Fast-food companies are leaning into new value meal offerings amid rising food prices. (Scott Suchman for The Washington Post/food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Washington Post)
In the world of fast food, value meals are a popular option for budget-conscious diners. With inflation hitting food prices hard, fast-food chains have responded by offering more value meals. These meals are designed to give customers the most bang for their buck. But which one offers the best deal? To find out, we tried six popular fast-food value meals from top chains.
We evaluated these meals based on price, portion size, and taste. Here’s how they stack up.
McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal
McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal includes a McDouble or McChicken, four chicken nuggets, small fries, and a small drink. Priced at $5, the a la carte total would normally be around $9.46. That’s a savings of $4.46. The meal weighs 10.25 ounces and packs 800 calories. For those counting calories, that’s 160 calories per dollar.
The McDouble is often confused with the double cheeseburger, but it only comes with one slice of cheese. While it’s tasty, the nuggets tend to steal the spotlight. They evoke childhood memories of happy meals and fast-food runs, though they may not be the most gourmet option. This deal is great if you’re sharing with someone who’s not too hungry.
KFC Taste of KFC Meal
Next up, we tried the Taste of KFC meal. For $4.99, you get a drumstick, a thigh, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a biscuit. Normally, this would cost $12.76, so you’re saving $7.77. The meal weighs 14.5 ounces and contains 720 calories. That’s about 144 calories per dollar.
KFC’s chicken is known for its blend of spices, and the drumstick and thigh deliver on flavor. However, the sides—especially the mashed potatoes and gravy—leave much to be desired. The biscuit is a little too dense, but the chicken makes up for it. Overall, this meal is a good deal, but the sides might disappoint.
Burger King’s Your Way Meal
Burger King’s Your Way Meal costs $5 and includes a Whopper Jr., Chicken Jr., or bacon cheeseburger, along with four nuggets, value fries, and a value drink. Normally priced at $9.36, you’re saving $4.36. The meal weighs 10.1 ounces and has 744 calories, which gives it about 148.8 calories per dollar.
The Whopper Jr. is the star of this meal. While the flame-grilled taste can be polarizing, for those who love the smoky flavor, it’s a winner. The nuggets and fries, however, are forgettable. If you’re a fan of the charbroiled taste, this meal is worth the price.
Hardee’s Original Bag
Hardee’s offers the Original Bag for $5.99. You can choose two entrees—either a double cheeseburger, ham and cheese sandwich, or chicken tender wrap—along with small fries and a small drink. The a la carte price would normally be $11.26, saving you $5.27. The meal weighs 12.1 ounces and contains 1,060 calories. That’s about 177 calories per dollar.
This meal is quite filling, especially if you opt for two double cheeseburgers. However, the patties can be dry, and the chicken tender wrap lacks flavor. The fries are also disappointing. While you get a lot of food for your money, the taste leaves room for improvement.
Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag
Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag includes a crispy chicken sandwich, double stack burger, or Jr. bacon cheeseburger, four nuggets, fries, and a small drink. The double stack option, however, costs $6 at some locations. Normally priced at $11.46, you’re saving $6.46. The meal weighs 10.63 ounces and has 760 calories, or about 152 calories per dollar.
The Jr. bacon cheeseburger is sweet and smoky but lacks the sharpness of pickles or onions. Wendy’s nuggets are decent, but the fries were a pleasant surprise, tasting more like actual potatoes compared to other fast-food chains. This meal offers good variety and is best for spicy nugget fans.
Taco Bell Luxe Cravings Box
Taco Bell’s Luxe Cravings Box is priced at $7 and includes a Chalupa Supreme, beefy 5-layer burrito, double-stacked taco, chips with nacho cheese, and a medium drink. Normally, this would cost $16.85, saving you $9.85. The meal weighs 17.5 ounces and packs a hefty 1,400 calories. That’s about 200 calories per dollar, the highest in our comparison.
This meal offers a lot of variety and is enough for two people. Taco Bell excels in texture contrasts, and the Chalupa Supreme is a standout. If you’re looking for value and quantity, this meal is hard to beat.
Conclusion
Each meal has its strengths and weaknesses, but Taco Bell’s Luxe Cravings Box stands out as the best value in terms of both calories and variety. While some meals, like KFC’s Taste of KFC, offer good savings, the quality of sides often detracts from the overall experience. If you’re looking for a meal that offers both quantity and quality, Taco Bell’s option is the clear winner.
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