Major Chains Including McDonald’s and Wendy’s Offer Budget-Friendly Meals to Attract Price-Conscious Customers
Fast-food meals are known for their convenience and affordable price points. However, rising prices caused by inflation have resulted in a decline in traffic industrywide, even impacting major brands such as McDonald’s and Burger King. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, food prices increased by 23.6% between 2020 and 2024. To entice customers back, fast-food franchises have launched value meal platforms, and the strategy seems to be working.
Data from market research and technology company Circana reveal that value meal offerings are successfully driving traffic growth. Traffic from consumers perceived to be value-driven based on their household income increased by 1% across the total foodservice industry in the quarter ending June 2025, building on 2% growth from 2024.
Consumers continue to be motivated by lower prices, with 50% of Circana survey respondents who had not recently dined out saying affordable price points would encourage them to visit restaurants. Additionally, 54% of households with incomes under $75,000 indicated they would make more frequent trips to restaurants with lower prices.
Beyond alluring price points, fast-food franchises can stand out in a crowded field by offering great, quality experiences and utilizing messaging that ensures their deals are worth their prices. Customers looking for a good value are 33% more likely than non-value buyers to purchase value menu items when visiting other restaurant chains, per Circana data. As you can see, today’s customers are always looking for a great deal!
Below, we dive into some of the best value menu items from fast food franchises and their value propositions.
Best Value Meals from Fast-Food Franchises
Denny’s Value Menu
Details of the Value Meal: Denny’s recently rolled out a 5 Slams Starting at $5 value meal deal. The special pricing is for the following items: the Grand Slam Burrito (bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns and cheese in a flour tortilla with a side of salsa), BLT&E Slamwich (bacon, cooked-to-order egg, tomato and lettuce on toasted sourdough, plus hash browns or fries), a two-egg breakfast with hash browns and white toast; and the Everyday Value Slam (a choice of two buttermilk pancakes, two slices of brioche French toast or a biscuit and gravy, served with eggs, bacon strips or sausage links), and the Super Slam (two buttermilk pancakes, two sausage links, two bacon strips, two eggs and hash browns).
Value Proposition: The low-price combos, available through Oct. 28, range from $5 to $10 apiece depending on location. Alongside this current value play, Denny’s is rolling out limited-time fall menu items, including pumpkin pecan pancakes, a bourbon bacon sirloin steak and a chocolate cinnamon milkshake.
IHOP Value Menu
Details of the Value Meal: IHOP has launched its first everyday value menu to entice price-conscious customers. The IHOP Value Menu features four breakfast combos, including the Breakfast Faves Combo (two buttermilk pancakes, two eggs, and two bacon strips or two pork sausage links), French Toast Faves Combo (a slice of French toast, two bacon strips or two pork sausage links, and two eggs), House Scramble (eggs scrambled with chopped bacon and jack and cheddar cheese, served with hash browns), and a ham and cheese omelet, all priced at $6 in most markets.
Value Proposition: The IHOP Value Menu, available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, is part of a rebranding effort, replacing the brand’s House Faves menu, which was only available Monday through Friday.
McDonald’s Value Menu
Details of the Value Meal: McDonald’s is wooing price-conscious customers by lowering the prices of its combo meals with Big Macs, Chicken McNuggets, Quarter Pounders with cheese, McCrispy chicken sandwiches, Egg McMuffins and other breakfast sandwiches. The price cuts will last at least through early 2026.
Value Proposition: Menu items featured in these offers will differ each month. In November, a Sausage, Egg and Cheese McGriddle will be $5, and 10-piece Chicken McNuggets meals will cost $8. The fast-food giant will end the year by featuring Extra Value Meals such as $8 McNugget combo meals, along with $5 breakfasts.
Wendy’s Value Menu
Details of the Value Meal: Wendy’s is selling an $8 combo meal that features two of its Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers, fries and a drink.
Value Proposition: This offer effectively gives customers a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for free — talk about a steal!
