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9 Restaurant Chains Quietly Shrinking Portions in 2026

Several big names have been accused of charging more for less.

By Amanda Machado , Edited by Calista Headrick

Updated Oct. 4, 2026

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In recent years, many popular restaurant chains have been accused of shrinkflation, or shrinking portion sizes for various menu items without reducing the price. This should not be confused with restaurants offering smaller portions for reduced prices for calorie-conscious and/or cost-conscious customers.

If you're trying to stretch your restaurant budget, a surprisingly shrunken meal is a huge inconvenience. The last thing you want when you're trying to save money is to go home from a restaurant still hungry.

These 9 restaurants have been common targets for customer complaints about portions shrinking in size, and sometimes in quality, too.

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Red Lobster

Red Lobster has been experiencing some growing pains, or shrinking pains, over the past few years.

After declaring bankruptcy, the casual seafood chain has shut down more than 160 of its restaurants across the country, and customers say the food portions are shrinking alongside Red Lobster's footprint.

Common complaints among customers on Reddit include significantly smaller portions of fan favorites, like fish and chips or fried shrimp, and major upcharges for small tweaks or additions to meals, like a small side salad, which one commenter said cost them an additional $3.49.

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Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) is still wildly popular, but it's also a common culprit for complaints about shrinking portion sizes, with many customers reporting issues with both the number and size of wings in recent orders.

A YouGov survey of the most popular dining brands in the U.S. found that while BWW is still one of the most recognizable brands, positive opinions about the restaurant have been decreasing alongside the size of those wings.

However, customers can still count on at least one solid deal, even if the wings are smaller, with the restaurant's BOGO 50% off specials every Tuesday.

IHOP

The cost of eggs has been a hot topic over the past few years, but customers aren't buying that as the sole reason for serious spikes in menu prices at IHOP. Some customers say they're getting shortchanged on portion sizes as well, particularly when it comes to IHOP's most famous product — the pancakes.

Take a quick peek at the breakfast chain's subreddit, and you'll find countless posts, many with photos of pancakes that look pitifully tiny, complaining about portions and prices.

IHOP does still have a pretty competitive value menu, though. It may only have six items on it, but all of those items, including a small plate of pancakes, bacon, and two eggs, are just $6.

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Panera Bread

Panera made a name for itself as a cozy, fast-casual joint where customers could score quality food and baked goods without breaking the bank. But after a menu overhaul in 2024, many customers have complained that the prices are just too high for what you get.

Panera's "You Pick Two" deal, which allows customers to pair smaller portions of menu items like sandwiches and cups of soup together for a lower price, has long been a fan favorite. But lately, customers have reported those smaller portions have been shrinking even more.

And with some half sandwiches still priced at $7 or $8, the deal is no longer worth it for many.

Raising Cane's

The customer consensus on the size of Raising Cane's chicken fingers seems to vary quite a bit by location. But shrinking tenders are enough of an issue that the complaint seems to pop up weekly on the Raising Cane's subreddit.

There's no denying that the chicken finger franchise still offers good deals. A box combo, with four chicken fingers, sauce, fries, Texas toast, and a drink, is less than $13. It's the size of those tenders, and occasionally a lack of fries, that seems to tick customers off.

YouGov's survey found the percentage of people who rate Cane's positively dropped to 44%.

The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory has long been known for its massive menu and massive portions, but even they have been accused of shrinkflation by once loyal customers.

Problems with portions are a common topic on a subreddit devoted to the restaurant, and apparently, the biggest offender is their namesake product — their cheesecakes.

The Cheesecake Factory does offer menu items that are intentionally smaller, or at least less calorie-dense, with their Skinnylicious menu, but those items are not always cheaper.

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McDonald's

McDonald's may not be a sit-down restaurant, but it is consistently getting flak from customers for shrinking menu items, and that includes everything from the burger sizes to the fries to McFlurries.

The days of the Dollar Menu are long gone. McDonald's prices increased 40% on average between 2019 and 2024, according to Tasting Table, nearly 10% more than the average increase across other restaurants.

As prices get higher, Micky D's fans around the world have complained that the food is doing the opposite.

Olive Garden

The Olive Garden subreddit is another where the topic of shrinkflation often comes up. Standard pasta entree dishes range from around $15 for a basic spaghetti and meatballs to just over $25.

One Reddit poster shared that when she noticed she was getting less in her regular dish and asked a manager at her local Olive Garden, she was told they were correcting "over-portioning" mistakes of the past. Commenters tended to feel that some "over-portioning" was warranted for $25+ plates of pasta.

Subway

Subway is closer to a fast-food joint or sandwich counter than a sit-down restaurant, but still boasted a loyal fan base for many years. In YouGov's survey of the most popular dining establishments in the U.S., it took the 11th spot. But lately, the sandwich joint has drawn the ire of many diners.

On the Subway subreddit, customers regularly claim that the value and the size of its sandwiches have gone way down, and quality has been lacking since they did away with the $5 Footlong.

Complaints about bread size (too thin, not a foot-long) and lacking lunch meat are common.

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Bottom line

The dining out budget is often one of the first to go when families are trying to save money on bills, and it's obvious why some customers might skip a visit to the restaurant chains listed here, where prices go up, and entree sizes seem to do the opposite, even if some of the shrinkflation claims are exaggerated a bit.

Still, it is possible to catch bargains at these popular chains, even if some of their items are smaller, by taking advantage of value menu prices and deals like Buffalo Wild Wings' BOGO wing days.

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