Extravagant Eats: These Are the Most Expensive Fast Food Items in the World

Updated: Jul 25, 2023By Kate PrinceBusiness

This article originally appeared on Investing.com. It has been republished here with permission.

©Jenny Matthews /Alamy

Fast-food chains have dominated the food-to-go landscape for decades, offering customers reasonably priced food in abundance. However, while eating out at one of the many locations scattered around the globe will cost you less than visiting a five-star restaurant, it’s not always as cheap as it appears.

Just like anywhere else, companies like McDonald’s have premium menu items that cost more than the average burger. From gargantuan beef patties to caviar and truffle chicken wings, pot pies, and everything in between, these are the most expensive (and surprising) products every fast-food chain has to offer.

1. The “Super Venti” Flat White

Restaurant: Starbucks
Price: $148.99*

Starbucks is known for being expensive, but we all go there anyway because we can’t help it. The chain serves a flat white, which is espresso made with whole milk. It’s steamed more gently than other drinks’ milk, and then the flat white is poured. If you’re lucky, there will be some latte art thrown into the mix.

Super Venti Flat White - Starbucks @12filters / Pinterest.com

One person, William E. Lewis Jr., took the concept of a venti flat white and made it “Super.” He added 170 shots of espresso to his drink, which came up to a total price of $148.99. We have no doubt that he was the most annoying customer at the chain that day.

2. Arby’s Venison Sandwich

Restaraunt: Arby’s
Price: $7-$8*

Arby’s is known for introducing daring and innovative menu items, one of which is the Arby’s Venison Sandwich, which debuted in 2016 for a limited time. This unique offering featured a premium thick-cut venison steak sourced from grass-fed, free-range deer in New Zealand. The lean, tender venison patty was marinated in garlic, salt, and pepper, then cooked sous-vide style, ensuring a tender and juicy finish.

@Daym Drops/YouTube

The sandwich was rounded off with the addition of a gourmet juniper berry sauce and crispy onions, all served on a toasted star-cut bun. The Arby’s Venison Sandwich showcased the fast-food chain’s boldness and creativity in exploring ingredients typically reserved for high-end restaurants, yet again asserting their unwavering commitment to providing their customers with novel and mouth-watering options

3. The King Yeti Super One-Pound Beef Burger

Restaurant: Burger King (London)
Price: $190*

The King Yeti Super One-Pound Beef Burger was Burger King’s most expensive item ever, priced at $190. Launched in a London branch in 2008, this limited-edition gourmet offering featured Wagyu beef seasoned with pink Himalayan salt. Created by Chef Mark Dowding, it catered to “burger aficionados” and proceeds benefited the Help A London Child charity.

@BurgerKing/Instagram

Despite its high cost and the questioning of Burger King’s venture into upscale offerings, The King Yeti Super One-Pound Beef Burger stands as a testament to the chain’s adventurous spirit and commitment to exploring new culinary frontiers.

4. The $100 DougieDog

Restaurant: DougieDog Hot Dogs
Price: $100*

Step into the world of culinary extravagance with the $100 DougieDog, a creation that made history at BC-based restaurant DougieDog Hot Dogs. This luxurious twist on a classic hot dog was crafted using a foot-long Bratwurst infused with rare 100-year-old Louis XIII cognac, valued at a staggering $2,000 per bottle.

Dougie Dog Food truck @dddinertruck/Instagram

Adorned with high-quality ingredients like Kobe beef, lobster, and truffle oil, and cradled in a scrumptious pretzel bun, the DougieDog epitomized opulence in fast food. While no longer available, the $100 DougieDog remains a testament to unparalleled innovation and the unforgettable merger of fast-food indulgence and high-end dining.

5. Toyko Dog’s Juuni Ban

Restaraunt: Toyko Dog’s
Price: $169*

Tokyo Dog’s Juuni Ban was a spectacular gourmet hot dog that stole the limelight as the most expensive hot dog in the world! Hailing from Tokyo Dog food truck in Seattle, this indulgent creation was priced at a jaw-dropping $169. Known as Juuni Ban, which translates to “No. 12” in Japanese, this hot dog redefined luxury snacking.

Tokyo Dog @tokyo.dog/Instagram

Comprised of a smoked cheese Bratwurst, it was adorned with exquisite ingredients like butter Teriyaki grilled onions, Maitake mushrooms, Wagyu beef, foie gras, shaved black truffles, and caviar. The unforgettable Juuni Ban showcased culinary innovation on a whole new level

6. Maille Mustard Mobile’s “Haute Dog”

Restaurant: Maille Mustard Mobile Haute Dog
Price: $100

The $100 “Haute Dog” from the Maille Mustard Mobile stands out as one of the world’s most expensive fast food items. This culinary masterpiece elevates the humble hot dog with premium ingredients and exquisite craftsmanship. With a brioche bun, truffle-infused mustard, caramelized onions, and melted Raclette cheese, each element contributes to a symphony of flavors.

Haute Dog @luxurylaunches/Instagram

The Haute Dog defies traditional notions of fast food, representing the art of gourmet indulgence. If you’re seeking an exceptional hot dog experience, prepare to indulge in the unparalleled flavors offered by the Maille Mustard Mobile’s Haute Dog, albeit at a hefty price.

