Burger King Three Years Later

JustDave

JustDave

Well-known Member
It's been a while, but I had an unusual taste for a burger and I decided to see what was happening in my old fast food haunt. I got a Whopper Combo without cheese, that included medium fries, and medium Coke. It was $12.13. The last time I was there, it was $7, and even back then I used to laugh, realizing I could get an actual meal with a salad and trimmings at a restaurant for $3 more. They say inflation is slowing, but I don't see it from my perspective. My grocery bill is still going up each week.

But I will say when I picked up that burger in its paper wrapping, it did indeed feel like a whopper. I don't remember them being so hefty, but for the last few years my home meals have been much smaller. The burger was good and free of the bone chips and gristle now standard in hamburger from the market, and the fries were tasty, but I only ate half of them.

The place was mostly empty, even though it was 5:30 PM, and there were only two other people in the eating area. My table still had food crumbs that had not been wiped away, but I sat there anyway so I could keep my eye on my car and my dog. I left feeling full, didn't even need an evening snack before I went to bed.
 

After not eating very often at fast food restaurant chains in the last couple of years, I am astounded at the cost of eating at one now. Due to being out and about to visit my mom in a long term care facility, I’ve had more occasion to eat at fast food places.
I’ve come to resent having to pay such high prices for fast food and have second thoughts at patronizing them just for convenience. If I’m going to pay those kind of prices I want a place I can at least be seated and waited on.

I’ve started doing two things - carrying a snack with me that I can eat to hold me over until I get back home.
If I absolutely have to eat out I choose a locally owned restaurant rather than a fast food chain to give my money to.
 
I eat out only on Sundays (lunch) with a group of friends who usually go to fast food places.

I average paying between $12-$14. The lowest price I've paid within the past month is $8.97 for a cheeseburger combo at Braum's, and it was good, except that I usually don't eat red meat, and I paid about the same amount for a 4 piece chicken tender dinner (with 1 vegetable, roll and a drink) at Golden Chick. The most I've paid was around $14 at Schlotzsky's for a turkey sandwich, chips, and a drink.

Now and then, the group goes to a sit down restaurant. This is always time consuming, and orders get mixed up, prices are much higher, have to leave a tip. It turns out costing me $22-$30. Service is poor on Sundays because they're crowded. I went with them a couple of times to places like that and said "no more."

I hate today's prices, and if I was alone, I would never eat out anywhere - but since our group is only eating out 3-4 times a month, I go, not so much for the food as the social contact. When and if it gets to $20 or over for one meal, I will either stop going, or go less often - maybe 1-2 times a month.
 

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We go to Burger King sometimes. My husband likes their grilled hamburgers and he can add what he wants on them. It isn't that expensive and I can have a small hamburger add what I want too. It only costs about $4.35 and I can use the crowns collected and get them free. They know me there and are really nice when I pick them up.
 
JustDave said:
It's been a while, but I had an unusual taste for a burger and I decided to see what was happening in my old fast food haunt. I got a Whopper Combo without cheese, that included medium fries, and medium Coke. It was $12.13. The last time I was there, it was $7, and even back then I used to laugh, realizing I could get an actual meal with a salad and trimmings at a restaurant for $3 more. They say inflation is slowing, but I don't see it from my perspective. My grocery bill is still going up each week.

But I will say when I picked up that burger in its paper wrapping, it did indeed feel like a whopper. I don't remember them being so hefty, but for the last few years my home meals have been much smaller. The burger was good and free of the bone chips and gristle now standard in hamburger from the market, and the fries were tasty, but I only ate half of them.

The place was mostly empty, even though it was 5:30 PM, and there were only two other people in the eating area. My table still had food crumbs that had not been wiped away, but I sat there anyway so I could keep my eye on my car and my dog. I left feeling full, didn't even need an evening snack before I went to bed.
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This sounds like me, hadn't been to a burger place in years, but not long ago I swung by BK because their broiled burgers are good. I just got 2 Whoppers no cheese, ala carte....$22., one for me, one for DW. $22, I didn't leave a tip. :rolleyes:
Unless sometime in the future I'm traveling and need a meal, I won't be going to a fast food place again.
 
I get sticker shock when I go to fast food restaurants and many other places these days.

In my case I’ve been out of the day to day work force for twenty years and have not adjusted to all of the small price increases, and wage increases, that have accumulated over time.

I try to think in terms of how much my meal costs compared to the local minimum wage.

In this area the minimum, entry level, wage seems to be $15.00-$20.00.

When I think in those terms the prices seem more reasonable.

I have to admit that the prices in a real fancy table cloth restaurant send me running for the exits unless I’m buying for the people that I care about.
 
Why this frugal senior rarely eats at even fast food restaurants any more. There are 3 within a short walking distance of my residence. Just the thought of smelling a hot steaming burger does make me hungry. But have self control.
 
