People Call Out 25 Gourmet Upgrades That Ruined Perfectly Good Food

Some classic dishes are a comfort to our hearts, souls, and stomachs. Their warm familiarity can soothe us, and their simplicity is appealing no matter how often we enjoy them. However, modern society seems obsessed with upgrading food. These innovative enhancements may be trendy and Instagrammable, but do they truly elevate the dish? Recently, u/burgher89, curious about others’ opinions, inquired online: “What food, in your opinion, didn’t need a ‘bougied up’ version, but food trends have caused it to happen anyway?” Redditors shared their thoughts, and we’ve rounded up a few top picks of the most disappointing gourmet twists that fell flat with taste connoisseurs, in the gallery below.

#1

Image source: RurDog Burgers, I don't know who decided that grinding up a wagyu beef, squishing it into a burger and selling it for £60 was a ground breaking idea, it still isn't better than a burger out of a good food truck, just leave it basic and delicious.

#2

Image source: anon, emmadunkirk Street corn. I don’t need it to be “elevated.” Just give me a simple not canned elote/esquite please with everything.

#3

Image source: MCSweatpants, healthyglutenfree Hummus. Take this from a Lebanese chick. You do NOT need to pay $12 for a container of black bean avocado monstrosity. What the hell is chocolate hummus? Just buy chocolate spread, you weirdo.

#4

Image source: VonnieVeeGood, DefendedBiscuit22 Anything on a food truck. Food trucks are so bougie now. They used to stay affordable because their costs were lower. But now they’re so expensive.

#5

Image source: EnvironmentalTea9362, javeedahmed1 Poutine. The world does not need poutine with lobster or truffles.

#6

Image source: Walaina, jmoriarty Milkshakes. I just want drinkable ice cream. Stop putting so much stuff in/on it.

#7

Image source: DoggyGrin, poppikay Guacamole. Leave my guac alone. It doesn't need any pomegranate seeds.

#8

Image source: anon The instagramization of food has made a lot of stuff be more for looks than taste.

#9

Image source: ClumsyRenegade, Toxiqqq Cupcakes. They have gone from a nice excuse to eat cream cheese frosting into a full blown art scene.

#10

Image source: sideeyedi All caramel does not need to be salted! I don't know if this really fits here but I've been waiting for someplace to complain about it. lol.

#11

Image source: MurrayPloppins, joeciocci I first discovered arancini (deep fried rice balls) at dumpy fast food-ish spots in train stations in Italy for like €2 for a giant one. You’d grab one as a snack for the train ride. Imagine my surprise when they become trendy in the US for $20 for three tiny ones covered in tomato sauce. Not bad, but I’ll take the cheap big ones every time over what we have here.

#12

Image source: burgher89, Parmesan28 Tacos. A simple street taco for $1.50 with well-seasoned meat, cilantro, onions, and a squeeze of lime juice is utter perfection. Yet, there are half a billion places around the country packed to the gills every night making needlessly complicated tacos with ridiculous ingredients for $7–$11 a pop. The best tacos I've had all year were from a tiny shop attached to a gas station in Dallas, Texas.

#13

Image source: yulaaaaa, everyveganrecipe Hummus. The real version is so good on its own but now we have all sorts of flavours that are sold at ungodly prices. Beet hummus?! Give me a break.

#14

Sandwiches. The only thing that annoys me is how they don't fit in the human mouth anymore. I'm sure they'd be lovely if it was possible to consume all the ingredients as intended. Image source: Lenora_O

#15

Agree with the tacos. Also for me, brownies. Maybe it’s just me but I just like a simple plain fudgy brownie- crispy top and gooey in the centre. Not these brownies with layers of Oreo’s and peanut butter and Biscoff and so many other things. Image source: anon

#16

Bloody Marys. Completely ridiculous hipster nonsense with the preposterous toppings. An entire cheeseburger slider? Seriously? Image source: ZyxDarkshine

#17

Chicken wings. Cheap wings used to be a trick to get you to go to a bar and spend money on overpriced drinks. Now 'cheap' drinks are a trick to get you to go to a bar and spend money on overpriced wings. Image source: SpekkioFFRK

#18

Image source: sprinklesthedinkles, unwineded Coffee. I get curious and try various trendified coffee drinks occasionally, but simple black french press coffee is 100% more satisfying to me every single time. Also, best tacos I’ve ever had were from a random college bar at a town I stayed in a couple years ago. They were doing a deal of like a dozen tacos for $10 so I ordered the chicken - simple corn tortillas and chicken cooked til tender with white onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice. My bf and I crushed three orders.

#19

Pizza. I understand how it easily lends itself to experimentation, but I always return to a nice simple pie with good sauce and cheese and a few standard toppings. Image source: rondonjon

#20

Grilled cheese. There’s a local place by me that sells different grilled cheese variations, but they don't consistently have basic grilled cheese. They have every other iteration of it...and no tomato soup. What is that about!? Image source: Shashayshanaenae

#21

Donuts. I don’t need a lavender-frosted donut dusted with cocoa and Fruit Loops. Just give me a maple bar and leave me alone. Image source: Teacherforlife21

#22

Avocado and bread. Aka Avocado toast. It was the poor people's breakfast, then they started charging 15 dollar a pop. Image source: Embeleko

#23

Image source: _jasminum_officinale, FindingFoodFluency This may be controversial, but french fries. Your going to charge me and extra 5 bucks for "truffle" that I can't even taste over the parmesan? I certainly like to spice things up but I hate the insane charge for what is essentially just a little basic seasoning.

#24

Mac 'n' cheese. Restaurants go so overboard with the truffle oil, lobster, and other add-ins; it's almost impossible to find just solid, normal mac. Image source: jellybeandoodles

#25

Deconstructed food that is more expensive than the constructed version. Worst was a carrot cake. It was a badly/undercooked cake batter in a bowl with too sweet cream cheese frosting and some toasted nuts thrown on top. The texture was enough to make me gag. Image source: Imaginary_Dirt29