Paying $28 for a lunch at Taco Bell

[nakedfrog]

Arby's is the worst now. They used to be a huge value when they had 5 for $5 for their standard roast beef sandwich. And I think Beef and Chedders were under $2 then.

Now, a sandwich + fries is about $9 or more, depending on which "fancy" Arby's sandwich you choose. I think I went last year and paid $15 for French dip (not nearly as good as it used to be...not that it was ever great) and a regular roast beef, + fries.

That's insane. Most of the local, very good restaurants around here are usually cheaper than that, if not charging about the same. I also noticed this pre-pandemic, so it isn't supply/inflation nonsense. Arby's just, for some reason, considers themselves fancy now. I think they need more humbling.

I mostly go there when I get coupons in the mail now, 2 French dips for $8 is alright.

 

[hal2kilo]

Arby's is the worst now. They used to be a huge value when they had 5 for $5 for their standard roast beef sandwich. And I think Beef and Chedders were under $2 then.

Now, a sandwich + fries is about $9 or more, depending on which "fancy" Arby's sandwich you choose. I think I went last year and paid $15 for French dip (not nearly as good as it used to be...not that it was ever great) and a regular roast beef, + fries.

That's insane. Most of the local, very good restaurants around here are usually cheaper than that, if not charging about the same. I also noticed this pre-pandemic, so it isn't supply/inflation nonsense. Arby's just, for some reason, considers themselves fancy now. I think they need more humbling.

Never buy anything at Arby's without a coupon, just like any pizza.

 

[manly]

Arby's is the worst now. They used to be a huge value when they had 5 for $5 for their standard roast beef sandwich. And I think Beef and Chedders were under $2 then.

Now, a sandwich + fries is about $9 or more, depending on which "fancy" Arby's sandwich you choose. I think I went last year and paid $15 for French dip (not nearly as good as it used to be...not that it was ever great) and a regular roast beef, + fries.

That's insane. Most of the local, very good restaurants around here are usually cheaper than that, if not charging about the same. I also noticed this pre-pandemic, so it isn't supply/inflation nonsense. Arby's just, for some reason, considers themselves fancy now. I think they need more humbling.

I haven't comparison shopped (or been in an Arby's in decades), but most fast food joints are charging a ballmark amount for combos now. With the proliferation of apps, there are discounts to be had. I also get fast food coupons in the mail sometimes, and those deliver a lot of value.

I can't speak for all of the U.S. but in coastal CA metropolises, there is no way you can get food from "very good restaurants" for cheaper than fast food. There are some exceptions, but on average, real restaurants are gonna be more costly (even at the budget end of the spectrum). It's mostly a consequence of food and wage inflation, so I wouldn't say Arby's is an outlier in this regard. Whether they are overpriced relative to their food is a personal opinion.

 

[hal2kilo]

I haven't comparison shopped (or been in an Arby's in decades), but most fast food joints are charging a ballmark amount for combos now. With the proliferation of apps, there are discounts to be had. I also get fast food coupons in the mail sometimes, and those deliver a lot of value.

I can't speak for all of the U.S. but in coastal CA metropolises, there is no way you can get food from "very good restaurants" for cheaper than fast food. There are some exceptions, but on average, real restaurants are gonna be more costly (even at the budget end of the spectrum). It's mostly a consequence of food and wage inflation, so I wouldn't say Arby's is an outlier in this regard. Whether they are overpriced relative to their food is a personal opinion.

Yea, $15 for a hamburger at a sit down place in not unusual these days.

 

[Captante]

I used to hit Arby's all the time when they had the $10 for 5 RB sammich's" promo going on..... I haven't been to one in years.

Fast-food seems to be in the process of "pricing itself out of the market" far as I'm concerned. (not that ever ate it that often!)

Last time I had McDogburger's for example it set me back just under $20 which is MORE than a Chinese meal that contains a ton of real veggies would have.

 

[ElFenix]

how did we miss that taco bell laughed at him?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1580350501799211008

 

[Fanatical Meat]

This thread made me go to Taco Bell.
I’ve been there last year for some $1 chicken wrap thingy but that’s about it recently.
Total meal cost $5 and a little change that I can’t remember
Two beefy burritos these things are stuffed with “stuff” beef, cheese, red pepper, some rice and some sort of sauce, and some crunchy chip thing. Overall it tastes pretty good.
I totally did not need the side of sour cream and one of these things is enough to fill me up. Two is a lot of food.
Had I just got one it would have been $2 then like $.15 cents in tax.



