23 Restaurant Menu Items That Are Total Rip-Offs (Agree or Disagree?)

Eating out is fun, but sometimes the bill makes you wonder what you’re really paying for. Restaurants do need to cover staff and overhead, but many dishes still rely on basic ingredients that hardly seem to justify such premium prices.

Even factoring in the convenience of dining out and the overall experience, these dishes are among the most overpriced choices you’ll find on restaurant menus and are total rip-offs. Skipping them is an easy way to save money while still enjoying a nice meal out.

Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree.

1. Fettuccini Alfredo

Fettuccini Alfredo is nothing more than pasta in a creamy sauce. It’s often priced not much more than the dishes that include chicken or shrimp.

2. Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp cocktail looks elegant but usually includes only a few shrimp with sauce. The portion size rarely justifies the fine-dining price.

3. Loaded Baked Potatoes

Potatoes are one of the cheapest ingredients you can buy, but restaurants turn them into pricey sides. A little cheese, sour cream, and bacon doesn’t change the fact that it’s still just a potato.

4. Cheese Quesadillas

Cheese melted inside a tortilla is one of the simplest meals to make. Despite this, restaurants often charge far more than the ingredients are worth.

5. Chocolate Lava Cake

That “molten” center often comes from a microwave, not careful timing. Many restaurants use pre-made frozen versions that cost them very little but command premium dessert prices.

6. Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is just bread, butter, and seasoning, and unless it’s complementary with a meal, this is one to skip. The markup makes it one of the least cost-effective items on any menu.

7. Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella sticks are a popular appetizer, but most restaurants use frozen versions straight from a box. With small portions, they rarely feel worth the cost.

8. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

A grilled cheese is bread and cheese, yet it’s listed as a specialty item. It’s one of the easiest dishes to make at home for pennies.

9. Edamame

Edamame is just steamed soybeans sprinkled with salt. The menu price rarely matches the simplicity of the dish.

10. Fries

Sometimes fries are listed separately instead of included with a sandwich or burger. The portion size usually doesn’t justify the extra cost. It also feels like restaurants that do this are nickel-and-diming you, since so many burgers come with a free side of fries.

11. Cheese Pizza

Cheese pizza uses the cheapest toppings, yet is often only slightly less expensive than fully loaded versions. It’s one of the weakest values on most menus.

12. Cup of Soup

A cup of soup is comforting, but the portion is usually tiny. The price often rivals heartier dishes that are more filling.

13. Side Salad

A bowl of mixed greens and vegetables often comes with a surprisingly high price. Without protein, it rarely seems worth it. Plus, sometimes the quality of the veggies is not good for the price.

14. Basic Breakfast Burritos

Since burritos are trendy and filling, they often get priced like a specialty item even though the base cost is pretty low.

.The ingredients are simple and inexpensive, yet restaurants mark them up far beyond what they actually cost to make, even factoring in things like paying their staff.

15. Bruschetta

This starter is nothing more than toasted bread with tomatoes and herbs. Not to say it’s not delicious, but for the price of the ingredients and hands-on prep time, it just doesn’t seem worth it at all.

16. Side Orders of Rice

Rice is one of the cheapest foods in the world, yet it often gets marked up way too high as a side. For such a simple item, the profit margin is huge. Since many restaurants include a side of rice for free, it feels like a rip-off when others charge extra for it.

17. Salmon Entrées

Casual restaurants often price salmon dishes similarly to those found in fine dining establishments. Unless the fish is top quality, the cost rarely feels worth it.

18. Extra Sides of Sauce

Paying extra for a small container of ranch or ketchup is one of the most frustrating upcharges. Condiments shouldn’t make the bill feel heavier, and while it may only be a dollar or two, it costs the restaurant just pennies.

19. Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food, and the simplest version is very inexpensive to make. Unless it’s loaded with something like lobster or other ingredients, there’s no reason it should be priced like a gourmet dish; yet many restaurants do just that.

20. Steamed Vegetables

A small side of steamed vegetables can cost several dollars. For such a basic preparation, it’s hard to justify the menu price.

21. Avocado Toast

Trendy or not, avocado toast is about as simple as it gets. Restaurants charge a steep price for something you can throw together in minutes.

22. Coffee Drinks

Specialty coffee pricing is often built on basic beans and flavored syrups. That $5 or $6 latte usually contains less than a dollar’s worth of coffee and milk.

23. Chicken Tenders

“Hand-breaded” and “premium” pricing often apply to chicken tenders that are frozen and processed. The markup on these pre-made strips is enormous.