Burger lovers have main beef with a standard California quick meals joint — once nearly as worshipped as In-N-Out in some corners of the Golden State.
But after years of slipping high quality and worth hikes, fed up followers are coming for Carl’s Jr. with their burger flippers — loudly decrying the decline of the Los Angeles-born favourite.
“When did Carl’s Jr. get so expensive??” one social media poster just lately requested — sparking a supersized gripe-fest over a picture of their primary, 5-piece rooster tender combo. The single meal came out to a whopping $19.17.
Fans have taken to social media to slam Carl’s Jr for their dear meals. Facebook/CarlsJr
“Remember when their spicy chicken sandwich was like $1.29-$1.49 around 2019? It’s now $5.49-$6.00 by itself. For one sandwich,” one commenter wrote in response.
“Fast food goes up with the cost of minimum wage over here in Cali,” said another. “In Los Angeles County, the minimum wage keeps going up and so does the basic [combo].”
Beginning in 1941 as a sizzling canine cart at the nook of Florence and Central Aves. in South Central by Carl N. Karcher and his spouse, Margaret Heinz, later changing into an precise restaurant in Anaheim, Carl’s Jr. now has over 3,000 areas worldwide — with over 1,000 outposts in the U.S. and 2,000 overseas.
Menu gadgets like the Western Bacon Cheeseburger, cinnamon rolls and hand-scooped ice cream shakes were once main attracts.
One patron just lately called out the model for a $19 5-piece rooster, fries, and drink combo. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
But the chain has hit main bother in California in current months, closing practically 50 areas amid the state’s rising minimal wage.
A current TikTok slammed the burger chain, calling it “overpriced slop.”
The video confirmed the costs of three standard menu gadgets — a double western bacon cheeseburger combo for $16.74 and a triple western bacon cheeseburger combo for $18.49.
The model was slammed as “overpriced slop” on TikTok, with commenters counsel In-N-Out is higher for affordability. AP
“Are you out of your freaking minds? I went there the other day and I thought it was a glitch in the matrix,” the poster said about the excessive costs.
“At least deliver a good product, because that was one of the worst-tasting burgers that I’ve ever experienced.”
“I’ve watched their coupons and deals get worse and worse over the last couple of years. Seems like Jack in the Box and In-N-Out are the last bastions of relatively cheap fast food. Been avoiding Carl’s like the plague since the start of 2025,” one fan commented.
Fans notice that even the chain’s coupons and offers have brough diminishing returns. Facebook/CarlsJr
The California-founded chain just lately made a checklist of the most costly burger chains in the U.S. Facebook/CarlsJrStarCorp
It’s no secret that Carl’s Jr. prices a fairly penny. Earlier this yr, the chain made TastingTable‘s checklist of the most costly burger chains in the U.S.
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