Via iStockphoto / @tv.lewis_ TikTok
Shrinkflation is one unfortunate evil. It’s hit everything from grocery stores to fast food and now apparently children’s menu in sit-down restaurants.
While some people are coming after the consumer, others are saying that it’s really greedy companies that are to blame. What is your opinion?
Is this even enough for a child?
IN a popular TikTok with more than 138,700 viewscontent creator Lewis (@tv.lewis_) shared a photo of what LongHorn Steakhouse was serving as a kid’s dinner steak.
“Idk if I want to be mad or laugh. This is the alleged size of kid food steak with long horns these days,” the caption read.
In the picture, there is a piece of meat that is so small that it barely fills a corner of the takeout container. The container also shows a lobster tail (which shouldn’t even be there) and a small portion of mac and cheese.
“Disregard the lobster tail on the wrong plate. Let’s talk about this steak. LongHorn served this as a kid’s steak and then told me all kids’ steaks are now 4 oz. If so, the menu should reflect that because this portion is wild,” she explained in the caption.
BroBible confirmed that LongHorn Steakhouse does not list the steak size for a kid’s meal on the online menu.
A 4-ounce steak
According to WebstaurantStorea standard portion size for sirloin steak (the carved LongHorn uses for his kid’s meal) is 8 to 10 ounces per adult. Four ounces is closer to a breakfast or company lunch serving.
What is Shrinkflation?
Shrinkflation is what happens when restaurants or businesses keep prices the same (or raise them) while quietly reducing portions, Taste of home explains.
Yelp data shows the trend is widespread, with 47 states seeing an increase in inflation-related complaints between 2021 and 2022, and 35 states reporting more than a 25% increase during that period.
The drivers are familiar: rising food costs, ingredient shortages, higher wages and supply chain issues. The result is that customers often do not find out anything has changed until they are already sitting in front of a smaller plate and with an empty stomach.
Why adults have ordered the LongHorn Kids’ Meal
LongHorn kids’ steak has been circulating on social media as a money-saving hack for adults. According to Chowhounda food media publication, the kids’ tenderloin has historically been listed as a 6-ounce steak—the same Renegade prime rib from the adult menu—at about $10, while the same steak and a loaded baked potato on the adult menu costs close to $20.
Adults have been quietly ordering it to save money, especially as a takeout order, since many LongHorn locations don’t allow adults to order from the kids’ menu when dining in. If the portion has since dropped to 4 ounces without any menu information, that changes the math on the hack significantly.
Commentators react
Viewers are divided on who to blame for the alleged change.
“Yes, the cheap adults who tried to cheat the system ruined it for the kids,” read one top comment.
“Blaming the adults who order a kid’s meal instead of the greedy corporations who make MILLIONS a year in revenue is insane,” one person said.
“It’s crazy that people think ordering a smaller meal is a ‘scam,'” wrote another.
“Oh… we’re back in the era of defending corporations with our lives? You guys are assuming it’s adults instead of just saying a corporation is still shrinking kids’ meals,” one commenter added.
BroBible reached out to Lewis for comment via TikTok direct message and comment and to LongHorn Steakhouse via email. We will be sure to update this if one of them responds.
