Spotlight Why fast food value menus aren’t as good a deal as you might think By Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Jul 12, 2024 Jul 12, 2024 Updated Sep 19, 2025 Last month, McDonald's entered the increasingly fierce fast food value menu war with a $5 meal deal. Lucia Buricelli/Bloomberg/Getty Images via CNN Newsource Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN NEW YORK — Value is the new buzzword at fast-food chains nationwide.kAmp7E6C C:D:?8 AC:46D EFC?65 4FDE@>6CD @77[ E96 C6DE2FC2?ED C646?E=J C6DA@?565 3J F?G6:=:?8 G2=F6 >6?FD]k^AmkAmu@C :?DE2?46[ |4s@?2=5’D 92D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_ac^_e^a_^7@@5^>45@?2=5D\G2=F6\>62=\56E2:=D^:?56I]9E>=QmSd G2=F6k^2mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_ac^_e^a_^7@@5^>45@?2=5D\G2=F6\>62=\56E2:=D^:?56I]9E>=Qm >62=k^2m[ H9:49 :?4=F56D 2 |4s@F3=6 4966D63FC86C @C 2 |4r9:4<6? D2?5H:49[ A=FD D>2== 7C6?49 7C:6D[ c\A:646 49:4<6? ?F886ED 2?5 2 D>2== D@7E 5C:?<]k^Am kAmpE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_ac^_e^af^7@@5^E24@\36==\G2=F6\>62=^:?56I]9E>=Qm%24@ q6==k^2m[ J@F 42? ?@H 86E EH@ 5:776C6?E <:?5D @7 E24@D[ 2 7:G6\=2J6C 3FCC:E@[ 49:AD H:E9 ?249@ 4966D6 D2F46D 2?5 2 >65:F> 5C:?< 7@C Sf] %92E’D ddT 4962A6C E92? @C56C:?8 E96 :E6>D :?5:G:5F2==J]k^Am People are also reading… Lake Geneva recommends $580,000 bid for street improvements Lake Geneva restaurant owner honored for quick response Lake Geneva BID presents awards during annual meeting Lake Geneva considers speed bumps for slowing down traffic Wisconsin men's hockey lands defenseman hours into transfer portal period Tornado Warning until TUE 9:15 PM CDT Severe Thunderstorm Warning from TUE 7:59 PM CDT until TUE 9:00 PM CDT Madison man arrested after $3.6M in meth found in vehicle by Illinois State Police Cole Caufield becomes 2nd former Wisconsin player to score 50 goals in an NHL season Dodge County sheriff sues woman who claims she was illegally detained New documentary explores possibility of serial killer near Omaha Trump: US Navy will begin Strait of Hormuz blockade after US-Iran ceasefire talks end without agreement 4 observations from Wisconsin football's 6th spring practice Riga-Tony’s serves Italian with style, fun and flair Pope Leo says he does not fear Trump, citing Gospel as he pushes back in feud over Iran war kAm{:<6 |4s@?2=5’D[ qFC86C z:?8 :D @776C:?8 2 Sd >62= 3F?5=6 H96C6 4FDE@>6CD 42? D6=64E @?6 @7 E9C66 <:?5D @7 3FC86CD E@ A2:C H:E9 49:4<6? ?F886ED 2?5 2 36G6C286]k^Am kAmqFE ;FDE 9@H >F49 G2=F6 :D E96C6 :? E96D6 <:?5D @7 “G2=F6” >62=Dnk^AmkAm(6==[ 24EF2==J[ ?@E 2D >F49 2D J@F >2J E9:?<[ D:?46 AC:46D 7@C >2?J <6J :?8C65:6?ED FD65 :? G2=F6 >62=D 2C6 4@>:?8 5@H?] x? @E96C H@C5Di *@F’C6 A2J:?8 E96 8@:?8 C2E6 W@C >@C6X]k^Am k9amr966D6[ A@E2E@6D 2?5 E@>2E@6D 2C6 86EE:?8 4962A6Ck^9am kAm|2?J @7 E96 C646?E=J 2??@F?465 G2=F6 >62=D FD6 4966D6[ A@E2E@6D 2?5 E@>2E@6D] r@>A2C65 E@ =2DE yF?6[ 4966D6 AC:46D 2C6 5@H? a]`T[ E@>2E@ AC:46D 2C6 5@H? `]`T 2?5 A@E2E@ AC:46D 2C6 5@H? b]hT[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 qFC62F @7 {23@C $E2E:DE:4D’ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_ac^_f^``^64@?@>J^FD\4A:\4@?DF>6C\:?7=2E:@?\;F?6^:?56I]9E>=Qm=2E6DE r@?DF>6C !C:46 x?56I C6A@CEk^2m C6=62D65 %9FCD52J]k^Am kAm~? 2 >@?E9=J 32D:D[ 4966D6 AC:46D 5:5?’E 492?86 :? yF?6] %@>2E@ 2?5 A@E2E@ AC:46D D=:5 3J _]bT 2?5 b]bT[ C6DA64E:G6=J[ H96? 