- A tourist told TikTok she had "accidentally spent $100 on the most disgusting breakfast."
- Some viewers said it should be "illegal" for breakfast to cost that much.
A TikTok video of an American woman documenting her experience of paying $100 for the "most disgusting breakfast" in Paris has sparked debate and highlighted some cultural differences when it comes to breakfast food.
The video was posted on July 9 by a TikToker called Dasia Jacobs, whose bio says she is based in Los Angeles and Atlanta. "Tell me why I have just spent $100 on the most disgusting breakfast I've ever had," she said to viewers. "Paris, you have let me down yet again."
Jacobs filmed herself walking to a café and drinking a glass of orange juice. "It was actually tasty and I should have drank every little inch of it if I would have known what was gonna happen," she said.
Then she showed viewers the French toast she'd ordered, which was a thick slice of bread covered in fruit and ice cream, and expressed shock at its appearance.
"What the frick is that?" she asked viewers as she showed off the plate of food. "Disgusting. Zero out of 10."
She also pointed to a small bunch of red berries, which Jacobs said looked like "the fake fruit on those little trees." These were most likely redcurrants, a type of berry that is often found across Europe but is uncommon in the US.
Another difference is that unlike in the US, in France French toast is typically made using stale bread that would otherwise be wasted. It is highly sweetened and is often served as a dessert item, as opposed to a breakfast dish.
Jacobs' order also included a side of bacon, which was on a separate plate, and she wasn't a fan of it either.
"It was tasty-ish. But it was super fatty and now my stomach hurts, not gonna lie to you," she said. American bacon is typically served crispy, whereas in the UK and Europe it's typically thicker and more chewy.
Jacobs went on to show a buffet-style breakfast, which she said she assumed was free as it was in her hotel. She filmed herself eating a slice of watermelon, a croissant, a pancake, some cheese, and a piece of salami, and then said she was charged €48, or $52.50. Breakfast buffets are not always included with the cost of a room, and hotels will typically charge a flat fee to guests for access.
"Are you freaking joking? I was sick, y'all, I had to go to bed," she told viewers.
The video has been viewed over 475,000 times and has received a mixed response in the comments.
@dasiavu__ yall the saddness i felt getting both of those bills and i was actually HUNGRY<< Paris you have disappointed me yet again!!!! #parisfood #fupシ #dailyvlog #newlyunemployed #terriblefood #travelvlogs #godschild ♬ Pretty Girl - Clairo
Many viewers were shocked by how much money Jacobs had spent on the food. One top comment, which has over 5,800 likes, read, "Breakfast costing 48 dollars should be illegal."
Several people suggested that the hotel breakfast cost that much because it was a buffet, and she could have got much more food for that price if she had chosen to. Others pointed out that they thought all food in Paris was expensive.
The average cost of breakfast in a hotel is €13, or $14.20, according to the travel blog France Hotel Guide, although they added that the average cost of breakfast in a "luxurious hotel" is €40, or $43.70.
But some commenters disagreed with Jacobs' perception of her meals, saying that they didn't understand what she was unhappy with.
One viewer wrote that the video was an example of an "average American visiting Europe moment," while another suggested that Jacobs' reaction was why Americans "aren't all that well-liked in Europe."
Stories of culture shocks often go viral on TikTok. Many Americans have used the platform to share their stories about how flinching at loud noises when traveling abroad made them realize they are instinctively scared about potential guns. People who had recently visited or moved to the US also used TikTok to share their confusion over US tipping culture.
Jacobs did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.