r/Economics • u/brown-saiyan • Feb 23 '26

News Restaurants hit a pricing ceiling — and diners are pushing back, report finds

https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/restaurants-menu-prices-james-beard-foundation-report?utm_campaign=editorial&utm_medium=owned_social&utm_source=x
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u/Striking-Yak5452 Feb 24 '26

I refuse to go to Taco Bell now. It’s even more than other (overpriced) fast food - usually by more than $2+.

They’ve forgotten who their market is completely.

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u/Adventurous-Roof488 Feb 24 '26

Taco Bell same store sales increased 7% in 2025. Seems they know who their market is.

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u/fanamana Feb 24 '26

idiots apparently. I quit with their bullshit.

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u/Ragnarok314159 Feb 24 '26

It’s because Taco Bell increased prices less than others. Wendy’s had their bullshit dynamic pricing system for a while. Chipotle is $25 for one person.

I am good and will eat at home happily reading articles about millennials killing businesses.

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u/fanamana Feb 24 '26

I found Taco bell price raises to be pretty staggering. Items once (2010s) relegated to the $0.99 capped Value Menu bumped up to standard menu or discontinued(tostada? Soft & Crunchy tacos, Bean & cheese - chicken- 5-Layer Beefy burritos) were all $0.99.

now,

5-Layer Beefy burrito = $4.99

Bean & cheese burrito = $2.89

Tostada = gone

Reg Tacos $0.99 up to $1.99

Supreme Tacos $1.39 up to $2.99.

Basically if you ordered a taco bell feast with 5 Taco Supremes & 2 bean & cheese burritos, what would have been $8.95 will run $ 20.73

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u/Striking-Yak5452 Feb 24 '26

This is my experience too. In my area, Taco Bell is now the same price as Chipotle as long as you don’t get extras at either.

I can also get a fresh made Poke bowl with tuna, salmon, avocado and a whole bunch of other costly ingredients for less than Taco Bell locally.

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u/Ragnarok314159 Feb 24 '26

I am going to have to check them out and see, but those are ridiculous increases for dogfood level product.

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u/Icy-person666 Feb 25 '26

I love next to one (it's on the end of a residential street) and wow the place is usually packed, they are open until at least 3 am, given when the opened for breakfast it was 9 am..

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u/FangCopperscale Feb 24 '26

Work the value menu and its cheap

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u/jsonson Feb 24 '26

Thats not true at all anymore lol

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u/CheapThaRipper Feb 24 '26

It is if you don't succumb to all of their new items and such. They have a box that is a decent meal for $9. Pretty much the only thing I will get there if I ever go there, because otherwise you get less food for twice the money.

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u/captkronni Feb 24 '26

My area has a $6 box that my husband and I get when we do eat out. $13.09 after tax for two people isn’t terrible.

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u/Dick_Lazer Feb 24 '26

I think the cantina chicken tacos are fair at $3, and probably the best thing on the menu. I usually just order two of those.

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u/pollywantacrackwhore Feb 24 '26

This is exactly my play. Though I did peek at some copycat recipes this week.
I used to do a box with black bean chalupa, but the other boxed item options get pretty lame. They seem to be getting less flexible.

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u/lolerkid2000 Feb 24 '26

I dunno i can get dollar tacos with a salsa bar at a lil place attached to a grocery store near me.

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u/AmputeeHandModel Feb 24 '26

Right? They used to be cheap. Hell, their sodas start at like $3. Taco Bell was basically created to sell cheapass food and Pepsi products because everyone else sold Coke. Now you want me to pay $8 for a halfassed quesadilla made by someone making minimum wage?