Popular Minnesota Restaurant Chain Shocks Diners with New Egg Fee

The price of eggs has skyrocketed over the last several months due to the bird flu, and this added cost is hitting restaurants that serve eggs particularly hard, so much so that some have decided to add an egg surcharge to bills.

A Grim Forecast for Egg Costs in 2025

A new report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture this week suggests that the price of eggs will remain high and even continue to increase in 2025 by as much as 40%. With no immediate relief in sight, consumers and businesses alike are bracing for the impact.

READ MORE: Who Pays More For Groceries: Minnesotans Or Wisconsinites?

Minnesota’s Denny’s Joins the Surcharge Trend

Waffle House was the first major restaurant chain to start adding a surcharge for any meals that include eggs. Now, a restaurant chain with 13 locations in Minnesota has decided to follow suit.

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Denny’s says it will be adding a surcharge to every meal that includes eggs, according to USA Today. The additional fee will be added to meals on a market-to-market and restaurant-to-restaurant basis.

Why the Surcharge Varies by Location

Denny’s says due to the regional fluctuation of the egg shortage and fluid price of eggs, they will add the surcharge where needed but noted that this charge is temporary.

For Minnesotans dining at local Denny’s spots, the extra cost might sting a bit more during those hearty breakfasts Up North or in the Twin Cities.

Egg-Heavy Chains Feel the Pinch

National restaurants like Waffle House and Denny’s go through a lot of eggs. For instance, Waffle House sells more eggs than waffles. The chain goes through over 270 million eggs per year and serves up 124 million waffles, so you can see how this increase in egg prices hits them hard.

With rising costs rippling across the Midwest, from Duluth to Minneapolis, the egg surcharge may soon become a familiar sight on menus.