"For many years, Wendy's baked potato was a cornerstone of the 99-cent menu. These aren't skimpy potatoes, either, and each Russet weighs about 11.5 ounces. Toppings included butter, sour cream and chives, bacon, or even cheese and broccoli back in the day. It was a great deal. One Redditor claimed that the $1 baked potatoes with sour cream and chives got them through college."
"Right now, a single baked potato with sour cream and chives from Wendy's in Los Angeles costs $4.38. It's $4.34 in Manhattan, $3.41 in Miami, and $2.64 in West Virginia. Right now at Walmart, a 10-pound bag of potatoes costs under $5. That works out to 160 ounces, or around 14 potatoes from Wendy's. At Los Angeles prices, Wendy's would make over $60 on $5 worth of potatoes."
Wendy's baked potato has long served as a unique menu differentiator, featuring substantial 11.5-ounce Russet potatoes with toppings like butter, sour cream, chives, bacon, and cheese-broccoli combinations. For decades, these potatoes were available for 99 cents, helping many customers through college and earning recognition as an underrated fast-food item. However, inflation has dramatically affected pricing, with current costs ranging from $2.64 in West Virginia to $4.38 in Los Angeles. This price increase appears disproportionate when compared to raw potato costs at retailers like Walmart, where a 10-pound bag costs under $5, suggesting significant markup beyond ingredient and labor expenses.
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