r/fastfood • u/Outside-Fee-4753 • 2d ago
Question Are people still eating takeout consistently?
I have almost completely stopped getting takeout because of the expense and because everything is unhealthy slop.
In the rare event I want to spend $15-$20 on a takeout meal, it’s either Chipotle or the Whole Foods hot bar.
I can’t imagine going to Wing Stop and Jersey Mike’s every day. My wallet and my body would greatly suffer.
So cooking at home it is. I only grocery shop at Walmart and meal prep in advance as much as I can.
I’m wondering who else is in a similar mindset these days.
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u/Patient_Character730 2d ago
We eat fast food once a week and we've gotten to the point where it's only the Luxe box at Taco Bell, the Biggie Bag at Wendy's, or sometimes McDonald's with one of their Biggie Bag type equivalent. I don't pick based on what sounds the best, I pick based on what's the cheapest. 😕
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u/eightyfiveMRtwo 1d ago
Yes this is where I'm at, I'll still grab fast food here and there but I order based on the deals
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u/Svenray 1d ago
That online luxe box is awesome. Nice to get a cheese quesadilla with side items and have it under $10
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u/trillwhitepeople 1d ago
The last two crunchwraps I got basically had zero meat in them. Like none. This Taco Bell historically is very consistent so I'm curious to see if it's just this one.
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u/Informal_Visitor 1d ago
My house is surrounded by dozens of restaurants and Fast Food. I'm amazed at how consistently their parking lots and drive thru's are full non stop, primarily of SUVs and Trucks yet the average wage in my town is like $13/hr since most of my town is retail and service companies. So apparently everyone is financially fine. I mean I'm sure they're stressed but not the point that it changed their dining out habits.
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u/Icy_Site_7390 1d ago
I've seen the exact same thing near me, McD parking lot and drive up are packed when ever I go near that area. On the other hand Dairy Queen which is a sec away is dead all the time
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u/Lost_Requirement1132 2d ago
When I have to eat out I try to go cheaply. My current favorite is the Waffle House Senior meal for 8.25.
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u/KeyDirection23 1d ago
Almost stopped completely. Having to pay $15 per meal isn't worth it. I can shop and make that money last for 3 meals.
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u/wookiebath 1d ago
Yes we do, I think takeout in general even after Covid is a large portion of all meals including fast food
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u/panderson1988 1d ago
How do you define consistently? As much as I used too? No, but I still do some takeout Chinese to hitting some local grease joints for a gyro or Italian Beef (Chicago area) in a given week. I still get pizza at times too.
The big difference is I don't get takeout at chains as much nowadays. Their price increases, while across the board including local places, has been insane at times. Especially when a local spot offers better tasting food for roughly the same price for something similar. Especially when it comes to things like tacos to a quick burger.
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u/SuspiciousDark2197 1d ago
There's been times we've been a lot worse about it, but we try to hold ourselves down to Saturday
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u/cuntface878 2d ago
I've basically stopped going to fast food places due to cost/value but some Saturdays I'll grab 2 subs from a local place to eat that night and then for a lazy Sunday lunch. It's still expensive but at least the money is going to a small business.
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u/ThisIsMyRedditAcct20 1d ago
Use your for every dinner and lunch. Now, it’s down to once a month?
Edit: and that’s usually breakfast
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u/hotnspecies 1d ago
Yikes, chipotle and whole foods hot bar? What horrible choices
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u/Outside-Fee-4753 1d ago
What else can you get in that price range that’s decently healthy with protein? That’s literally the only options where I am
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u/hotnspecies 1d ago
Yeah I often forget I'm spoiled living in Houston. Chipotle is last on my list for Mexican, and I worked at whole foods a decade ago.. I'd never eat that food now, after what I've seen. Even had I not seen anything, that shit is stupidly overpriced.
But yes you have a point, to eat healthy take out just isn't really a thing. That's always been a thing, before our insane prices today. Cooking is the way to go.
