There are, in McDonalds, Burger King, In-n-out etc. What you are paying for is labor and the fast food places are optimized to reduce that specific cost. The drive thru, for example, increases demand per hour and thus lets kitchens specialize more, and invest in more machinery. Ray Kroc, a salesman, loved the 8 at a time milkshake mixer he was pitching so much he bought a burger chain to put them to use.
But inflation, and labor cost increases in the low end especially, mean prices are up now versus a decade ago.
sales tax 10% Living wage tax 10% 20%+ tip expectation
Everyone I talk to from earning $80K a year to $1M a year are not eating out as much as its absurdly expensive.
Just this week. 2 people. dinner at a reasonable seattle restuarant on a tuesday - not high end. 2 mains, shared appetizer and bread and 4 glasses of wine. $300.
Just went out to a restaurant I would describe similarly (https://www.thebutchersdaughter.com/west-village/). Mains are ~$20, appetizers are ~$15, wine is ~$15. Two mains, two apps, four glasses of wine would be $130, with tax and tip is $180. That is still high for me, but that does include four drinks.
some data:
I looked at two restaurants in central London. Gordan Ramsey (expensive) and honest burgers. Their prices were 13 and 17 GBP for the regular burger. (16 and 21 USD respectively.
Compared to seattle. If I pick Victory Tavern (which is ethan Stowall somewhat equiv to Gordan) thats a $21USD burger. Little woody's is a $7.50 burger but has no sides. add fries for 3.5 and you are at $11.
Seattle is no London. Yet these prices arent miles apart and I would put little woodys as a cheap burger and America is the King of burgers and Beef production so would expect to see cheaper options.