25;FDE:?8 7@C D62D@?2=:EJ]k^Amk9am|62E 62E6CD 36?67:E E96 >@DE 7C@> E96 G2=F6 >62= H2Ck^9amkAmx7 J@F 62E >62E[ J@F’C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 36?67:E 7C@> D@>6 G2=F6 >6?F :E6>D] %92E’D 3642FD6 >62E AC:46D 2C6 FA b]dT 7@C E96 J62C] uC@> |2J E@ yF?6[ E9@F89[ >62E AC:46D 76== 3J _]bT]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack kAmq667 AC:46D H6C6 2>@?8 E96 DE66A6DE AC:46 :?4C62D6D 24C@DD 2== >62E 42E68@C:6D EC24<65 :? E96 r!x] u@C :?DE2?46[ 3667 C@2DE AC:46D 2C6 FA `_T 2?5 8C@F?5 3667 AC:46D 2C6 FA c]dT 4@>A2C65 E@ =2DE yF?6]k^Am kAm!@C< AC:46D 2C6 2=D@ FA b]gT 4@>A2C65 E@ 2 J62C 28@] qFE AC:46D 2C6 2 3:E =@H6C 4@>A2C65 E@ =2DE >@?E9] r9:4<6? AC:46D C@D6 >@C6 >@56DE=J @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 E96 J62C[ FA ;FDE _]dT] ~? 2 >@?E9=J 32D:D[ E96J 76== 3J _]aT :? yF?6]k^Am kAmv:G6? E92E >62E AC:46D 2C6 C:D:?8 2E 2 72DE6C A246 E92? >@DE 7@@5D[ :E’D ?@ H@?56C >@DE 72DE\7@@5 492:?D 2C6 @?=J @776C:?8 G2=F6 >6?FD 7@C 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4??]4@>^a_ac^_d^b_^3FD:?6DD^72DE\7@@5\562=D\324<\>45@?2=5D^:?56I]9E>=RiOiE6IElzurTa_C646?E=JTa_:?EC@5F465Ta_2Ta_G2=F6[E@Ta_6>3C246Ta_2Ta_TacdTa_>62=]Qm=:>:E65 E:>6k^2m] x? 67764E[ E96J’C6 >2:?E2:?:?8 E96:C 23:=:EJ E@ C2:D6 AC:46D :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am kAmqFE 7@C E96 E:>6 36:?8[ y@6 tC=:?86C[ AC6D:56?E @7 |4s@?2=5’D &$p[ D2:5 G2=F6 >62=D 2C6?’E 2 =@DD =6256C 7@C E96 4@>A2?J 2?5 E92E “H6 2C6 E@E2==J 4@>7@CE23=6 H:E9 E96 AC@7:E23:=:EJ @7 :E]”k^AmkAm“xE’D 2 H2J E@ C62==J 3C:?8 G2=F6 2?5 277@C523:=:EJ E@ @FC 4FDE@>6CD 2E 2 E:>6 H96? E96 4@?DF>6C :D C62==J DEC6E4965[” 96 D2:5 2E 2 4@?76C6?46 9@DE65 3J %96 (2== $EC66E y@FC?2= =2DE >@?E9]k^Amk9ams:?:?8 @FE C6>2:?D 2 =FIFCJ 7@C >2?Jk^9am kAmp?@E96C 4@?D:56C2E:@?i xE’D 2 =@E >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 E@ 5:?6 @FE E92? 4@@< 2E 9@>6]k^Am kAm%92E D9@F=5?’E 36 DFCAC:D:?8 D:?46 E96C6 2C6 2 =@E >@C6 4@DED 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 5:?:?8 @FE — @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE 36:?8 =23@C — E92E 2C6?’E :?4FCC65 2E 9@>6]k^AmkAmqFE J@F’C6 =:<6=J E@ 6IA6C:6?46 >@C6 DE:4<6C D9@4< 5:?:?8 @FE E92? D9@AA:?8 2E 8C@46CJ DE@C6D]k^Am kAm{2DE >@?E9[ 7@@5 AC:46D @G6C2== C@D6 3J _]aT 7C@> |2J] u@C E96 J62C[ 7@@5 AC:46D 2C6 FA a]aT]k^AmkAmu@@5 :? DE@C6D 4@DE `]`T >@C6 4@>A2C65 E@ 2 J62C 28@[ 2?5 E9@D6 AC:46D 2C6 FA _]`T @? 2 >@?E9=J 32D:D] |6?F AC:46D 2E C6DE2FC2?ED 2?5 4276D 2C6 FA c]`T 2??F2==J 2?5 _]cT 7C@> |2J E@ yF?6]k^Am The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story The ‘greatest Gatsby’: Nearly 10-foot sub sandwich tips the scales at a whopping 145 pounds With 10 layers of fillings and 44 pounds of meat, the massive Gatsby sandwich fed about 140 people at a South African restaurant with a taste … McDonald’s $5 value meal is staying on menus for a little while longer The meal includes a McDouble cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich, small french fries, four-piece Chicken McNuggets and a small soft drink. It’s not just Big Macs. Consumers are ditching Johnnie Walker whisky and Casamigos tequila The maker of Johnnie Walker whisky, Casamigos tequila and Guinness beer is the latest business to report a hit to sales as inflation takes a b… Taco Bell could hold the secret formula for bringing customers back to fast food Customers are looking for ways to stretch their dollars, something McDonald’s and Chipotle learned the hard way. Is pumpkin spice a summer flavor? IHOP