Five Guys owner explained why their food is so expensive after image of 'out of control' receipt went viral
The furore surrounding the price of a burger and fries at Five Guys has kicked back up again - but do you know why it's so expensive?
In life, you get what you pay for, and this statement even rings true when it comes to fast food joints.
But this didn't stop one customer branding the prices 'out of control' after a meal for one person set them back £18.58 ($24.10).
Taking to X to vent their frustrations, the social media user explained they were left stunned by how much a Bacon Cheeseburger, small portion of fries and a regular soda had cost.
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The burger made up the majority of the bill, coming in at £9.83 ($12.49), while the chips were £4.08 ($5.19) and the drink £2.27 ($2.89).
The disgruntled diner added: "I was expecting about $12 to $15 per person for Five Guys. $22 (without tip) just seems to cross a line. What is the right amount these days?"
There's no denying that Five Guys is dear in comparison to other fast food restaurants, but CEO Jerry Murrell reckons the prices are justifiable.
His family business which is named after his five sons has been going since 1986, so his cost-analysis has got to be at least half right.
Five Guys now boasts nearly 1,700 branches across the world and there's another 1,500 units in development, showing the success of Murrell's sales strategy - even if it is controversial among customers.
The father-of-five earlier revealed the reasoning behind why a meal at Five Guys costs significantly more than its competitors.
"Our food prices fluctuate," Murrell previously told Inc Magazine. "We do not base our price on anything but margins.
"We raise our prices to reflect whatever our food costs are. So, if the mayonnaise guy triples his price, we pay triple for the mayonnaise!
"And then we'll increase the price of our product."
There is some good news for Five Guys fans who are feeling the financial toll of eating there, though - those who live in the US might be able to take advantage of the 'Classic Combo' deal instead.
It was announced in January that the new meal would be trialled at 177 restaurants in the States, allowing customers to save a few quid while they snack.
The 'Classic Combo' is made up of a Little Burger or Little Cheeseburger, a Little Fry (regular or cajun), and a 16-ounce beverage.
The whole thing will set you back just over a tenner, which is $12.99 for our American friends.
Announcing the meal deal, Murrell said earlier this year: "Our loyal fans have requested a combo from us for a long time, and we are ready to give them this gift leading up to our 40th anniversary.
"By testing the concept now, we can gauge customer response and refine our offering before an official launch."
You never know...if it performs well, the Classic Combo could come to our side of the pond too, which I'm sure would be music to the ears of Five Guys fans in the UK.
Murrell does make a point of taking customer feedback on board, as he believes the 'best salesman is our customer'.
"Treat that person right, he'll walk out the door and sell for you," he also told Inc Magazine. "From the beginning, I wanted people to know that we put all our money into the food.
"That's why the décor is so simple -- red and white tiles. We don't spend our money on décor. Or on guys in chicken suits. But we'll go overboard on food."
Topics: Five Guys, Food And Drink, Money, Viral, Business
Olivia Burke