Dining out should be a treat, not a trap. But plenty of restaurants mark up everyday dishes to eye-watering levels by banking on hype, presentation, or plain old habit. Some of these overpriced offenders seem fancy on the plate, but cost next to nothing to make.
Our list reveals the biggest rip-offs lurking on menus everywhere. Next time you dine out, skip these wallet-drainers and spend that extra cash on something truly worth savoring.
Avocado Toast
Credit: flickr
It's just toast with smashed avocado, yet brunch spots sell it like it’s plated gold. At home, it’s a few bucks max. Out? You’re looking at $12 to $18 for two slices of bread and a fruit that goes brown in minutes. Don’t fall for the hipster markup.
Bottled Water
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Paying $6 for water that probably traveled farther than your entrée makes no sense. Unless it’s coming from a sacred spring with magical healing powers, stick to tap. Most restaurants filter their water anyway—your wallet will thank you, and so will the planet.
Gold-Flaked Anything
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
A $100 burger topped with edible gold is not gourmet. It’s a gimmick. Gold doesn’t add flavor or texture. It’s just for flexing. You’re literally eating metal foil and calling it luxury.
Truffle Fries
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
They sound fancy but are just regular fries tossed with truffle oil (which usually contains zero real truffle). Most places use synthetic aroma that fades fast and costs pennies. You’re better off with classic fries and actual flavor.
Surf and Turf
Credit: flickr
A steak and lobster tail combo seems indulgent, but most restaurants skimp on quality to balance the cost. You’ll often pay premium pricing for a small, rubbery lobster and a bland cut of beef.
Omelets
Credit: flickr
Eggs, cheese, maybe some veggies—yet you’re charged like you’re ordering filet mignon. A three-egg omelet costs restaurants just a few dollars to make, but can easily set you back $15 if not more. Unless it's packed with gourmet ingredients, it's just breakfast with an insane markup.
Sushi Rolls with Cream Cheese
Credit: pexels
These overly sauced, cream cheese-loaded rolls are usually more filler than fish. Restaurants push them as “specialty” or “signature,” but you’re mostly paying for rice, mayo, and marketing. If you're craving sushi, choose rolls that highlight fresh fish, not a dairy detour.
Wagyu Sliders
Credit: flickr
Real Wagyu is premium beef, but sliders are tiny and often diluted with standard ground chuck. You get one bite of something fancy and five bites of filler. For the price of three baby burgers, you could enjoy a proper steak instead.
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Credit: flickr
Sure, it sounds decadent, but often the lobster is scarce and overcooked, buried under a mountain of pasta and cheese. You’ll pay double or triple what a basic mac would cost—all for a few tough morsels of seafood.
Table-Side Guacamole
Credit: flickr
It’s just avocados and basic ingredients mixed in front of you for drama. Watching someone mash fruit tableside doesn’t make it taste better. Guac is cheap and easy to make at home, yet this “experience” can run you $20 and upwards.
Charcuterie Boards
Credit: flickr
Cold cuts and cheese, artfully arranged. That’s it. But restaurants upcharge wildly for this DIY-snack-plate aesthetic. What you’re paying for is the wooden board and a sprig of rosemary. Making your own at home gets you twice the variety for half the price.
Pasta with Truffle Cream Sauce
Credit: pexels
The sauce may sound indulgent, but again, truffle oil is usually synthetic. Combined with cream and mushrooms, it’s a heavy dish with a light truffle presence. You’re paying big for a barely-there ingredient.
Caprese Salad
Credit: flickr
Tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic. It’s refreshing, sure, but hardly worth the inflated price tag you’ll see at many restaurants. These are simple, inexpensive ingredients. The heirloom tomatoes and burrata haven’t been flown in from Italy.
Kobe Beef Burgers
Credit: flickr
Nine times out of ten, it’s not authentic Kobe. The term is misused constantly on menus. Real Kobe beef is rare and pricey, and you’re not getting it in a casual burger. Ask questions or skip it altogether.
Loaded Nachos
Credit: pexels
They start cheap, but every topping adds dollars. Suddenly, you’re paying $20 for chips, cheese, and canned jalapeños. Add guac, meat, and sour cream, and you’ve accidentally ordered the most expensive thing on the menu. Delicious? Sure... Sometimes. But overpriced? Almost always.