7. Momofuku Fried Chicken

Restaurant: Momofuku
Price: $150*

A twelve-piece chicken bucket from KFC is $14.99, but, if you feel like splurging when it comes to your fried chicken, you can go to Momofuku, a New York City restaurant, and spend $150 on their fried chicken dish. The noodle bar also serves a dish of fried chicken dipped in caviar, which costs $500.

Momofuku Fried Chicken - Momofuku @luckypeach / Facebook.com

The $150 fried chicken meal serves between four and eight people, and it includes two fried chickens, one of which is done in the Korean style and the other that’s done in a southern style. Its side dish is mu shu pancakes. Even though it is a family meal, it’s still pretty expensive.

8. The CEO

Restaurant: BurgerFi
Price: $13*

BurgerFi is a southern hamburger chain that is aimed at the sector of the market known as the “better burger” lovers. People in search of a better burger want something more upscale and different from the usual McDonald’s and Burger King fare. They’re willing to pay higher prices for it, too. So far, BurgerFi has 120 locations, but it is growing, as people love the chain’s burgers.

The CEO - BurgerFi @BurgerFiInternational / Facebook.com

The CEO is one of the most popular burgers on the menu. The CEO costs $13, and it consists of a brisket and double wagyu blend burger, truffle aioli, aged Swiss cheese, and homemade candied bacon-tomato jam.

9. Glamburger

Restaurant: Honky Tonk
Price: $1,770*

If you have an extra $1,770 to spare and you’re a huge food buff, go to Honky Tonk and order the Glamburger. Honky Tonk is a diner-style restaurant in the states, and its chef, Chris Large, came up with one of the most expensive burgers in the world.

Glamburger - Honky Tonk @honkytonklondon / Facebook.com

The thousand-dollar burger is made with New Zealand venison and Kobe Wagyu beef, two of the most expensive meats on the market. The result? A 280-gram patty that is far from your usual Stateside cow meat. The patty seasoned with a helping of smoked salt, harvested straight from the Himalayas.

10. Zillion Dollar Frittata

Restaurant: Norma’s
Price: $2,000*

Okay, so the Zillion Dollar Frittata doesn’t cost zillion dollars (or even a million), but it will set you back about $2,000, which is the cost of around two months’ rent. Served at Norma’s, which is a staple of the Le Parker Meridien Hotel, the Frittata costs so much because of the expensive ingredients used.

Zillion Dollar Frittata - Norma's @normasny / Facebook.com

The Frittata, which is the most expensive omelette in the world, has ten ounces of Sevruga caviar (an extremely high-end type of caviar), six fresh eggs, an entire lobster, cream, lobster sauce, and chives. It is served on a bed of Yukon Gold potatoes.

11. Golden Opulence Sundae

Restaurant: Serendipity 3
Price: $1,000*

Back in 2004, the restaurant Serendipity 3 was awarded a title in the Guinness Book of World Records for its Golden Opulence Sundae. The Sundae was deemed the world’s most expensive dessert. It costs $1,000, and its expense is mostly due to the ingredients that make up its name.

Golden Opulence Sundae Serendipity 3 @ForbesLifestyle / Facebook.com

The Golden Opulence consists of a triple scoop of Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream, which has been infused with vanilla from Madagascar. The real kicker is the 23-karat edible gold leaf that covers the Sundae. The dessert is topped with a gilded sugar flower, which has been sprinkled with more flakes of edible gold.

12. The Westin Bagel

Restaurant: The Westin
Price: $1,000*

The Westin, a hotel in New York City, knows that bagels are an NYC landmark. In the city, these bagels cost between $5 and $10, but the NYC hotel charges $1,000 for its bagel. Unlike a regular piece of bread, the Westin Bagel has a lot of add-ons that make it the most expensive bagel in the world.

The Westin Bagel @Cheddar / Youtube.com

The locally-sourced bread is topped with Alba truffle cream cheese. This cream cheese is found only in Alba, Piedmont in northern Italy. The rare fungi cream cheese comes with golden leaf flakes and goji-infused Riesling jelly. The bagels are only available at Westin from November 1 to December 15 each year.

13. Velvet Goldmine Milkshake

Restaurant: The Powder Room
Price: $500*

The Powder Room is known for its fascinating selection of uber-expensive cocktails, but there’s another drink on its menu that deserves some shine. The Velvet Goldmine Milkshake costs $500, and it is the height of indulgence. The L.A. bar’s mixologist, Adrianne Biggs, created the milkshake.

Velvet Goldmine Milkshake - The Powder Room @18dMedia / Twitter.com

The Velvet Goldmine has premium Belgian chocolate, expensive liquor, edible gold, and a Swarovski ring on top. The Powder Room’s owner said he was inspired by other clubs in the area, which were doing “over the top” bottle service, and he wanted to do something “lush, luxurious, fun, [and] glamorous.”

14. Family Pack

Restaurant: Wingstop
Price: $88.99*

One of the things people love most about Wingstop is the huge amount of wings you can get. Sure, you’ll have to pay a little more, but they offer wings in quantities that other places don’t. For a fifteen-piece meal, you’ll pay $16.99. For a 100-piece Wingstop pack, you’ll pay $109.99. The 75-piece Family Pack costs $88.99.

Family Pack @nathanarenson / PInterest.com

Most people probably won’t buy this on the day-to-day for their family, as the cost for a week of these 100-piece packs is the same as paying rent on a one-bedroom apartment. However, for a party or large gathering of wing-lovers, this is a pretty good deal.