Cuz of world politics.
I've almost completely eliminated fast food from my diet (Taco Bell is the only one I will go to on occasion because it really is its own genre of food. I love me some real Mexican food, but I also love Taco Bell. They are different things) because it has gotten so goddamn expensive.
At this point, I can spend another $3 and go to a local place with fresh cooked food that is 1000% better, and then have enough leftovers for two more meals.
The only reason it ever made sense to get fast food, historically, was that it was dirt cheap. I remember when Chick-fil-a value meals were $5-6. That price has increased by like 150% in ~10-15 years.
And in the same time, the wages that they pay have dropped relative to inflation.
This wondering is how you get into politics
My question is, why does the crunchwrap suck so much now?
Way less of everything in it. Seems like it's just tortilla, tostada, and lettuce now. A token smearing of beans and/or protein.
It seems the same as it’s always been where I am, but my local Taco Bells are out of beef every other day or their system is down…so I’m lucky if I can just get them
I think I paid over $12 for a 3 taco meal last time. Not even supremes. Haven’t been back in 6 months and don’t plan to ever.
I started making my own at home using the seasoning packet and sauces. Target also sells a kit that includes the tortillas. Tastes like a better Taco Bell, you can stuff it as much as you want, and you don't get spicy butthole after.
Greed
If they're too expensive, stop giving them money. Make food at home or go to a local small business, not a chain franchisee.
Sometimes you just want a Crunchwrap quick, and you can’t get that from a local joint. I don’t always want to wait 20 minutes for a local joint, and half of them are closed by 8. So they’re useless at the time I want Taco Bell.
Making food at home is great, but how does going to local small business help? Taco Bell taco costs $4.69 and local restaurant taco costs $21?
I've found Mexican places are just about the cheapest sit down restaurants, but I'm sure it varies some by location.
Fast food is still affordable!!!!
If you use the app and don't get only exactly what you want but what the app gives deals on! At the low low cost of sharing your personal data to their marketing and development teams! (And maybe their 3rd parties depending)
You're not getting better deals. They're subsidising the cheaper prices with the data they collect on you with the app.
"I found a way to stay tied to giant megacorporations!"
head pats at the speed of light
WHAT A GOOD CONSUMER
The amount of people who have responded to me saying "I don't go to fast food anymore, it's too expensive" who proudly proclaim "just use the apps!!!" Just saddens me.
For all the reasons you said and more. No, they lost my business, I go to the local place now. Only time I get fast food now is in airports
my local Domino's has a store specific coupon that sells large pizza 1 toppings half off. Had it for years. It's great paying $9 for a large pizza, but i know one day corporate will ruin it :(
Class consciousness is what we need, comrade
And enjoy your taco
I just spent 25 dollars at Hardee's for two meals. I never buy fast food but I wanted to get my kid something quick at 6am for wrestling. Breh. What.the.hell...
I've gone to two Hardee's in two different states that blatantly and repeatedly charged more than they listed on the menu.
That said, they have the best biscuits possibly in the world.
I remember years ago when I went to order one of those $5 meal boxes at Taco Bell. I asked for it by calling it the "$5 box" or something. The person over the speaker replied with "it's $9 here" lmao. That was pre-COVID and it had been advertised as a $5 box where I was from.
And that's why I still go lol
And it's so much worse quality than it was just like, 5 years ago
You used to be able to get a soft or hard-shelled taco for 59 cents.
3 for 99 on tues
The app-only build your own box is still one of the best deals in fast food IMO. $6
Yup, this and some spicy potato soft tacos are my regular order. Comes out to around 200 calories per dollar, which is pretty good value.
Their $7 lux cravings box is the best deal out there right now as far as I know. But that's it, the rest of the menu is overpriced just like the others.
Rally's also has a $7 meal, some brisket burger. It's nowhere near as filling as the luxe cravings box though.
Oh and Popeyes has a $6 meal that is two pieces of dark meat, a side, a biscuit, and a drink. Still not as filling as the luxe box, but more filling than Rally's thing.
Don't you have to use their stupid app for the reduced prices like that now?
Not at my Taco Bell. I was there a couple weeks ago and it was still $7 without the app.