Point being if I were to buy 12 of these I’d still have money left for a drink and whatever taxes. 12 of these things is easily 8-10 meals.

 

[sactoking]

I went to Del Taco a few nights back and spent $40. But that fed me and my three kids. And we had food left over.

 

[cytg111]

I just wanna plug this here as an example of having a civilized discussion, discovery on a subject, inflation, while not throwing temper tantrums.

Agree disagree, there is nuances to all this shit.

 

[zinfamous]

Never buy anything at Arby's without a coupon, just like any pizza.

everybody talking about fast food coupons up in here...I've never heard of such things, and didn't know the only way to get normal fast food prices seems to be from behind app and coupon walls? Fuck that. I don't want more apps.

I guess I'll do what I normally do and avoid FF altogether fairly regularly; and when I don't, just pay through the nose as further necessary punishment for eating FF in general. All possible disincentives are a good thing, here.

 

[Captante]

I still get those stupid, waste of paper coupon-things in the mail once or twice a week and some are for fast-food. (mainly BK, McDogs and Subway)

They go directly from the mailbox into the trash.

 

[borosp1]

Those paper mailers are targeting older folks who are not tech savvy to install fast food apps on their phones. These fast food companies have high paid research on their potential customer base on how to increase the customer base on many criteria including age, economic class, education, technology, etc..

 

[Captante]

Those paper mailers are targeting older folks

Like US you mean?

 

[hal2kilo]

everybody talking about fast food coupons up in here...I've never heard of such things, and didn't know the only way to get normal fast food prices seems to be from behind app and coupon walls? Fuck that. I don't want more apps.

I guess I'll do what I normally do and avoid FF altogether fairly regularly; and when I don't, just pay through the nose as further necessary punishment for eating FF in general. All possible disincentives are a good thing, here.

I refuse to have any FF apps. I have my grubby coupon (typically comes in the back of another store ad) and read off the number. They tried that BS on me, but if you have the number they have to honor it. Some do make it difficult or impractical to get the deal without the app though.

 

[Thump553]

Those paper mailers are targeting older folks who are not tech savvy to install fast food apps on their phones. These fast food companies have high paid research on their potential customer base on how to increase the customer base on many criteria including age, economic class, education, technology, etc..

I guess I'm both older and cranky, because those envelopes full of coupons go directly from the mailbox to the recycling bin without even opening. Maybe I'll open the next one to see if there are fast food coupons in it-last time I opened one (a couple of years ago) it was basically home improvement (replacement windows, gutters, walk-in tubs,, etc) and the like

 

[Fanatical Meat]

BTW my ass has not exploded from yesterday’s lunch.
Overall it was pretty good in the cheap dirty food way.

 

[manly]

Yea, $15 for a hamburger at a sit down place in not unusual these days.

From what I understand, that's what a combo goes for at Five Guys.

everybody talking about fast food coupons up in here...I've never heard of such things, and didn't know the only way to get normal fast food prices seems to be from behind app and coupon walls? Fuck that. I don't want more apps.

I guess I'll do what I normally do and avoid FF altogether fairly regularly; and when I don't, just pay through the nose as further necessary punishment for eating FF in general. All possible disincentives are a good thing, here.

Outside of online shopping (SlickDeals) or grocery digital coupons, our culture doesn't really promote coupon cutting. I do it for fast food, but it's considered something that only poor people or seniors do.

The only fast food app I have is Taco Bell, which normally I'll visit just a couple times a year (the Cravings Box is a good deal, no app needed). But I got suckered into the app because of their "Taco Lovers Pass" for $10. During October, that pass gets me a free taco each day. Admittedly I'm tired of their food by now, but I've gotten 10 free tacos with a week to go. I've bought a few of the $2 burritos to round out my meals, but sometimes I just want a Taco Supreme and it's on the way home for free.

BTW my ass has not exploded from yesterday’s lunch.
Overall it was pretty good in the cheap dirty food way.

