The Death of Affordable Fast Food

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]So, I was just brutally reminded why I don't go out to eat anymore. How am I supposed to eat this?

[00:00:07]I'm at the airport, look at this. Hey, y'all be careful when you go to restaurants nowadays cuz [music] they're trying to be sneaky. Remember the dollar menu? It was more than just a marketing gimmick. It was a promise. For five bucks, you could eat like a king, or at least a very full peasant. But here in 2026, everyone and their grandma are complaining that a quick bite costs more than a sit-down casual dinner. Let's take our first video for example. Since when did fast food cost just as much as a sit-down restaurant? We were at Chick-fil-A and it cost $60 for four of us to eat. $60.

[00:00:41]That is a sit-down restaurant with a drink for the both of us and a kids meal, and then we're spending that on fast food.

[00:00:50]That's crazy to me.

[00:00:52]Can we talk about the downfall of Chipotle? I was so desperate for food today and I was short on time that I was like, "I'm going to go to Chipotle," which I never go to anymore. And I just feel like I know why. I feel like the quality is not there, the price has increased for literally a scoop of like guacamole that big, it's like two freaking dollars now. And I just feel like it doesn't hit the way it used to.

[00:01:14]Plus this one little bowl used to cost me $9, I remember. $14. $14 now.

[00:01:21]Chipotle just had its worst year ever.

[00:01:23]In 2025, the company had its first decline in sales since it went public 20 years ago. Analysts say this is part of a broader slowdown for fast casual chains. In this K-shaped economy, Chipotle is stuck in a tough spot. It's not a go-to place for the rich, and it's starting to feel skippable for those who are trying to save money. After getting heat in 2024 for inconsistent portions, the company pledged to giving every customer a generous helping. Despite the decline, Chipotle still opened 334 new stores last year and made 1.5 billion dollars in net income. Chipotle shares are down more than 37% and it's not alone. Sweetgreen shares are down 80% and Cava's have fallen more than 50%.

[00:02:10]Here are some of your comments. These restaurants are going to price themselves right out of the market.

[00:02:15]Subway restaurants in my part of the country are advertising, "We're bringing back the $6 6-in."

[00:02:21]It was never the $6 6-in. It was the $5 footlong. They aren't bringing back anything. 10 years ago at Chick-fil-A at Chick-fil-A, okay?

[00:02:33]They used to have a meal, a combo meal.

[00:02:35]I think it was like I think it was either the number one or the number three.

[00:02:38]The entire meal, the sandwich, the drink, the fries, the large by the way together cost $6.66.

[00:02:49]Two days ago I attempted to go to Chick-fil-A and get that exact same meal. It was $17.

[00:02:58]Let's compare fast food prices from 1996 to now. As a point of reference, all prices have about doubled since 1996. A dollar in 1996 has the same purchasing power as $2.09 in 2026. Starting with the Subway Italian footlong in 1996, it was just $3.99, but now has 2.5 x to $9.99 in 2026. Do me a favor and comment, "Give me that $5 footlong" and tag Subway. Yes, this is my formal petition to bring that back. And next, a meal fit for a king, a Burger King Whopper combo meal in 1996, just $3.56, but now has 2.9 x to $10.29 in 2026. McDonald's, the recent social media star from the release and taste test of the Big Arch burger. What many don't realize is that the Big Arch burger is actually a reboot of the Arch Deluxe, which in 1996 cost just $2.49, but now the Big Arch burger in 2026 has 3.6 x to 889. Not even a little bit.

[00:03:57]Mom, eat it slow so you can get the flavor for real.

[00:04:00]Like maybe it will taste like more than what it is if you eat it slow.

[00:04:05]These insane restaurant prices primarily come down to like three things. Labor costs, inflation, and corporate greed.

[00:04:12]So, I was just brutally reminded why I don't go out to eat anymore. I went and met someone for lunch, went to Outback Steakhouse.

[00:04:21]I literally ordered a salad with uh grilled chicken on it.

[00:04:26]Uh pretty good size salad, but it it's all lettuce and tomato and some bacon bits. I had literally four little strips of grilled chicken on there. I drank water.

[00:04:37]My bill with the tip was $25.

[00:04:42]What in the world's going on? I may get fired for saying this, but I work at a nice restaurant and everything comes out of a bag. The lobster bisque, bag. The soup, bag. The sauces, a bag. The tuna, a bag. Everything comes in a bag. We went to Korean barbecue the other night, go here all the time. It was fabulous, it was delicious. And then I got the bill and I noticed it was a little higher than I thought because they added on a mandatory 16% tip on top of another tip that they want you to give. So, it's a little sneaky and deceiving, so I won't be going back here.

[00:05:19]Man, this is a cat all day, man.

[00:05:22]Bro, y'all in real life gave me a freeze, but bro, what is this?

[00:05:27]What is this?

[00:05:29]Bro, this feel like cardboard. Oh my bro, what is this?

[00:05:34]Bro ordered a hot and ready and got a firm and heavy.

[00:05:38]Hell no, they gave you the display.

[00:05:40]Brother, how am I supposed to eat this?

[00:05:43]I'm at the airport, look at this.

[00:05:45]McDonald's, you come sit your trifling behind down. Who told y'all y'all was that good to be charging that much for y'all food? Y'all supposed to be good for the price. McDonald's is acknowledging it's time to put affordability back on the menu and add more options to its dollar menu. Its stock took a hit this week after the fast-food giant reported a recent drop in visits by its key customers who make $45,000 a year or less. And a lot of people have taken to social media to complain about it. This is $3 worth of food. This hash brown, which I think used to be two for a dollar. This, for reference, is a potato, which you can get 4 to 5 lb of these for $3, $4.

[00:06:26]Something doesn't seem right here.

[00:06:28]People go to McDonald's because it's fast, it's reliable, and it's affordable. And for many Americans right now, they're saying that's just not the case. Prices for a hash brown are $3, Quarter Pounder with cheese, a meal, $12.80 in Brooklyn, New York. And in Darien, Connecticut, a Big Mac meal is $18.

[00:06:47]They have said that they've had to raise prices by 10%, and that is largely because of food costs. If fast food doesn't find its way back to value, it risks becoming a luxury. We might be heading towards a world where the golden arches are a treat for payday and not a weekday staple.

[00:07:05]The CEO of Chipotle today said that they are increasing prices on their menu. And if that bothers you, then you're apparently not the type of customer they're looking for.

[00:07:16]He said they plan to increase prices across their menu 1 to 2% this year.

[00:07:21]Because 60% of customers apparently make over $100,000 a year, they can lean into this demographic more, which is a fancy way of saying they can charge more and not feel bad about it. The company also plans to add more high-protein items.

[00:07:36]Adding more protein to your bowl or your wrap comes with additional charges.

[00:07:41]But if you're not making six figures, don't worry. They won't completely isolate you. They're going to throw you a bone by letting you eat at odd hours of the day when it's slow for Chipotle.

[00:07:52]They're going to launch a happier hour program >> [music] >> where they hope to have something under $10.

[00:07:58]Well, folks, that's all I've got for you today. Don't forget to like and subscribe. It's the only thing that hasn't gone up in price this year.