California Pizza Kitchen Responds To TikToker's Hilarious Mac & Cheese Dilemma

After a TikTok content creator shared her hilarious California Pizza Kitchen mac and cheese ordeal, it caught the eye of many, including the restaurant who wanted to right their wrong.

The TikToker, who goes by Garage Gremlin on the app, shared that after a tough week, she just wanted some CPK mac and cheese so she ordered some to be delivered. But when she opened the bag, she noticed only the cheese was there, no mac. When CPK heard about this cheesy mistake, they not only wanted to make it right by her but are now also offering a special for all diners who want mac AND cheese.

After the content creator shared her hilarious mac-less mac and cheese ordeal, CPK responded in a big way. First, they sent her a package that included free mac and cheese and free pizza for a year, and then they issued a response for everyone on TikTok.

"Hello everyone, Chef Paul here. I heard there's been a little bit of confusion on how we properly make our mac and cheese, so I thought I'd send this video out nationwide to make sure everybody knew the proper steps," he said while standing in a CPK kitchen.

"Step one, cook the cheese. Step two, cook the mac. Step three, add the mac to the cheese. So good and so easy."

The TikTok video's caption gives more information about the mac and cheese promo.

"Use promo code cheeseANDmac for 50% off your Mac 'N' Cheese order available for takeout and delivery," the caption reads. 

The offer is valid from July 19, 2024 through July 31, 2024 for take-out or CPK delivery only (no third-party delivery). The rest of the restrictions and important information can be found in their TikTok caption.

Their video quickly went viral with more than 8.9 million views and 10,000 comments!

"And THAT'S how you recover an oopsie," one viewer wrote in the comment section. Another added, "What a comeback!!! I know what I’m having for dinner." One other shared, "This is such a phenomenal response from a company, love to see it."

The mac-less mac and cheese content creator, who goes by Garage Gremlin, or @fumptruck, shared her hilarious experience with viewers last week.

"I'm having the worst week of my life. I'm injured, my boyfriend and I broke up, so I ordered mac and cheese from California Pizza Kitchen and they just sent me cheese," she said in her viral video. "Just cheese. No mac. There's no noodles, there's none."

After seeing that her mac and cheese was only cheese, she called the restaurant and was told by "two separate people" that the noodles needed to be ordered separately and that she "ordered wrong."

"I was like, I ordered mac and cheese and they said yes, that's what that is and I was like no, that's not mac and cheese. Mac and cheese is mac and cheese, there's supposed to be macaroni in it," she continued. "It's in the name!"

Not long after the confusion and being told she needed to order the mac separately, Garage Gremlin got a surprise from CPK at her door - a box of uncooked macaroni with two certificates, one for free pizza for a year and the other for free mac and cheese for a year.

"You guys, I've gone viral so many times, and nothing has been as funny as this," she said as she ran her fingers through the box of raw macaroni. "I can't believe they did this. This is so sweet and really good marketing."

She then read the letter that was included in her gift box.

"Oh hey, I heard we forgot your mac and only delivered cheese to you. OMG how could this happen?" the letter reads. "Free mac and cheese for a year and free pizza for a year. Again, so sorry this happened, and we hope this makes it right. #greatday."

Many viewers thought this was a hilarious mixup and shared funny responses in the comment sections of Garage Gremlin's videos. And others were so happy to see how CPK fixed this issue.

"They’re literally giving half off Mac and cheese for the rest of the month now and I’m loving their response. This is how to keep business going," one person pointed out. Another shared, "I've been saying 'You've unmac-ed my cheese' for 3 days straight. This is the wholesome ending we all needed to the saga."

One other viewer said, "And now I’m a customer, and this is why! Fun companies making things right in a unique way is the best!!!"