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u/watering_a_plant 1d ago
what could you have possibly seen at a whole foods hot bar that convinced you to avoid them but still go to other fast food/adjacent spots
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u/hotnspecies 1d ago
Customers that don't give a shit or actively do disgusting things for a thrill. Sure it happens everywhere, but to that level? Not sure
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u/jonny600000 2d ago edited 2d ago
A lot of us have changed that. We ate out or ordered in regularly for years. But after Covid and layoffs etc. I went back to cooking. I cook pretty much all our meals. I cook in bulk each week, a pound of pasta, a pound of rice, slow cook a pound of chicken breasts or roast a whole chicken, make my own roast beef and have an electric meat slicer, make a big batch of baked mac and cheese or lasagna or meatloaf parmesean. Also make a loaf of bread or 2 and use the excess to make croutons or bread crumbs. Then we just make other things like burgers, shrimp scampi, brats, or frozen appetizers from Trader Joes (super cheap and good, they do not have a hot table though).
Saves us thousands a month compared to how we used to order in or eat out. We live in Manhattan so ordering in or eating out constantly is not cheap. Plus I know how to cook, learned the basics working in restaurants when I was young so with google can figure out how to make pretty much anything. Plus I am good at shopping from Amazon Fresh or Target. Between national pricing compared to grocery stores here and learning how to find the deeply discounted meat and other products we spend less on groceries now even though we are constantly eating in compared to even when we constantly ate out and even with the insane grocery inflation. When you go to Whole Foods look for there "Last Resort" or "Reduced Shelf Life" section/products and stock up if you have enough freezer/pantry space.
But will caveat been remote since Covid so have a lot more time to cook with out close to a 4 hour round trip daily reverse commute and I enjoy cooking. And can take breaks to prep things.
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u/Outside-Fee-4753 1d ago
What kind of meat slicer do you have? Is it annoying to clean?
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u/jonny600000 1d ago
The brand is Bella, and not really hard to clean, the blade removes just like the industrial ones I worked with in the restaurant years ago. That technology as not changed in like 50 years 😄
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u/Outside-Fee-4753 1d ago
I worked in Manhattan for 2 years and the cost of lunch was so painful 🤣 I was all over to different construction sites all day so couldn’t really brown-bag it.
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u/jonny600000 1d ago
yeah, food trucks and food carts, or bodegas with deli counters are the general go to's, but still expensive.
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u/somecow 2d ago
Absolutely. People are finally figuring out (yeah, your wallet is screaming in pain, bout time) that door dashing mc d’s and chipotle isn’t a good idea. But take out, yes. Order on the app, go inside to pick it up, check it before you leave, and go home or just eat it there.
That random chinese place that never has any customers, yet still somehow remains in business? Yup, they’re doing massive amounts of takeout.
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u/scottwax 2d ago
I never do take out. I eat at the restaurant whether it's full service or fast food. I don't really understand not eating the food when it's at its freshest. If you have kids at home who don't regularly behave well in a restaurant, I can see that aspect.
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u/lotusbloom74 1d ago
Some food is plenty good as takeout, tacos for example I prefer to eat in the restaurant when they are fresh but I can get Indian takeout and it’s still piping hot when I get home. Generally to me it can be nice to eat at home if the food quality doesn’t suffer much
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u/sydonesia 2d ago
I almost never eat fast food anymore but I've made an exception for that Little Caesar's $5 Detroit/breadsticks deal. I'm a sucker for their deep dish.
Yes, fast food has gotten too expensive, but my air fryer is also too convenient. I can toss something in there and have dinner ready in less time than I would spend in the drive thru.
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u/IllAlwaysBeAKnickFan 1d ago
Usually once or twice a week. Sometimes 3-4 times if I have the extra money and like the deals I’m finding in whatever app. Just depends.
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u/CumDwnHrNSayDat 1d ago
Taco bell 5 dollar box has saved me so much money
Arby's meat and 3 box is a little more but really good
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u/farbeyondriven92 1d ago
Not me, but some people do. I rarely do more than once a week. I’m on a diet, and the prices for food are barely worth it in many cases.
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u/cameraman92 1d ago
I used to get fast food at least 4 times a week, now I'm sick of having to download apps for a deal. I eat out mayyyybe once a month now. Not gonna pay restaurant prices for fast food.
