Can quick-service fast-casual restaurants lure customers away from eating at home? Denny's and IHOP are joining the race to offer the best value meals. The cost of eating out has become too high for many households, and restaurants are combating this by offering low-cost value meals that are affordable for customers on a tight budget.
Value meals aren't the only way to stretch your fast food budget , but they are a good way to return the occasional treat back into daily life for those who have turned away in recent years.
Consumers are proving that price really keeps people away, as the return to affordable value meals is proving successful for fast-food and fast-casual chain restaurants. Denny's and IHOP are the latest restaurants to offer value meal options for breakfast; see how they compare.
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Denny's
In a few weeks, Denny's will resurrect its $2-$4-$6-$8 menu — which hasn't been seen since 2020 when the global COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the industry.
Denny's made the announcement during its earnings call for the second quarter and also plans to include a $10 option. What food combos will be available hasn't been announced yet, but diners hope it holds up to the previous menu, which included $2 items like a biscuit with sausage gravy, an egg, and a hazelnut crepe.
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IHOP
IHOP is temporarily bringing back all-you-can-eat pancakes for $5. The deal gets a five-stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes and then endless refills in two-pancake increments.
The special is only running until Sept. 15, so you won't want to wait if you need to eat pancakes until you're too full to eat another bite.
Which is better?
While Denny's menu hasn't been revealed yet, their 2,4,6,8 deal is likely to bring better value and more repeat customers than the limited-time promotion IHOP is offering with their pancake-exclusive breakfast deal.
Denny's strategy seems aimed at keeping food priced so families can afford to dine there multiple times a week rather than a one-trick pony to boost sales real quick before they taper off again.
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Bottom line
Consumers are using their wallets to tell restaurants that the only thing keeping them away is the price. Fast-food and fast-casual options saw rising prices and wait times on par with higher-quality restaurants, making the choice of where to dine easy.
The return to value meal options appeals to consumer demands and seems to be working, as more restaurants offer their own twists on the concept.
Grocery store prices have shoppers worried about the rising cost of food, too, so restaurants that can offer meals for less than it costs to make at home have a real chance of returning customers to dine out — after all, the last thing many people want after a long day of work is to cook an elaborate meal that requires grocery budget hack s to afford.
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