much fast food, with the exception of my guilty pleasure: Taco Bell. I've always been a sucker for it. The mobile app allows you the ability to make whatever you want and the rewards system is one of the best out there. I have so many fire rewards (up to $5 item from the list) stacked, I can barely keep up. And that's with going there 1-2x a week and spending $10.

[Esteban]

I will occasionally go to In-N-Out Burger. Always the same. Still good. Price is reasonable. Went there a few weeks ago and spent around 25 bucks on lunch for the wife and I.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Yeah, true. McDonald’s on the road for sure. And I grew to hate Five Guys a couple of years ago. They aren’t getting any more of my money.

I use to like five guys, but I think there are better options now. If I want a burger I'd rather go to Burgerfi or Culvers or some of the local places that also have good burgers.

Also I forgot to mention Dunkin. I do go there a lot, but I just get coffee most of the time. Sometimes I'll get a donut with my coffee, but mainly I just like their coffee.

[bagekko]

The only time I go to FF places is when the wife travels (which is a lot) or on road trip pit stops, it's only cause of the kids. Yeah it's outrageous, for me and the 2 kids its $30-50, $60 for 5G. Sometimes we go to Red Robin, Chilis, Applebees and it's the same or cheaper! Culvers is almost a given every time she is away and its better and cheaper than McDs TB etc. Jersey Mikes has become outrageous $18 for a the big steak & cheese.

My kids need special orders and yeah those idiots making $15-20 cant get it right WTF. Our new TB enforces using kiosks to order which is better cause usually its right then with me doing the modifications.

Unfortunately I'm too lazy when shes away and it's our thing to do, if it gets anymore exp will cut back. But when shes away next week we will get to 20 scoopie tokens and each kid gets to pick a gift!

[DocL]

My son likes Five Guys and I hadn't been to one in a few years so I took him there for lunch a few weeks ago. He got a small cheese burger, I got a hotdog, each got a drink, and we shared a small order of fries. The bill was $36 which is a rip off. I hope they go out of business.