Two popular Chinese restaurant chains have apologized for marking up some of their menu items and vowed to return to pre-pandemic prices after internet users complained on social media.
In a statement Friday, hot pot king Haidilao said the higher prices were a “wrong decision” from management that had “hurt the interests of customers.” The company said it had raised prices in late March but would revert them to a previous standard from Jan. 26, when all of the chain’s locations on the Chinese mainland were closed.
Meanwhile, Jia Guolong, the chairman Xibei restaurants specializing in Inner Monglolian cuisine, posted Saturday on microblogging platform Weibo to apologize for raising prices at locations in Shanghai and eight other cities beginning in February. Jia, too, said former prices would be restored and added that diners at the chain’s 386 mainland locations would be entitled to discounts until May 31.
The two companies’ apologies come after their raised prices upon reopening met with mostly negative reactions online. According to a poll from Sina Finance, more than 80% of 32,000-plus respondents said they would not eat at Haidilao because of the price adjustment. (Image: People Visual)
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