A woman was forced to change her dinner plans after being shocked by the price of a meal at El Pollo Loco’s drive thru.
The client named Josie posted a TikTok video last week about her reaction to the “crazy” cost of her 12-piece family-size fire-roasted chicken meal.
“I didn’t buy anything. I went home and made dinner. I wasn’t going to get ripped off,” Josie wrote in the video.
The drive-thru menu said the 12-piece family meal was $43.99 even though Josie claimed it was usually less than $30.
Since then, her video has racked up over 50,000 views on TikTok and is currently the most viewed clip on her account.
A TikTok user named Josie posted a video on the social media platform about her frustration with the price of a family meal at El Pollo Loco.
Josie didn’t identify what she planned to order until she saw the price of the family meal.
“I remember when a 12-course family meal was $12.99. Now it’s $43,” he said.
“It was fine when it was $23.99 and $28.99, but $43.99? That’s crazy.”
The 12-piece family meal on the takeout menu included 12 pieces of chicken, three large sides, tortillas, chips and salsa.
Customers also have the option to order an 8- or 16-piece family meal instead of 12.
The 8-piece meal includes eight pieces of chicken, two large sides, tortillas, chips and salsa, and consumers who purchase the 16-piece order will get more chicken and an additional side.
The starting price for the 8-piece family meal is $32.99, while the 16-piece meal costs at least $52.99, according to Grubhub.
However, prices may vary depending on restaurant location and taxes.
The 12-piece grilled chicken family meal at the drive-thru included 12 pieces of chicken, three large sides, tortillas, chips and salsa.
Josie said she remembered when the same family meal was available for purchase at El Pollo Loco for between $12.99 and $28.99.
Juan Francisco Ochoa opened the first El Pollo Loco restaurant in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico, in 1975 and expanded to the United States five years later.
Today, there are nearly 500 El Pollo Loco restaurants in the United States alone.
El Pollo Loco has maintained successful operations since it first opened, but it was one of many restaurant chains that changed its menu prices last year.
The company announced in a press release that it earned $7.5 million between October and December of last year, down from the $9.5 million it earned during that period in 2022.
The chain also closed the year with a contribution of 14.8 million dollars in restaurants, an amount higher than the previous year.
The increase was primarily due to improved operational efficiencies and higher menu prices, according to its press release.
Pollo Loco also raised its prices in response to California’s minimum wage hike, which rose to $20 an hour for fast-food workers on April 1.
El Pollo Loco raised its menu prices due to the increase in the minimum wage in California and the restaurant chain introduced Kiosks in some of its locations
Other TikTok users have also expressed their dissatisfaction with El Pollo Loco’s “absurd” prices.
“Prices have gone up and portions have gone down. Now I only go for the $6.00 combos. I don’t spend more than that,” commented one TikTok user.
Another person wrote: ‘Two years ago, I used to buy the double chicken tostada combo for $8-$10. Now, the single classic tostada combo is $14. Makes sense.’
TikTok users have also complained about price gouging at KFC and Popeyes, with several commenters urging Josie to consider boycotting fast food restaurants.
“I’ve boycotted a lot of fast food restaurants since they started price gouging… This is the best decision I’ve made in a long time,” wrote one TikToker.
Some users suggested that consumers buy chicken from local supermarkets or department stores to save money.
“I’m in Florida. I can go to Publix and buy eight pieces of chicken for $9.99,” wrote one TikTok user.