That's why I always pay attention to advertising when it's various fast food joints. One in particular happens to be Little Caesar, they recently had a two topping crazy crust for $6.99. It comes out to $7.31 with tax.

Or sometimes I will hit a Taco Bell and get two to three chicken enchiladas for $2.49 each. I could throw on a soda for an extra $2.99.

Recently I saw a advertisement for Domino's, and you could get two pizzas or more for $6.99 for two topping. Just for the heck of it I put in a order for a 10 inch small pizza extravaganza. This is a pizza with like five toppings.

I could have bought three Domino's special for the same price as that small Extravaganza Pizza. I would have gone with Domino's except I didn't want to spend $12+

Of course that's the real problem for some people, is that as retired, we can't work more or retire more and get more money. We have to make do with what we get.
 
I haven't been in Burger King in over ten years and don't know the prices, but I picked up some fast food trash outside and noticed the size of the 'Whopper' box. It sure didn't look as big as they used to be. If that's over $3 people are getting ripped off.
 
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Fast%20Food%20Inflation.jpg
https://www.crews.bank/hubfs/
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searched with: annual cost of fast food graph

AI Overview
The annual cost of fast food has significantly increased in recent years, with some chains experiencing price hikes of over 100% in the last decade. While the average cost of a basic fast-food meal is now around $11.56 in major US cities, Americans spent approximately $349 billion on fast food in 2023. This inflation is driven by various factors, including rising input costs, supply chain disruptions, and corporate profits.

Overall Inflation:
Fast food prices have outpaced overall inflation, with some items, like the McChicken, experiencing a 200% increase in price over the past decade.

Specific Chains:
McDonald's, Popeyes, Taco Bell, Chipotle, and Jimmy John's have seen price increases exceeding double the rate of inflation.
National Spending:
In 2023, Americans spent $349 billion on fast food, highlighting the significant economic impact of these price increases.
Individual Spending:
The average American household spends roughly $832 per month on food, with a portion of that going to fast food.
Cost of Individual Meals:
The average cost of a basic fast food meal has surpassed $10 in major US cities, according to a FOX 13 news report...
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Google search: annual household monthly cost of food

AI Overview
The average U.S. household spends approximately $6,053 annually on groceries, which equates to about $504 per month. This figure can vary based on household size, dietary choices, and location. For example, a family of four might spend between $996 and $1,603 monthly on food.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Average Monthly Groceries: $504 (nationally, according to NerdWallet).

Annual Grocery Spending: $6,053 (based on the monthly average).
Potential for Variation: A single person might spend around $238 to $434 monthly, while a family of four could spend $996 to $1,603, according to SoFi...
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Personally, as a small person that does not eat much or as often with little meat, my monthly grocery bill is likely about $200 per month or less, that is quite low. That is with no restaurant or fast food buying. However if on the road, am likely to visit such places. In any case, even when up at Tahoe during the winter ski season, I tend to buy food from supermarkets.
 
We have Jack in the Box, @Wombat a small chain on the West Coast that I had at the top of my fast food list at one time, that was after they were done killing and sickening their customers. I was not in that part of the country during the scandal:

1992–1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak - Wikipedia
The 1992–1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak occurred when the Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacterium (originating from contaminated beef patties) killed 4 children and infected 732 people across four US states.[1][2] The outbreak involved 73 Jack in the Box restaurants in California, Idaho, Washington, and Nevada, and has been described as "far and away the most infamous food poison outbreak in contemporary history."[3][4] The majority of the affected were under 10 years old.[5][6] Four children died and 178 others were left with permanent injury including kidney and brain damage.
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That was 30 years ago, but 10 years before that, they were supposedly selling burgers and tacos made from horse and kangaroo meat. Where do you suppose they got kangaroo meat? They may have caught the problem before the meat actually got to the chain.

In 1981, horse meat and kangaroo meat was labeled as beef chuck at a Foodmaker processing plant that among other companies, provided hamburger meat and taco meat to Jack in the Box restaurants. The meat labeling mistake came from the Australian meat distribution company called ProFreeze.
The kangaroo meat never actually made it to the burgers or tacos of Jack in the Box customers, but the story some how got into the news, and the rumors started spreading.
The rumors were most likely aggravated by Jack in the Box’s tragic E. Coli outbreak in 1993. Jack in the box locations in Seattle and coastal California served undercooked patties with fecal matter containing E. Coli. 600 reported sickness from the bad hamburger patties and four children died of hemolytic uremic syndrome.
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It's amazing they survived. It could only be because their burgers were pretty good, at least taste wise.
 
The closest fast food place to me is a McDonald's about 5 miles away. Haven't eaten fast food (or any other restaurant) since mom passed away in 2006. She liked to eat at these places once in a while - always the same thing - a fish sandwich and coffee.

I like to fix my own food - then I know what goes into it and under what conditions it's prepared.
 
I'm not a burger eater but I like some things from fast food places. KFC wraps are one thing i like.
 

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