I'm a light eater, but I wouldn't consider the $2 burrito a "meal." For a modest lunch, that burrito and a taco will do the trick. Obviously we don't consider it quality food, but anybody in this thread who claims McD's is 5x better in quality is crazy.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

From what I understand, that's what a combo goes for at Five Guys.


Outside of online shopping (SlickDeals) or grocery digital coupons, our culture doesn't really promote coupon cutting. I do it for fast food, but it's considered something that only poor people or seniors do.

The only fast food app I have is Taco Bell, which normally I'll visit just a couple times a year (the Cravings Box is a good deal, no app needed). But I got suckered into the app because of their "Taco Lovers Pass" for $10. During October, that pass gets me a free taco each day. Admittedly I'm tired of their food by now, but I've gotten 10 free tacos with a week to go. I've bought a few of the $2 burritos to round out my meals, but sometimes I just want a Taco Supreme and it's on the way home for free.


I'm a light eater, but I wouldn't consider the $2 burrito a "meal." For a modest lunch, that burrito and a taco will do the trick. Obviously we don't consider it quality food, but anybody in this thread who claims McD's is 5x better in quality is crazy.

Thing must have weighed 12 ounces it was a solid sized lunch.
Admittedly I eat one and one third of the second one. Two would be too much.

 

[manly]

Thing must have weighed 12 ounces it was a solid sized lunch.
Admittedly I eat one and one third of the second one. Two would be too much.

Somehow I scarfed down 2 and a free taco a couple weeks ago, and I am admittedly a light eater. But yeah, a $2 burrito and a taco is a fair lunch for the both of us. I would never be eating this much Taco Bell if not for the Taco Lovers Pass LOL. Eating $28 of Taco Bell a la carte in one sitting, AND admitting to it, is just crazy.

 

[borosp1]

Eating $28 of Taco Bell a la carte in one sitting, AND admitting to it, is just crazy.

He didn't eat anything, The guy was trying to make a talking point about out of control inflation. He got caught on social media that he lied as its nearly impossible to order ala-cart for 1 person at $28 for a lunch at Taco Bell unless your a total gluten.

 

[nakedfrog]

I still get those stupid, waste of paper coupon-things in the mail once or twice a week and some are for fast-food. (mainly BK, McDogs and Subway)

They go directly from the mailbox into the trash.

Interesting, I've rarely ever seen a McDonald's coupon. BK and Subway, yeah.

Those paper mailers are targeting older folks who are not tech savvy to install fast food apps on their phones. These fast food companies have high paid research on their potential customer base on how to increase the customer base on many criteria including age, economic class, education, technology, etc..

I could install FF apps on my phone, but I ain't gonna. Not even for the promise of free food.

From what I understand, that's what a combo goes for at Five Guys.

Yeah, the burger itself is $10-11, but it's a sizeable double cheeseburger.

Somehow I scarfed down 2 and a free taco a couple weeks ago, and I am admittedly a light eater. But yeah, a $2 burrito and a taco is a fair lunch for the both of us. I would never be eating this much Taco Bell if not for the Taco Lovers Pass LOL. Eating $28 of Taco Bell a la carte in one sitting, AND admitting to it, is just crazy.

I don't think you're as light of an eater as you think if you're putting away two of those and a taco. Can't tell exactly what it is from the pic, maybe a Beefy Melt Burrito, those are 620 calories and 20g of protein.

 

[Captante]

Interesting, I've rarely ever seen a McDonald's coupon. BK and Subway, yeah.

McDonalds come a bit less frequently than the other two but I always get them.... and never use them aside from the very occasional breakfast.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

He didn't eat anything, The guy was trying to make a talking point about out of control inflation. He got caught on social media that he lied as its nearly impossible to order ala-cart for 1 person at $28 for a lunch at Taco Bell unless your a total gluten.

Exactly and that was my point, even if we assume Manhattan is four times the cost he’d have to be eating a huge lunch to hit $28.

 

[borosp1]

Exactly and that was my point, even if we assume Manhattan is four times the cost he’d have to be eating a huge lunch to hit $28.

Scott D. Martin of Kingsview Wealth Management is based in Chicago, not Manhattan NYC.

 

[MrSquished]

3 soft taco supremes is a nice meal up here right next to NYC in the Jerz. I can eat a fourth sometimes but then I'm super stuffed. Around 10 bucks.