and Krispy Kreme are the latest retailers to say yes Despite the August temperatures, more stores are rolling out products in what was once the quintessential fall flavor: pumpkin spice. Fast food chains launch 'value menu' war after cost complaints. Will it last? Fast food joints are in the midst of a budget-meal war, offering promotions to lure customers back to their restaurants despite inflation woes. Restaurant chains are offering meal deals and discounts. Olive Garden isn't one of them. Here's why Rather than vie for customers with steep discounts, Olive Garden is planning to bring people in by highlighting its regular offerings. One exa… As Americans trim spending, these cheap steakhouses are booming If there’s anything Americans love, it’s cheap meat. So business is booming at Texas Roadhouse and LongHorn Steakhouse, even as Americans pull… McDonald’s releases a new $5 value meal to combat inflation The arrival of the McDonald’s meal deal comes at a time when the company is battling the perception that it has become too expensive. Taco Bell enters the value meal wars with its biggest deal ever This is the summer of fast food value meal wars, and Taco Bell isn’t sitting back with one of its biggest deals ever: The “Luxe Cravings Box.”
The ‘greatest Gatsby’: Nearly 10-foot sub sandwich tips the scales at a whopping 145 pounds With 10 layers of fillings and 44 pounds of meat, the massive Gatsby sandwich fed about 140 people at a South African restaurant with a taste …
McDonald’s $5 value meal is staying on menus for a little while longer The meal includes a McDouble cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich, small french fries, four-piece Chicken McNuggets and a small soft drink.
It’s not just Big Macs. Consumers are ditching Johnnie Walker whisky and Casamigos tequila The maker of Johnnie Walker whisky, Casamigos tequila and Guinness beer is the latest business to report a hit to sales as inflation takes a b…
Taco Bell could hold the secret formula for bringing customers back to fast food Customers are looking for ways to stretch their dollars, something McDonald’s and Chipotle learned the hard way.
Is pumpkin spice a summer flavor? IHOP and Krispy Kreme are the latest retailers to say yes Despite the August temperatures, more stores are rolling out products in what was once the quintessential fall flavor: pumpkin spice.
Fast food chains launch 'value menu' war after cost complaints. Will it last? Fast food joints are in the midst of a budget-meal war, offering promotions to lure customers back to their restaurants despite inflation woes.
Restaurant chains are offering meal deals and discounts. Olive Garden isn't one of them. Here's why Rather than vie for customers with steep discounts, Olive Garden is planning to bring people in by highlighting its regular offerings. One exa…
As Americans trim spending, these cheap steakhouses are booming If there’s anything Americans love, it’s cheap meat. So business is booming at Texas Roadhouse and LongHorn Steakhouse, even as Americans pull…
McDonald’s releases a new $5 value meal to combat inflation The arrival of the McDonald’s meal deal comes at a time when the company is battling the perception that it has become too expensive.
Taco Bell enters the value meal wars with its biggest deal ever This is the summer of fast food value meal wars, and Taco Bell isn’t sitting back with one of its biggest deals ever: The “Luxe Cravings Box.”
