In a viral TikTok video, Michelle Newell expressed her dismay over the high cost of a meal at Five Guys. The video, which has recently gained traction again on social media, shows Newell explaining that she and her husband paid $42 for two cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes.
Newell, visibly frustrated, recounted her experience at a Five Guys outlet on a Saturday afternoon. Her order included a regular cheeseburger, another with mushrooms, a side of fries, and two milkshakes. She emphasized her shock at the steep price, stating, “We’re absolutely done” with such high costs.
A recent review by DailyMail.com confirmed that the prices at Five Guys remain high. The current menu lists regular-sized cheeseburgers at $12.09 each, fries at $6.89, and milkshakes at $5.89 apiece. Five Guys is known for not charging extra for toppings and for its generous servings of fries.
In her video, Newell said, “This was lunch. 42 bucks for two people for cheeseburgers, fries, and shakes. These businesses will push customers to the point where they say, ‘We’re done. We’re cooking at home.'”
Iain Ross-Mackenzie, director of operations-APAC at Five Guys International, defended the pricing, stating that Five Guys offers a simple, quality American burger with fresh ingredients, emphasizing that nothing in the store is frozen.
It was also revealed that Five Guys intentionally serves an extra portion of fries with meals, a practice known as a ‘topper.’ This is to make customers feel they received more value, though it contributes to the overall higher cost compared to chains like McDonald’s and Burger King.
Chad Murrell, son of Five Guys founder Jerry Murrell, commented to Food Republic, “We always give an extra scoop. We make sure customers get their money’s worth.”
The issue of rising fast-food prices isn’t limited to Five Guys. McDonald’s customer Christopher Olive, an influencer with over 400,000 followers, voiced his frustration on TikTok over being charged $16 for a meal. His video, reflecting on the impact of inflation, went viral and even caught the attention of the White House.
McDonald’s reported a 14% increase in revenue to $6.69 billion, surpassing Wall Street forecasts. Despite this, the company noted a slight drop in U.S. customer traffic, particularly among those with annual incomes under $45,000. McDonald’s is now focusing more on value meals in response to the decrease in visits from some customer segments.