Which 3 Fast Food Chains Provide the Best Value Behind McDonald’s?

Fast food might not get much love from health advocates, but there’s no question that fast-food chains let consumers load up on protein and calories at affordable prices compared with full-service eateries. This has become increasingly important in recent years due to sharply rising food prices at both restaurants and grocery stores.

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Restaurant Bills Soaring

The average restaurant check has risen by about 30% on average over the past five years, according to industry data cited by The Chicago Tribune . But the cost of certain fast-food items has risen even faster than that. Prices for the McDonald’s Big Mac and Taco Bell Chalupa have roughly doubled since 2019.

Here’s a look at how prices of popular fast-food items have spiked over the past five years, per the Tribune:

• The average price of a medium fries order has risen from $1.79 to $4.79.
• The average price of a Big Mac Meal has gone from $5.99 to $12.69.
• A BLT Footlong at Subway has gone from $5.50 to $8.49.
• A chicken burrito at Chipotle has gone from $6.50 to $10.70.

These price hikes have not brought much joy to consumers whose budgets are already strained by overall inflation — and many are looking elsewhere for cheap food.

“Across almost all major markets, industry traffic is slowing,” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski told analysts earlier this year. “We know our customers are looking for reliable everyday value now more than ever.”

As The Chicago Tribune noted, McDonald’s recently announced it was adding a $5 value menu. That led Wendy’s to launch a $3 breakfast deal, though both promotions were for a limited time only. On a more positive note, roughly 90% of McDonald’s locations in the U.S. have an ongoing $4 meal deal. Consumers can also score deals by using fast-food apps that let you enroll in loyalty programs and get low-cost, or even free, items.

McDonald’s Still On Top

In terms of fast-food value, McDonald’s still ranks first among consumers, according to a new survey from GOBankingRates. The survey polled 1,023 Americans aged 18 and older from across the U.S. between June 13 and June 24, 2024.

One of the questions asked of respondents was which fast-food chains provided the best value. McDonald’s ranked first by a pretty wide margin, with about one-third of respondents citing the Golden Arches.

There was a tight race for the next three spots, with Taco Bell edging out Wendy’s and Subway for second place. Here are the complete survey results:

• McDonald’s: 33.46%
• Taco Bell : 15.56%
• Wendy’s : 12.82%
• Subway : 11.64%
• Domino’s : 8.41%
• Burger King : 8.32%
• KFC : 4.11%
• Pizza Hut : 3.13%
• Dairy Queen : 2.54%

As previously reported by GOBankingRates, the best way to lower your bill at McDonald’s is to use the chain’s app and become a MyMcDonald’s Rewards member. Beyond that, you can still find everyday deals such as $1 menu items and BOGO deals.

When it comes to value menus, Taco Bell has one of the best around with a lineup of items that sell for as low as a dollar. According to Cheapism, the most popular menu item among Redditors on r/TacoBell is the Build Your Own Cravings Box. For only $6, you get a Crunchwrap Supreme or Cheesy Gordita Crunch, a soft taco or Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes or cinnamon twists and a drink. Other popular menu items are only $1 or $2, including the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito and the Beefy Melt Burrito.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Which 3 Fast Food Chains Provide the Best Value Behind McDonald’s?