Denny’s Original $5.99 Meal Now Costs Almost $18
Denny’s is among the latest fast food restaurants forced to hike once affordable prices amid outlandish inflation and California’s newly implemented $20-an-hour minimum wage law.
A post on the Inflation subreddit shows the Denny’s signature menu showcasing a meal that now costs $17.99 — up from $5.99. The Lumberjack Slam, which features two pancakes, grille ham, bacon, pork sausage links, two eggs, hash browns, and toast, is now a whopping $18 in California.
The price is a 200% jump that far outpaces inflation.
Many of these price increases are coming from California because of the state’s new $20-an-hour minimum wage law. The law is making it less affordable for those who are low-income.
To pay minimum wage workers $20 an hour, once low-priced establishments must jack up the prices on the people who are purchasing their food, which are traditionally low-income individuals.
Fast food chains like McDonalds, Wendy’s, and Burger King have jacked up prices in the past six months to make room for higher worker wages.
A study found that California’s new law plunged visits to fast food restaurants and popular chains such as McDonalds, Wendy’s, and Burger King. Since the law was implemented on April 1, foot traffic has fallen 3.86% at Burger King, 3.24% at Wendy’s, and 2.5% at McDonalds.
People on the r/Inflation subreddit bemoaned the insane price increase dubbing the restaurant chain “trash.”
“The most basic breakfast for 200% markup on portions,” one user said. “I will happily see them go out of business.”
“DENNYS: where you can order an $18 plate for one person instead of making it at home for four people for the same price,” another user griped.
One online father claimed that when he brought his child and wife to Denny’s the trio got “3 meals and 2 coffees plus 20% tip,” which came out to $78.