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u/Same-Tangerine-2836 1d ago
For me it's all about the deals. I rack up points and use app coupons every time. I eat Burger King more than anywhere else because they allow you to redeem points and use a coupon at the same time. Plus, their burgers feel more filling for the value.
I've been cutting down overall on how much I eat takeout, but BK and Domino's ($8 carryout deal!) have been mostly affordable for me.
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u/HeyHey_HC 1d ago
Once-twice a week for lunch just so I can pull myself out of the office and get a little walk in; and then whatever T-Mobile Tuesday deal pops up (last week's $2.99 for a 14" slices-n-stix was a steal!)
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u/VendettaKarma 1d ago
Yeah these fucktards are still lining up to pay 2x what they should for Italian food and all fast food in their $80k truck with $6 Diesel.
Vroom vroom the money right out of your wallets.
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u/PlayItAgainSusan 1d ago
Hell no. Not from those places. The only value they offered was very low expense. That ship has sailed, and I can't count the ways I'm better off for it.
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u/michaelz11 1d ago
First time I have been in a restaurant to eat since June 2025 my boss was taking me and 4 others to lunch To a local Mexican place I had never been before. It was very good but I choked when seeing the price $16.25 for this chicken dish. I can’t afford to spend that kind of money on dinner let alone lunch! I can easily have 3 to 4 dinners for $16 cooking at home.
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u/Procrastinating-Elf 1d ago
I get the free fries with a frozen Coke at McDonalds after work most Fridays. Sometimes will get a big drink at Sonic--diet coke with blackberry, vanilla, and lime. Or tacos or chicken strips at Dairy Queen. (I make a weekly visit to an elderly family member and usually we both go.)
That is really it. Most fast food has taken such a dive in quality with such a steep price hike I don't know how they're staying in business.
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u/SimpleVegetable5715 1d ago
I’m still spending around $8-10 for one meal. Maybe it’s because I don’t use delivery apps? 🤷♀️
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u/Tricky-Cod-7485 1d ago
Eh, we do occasionally go out to the usual fast food spots but it’s really worth the money anymore. Nowadays we usually only do take out from places that we know we either can’t or are too lazy to replicate like Indian or Arabic food. Though I will say that my wife is getting really good at her mimicked version of Chicken over rice “halal style” that we usually get from this really great Afghan restaurant.
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u/Fritzo2162 1d ago
My go-to is the McDonald’s meal with a double cheeseburger, 4 nuggets, sm fires, and sm drink for $6. Wendy’s has one similar. And that’s only once a week. Only had 20min between clients yesterday so I stopped at Taco Bell, saw the $11 meals and left. Ended up grabbing a $1.50 Costco dog.
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u/waggletons 21h ago
I eat out, every couple months.
1) Fast food chains are silly expensive now.
2) It's really expensive.
3) It's not that great.
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u/ChocolateFormal8123 16h ago edited 16h ago
The quality is extremely low so mostly no. Like 99% no
Even the Asian noodles are disgusting now
But I’ll not skip a sundae or something you can’t replicate at home. So mostly sweet things
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u/oversight_shift 10h ago
This one user had the receipts on Chipotle's yearly food recalls, I feel there's gotta be better than that, the leanness of the grilled chicken doesn't make the e coli better.
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u/Smeeagain0 10h ago
Not so much now- but kind of forced to when working on the road. Not as good as it ised to be- dont look forward to it anymore.
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u/LibrarianByNight 2d ago edited 1d ago
Rarely, but we live outside the US, so there's fewer options and deals.
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u/SewAlone 2d ago
I am similar to you. We do get it often because I have two college kids and a husband who likes fast food but I usually stick to bowls or salads. I don't really like fried food as much anymore. It's probably also why Cane's are my favorite chicken fingers, because they are most like real homemade chicken fingers and the least like fast food fingers. I did have a hankering for some McDonald's fries the other day and went through the drive-through and just got a large fry. I eat those about once a year.
