15 Restaurant Appetizers That Are Never Worth the Price

Appetizers always sound like a good idea when you’re hungry and waiting for your meal. But some just don’t live up to the hype—or the price tag. Between small portions, inflated costs, and ingredients you could easily make at home, these are the starters that often leave you wondering why you ordered them.

Chips and Salsa

Unless the chips are made fresh and the salsa is something special, this one’s usually a waste of money. You’re often paying for a basket of store-bought chips and a small bowl of salsa that tastes like it came from a jar. Some places even charge for refills. If you’re craving it, you’ll get a better version at home for a fraction of the cost.

Mozzarella Sticks

They’re a crowd favorite, but they’re also frozen in bulk and reheated in a fryer. That’s it. You’ll rarely find a restaurant making them from scratch, and the marinara sauce is often bland. For what you’re paying, you could buy an entire box at the grocery store and make them at home in minutes.

Bruschetta

It sounds fancy, but it’s just chopped tomatoes on toasted bread. Sometimes it’s good—but not $10 good. It’s one of the easiest things to make at home, especially if you already have a loaf of bread and some olive oil on hand. Unless the restaurant is known for its bread or toppings, skip it.

Loaded Fries

These show up under every name—cheese fries, bacon fries, chili fries—but they’re almost always overpriced. The toppings are often uneven, the fries get soggy fast, and you usually get way more grease than flavor. If you’re going to splurge, wait for your actual meal.

Sliders

They’re just tiny burgers, but the price per bite is often way higher than ordering a full-sized one. Sliders may look cute and shareable, but they’re rarely filling and often overcooked. You’re better off splitting a regular burger and some fries with a friend.

Breaded Calamari

This one can go either way. When it’s fresh and well-prepared, it’s delicious. But most places serve frozen rings that are more breading than seafood. By the time they hit your table, they’re often chewy, bland, and loaded with salt. Unless you’re at a spot known for fresh seafood, it’s rarely worth the price.

Onion Rings

Good onion rings are crispy, golden, and full of flavor. But most restaurant versions are greasy, flavorless, and straight from the freezer. You’ll usually pay a premium for something you could make better at home—or get as a cheaper side option with a sandwich.

Pretzel Bites

They’re trendy and fun to eat, especially with beer cheese. But they’re also one of the easiest and cheapest things for restaurants to make. You get a small serving for a high price, and the cheese sauce is often watery or bland. Unless they’re baked in-house, they’re not worth it.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Mushrooms with cream cheese or breadcrumbs might sound impressive, but they rarely live up to the hype. Most of the time, they’re tiny, overcooked, and overpriced. The fillings aren’t anything special, and the whole dish ends up tasting like soft breading with a little mushroom flavor.

Deviled Eggs

Yes, they’re tasty. But when a restaurant charges $8 or more for two eggs cut in half, it’s hard not to roll your eyes. Unless they’re adding something truly unique, this is one of those dishes that just doesn’t make sense to order. You can make a whole dozen at home for less than the price of one serving out.

Edamame

It’s healthy, sure. But you’re literally paying for steamed soybeans with a little salt on top. If you like edamame, buy a bag of frozen pods and steam them at home for way less. At restaurants, the markup is huge—and you’re doing most of the work peeling them anyway.

Jalapeño Poppers

These sound fun on the menu, but they’re almost always mass-produced, frozen, and fried. The filling is rarely spicy or flavorful, and the peppers get soggy fast. Unless you’re at a place that makes them from scratch, they’re not worth the grease—or the price.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

It seems like a solid pick for sharing, but most versions are just creamy cheese with barely any spinach or artichoke. You often get a small dish with a handful of chips or pita bread. It’s easy to make a better one at home with more flavor, more veggies, and way more dip.

Chicken Tenders

They’re safe, familiar, and usually end up on the table when someone can’t decide. But they’re also one of the most overpriced appetizers on the menu. You’re paying a premium for breaded chicken and dipping sauce. Unless they’re house-made, they’re better suited as a kids’ meal—or something you toss in the air fryer at home.

Hummus Plates

Some hummus plates are great—but many are just a scoop of store-bought hummus with a few crackers and tired veggies. If it’s something you could throw together in five minutes, it’s probably not worth $12. Unless it comes with fresh, warm pita and bold toppings, skip it.

Save Your Budget for Something Better

Appetizers can be fun to order, but they’re not always worth the cost—especially when the quality doesn’t match the price. Skip the stuff you can make at home and hold out for something fresh, filling, and actually worth getting excited about. Sometimes the best appetizer is just diving straight into the main dish.

This article first appeared on Happy From Home.