In restaurants, it feels like sandwiches are getting increasingly upmarket. But did this one restaurant take it too far with their sloppy joe “market price”?
Although they are known for being among the best sandwiches out there, when you think of a sloppy joe, you don’t exactly associate it with fine dining.
So, TikToker @rejectcheetahgirl was taken aback when her server started talking about the market prices of sandwiches. In her video examining the situation, she has amassed 33,600 views.
Speaking directly to the camera, she says, “Y’all can call me broke. I don’t care. But why did I go out to eat with my friend last night, and the menu said like, ‘Sandwich of the Moment,’ right? ‘Market price.’ Market price for a sandwich? I asked my server, ‘What’s the Sandwich of the Moment?’ sloppy joe. Market price, sloppy joe.”
On-screen text read, “Restaurants have lost their minds.”
‘Market Price Sloppy Joe Is Crazy’
Commenters could relate.
“Market price Sloppy Joe is crazy,” one wrote.
“A local restaurant want to charge $25 for chicken Alfredo. NOT homemade sauce,” a second shared.
A third said, “We went to Johnny Rockets last night and got 2 single burgers, 1 order of onion rings and 2 sodas. Cost me $50 with tip. WHY?!”
And a fourth added, “Girl even fast food is ridiculous. I love Arby’s but I’m not paying $10+ for roast beef.”
What Is In A Sloppy Joe?
For those not in the know, a sloppy joe consists of ground beef, onions, peppers, and a tomato sauce all mixed up and squeezed together by burger buns. The key is to overfill the sandwich as much as possible so that the meat falls out. This gives the sandwich its “sloppy” name.
It is an American staple. While you can make it at home, they’re evidently a popular restaurant item, too. But whether they’re worth the price is questionable.
Are Restaurants Getting Too Expensive?
The truth is, things are just too damn expensive nowadays. According to December’s Consumer Price Index, restaurant prices rose by 4.1% in 2025. A major reason for this is the rise of food and labor costs. Both of these have risen by 35%, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Moreover, a November 2025 Yahoo article highlighted the disparity between restaurant prices in America compared to other countries. In total, restaurants were 10% to 20% cheaper in Canada and Western Europe, 20% to 60% cheaper in Central and Eastern Europe, 50% to 70% cheaper in Latin America, and 40% to 90% cheaper in Asia and Southeast Asia.
@rejectcheetahgirl How much could one sloppy Joseph cost?? Let’s be so fr #wlw #recession