The Fast Food Chains With The Best Value Meals

As more and more fast chains struggle to balance increasing costs with affordable customer prices, the concept of value has become more important than ever. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, food prices increased by a whopping 23.6% between 2020 and 2024, pinching consumer budgets not just in the grocery store, but also in the fast food line. While at one time fast food might have been synonymous with the concept of cheap, increasingly consumers are instead seeing it as a luxury. In fact, according to a 2024 LendingTree survey, 78% of Americans viewed fast food as a luxury due to its increased prices. This change in consumer attitudes has hit fast food restaurants where it hurts most: sales.

When you consider just how much money Americans spend on fast food every year, it's no wonder that more fast food brands are offering special deals and, specifically, value meals, in 2025 as a way to try and reclaim and retain customer loyalty. However, while discounted items and combo meals might seem like a bargain for consumers, you might be surprised to learn just how little something like McDonald's $5 Meal Deal actually makes the company. This can further complicate the higher expenses experienced by fast food chains, and shift what these brand's are ultimately willing to offer consumers. As a consumer it can pay to do additional research, and as value menu competition increases, knowing which fast food restaurants can offer you the most bang for your buck is increasingly important.

According to the 2024 QSR 50 fast food annual report, the top 5 most popular fast food chains in the U.S. were McDonald's, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, and Wendy's. When looking at the value meal offerings across these brands, there are some notable gaps for consumers to consider. For starters, despite introducing a Pairings Menu in 2024, Starbucks ended up discontinuing its value meal offering shortly after launch. Some complained that the value meal –- which included a coffee or tea (either hot or iced) with a croissant for $5, or a breakfast sandwich for $6 –- wasn't much of a meal at all. Similarly, Chick-fil-A does not even offer a value meal option on its menu.

As part of McDonald's 2025 value plan, the brand currently offers a McValue menu which includes two $5 value meal deals that include either a McChicken or McDouble, a four-piece chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink. Taco Bell offers consumers the most variety with its value menu. The brand's Cravings Value Menu includes 10 different menu items priced at $3 or less. This includes everything from tacos to burritos to flatbreads to nachos. Taco Bell also offers what it calls Luxe Boxes for $5, $7, and $9 depending on number of items. The classic $5 Luxe Box includes a 5-layer burrito, crunchy taco, an order of cinnamon twists, and a medium drink. Meanwhile, Wendy's offers $5 Biggie Bags, which includes your choice of a chicken sandwich or Junior bacon burger, a four-piece chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink.

As much as consumers might enjoy the added savings of a value meal deal, the financial reality of these value offerings might not be sustainable for the company's offering them. This is particularly true when you consider just how much the actual ingredients in fast food offerings are increasing in price. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' March 2025 Food Price Outlook, overall food prices are predicted to increase by 3.5% in 2025.

For fast food restaurants specifically, the estimate that beef prices will increase by 6.3% could have significant financial consequences for brands that specialize in burgers. Meanwhile chicken prices are only expected to increase by 1% percent in 2025, which could push fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Wendy's to prioritize chicken offerings in value menus instead of burgers. Meanwhile, as egg prices continue to skyrocket, the BLS predicts egg prices will increase 132.9% in 2025, which could significantly impact the breakfast menus offered at most fast food restaurants. Meanwhile, sugar and sweets are predicted to increase by 4.6% which could affect iconic fast food dessert offerings like a McDonald's McFlurry, Wendy's Frosty, Starbucks' Frappuccino, and even assorted milkshakes offered across various brands.

Given all of these predicted cost increases, consumers will have to wait and see if fast food brands are able or even willing to continue offering value meal deals. At a minimum, consumers should prepare for price increases and probably bid farewell to the $5 price tag attached to most current value offerings.