Buckle up buttercup!
Taco Bell is fine but have you seen Wendy's prices? Holy crap!
Yeah except I can get s whole ass meal every Wednesday and Friday for $2.. No matter what I have to pay $7 at taco bell. Used to be like $2-$3 for a few decent filling burritos
I can find several items at the Taco Bell near me that are just under $3.
Fun fact: "Make it Fresco" will replace any dairy based items and add basically pico de gallo. I love doing this cause I don't like the sour cream and nacho sauce anyways. Add lettuce for $.50 and you can almost transform the Cheesy Double Beef Burrito into the Burrito Supreme at half the cost.
The moment they took the cheesy potato burrito off the menu, it was over..
They charge that much because you're willing to pay that much. If it isn't worth it, don't buy it. Simple as.
We’ve managed to get our order down to ~$17-20 for 2 people. 2 cheesy bean and rice burritos, 2 tostadas, 2 soft taco supremes.
I know there are regional differences, but using the app in my relatively high cost of living area I can do a cravings box with a crunchwrap supreme, cheesy bean and rice burrito, fiesta potatoes, and medium drink for $6.49. are you using the app and online exclusives to keep the price down?
The Meal for 2 is half as much and has more food. Or get the Meal for 4 and get twice as much food for the same price.
Most of the Taco bells by me have a $5.99 box. It's online only so you have to order it from your phone and pick it up at the counter. It comes with a drink, One of the heavier entrees, one of the generic entrees and one of the sides. I usually do a cheesy gordita crunch, five layer burrito, cheesy potatoes.
Seeing that the drink alone would be $2.45 that's one hell of a deal.
That's said, Taco bells are mostly independent and if you're in some location like LA you might be SOL.
drink alone would be $2.45
which is, itself, absolutely ridiculous.
Especially saying that Pepsi owns the brand.
I was buying 5 gallon syrup boxes from restaurant supply stores and making soda with my SodaStream. A good day I could approach the price of a sale 2 liter bottle. Assuming the cups lids and straws aren't free, The ice is nearly free, The carbonation is relatively cheap. They're probably making at least two full dollars profit per cup.
It only seems like a deal because the in-store prices are artificially inflated to begin with.
Fast food, now with extra data theft, and push ads!
You know, yes I could probably make 20 of those meals for $30 at the grocery store. But in the realm of a McDonald's meal with a side and a dessert costing closer to 20 bucks, $7 isn't horrible in this economy.
Taco tarrifs: the downfall of society
Meow
Order the Meal for 4 from the website/app. Two Crunchwraps, 2 Chicken quesadillas, 4 tacos, 2 chips and cheese, $20. Feeds two people and there's usually leftovers, or will feed one person for 2 days.
Or the Meal for 2: Two Crunchwraps, 2 Bean burritos, 2 tacos, and 2 chips and cheese. $12.
Same goes for Jack ITB. They have 2 for $3 and 2 for $5 burgers, and tacos are still 2 for 99¢. Just gotta use the app or order online.
A friend told us to get a Lux Box or w/e they're called after a concert a few months ago, and it had A LOT of food for the low price. Like a burrito, chalupa, taco, cinnamon twists and a drink for $6 or $7, which sounds like a great deal right now. Idk if they still have it or if it was a limited promotion, but that's what I'd get if I go there again (I don't do fast food but very rarely). Other than that, the standard priced items are definitely expensive.
The thing is, you could more or less order that for $5 as late as a year or so ago with some customizations to their other boxes. (Granted, I place no value on the cinnamon twists)
Seriously, it's way cheaper to hit up McDonald's than to eat even the bare minimum from Taco Bell now. Even their drinks are insanely expensive.
For me, McDonald's is way too expensive for what it is anymore. I'm a little ways away from the $8.29 Big Mac, but not by too much. At my local grocery store, I could put together a better burger for significantly cheaper. That's even if I buy premade patties, buns, and sauces, rather than make them from base ingredients. Buying pre-prepped veggies could get expensive though. They'd need to drop the cost by about 50% for them to reach a point consider to be value, which they can't afford to do.
