Five Guys slammed after $24 receipt goes viral

(NEXSTAR) – Some social media users are criticizing Five Guys for its menu prices after a $24 receipt went viral on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

On March 1, an account called Wall Street Silver posted an image of the receipt, purportedly taken from Reddit, alongside the caption: “Five Guys prices are out of control. $24 for one person.

The receipt shows the customer paid $12.49 for a bacon cheeseburger, $2.89 for a regular soda and $5.19 for a small fries. After tax and tip of $2.19, the total comes to $24.10. However, it is not clear when or where the meal was purchased.

In a few days, the publication was viewed more than 25 million times, 77,000 likes and 12,000 responses on the social network.

“Fast food is becoming a luxury product for Americans,” most popular answers claims.

Another X user attempted to add context to the heated online debate, claiming that “Five Guys has always been more premium” than other burger restaurants.

Five Guys did not immediately respond to Nexstar’s request for comment.

The burger joint isn’t the only fast food restaurant to come under fire in recent months for its expensive menu items. Last November, a resurfaced video of a $16 McDonald’s receipt created a buzz online, with several media outlets reporting on the controversial price. Some social media users blamed the economy while others took aim at the Biden administration. This viral McDonald’s meal included a limited edition Quarter Pounder, a large fries, and a large Sprite.

Wendy’s also set the Internet ablaze last month when a flurry of reports suggested the company would test dynamic, or surge, pricing at some of its restaurants.

The company later clarified its position in a statement to the Associated Press: “Wendy’s will not implement surge pricing, which involves raising prices when demand is highest. We have not used this term, nor do we plan to implement this practice.

NewsNation reported that other chains, such as Chipotle, Starbucks and Pizza Hut, also raised their prices. Fast food prices jumped 6.2% in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ October report.

As inflation shows signs of slowing, restaurants are faced with rising food and labor costs. It’s likely that prices of many consumer goods won’t return to pre-pandemic levels anytime soon, which is why economists have suggested raising workers’ wages to help people afford them, l ‘Associated Press.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.