So you’ve probably noticed your usual order costs more than it did last year. And honestly, it’s not just in your head. Restaurant chains across the country have been bumping up their menu prices, and the increases aren’t slowing down anytime soon. From your morning coffee run to those late-night burger cravings, basically everything is getting more expensive. I mean, it’s frustrating when you’re just trying to grab a quick meal without breaking the bank.
Why everything costs more now
The whole situation boils down to inflation hitting restaurants hard. Food costs have jumped significantly, especially for meat and dairy products. After trying to absorb these increases for a while, chains can’t really do it anymore. They’re passing those costs directly to customers now. And labor is another massive issue. Restaurants are paying workers more just to keep them around, which sounds great for employees but pretty much guarantees higher menu prices. It’s not like chains have much choice when their expenses keep climbing month after month.
McDonald’s isn’t holding back anymore
McDonald’s raised prices by 6% across their US locations recently. Their operating costs went up 14% in late 2021, so they had to do something. The dollar menu days are basically over. Even their sodas cost more now, which used to be one of the cheapest things you could get. CEO Chris Kempczinski said they’re trying to balance things so customers don’t bail completely. But here’s the thing—they’re still tweaking combo meal prices to figure out what people will actually tolerate.
The chain also dealt with supply problems that caused fry shortages in some locations. Not exactly ideal when you’re already raising prices. They launched some menu hacks to give customers something that feels new without adding costs, though whether that actually makes anyone feel better about paying more is another question entirely.
Starbucks hit customers three times in five months
If you’re a regular Starbucks customer, you’ve definitely felt this one. They raised prices three separate times between October 2021 and February 2022. A venti drink that cost $2.45 is now $2.95—that’s a 20% jump. Coffee bean prices saw their biggest increase in a decade, which Starbucks says is because of weather issues and shipping problems. And then there’s the whole unionization thing happening at dozens of stores. The company’s been increasing employee salaries, which they say is about retention but also seems tied to discouraging union activity.
What’s kind of interesting is that Starbucks profits actually went up 31% in late 2021. So some people are wondering if the price hikes are really necessary or just a way to boost earnings even more. Does anyone actually believe a massive corporation when they say they have no choice? At least that’s what consumer advocates are asking.
Domino’s gave you fewer wings
The last time I ordered from Domino’s, something felt off about my wing order. Turns out they quietly changed their $7.99 carryout deal. You used to get 10 wings. Now you get eight. Same price, less food. CEO Ritch Allison said their food costs are expected to rise 8 to 10% this year, which is basically four times higher than normal. The chain’s also struggling with labor shortages like everyone else. They’re trying to push customers toward digital ordering to save on labor costs, which explains why the deal is online-only now. Honestly, it feels like they’re nickel-and-diming people while calling it a deal.
Burger King made a bunch of changes
Burger King’s been all over the place with their menu lately. They ditched paper coupons, cut menu items, reduced nugget portions, and even removed the Whopper from their discount menu. Pretty much everything changed. And more cuts are coming in 2022 according to industry reports. The chain lost its spot as the second-biggest burger chain to Wendy’s, so they’re scrambling to stay profitable. Beef prices jumped 33% and wages went up 14%, which put serious pressure on their business model. But changing everything constantly doesn’t exactly make customers happy either.
Texas Roadhouse increased prices twice
If you love steak, Texas Roadhouse probably hurt your wallet recently. They raised menu prices by 4.2% back in November 2021. Beef prices were 20% higher than the previous year, which makes sense given how much steak they serve. But then they announced another 3% increase coming in April 2022. That’s two price hikes in less than six months. The chain says customers haven’t reacted negatively so far, so they’re going ahead with it. President Jerry Morgan said traffic and satisfaction scores stayed solid despite the increases. Still, it adds up when you’re feeding a family.
What the future looks like
So where does this leave everyone? Restaurant chains aren’t done raising prices yet. Inflation predictions for 2022 suggested food costs would keep climbing between 5.5% and 6.5%. Some chains like Taco Bell and Chili’s eventually responded by pushing value meals to win back customers who got tired of higher prices. But that took a while to happen. In the meantime, pretty much everyone paid more for their usual orders. And labor shortages aren’t magically going away either, which means wage costs will stay high.
How hard is it for these massive chains to just absorb some costs instead of passing everything to customers? That’s what a lot of people keep asking. The answer seems to be that they won’t do it unless they absolutely have to.
Not every chain handled it the same way
Olive Garden’s parent company increased spending on food by 9% and wages by another 9% in late 2021. They raised prices too, but they were super careful about it. When they bumped prices by 2%, they watched customer reactions closely before doing more. At least they kept the unlimited breadsticks free, which probably helped. Cracker Barrel did something similar—they raised prices gradually and kept their value breakfast and lunch specials the same. Those chains seemed more worried about losing customers than some of the fast food places that just went ahead with big increases all at once.
Your wallet isn’t getting a break
Basically every major restaurant chain raised their prices over the past couple years. Whether it’s fewer wings, more expensive coffee, or pricier burgers, it all adds up. The reasons make sense from a business perspective—higher costs for ingredients and labor mean something’s gotta give. But it doesn’t make it any easier when you’re the one paying more for the same food you’ve always ordered. And judging by how things have continued, this trend isn’t going anywhere. Your go-to cheap meal probably isn’t so cheap anymore.
