A receipt shows two orders of BBQ's fried chicken menu items cost over $80 (102,984 won) in the United States / Screenshot from an online community

By Kim Jae-heun

Genesis BBQ has been accused of overcharging U.S. consumers, who are mostly Korean Americans living in California and New York. The fried chicken franchise was found to have charged $80.72 (102,934 won) for two menu items, according to consumers and industry watchers, Wednesday.

A consumer in the United States recently posted a receipt online, showing two fried chicken dishes costing $80.72, including tip, delivery fee and tax. Normally, BBQ's fried chicken menu costs around 20,000 won per dish. The posting has created a heated debate over whether the company is ripping off U.S. customers, as they appear to have paid more than double what consumers here pay.

"Six pieces of KFC's fried chicken cost $6.99 in the United States. Who would pay such a high price to eat BBQ chicken?" one internet user wrote.

Another netizen said BBQ is overcharging Koreans living in America taking advantage of their longing for Korean fried chicken.

"If BBQ is asking for a slightly higher price ― because it wants to earn foreign currency, I would understand. But that is too much. I am worried that it would do the same to local customers," the netizen said.

However, there are some people who argue that BBQ's fried chickens prices cannot be compared directly to those in the United States.

"Considering the cost of living here, you cannot say BBQ's chicken menu items are expensive. Also, Korean fried chicken is more premium in quality than American fried chicken and we don't normally eat as much Korean-style fried chicken as Koreans do there," one Korean living in America wrote.

Another Korean living in California said that the BBQ's current prices of its fried chicken menu items seem reasonable considering recent global inflation.

"When I first came to California in 2012, one BBQ fried chicken cost $18. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, it was $23. However, it costs $30 now because of inflation. It is not only BBQ that sells fried chicken at such a high price. Other Korean fried chicken restaurants have increased the prices of their menu items by 20 percent to 50 percent after the pandemic," the consumer wrote.

BBQ claimed it is charging the proper amount for its fried chicken in the United States.

"We are not charging extra more than other Korean fried chicken restaurants there. I think it is a good thing that our menu items are getting the right price in the United States. We are currently expanding our business there and we hope BBQ becomes America's favorite K-food taking this as momentum," a BBQ official said.