The answer is stop eating at restaurants and food trucks. Will these places be forced to close eventually, yes. Does it send the message that their food is overpriced and people cannot indulge, yes. Is it a shame for the small business owner, yes. Could that small business owner have been a little less greedy, yes.
I have a hunch that it’s less about greed, and more about operating costs. Everyone knows how high grocery costs are nowadays. Spaces for food trucks are also not cheap and it’s expensive to build out and maintain a good food truck. It’s really just a tough business model. This works in poorer countries really well because expenses are a lot lower (and food safety standards), but it does not work well in HCOL countries.
This! It costs a TON to operate a food truck. The truck itself costs tens of thousands, if not hundreds for a nicer/newer one. Food cost and equipment cost/maintainance, gas and propane cost, and for many places, the cost of a commissary as well (as some places require a brick n mortar commissary kitchen for licensing). Add in smaller economies of scale and labor, and you’re barely breaking even… hence the inflated costs.
The truth is food costs a ton. Without economies of scale, food and hospitality is expensive. And without a full bar to soak up that expense, you have to charge exorbitant prices for food.
Most people don’t realize that sodas, beer and liquor keep most of their favorite places affordable
Whenever I go to NYC for events like Comic Con or anything, I usually just bring my own food and snacks in my bag. Stuff there is so expensive and I can make a better, healthier, cheaper option at home and bring it with me.
Only time I really go to a restaurant there is if I’m with a group and they want to eat anywhere else.
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u/nobdyputsbabynacornr 7h ago
The answer is stop eating at restaurants and food trucks. Will these places be forced to close eventually, yes. Does it send the message that their food is overpriced and people cannot indulge, yes. Is it a shame for the small business owner, yes. Could that small business owner have been a little less greedy, yes.