Key takeaways
What Affects Pricing
A lot of work can go into crafting a perfectly wrapped burrito, and depending on customer preferences, a lot of ingredients, too.
While tortillas, rice, and beans are relatively cheap, there’s a lot of prep time involved for restaurants — from soaking beans to braising or slow-cooking proteins. And anyone who’s ordered a burrito knows that those add-ons can add up quickly. (Yes, we know the guac is extra, and yes, we still want it.)
Sourcing and processing meat can also add significant costs for restaurants. While the majority of meat is raised in the U.S., those prices can vary widely based on how the animals were raised.
Key Factors in Recent Years
Supply chain issues from the COVID-19 pandemic, labor shortages, production costs at meatpacking plants, export demands, and droughts have collectively pushed meat prices higher in recent years. Beef prices specifically have been rising significantly in recent months.
Sourcing vegetables has faced similar challenges in recent years. Seasonal and migrant farm workers are in short supply. At the same time, climate issues and drought in Western states like California, which produces a large percentage of vegetables in the U.S., have increased costs and limited production, driving up prices.
Related articles:
Unlock more insights by Toast
Fill out the form to get a virtual demo with a Toast specialist
About the Toast Menu Price Monitor
The Menu Price Monitor, powered by Toast, uncovers key menu pricing trends across the restaurant industry through aggregated sales data from restaurants on the Toast platform, which has approximately 156,000 locations as of Sept. 30, 2025. This information is provided for general informational purposes only, and publication does not constitute an endorsement. Toast does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this content. Individual results may vary. Toast does not guarantee you will achieve any specific results if you follow any advice herein. It may be advisable for you to consult with a professional such as a lawyer, accountant, or business advisor for advice specific to your situation. The Toast Menu Item Price Tracker does not indicate Toast's operational performance or its reported financial metrics.
