© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
A popular restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is under fire after a video showing its unconventional discount system stirred up controversy online. The joint, called Chiang Mai Breakfast World, gives customers price cuts based on whether they can squeeze through a series of metal bars — the thinner the bars you can fit through, the bigger the discount.
The whole thing blew up after travel influencers Amina and Alex posted a playful video on Instagram documenting their experience. In the clip, which now has over 11 million views, the couple giggles as they take on the quirky challenge, captioning it: “Better than nothing. Which one would you go through?”
The setup features five metal frames of decreasing width. Slip through the narrowest one? You get a 20 per cent discount. The next widest offers 15 per cent, then 10 per cent, and then five per cent. Can’t fit through any? A sign bluntly reads: “Full price, sorry.”
In one particularly talked-about moment, a diner struggles to get through the 15 per cent gap while his friend shouts, “You need some butter!” Eventually, he gives up and settles for the five per cent discount, saying, “It’s better than nothing, I suppose.”
While some found it hilarious, many others saw it as tone-deaf and harmful. Critics have accused the restaurant of body shaming and reinforcing negative stereotypes about weight. One Instagram user wrote, “In America this place would get sued sadly,” while another said, “Seriously concerning the body shaming/weight obsession in Asia.”
Others echoed the sentiment, with one saying, “What’s wrong with you? This can promote eating disorders. Let people enjoy their food and have a healthy weight.” Still, not everyone was upset — one commenter said, “Only physical test I can pass.”
So far, the restaurant hasn’t made any official statement in response to the backlash.
