In recent years, fast food lovers have noticed a sharp increase in prices, “shrinkflation,” and additional charges that were once unheard of. From rising meal prices to extra fees for condiments and even bags, customers are feeling the pinch at popular chains. At some McDonald’s locations, for example, customers have expressed frustration over being charged for something as simple as a takeout bag, leaving many wondering whether fast food is still the affordable convenience it once was. Social media platforms have become a sounding board for these complaints, with countless videos and posts showcasing people’s irritation over these new costs.
One of the most common frustrations centers around upcharges for add-ons that were once included in the price of a meal, such as extra toppings or cheese. Many fast food chains now charge for these extras, sometimes at surprisingly high rates. This growing trend has sparked a wave of customer outrage, with TikTok users taking to the platform to share their frustrations over these seemingly small but significant fees. One such example is a recent video by TikToker Desarae, known as @cooking_comedy_chaos, who called out Burger King for charging 80 cents just to add cheese to a sandwich.
@cooking_comedy_chaos @Burger King WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE CHARGING 80 cents for a slice of american plastic cheese?!?! Its PLASTIC, aint no way it costs that much! I’d love an answer! But in this house, WE HAVE CHEESE AT HOME! #ripoff #cheese #burgerking original sound – C3 – Desarae
TikToker Complains about Cheese Charge at Burger King
In her now-viral TikTok, Desarae doesn’t hold back about her frustration with Burger King’s pricing. “I just lost my s–t on Burger King,” she begins, explaining that after a long day of feeling unwell, she decided to order from the fast food chain instead of cooking dinner. However, her relief was short-lived when she went to add cheese to her burger and saw the cost. “Do you know how much they want to put a slice of cheese on your burger? 80 cents. 80 cents. No!” she exclaimed, clearly shocked by the upcharge.
Desarae breaks down just how much this fee adds up when ordering for a family, noting, “Do you know how much money that is for me to put cheese on everybody’s burgers? Like 4 dollars! That’s a whole other burger!” She humorously suggests a more cost-effective solution for frustrated customers: bringing their own cheese from home and microwaving it themselves. “You’re putting your own cheese on your burger, throw it in the microwave and melt it,” she adds.
In the video’s caption, Desarae wrote, “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE CHARGING 80 cents for a slice of American plastic cheese?!?! It’s PLASTIC, ain’t no way it costs that much! I’d love an answer! But in this house, WE HAVE CHEESE AT HOME!” Drawing attention to the absurdity of the pricing, she compared Burger King’s upcharge to the price of a full pack of cheese at Aldi: “Last I checked, a 24 or 16 pack of American cheese from Aldi is only $2.85.”
Desarae’s video struck a chord with her audience, who flooded the comments section with their own frustrations and funny responses. One viewer expressed their relief, saying, "You just validated my annoyance with BK. I feel seen. Thank you." Another joked, "Guess we need to bring our own cheese!!" while others rallied behind the idea of bringing cheese from home and heating it up: "Amen, sista!! Bring it home & microwave it!!"
Desarae’s viral moment is just one in a growing trend of customers speaking out about rising prices at fast food chains. Many people are questioning whether fast food is worth the convenience when the costs of simple add-ons like cheese are so steep. As more consumers turn to social media to air their grievances, it’s clear that extra charges—whether for cheese, condiments, or even bags—are becoming a significant source of frustration for loyal customers. As Desare puts it: "Burger King, you better get your s--t together."
READ MORE: McDonald’s Customer Outraged After Being Served A ‘Horrible’ Burger: ‘Flatter Than A Pancake’