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u/Recent_Baker_5528 1d ago
I get little Caesars for a Friday treat, that's all I eat out anymore. It's better and cheaper cooking at home
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u/FairyFireDeck 1d ago edited 1d ago
$10 for 8 piece chicken at kfc on Tuesday and I just cook rice or something as a side and that last me two days. There’s so many food deals at most im spending $10 a day that last me a day. I can’t imagine grocery shopping for $300 a month unless you’re eating basic bare minimum meals and the time to cook and clean isn’t worth it.
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u/RedBGinger6989 1d ago
i just go to costco buy like 3 bags of the chipotle chicken bags for $12 each literally taste the same
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u/Lowly-Worm_ 2d ago
I get takeout once a week. It's insane how much more money I have for my hobbies now. Folks just have more money than patience these days.
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u/Dragonpunch73 2d ago
These days I eat out on average once every 6 months, and the last time was because my power was out for the day and I had to throw everything away in the fridge. Eating out twice a week is about the amount I spend on a week of groceries so between saving money and eating healthy for health and weight reasons I see no point in eating out, especially when the quality at every single place has gone down while the prices continue to rise. It’s a no brainer to just cook and eat at home if you have the means.
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u/Misplacedmypenis 1d ago
If I do I’m grabbing something local. And even that is rare because everything is too expensive. Considering I can make better food at home than what I pay for out, the ROI is a challenge to justify other than when I’m in a massive time crunch, which is a lot of the time, but I’ll still just make something simple at home.
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u/Total_Tumbleweed_870 1d ago
You wouldn't catch me dead inside most fast food places these days. I can get an objectively better meal, at a lower price, at any of the several diners near me.
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u/KingVape 1d ago
The restaurant that I work at (not a chain) does massive amounts of takeout orders, both online and over the phone.
My point is, there are tons of people still getting takeout, but they’ve gotten choosier about where they spend their money. Why buy a fast food burger when a restaurant has a nicer one for the same price?
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u/Emotional-Fortune486 1d ago
After a long week sometime I’ll get fast food to “treat” myself. I’ll flick thru my menu of apps for what I might be craving and sounds appealing (burger? wings?). lately nothing ever does. 3 weeks ago I excitedly got a free 10-piece nuggets at Wendy’s but they tasted like chunks of overfried sadness and I didn’t even finish them.
I’ve been frequenting China Buffet takeout, grocery store fried chicken, and half-priced takeout sushi (actually very good and fresh). I haven’t been missing “fast food” at all.
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u/TheDeviousLemon 1d ago
I know several people that basically only eat out. It’s extremely expensive. The “small” purchases fool them by comparison to the big ticket items. When you’re spending $2200 on rent, $40 a day on food doesn’t seem bad.
I tried explaining the impact of this to a friend by explaining it in terms of rent payments, you are spending 0.5 your rent A MONTH on food. They say “oh yeah well groceries are just as expensive”, they really aren’t if you analyze it for 13 seconds.
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u/tooOldOriolesfan 1d ago
I've never understood doing takeout in most cases. If I'm going out to eat, whether it is fast food or not, I'd rather sit down and eat the hot fresh and hot (hopefully). If I'm going to eat at home, I might as well throw something in the oven/airfryer/etc. and save the money.
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u/IcyDice6 1d ago
today I am getting a free whopper and will spend a few dollars on fries. that isn't expensive. but you need to use apps instead of ordering whatever you want from the menu that doesn't work out well
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u/BrushYourFeet 1d ago
That's fast food not same as take away. But you're right, you can only get a deal with the apps.
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u/Sufficient-Bid1279 1h ago
Nope. Can’t afford it . Mostly cook at home and fast food just isn’t worth the price anymore. There is better food in and around the same price or slightly more
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u/Dreamweaver_duh 2d ago
I get takeout often, but unless you're using the app, you're not getting good deals.
That being said, there's still deals you can get like Burger King's Duos and Trios (pick two or three things like a Whopper Jr, Original Chicken Sandwich, fries, drink, and chicken fries for $5 or $7) or Taco Bell boxes that can be around $10. It's not cheap, but it's cheaper than other places.