America’s Most Overpriced Chain Now Has 2 Rochester Spots

There's no doubt that prices on just about everything have been increasing here in Minnesota and across the country. But did you know the restaurant chain call the most overpriced has two locations here in Rochester?

Minnesota may be known for having a lot of lakes (11,842 according to the Department of Natural Resources), but we also have a lot of restaurants. And while it may not be 11,000, an online database compiled by Smartscrapers estimates that there are currently 5,629 restaurants operating in the North Star State as of October 2025. And that includes around 150 here in Minnesota's Med City.

Which Fast-Food Chain is the Most Overpriced in America?

Only ONE of those 5,629 restaurants, though, is the most overpriced. However, it's not just one restaurant but an entire fast-food chain with 54 total restaurants throughout the Gopher State. So which chain is it?

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That's the question the crew over at Mashed set out to answer. They recently surveyed the menu items at several popular national fast-food chains and crunched the numbers to come up with the most overpriced chain.

Why Wendy's Topped the List of Pricey Fast-Food Favorites

And their research found that Wendy's topped their list, followed by Chick-fil-A, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread, and KFC. Wendy's has also made news recently by announcing it would be closing between 3 to 6 percent of its nearly 6,000 stores in the U.S. in 2026, though exact locations where those closures will happen hasn't yet been announced.

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Here's what put Wendy's on top of the list of Most Overpriced Fast-Food Chains, according to Mashed:

Known for their square-shaped burger patties, Wendy's has historically topped the list of pricey fast food. Wendy's burgers have consistently cost more than their biggest competitors, McDonald's and Burger King. Perhaps their commitment to offering 'fresh, never frozen' beef is the reason behind the historically higher price tag.

Of course, as Mashed notes, Wendy's customers have appeared to decide that the extra pennies are worth it. Wendy's is currently the 10th-largest fast-food chain in the country, according to this Visual Capitalist story, with 5,969 stores in the U.S.

Where To Find Wendy's Locations in Minnesota

That's a lot, but it pales compared to the 20,576 stores that Subway currently operates, making it the largest fast-food chain in America. Wendy's currently has 54 locations here in the North Star State:

WENDY'S LOCATIONS IN MINNESOTA:

• Albert Lea(1)
• Anoka(1)
• Apple Valley(1)
• Blaine(2)
• Bloomington(2)
• Brainerd(1)
• Brooklyn Center(1)
• Brooklyn Park(1)
• Burnsville(1)
• Cambridge(1)
• Chanhassen(1)
• Columbia Heights(1)
• Coon Rapids(1)
• Cottage Grove(1)
• Duluth(1)
• Eagan(2)
• Eden Prairie(1)
• Edina(1)
• Forest Lake(1)
• Hopkins(1)
• Lakeville(1)
• Mankato(1)
• Maple Grove(1)
• Maplewood(1)
• Minneapolis(5)
• Minnetonka(1)
• Nisswa(1)
• Oak Park Heights(1)
• Owatonna(1)
• Plymouth(2)
• Richfield(1)
• Rochester(2)
• Rogers(1)
• Rosemount(1)
• Roseville(1)
• Saint Cloud(1)
• Saint Paul(4)
• Savage(1)
• Shakopee(1)
• Shoreview(1)
• Waite Park(1)
• Woodbury(1)