McDonalds has been abusing operators with a mandatory expanding menu full of complex items that puts a lot of operating cost onto the franchisee (operator). And lately mandated tech upgrades to support mobile ordering, along with aesthetic upgrades that most customers hate.
These menu items come with expensive equipment, supply and staffing commitments .
Consumers see this in memes about the "soft serve machine being broken". The truth is the menu has exploded with hard to assemble items (e.g. mcwrap, sandwiches, salads) and flimsy equipment.
And more recently mandated technology upgrades to support mobile & kiosk ordering to drive staff away from the counter and into the kitchen. Along with drab aesthetic upgrades that cost millions per location.
You'll notice In n Out, a privately owned company, has bucked the trend and refuses to do mobile ordering or doordash for this reason. They've kept their real estate traditional. Their menu hasn't changed in 50+ years. As a result, margins are high, operations are efficient, staff are well comped and happy.
Just keep in mind there's a lot to "inflation" driven by short term and risky business strategies that now have to be recouped by consumers.