'Highway Robbery': Burger Chain Slammed for 'Out of Control' Prices Amid Inflation A Five Guys receipt is going viral on social media.
By Emily Rella
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Several burger restaurants have been getting heat on social media for recent price hikes, and the latest to come under fire is the popular chain, Five Guys.
An image of a customer's receipt is going viral on X and has received over 25.2 million views so far, according to the platform.
Five Guys prices are out of control.
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) March 1, 2024
$24 for one person
Source: Reddit pic.twitter.com/wcXgbjGnI4
"Five Guys prices are out of control," the user @WallStreetSilv wrote on top of a photo of a $24.10 receipt for one person that featured a $12.49 bacon cheeseburger and a $5.19 order of small fries with a drink and sales tax.
Related: Wendy's Issues Statement on Reported 'Surge Pricing' Menu Model
"I guess I was expecting about $12 to $15 per person for Five Guys," the user wrote. "What is the right amount these days?"
Viewers were shocked at the total, complaining that prices of fast food chains have reached an "unattainable" high.
"5 dollars for a small fry is highway robbery," one user said. "It's literally just a potato and some salt. Cost them a quarter to make."
"This is why I no longer go to Five Guys, not because I can't afford it but because you need to draw the line at some point," another said.
Related: McDonald's CEO Says That 'Affordability' Is on the Way as Company Struggles Through Sales Slump
According to MoneyGeek, the average price of a Five Guys meal in 2022 was $19.95.
In a recent interview, the Director of Operations-APAC at Five Guys International, Iain Ross-Mackenzie, explained that higher prices were due to the company using fresh ingredients.
"We want to put control back in the consumer's pocket,' Iain said. "Nothing is frozen. We only ever use fresh ingredients."
Earlier this year, McDonald's was criticized for raising prices, and rival chain Wendy's revealed that it would be experimenting with a "dynamic" pricing model.
Five Guys did not immediately respond to Entrepreneur's request for comment.
Related: 'That Cannot Be Right': McDonald's in Connecticut Goes Viral For $18 McNuggets, Burgers