A RECENT study has named a popular burger chain the most expensive in the United States.
Some consumers agree wholeheartedly with the results, blasting the restaurant for the cost of some beloved menu items.
Shake Shake has been blasted by some fans for its prices (stock image)[/caption]
Shake Shack is the most costly fast food chain nationwide as of the end of this year, according to survey data collected by Preply.
It may not surprise some, as Shake Shack confirmed a 3% price increase in March, per Fox Business.
Still, how can we know for sure?
Preply is a language-learning marketplace company, and to get the results, it analyzed the language used in over 57,245 reviews throughout 10,000 restaurants in 50 US cities.
Researchers worked to identify keywords like “pricey” and “rip-off” within the reviews and how often those words were used.
Shake Shack topped the findings overall, with another popular burger chain — Five Guys — coming in second.
The Sugar Factor came in third.
The U.S. Sun has contacted Shake Shack for comment on the ranking results.
A few customers were in firm agreement with the findings.
“Old News – Shake Shack biggest rip-off,” someone wrote in a post on Facebook.
Fast food prices, in general, have gone up a whopping 4.3% in the past year alone, per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Since 2019, it’s more like a 28% increase.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
An expert exclusively told The U.S. Sun earlier this summer that at least five factors contributed to the uptick, despite some assuming it was just a result of inflation rates.
One of the most important things to consider was the increase in the cost of all other food, according to food insider Bill Oakley (@thatbilloakley).
Fast Food meal deals
Here are some of the current value meals offered by popular fast food joints.
Taco Bell’s $7 Luxe Cravings Box:
- Chalupa Supreme
- Beefy Five-Layer Burrito
- Double Stacked Taco
- Chips and nacho cheese sauce
- Medium drink
McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal:
- McDouble or McChicken sandwich
- Four-piece Chicken McNuggets
- Small fries
- Small soft drink
Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag:
- Junior Bacon Cheeseburger or Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- Four-piece chicken nuggets
- Junior fries
- Small soft drink
Burger King’s $5 Your Way Meal:
- Whopper Junior, Chicken Junior, or Bacon Cheeseburger
- Fries
- Four-piece chicken nuggets
- Soft drink
“Fast food prices have risen a lot, but only about five percentage points more than everything else has risen,” he explained.
“We just notice the price of fast food more because the average person has a much better idea of what a Big Mac should cost as opposed to what a pint of maple syrup or a new set of snow tires should cost.”
Much of the increase in the cost of all food has to do with supply chain issues from the height of the coronavirus pandemic that are still working to come down.
In some states, like California, new minimum wage laws have also made fast food labor increase, making menu prices go up.
VALUE FOCUSED
McDonald’s has come under criticism in the past year for soaring costs, with promises of cuts from executives.
Earlier this summer, it introduced a $5 meal deal to quell concerns, and several competitors like Burger King, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s followed suit.
McDonald’s also recently announced plans for the McValue Menu with discounted items and deals.
Other more dine-in style restaurant chains like Olive Garden have also caught some backlash for price increases this year.
