I go through phases. I’ll go 3 years without any fast food, then a year where I have it every 2 weeks.
I have been keeping an eye on several specific foods and drinks, and posting prices occasionally on HO.
Here are a few of the regional threads where I post prices:
Toronto Burger and Fries Price Metric Thread, June 2023 and onwards
Steak Frites in the [Greater Toronto Area]
Greater Toronto Area, Bang for the Buck restaurants
The dishes and drinks I order most, where I keep track of how much the dish or drink is costing around my region are:
a burger on its own
a burger and fries
butter chicken
fish and chips- running between $20 and $30 at places with table service, running around $14-$20 before tax for one piece of haddock or cod with chips at take-out chippys. Halibut costs around an extra $5 to $7.
sandwiches and subs. running $12 to $18 for a good takeout sandwich in Toronto. Souvlaki in a pita, falafel in a pita, and shawarma in a pita run roughly the same price as a good sandwich in downtown Toronto.
breakfast sandwiches- these are running between $8 and $16 before tax and tip. Toronto Breakfast Sandwiches, a diary starting Oct 1, 2023
omelettes. I’m a Greek diner omelette person . These run $12-$16 before tax at most indie diners and family restaurants in Ontario, and they usually include toast and potatoes
Eggs Benedict - currently running $16- $24 in most Ontario restaurants
cortados / cappuccinos / iced lattes it’s a bit of a game for me to find a good cortado I like for less than $5 before tax and tip in Toronto. Most cappuccinos and iced lattes run $6 and change after tax, and I round up to $7. Some coffee shops charge 50 cents extra for ice or nut mylk. I keep track.
Butter tarts . I don’t eat too many butter tarts, but I keep an eye on the price. They cost $5 at most indie coffee shops in Toronto. They can run $2.50- $3 a piece in smaller town bakeries. The size can vary!
Pasteis de Nata/ custard tarts these can run between $1 and $3 a piece in Toronto.
