Shake Shack Takes the Crown for America’s Most Overpriced Fast Food
The verdict is in, and Shake Shack has received more complaints about overpriced food than any other restaurant chain according to an analysis of nearly 60,000 Google reviews. This might come as a shock to some, considering the chain’s reputation for quality ingredients and elevated fast-casual dining. The criticism comes after not just one but two recent price hikes, with a 3% increase in mid-March 2024 to address food and wage inflationary pressures.
What makes this sting even more for customers is that Shake Shack then raised prices again by 1.5% in October 2024. The company did promise to roll off some of those increases in early 2025, but the damage to customer sentiment was already done. Fast-food costs have risen by nearly 50% in the past decade, making what used to feel like affordable indulgence now feel like a serious financial commitment.
Five Guys – When Premium Pricing Meets Customer Fury
Five Guys followed Shake Shack as the chain with the second most overpriced food complaints, and the numbers back up the frustration. Social media users have shared viral receipts showing $24 for just one burger, fries and a soda – with a bacon cheeseburger costing $12.49, regular soda at $2.89, and small fries at $5.19. That’s enough to make anyone do a double-take at the register.
The outrage has been brewing for years, but reached a fever pitch when a viral social media post garnered nearly 25 million views showing that expensive receipt. One frustrated customer wrote “5 dollars for a small fry is highway robbery. It’s literally just a potato and some salt. Cost them a quarter to make”. The chain defends their pricing by pointing to fresh, never-frozen ingredients and peanut oil for frying, but customers are increasingly questioning whether the quality justifies the cost.
MoneyGeek data revealed that the average price of a Five Guys meal in 2024 was $20.84, while Jack in the Box, Wendy’s, Burger King, and McDonald’s all stayed under the $14 mark. When you’re pricing yourself more like a sit-down restaurant than fast food, you’re bound to ruffle some feathers.
Olive Garden – When “Unlimited” Breadsticks Can’t Save Your Reputation
Olive Garden might serve unlimited breadsticks, but their unlimited price increases have left customers feeling anything but satisfied. Executives from Darden Restaurants predicted a 2% to 3% price increase for 2025, and loyal customers have expressed frustration since the quality hasn’t matched the increase in cost. The complaints have been particularly vocal on social media platforms.
The numbers tell a sobering story about customer satisfaction. Olive Garden earns a 1.4-star rating from reviews and complaints, showing that the majority of diners are dissatisfied with their meals. Real customers aren’t mincing words either – one Reddit user calculated “Easily $40/person if you get a glass of wine, entree, desert + tax + tips. All for mediocre service and soul-sucking ambiance”.
Multiple customers have described the chain as “already overpriced considering the mediocre quality”, with some comparing the food unfavorably to frozen dinners. When your customers are saying they can get better Italian food elsewhere for a fraction of the price, you know you’ve got a serious value proposition problem on your hands.
The common thread running through all three chains is the same: customers feel like they’re paying premium prices for what they perceive as ordinary quality. In an era where every dollar counts, restaurants that can’t justify their pricing with exceptional food and service are finding themselves on the wrong side of public opinion.
