"Over 10,000 Won per Bowl"... Salad Prices More Expensive Than Hamburgers [Chosun Price Records]

(37) Even Light Salads Exceed 10,000 Won When Topped

As salads have become a staple lunch menu for health-conscious office workers, more people are feeling burdened by the rising prices of salads. Salads are primarily made of vegetables and have a simple preparation process, leading to the perception that they are relatively cheaper than other foods. However, in reality, even a simple bowl often exceeds the average lunch cost for office workers.

The menu price range of franchise salad chains with over 300 stores is 8,600 won (Tandanji Salad) to 11,400 won (Gravlax Salmon Salad). Prices, which ranged from 4,100 to 6,200 won in 2016, have risen to around 10,000 won due to increases in raw material costs and other factors.

Salad. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Pixabay

This year, some menu prices have also increased. The representative menu, Beef Brisket Buckwheat Noodle Salad, rose from 8,700 won to 9,300 won; Chili Bacon Warm Bowl from 7,900 won to 8,600 won; Beef Brisket Warm Bowl from 8,500 won to 8,900 won; Mexican Wrap from 6,700 won to 7,200 won; and Salmon Salad increased from 9900 won to 10,900 won, marking a 4-10% rise.

Additionally, prices rise further when extra toppings are selected. Additional charges for toppings at salad franchises range from 1,000 to 3,000 won per item. In the past, salad varieties were limited, but recently, customized services allowing customers to choose dressings and toppings have expanded options and led to premiumization, significantly increasing salad prices.

The situation is similar at other salad franchises. Slow Cali’s salad prices range from 9,500 to 14,500 won, and Salad Box ranges from 9,000 to 14,000 won. Pig in the Garden has even higher prices. Its popular menu items, Gourmet Beef Rice and Roti Chicken Avocado Rice, are priced at 14,500 won and 13,900 won, respectively. Even convenience store products, considered to have good cost-effectiveness, approach 6,000 won. GS25’s Cajun Poke Salad costs 5,400 won, and CU’s Overwhelming Olive Salad is 5,900 won.

Vegetables are cheaper ingredients compared to meat, and salads are completed by trimming vegetables and pouring dressing over the ingredients, making preparation simple. Because of this, there is a perception that salad prices should be cheaper than typical meal prices, but in reality, many menus exceed the average office worker’s lunch cost of 10,000 won. Kim Hye-seon, a 30-something office worker, said, “Salad shops have sprung up everywhere, but prices have also become expensive. Adding toppings to a salad pushes the price over 15,000 won. It’s more expensive than rice,” she complained.

As salad prices rise, there are more cases where salads are more expensive than hamburgers (single items). Lotteria’s hamburger prices range from 4,300 won (Deri Burger) to 13,400 won (Double Korean Beef Bulgogi). Burger King’s single Whopper prices range from 8,000 won (Bulgogi Whopper) to 10,500 won (Fire Double Cheese Bacon Burger). The situation is similar when compared to other dining-out foods. According to the Korea Consumer Agency’s price information portal “Chamgagyeok,” in September, popular dining menus were priced as follows: Jjajangmyeon at 7,308 won, Kalguksu at 9,308 won, Kimchi Stew Set Meal at 8,192 won, and Bibimbap at 11,038 won.

Office Workers Eating Salads Despite High Prices... Influence of Healthy Pleasure

Salads have long been a staple lunch menu for office workers. More people seek healthy and convenient meals amid busy daily lives, and the number of people practicing vegetarianism for beliefs and other reasons is increasing. Especially, the spread of the healthy pleasure trend, which means enjoying health management joyfully and is popular among the MZ generation, has greatly increased interest in health.

Salady also rapidly increased its number of stores since officially starting its franchise business in 2015. The number of franchise stores exceeded 100 in September 2020, then 200 in July 2021, 300 in July 2022, and surpassed 350 in August 2023. As of September, the number of franchise stores is 379. The domestic salad market is growing every year, and according to the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the fresh convenience fruit and vegetable market recorded 1.1369 trillion won in 2020, surpassing 1 trillion won for the first time.

As the burden of eating out salads increases, many people prepare meals themselves through meal prep. Meal prep is a compound word of meal and preparation, meaning preparing about a week’s worth of meals in advance. Meals are cooked all at once, placed in containers, stored in the refrigerator, and eaten later. It has the advantages of preparing balanced meals, reducing time spent deciding menus, and saving on ingredient costs amid high inflation.