The only thing better than getting a delicious, well-portioned takeout meal is getting it for a good price. But buying from any restaurant can be a balancing act between cost and quality.
Customers may be forced to compromise on quality when they're eating out on a budget, while those who prioritize quality could face hefty price tags.
Chick-fil-A was among the top five chains customers deemed to be "too expensive." And that's in spite of its relatively low average meal price of $8.74, as identified by the study
Though it markets itself as providing "great-tasting, clean food," some customers in the study seemed to be disappointed in how Panera's meals compare to its costs.
For those who have never been to a MOD Pizza, just picture yourself at Chipotle, but swap out the burritos for pizza.
Blaze Pizza employs the same build-your-own-pizza business model as MOD, so it should be no surprise that both found themselves on the "not worth it" list.
Shake Shack's top spot on this list is somewhat contradictory to its pricing. Its average meal price of $13.50 was lower than prices at Panera Bread, Chipotle, and Blaze Pizza.
The Stifel report said that Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A, and MOD Pizza were among the brands that received a higher-than-expected proportion of the "too expensive" responses.