Some foods, like pizza, earn their hype fair and square — they’re universally loved and always deliver. But then there are the foods you keep hearing about, only to find they’re a flat disappointment no matter the buzz.
Reddit is full of threads where people vent about overhyped foods that don’t justify their price tag.
Here are 10 that popped up the most.
1. Raw Oysters
With an average market price of $36-$54 per dozen, oysters are considered a luxury item that the budget-wary save for very special occasions. But according to many Redditors, this pricey experience is far from worth it, with the phlegm-adjacent texture of the shellfish taking most of the blame.
2. Kale
The problem with this curly green isn’t just the taste or the chewy texture — though those definitely don’t help. The real issue most people have with it is the “Gwyneth Paltrow Syndrome,” i.e., its meteoric rise from “What the fork is kale?” obscurity to “You have to eat kale three times a day because the Goop founder said so” status.
Between 2007 and 2012, farm production of kale skyrocketed by 60%, and suddenly everyone — from fine dining spots to Chick-fil-A — was cooking with the cruciferous veggie. Sure, there are ways to make kale taste tolerable, and its nutritional value is spectacular, but is it worth the pretentious hype? Don’t think so.
3. Foie Gras
Foie gras is probably the ultimate starter-pack item for acting like a rich person, and the one food item that chefs love to cook to appeal to said rich people.
Redditors on the other hand find it “slimy and disgusting.” Foie gras is made from the fattened livers of geese or ducks, achieved by force-feeding them to create its signature buttery texture.
While it can sometimes be found at a moderately expensive price, it’s often tied to a hefty price tag and is ridiculously overrated.
4. Caviar
Right up there with foie gras is another food often linked with the rich but historically known as poor man’s fare: caviar. Despite its reputation, many people consider this “fancy” delicacy overrated, as its taste doesn’t necessarily justify the hefty price tag often slapped on these salty fish eggs.
5. Bone Broth
Bone broth gained popularity for its supposed nutritional benefits and while it does pack more nutrients than many foods you’ll eat in a day, experts don’t hail it as a magical cure-all, since research on its benefits is hardly groundbreaking.
It’s not winning in the taste department either and many find it to be an overpriced and overhyped version of something that cooks have been making for ages without fanfare.
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6. Truffles
Truffles are a bit polarizing because when it comes to them, it depends on the quality and individual taste. The problem people have with the hype over truffles isn’t the product itself but the notion that anything with truffles is instantly “fancied up” and, by extension, more expensive.
Add to that their pungent and overwhelming taste, and it’s easy to see why they’re not for everyone.
7. Everything Matcha
Matcha has been a staple of Japanese tea ceremonies since the 12th century. It has a calming effect and works as a great substitute for coffee, minus the jitters. And that’s it. It has no place in your chocolate, your ice cream, or your whatnot. It’s overpriced and, according to many, tastes like a cup of hot grass clippings.
8. Quinoa
Quinoa is an ancient grain that has been eaten for eons in South America, and nobody made much fuss about it — until someone did. That someone was Oprah, who featured it on her 21-day “cleanse diet” in 2008.
Quinoa quickly became the poster child for healthy food and the crazy demand made it super expensive compared to other equally beneficial grains, like millet (which, in my humble opinion, tastes better and costs less).
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9. Kombucha
This one’s pretty divisive, with some fiercely defending both the taste and the price of the “is it alcohol, is it tea?” drink. Kombucha is a fermented tea made by combining tea, sugar, and a SCOBY (that slimy symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) to create a fizzy, tangy beverage.
While the jury’s still out on whether it’s a true health elixir or just another overhyped wellness trend, many are over the cult-like obsession — and the moldy socks flavor. It costs more than a decent latte and packs fewer probiotics than yogurt.
10. Avocado
For all the hype, avocados are … fine. Their mild flavor isn’t the point — it’s the $15 avocado toast culture that got them here. In 1985, Americans ate 436 million pounds of avocados a year; by 2020, that number soared to 2.7 billion. Avocado farming guzzles water (60 gallons per fruit by some estimates) and potentially contributes to deforestation, land disputes, and even illegal activity in regions like Mexico, all while leaving behind a hefty carbon footprint.
