12 Restaurant Chains Where Feeding a Family Costs Way More Than It Should

Taking the family out to dinner is supposed to feel like a break. Nobody has to cook, nobody has to clean up, and the kids get something a little more exciting than the usual weeknight meal. But lately, that simple treat has started to feel more like a major expense.

Restaurant prices have climbed fast, and family meals are getting harder to justify. Drinks can add a shocking amount to the bill, kids’ meals are not always the bargain they used to be, and portions at some chains feel smaller than they should for the price. What used to be an easy night out can now cost as much as a serious grocery run.

The frustrating part is that these are not fancy, special-occasion restaurants. They are the familiar chains families often turn to for a casual meal, expecting decent portions and reasonable prices. Instead, the final bill can leave parents wondering whether dinner out was worth it at all. These 12 restaurant chains make feeding a family cost way more than it should.

Five Guys has a fast-food ambiance, but its prices feel more like something you’d encounter at an upscale restaurant. These days, a family of four can easily spend $80 before ordering milkshakes. A Preply survey of over 57,000 reviews ranked it among the most overpriced chains in the country. Wendy's, Burger King, and Taco Bell are all staying under $14. Five Guys is averaging around $20.

The Cheesecake Factory menu is notorious for its size, and that size does a good job of hiding how expensive everything actually is. The entrees, appetizers, and desserts all come at prices that catch families off guard. A dinner for four with a shared starter and dessert runs past $150 before tax and tip. The cheesecake is about $12 a slice, which is close to the price of a full meal at other fast-food chains.

Red Lobster was once the go-to for affordable seafood, but the restaurant chain has gone in another direction, increasing prices without improving quality. Long-time patrons who stood up for them even as they filed for bankruptcy in 2024 are finally giving up. There was a time when eating a crab leg dinner at Red Lobster wasn't as expensive as going to a high-end restaurant. Those days are gone.

Chipotle has raised its prices several times over the last few years. A family of four ordering burritos, drinks, and chips can easily expect a $55 bill or higher, which is a lot for a burrito place. The food quality is decent, but distinguishing fast casual dining from full table service becomes increasingly difficult when looking at the receipt. With these prices, you start wondering why you're not just sitting down at a proper restaurant instead.

A family dining out and ordering wings, cheese-loaded fries, and soft drinks at Buffalo Wild Wings is shelling out some serious money for a sports bar meal. You can easily expect a bill of $70 or more after tax and tip. The sports bar concept holds well when targeting adults on a Friday evening, but a kids' chicken-finger dinner shouldn't cost the same as a night out at a bar.

While Olive Garden's unlimited breadsticks and soup are still good value, the rest of the menu has fallen by the wayside. Meals that used to be priced between $10 and $12 have risen to about $20 per plate. A full family dinner with appetizers, drinks, and dessert can push past $150 before the tip. The gap between its reputation as a family Italian restaurant and the actual prices has grown wide enough that the lunch deals are starting to look like the only reasonable option.

Shake Shack has gotten way too expensive, which is a shame because it's actually a decent burger place. For a family of four ordering burgers, fries, and drinks, the total bill easily comes up to about $60 for what is essentially counter service. Shakes are about $7 each, which is not bad but not great either, especially if you're buying four of them. Preply's overpricing survey ranked Shake Shack number one, and when the final bill is pushing $90, it's hard to argue with that.

IHOP used to be the go-to place for families looking for an enjoyable breakfast on a lazy Sunday. But that’s the issue, breakfast shouldn't be this expensive. According to FinanceBuzz, IHOP's menu prices increased by 82% between 2020 and 2025, nearly four times the national inflation rate. A pancake breakfast for a family of four with drinks is now pushing $60, which is a lot for a place that used to be affordable.

Applebee's promotions are worth using, and that's not a compliment. Without the discounts, an average family meal will cost more than you'd expect or care to pay. Even the all-you-can-eat promotion has gone from $9.99 to $15.99 since 2022, and at that price, it barely feels like a promotion anymore.

A typical Panda Express Family Meal costs around $35 in most locations, which seems like a reasonable price until you factor in the extras. Premium entree upcharges, drinks, and portion sizes that aren't as plentiful as advertised can push the total much closer to $50. Families that counted on Panda Express as the budget option are starting to think twice.

Outback Steakhouse used to be one of the most affordable places to get a decent steak. A place where families could enjoy a decent meal without feeling like they were being bled dry. That edge is gone. Prices increased by 29% between 2020 and 2025, and even the CEO has admitted that rising costs, shrinking portions, and inconsistent steak quality have been plaguing the chain. It’s hard to justify paying $30 or more per steak when even the chain's own higher-ups have acknowledged the quality has been declining.

For years, McDonald's was the safe choice for an affordable family meal. Those days have passed. Meals that were once considered inexpensive are now regularly hitting $13 to $15 per person, putting fast food on par with casual restaurant dining. A family of four walking out with burgers, nuggets, and sodas for $25 is a thing of the past. The app helps, but not enough.