8 Chain Restaurant Meals That Are the Biggest Wastes of Money

Some of the most popular chain restaurants around the U.S. have been the targets of much customer chagrin over the past few years, with many accusing top dining chains of shrinkflation, or keeping menu prices high while the product size or quality (or both) goes down. Shrinkflation is, essentially, the last thing you want to be dealing with when trying to stretch your restaurant budget.

This doesn't mean you can't still nab good deals at major chains, like Cheesecake Factory and IHOP, but specific meals at both have been getting a lot of complaints for a spike in price and a drop in value.

Online reviews suggest these eight meals are no longer worth their price tags.

Editor's note: Prices vary by location and can change frequently.

Cheesecake Factory's Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

Many of the Cheesecake Factory's fish dishes are near or more than $30, a significantly higher price tag than many casual diners expect to pay for just one meal.

Though portion size is, typically, something the restaurant still has going for it, it has gotten plenty of complaints about shrinkflation as well, and the Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo, a fan favorite, at $29.95, is simply no longer worth it for many. Other fish favorites, like Shrimp Scampi, are even more expensive.

If you're in the mood for seafood at the Cheesecake Factory, they do offer several bowls, with options like ahi tuna or teriyaki salmon, for around $20.

Denny's All-American Slam

The All-American Slam at Denny's has long been a favorite for casual diners. However, prices have been steadily creeping up, and the days of Slams under $10 appear to be far behind us.

Today, the breakfast classic, which comes with cheesy eggs, toast or pancakes, hash browns, and a combination of sausage and bacon, is more likely to be around $16. More advanced slams, like those that add on waffles, are even more expensive.

Reddit is packed with fans mourning affordable Slams. However, Denny's still offers a value version, which comes with two pancakes, eggs, and two slices of bacon or sausage, for $6.99.

IHOP's Fresh Berry Crepes

IHOP has been a constant target for complaints about shrinking or lower-quality menu items while prices continue to rise. The size of their pancakes has been a particular sticking point for many customers.

The Fresh Berry Crepes also have their fair share of Reddit complainers, with many questioning whether the recipe has changed and if the low quality of the crepes is worth a nearly $15 price tag.

Though IHOP has drawn the scorn of many customers, it does still offer an impressive value menu, even if those value items are smaller than they once were. The value menu offers a BLT, a breakfast combo with eggs, pancakes, and bacon, and even a ham and cheese omelet, all for just $6.

Chili's Triple Dipper

Chili's Triple Dipper is a fan favorite where customers get to pick their choice of three appetizers like wings, sliders, and mozzarella sticks. The dipper used to be quite the bargain, but not so much anymore, with prices hovering around $18 for the appetizer triplet.

Many Redditors blame TikTok, as the Triple Dipper was trending on the app a few years back.

The "3 For Me" deal, though, where customers get to pick a starter, main entree, and drink, with deals starting at $10.99, is still widely considered a bargain.

Outback Steakhouse's steaks

Outback is a solid option for customers who want to enjoy a decent steak dinner without luxury steakhouse prices. However, both the quality and price of the steaks have been questioned lately.

Most steaks at Outback will run you up close to or more than $30, and a few minutes on Reddit turns up countless complaints about the steak quality, with "rubber," "dry," and "tough" being frequent issues.

Outback does still offer value deals, though, like the "Aussie 3-course meal" that includes a main, which could be a 6 oz. steak, an app or side, and dessert and starts at $15.99.

TGI Fridays Beyond Meat Cheeseburger

The complaints about Fridays' vegetarian-friendly Beyond Meat burger typically don't involve how it tastes so much as the fact that it's $20, even more expensive than the chain's famed whiskey-glazed burger.

Some Redditors even reported that the restaurant charged them more when they requested cheese or condiments like mayo be left off their burgers.

Value can still be found at your local Fridays, though, if you resist the burgers and sandwiches. Their $22 appetizer combo deal includes healthy portions of classic apps like loaded potato skins, mozzarella sticks, and boneless or traditional wings.

Olive Garden's Fettuccine Alfredo

Olive Garden has long been seen as an affordable chain to take the family or grab a quick, cheap lunch, but online complaints have been mounting in recent years.

Users in the Olive Garden subreddit seem to be particularly pressed about the price of standard pasta dishes, wondering why an entree with no meat, like fettuccine alfredo, is almost $20. Pasta entrees with meat or seafood range from around $22 to $26.

The chain's soup, salad, and breadstick deal for under $10 is still pretty hard to beat, though.

Applebee's Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp

Though Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp was once a fan favorite, and certainly still looks delicious in Applebee's menu photos, it gets a lot of scorn from dissatisfied customers online.

A common complaint is that the small, unappealing reality is far different from those photos and is certainly not worth $22.

The chain still offers some excellent deals, though. The "Classic Combo," which is absolutely overflowing with fan-favorite appetizers like boneless wings, spinach & artichoke dip, and quesadillas, is still under $20.

Bottom line

Those looking to cut down their food costs, save money on groceries, and be more mindful of spending when dining out may want to avoid these popular, yet pricey, chain restaurant dishes.

That doesn't mean these chains should be avoided at all costs. Burgers at TGI Fridays and simple pasta dishes at Olive Garden may be frequent targets of customer scorn, but these chains, and the others listed here, still have their bargains. Value menus and app deals often still offer plenty of bang for your buck.

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