[kortilla]

> and the prices are so high that you can and should just go elsewhere and buy real food.

Not sure what you’re implying here, but McDonald’s is still contending for the bottom for price on fast food. Groceries are of course cheaper if that’s what you mean by “real food”, but there aren’t restaurants that really compete with that value meal outside of Taco Bell/Time and maybe Burger King.

[autoexec]

At one point I noticed that a Big mac and a large fry was $10, and that I could spend an extra $3 or $4 and get a steak, a baked potato, a salad, and loaf of bread at Outback.

[kortilla]

The item in the top left (or #1) at many fast food restaurants is intentionally not the low margin cheap way to eat.

The cost of the Big Mac is certainly approaching sit down places, but that’s the “premium” burger. They have $5 meals now and you can always piecemeal from the value menu for $5-$6 a person.

[ImJamal]

If you go to Outlook you will miss the "fast" part of fast food which is one of the selling points.

[autoexec]

You're not wrong. They've also got late hours while outback doesn't, but I realized that the food itself isn't really worth what they charge for it. There are circumstances when I might end up at a McDonald's but if I have the option to not eat their food I'll take it.

[smaudet]

There aren't many big box names that compete. There are usually places that sell you a "meal" for comparable cost.

The franchise has to pay fees and offer specific menu items. Small restaurants can outcompete in both price and quality.

The flip side is those places don't normally get enough foot traffic to offer their stuff "near cost", so they bundle it up into serving sizes in the $$ range that can last you a couple days. And they don't have brand marketing on their side... Joe's Diner can equally be a gem in the rough or in dire need of a new cook and a safety inspection...

[kjkjadksj]

Those places are expensive now too. You should see how much they actually charge now a days in 2025. Burritos made on the sidewalk go for $12 or more now. The bacon wrapped hotdog cooked in a shopping cart on the sidewalk is now like $7 or $8 instead of $5. Cheap food isn’t so cheap anymore. You basically have to vet out specific lunch specials or something if you want a deal on a “meal” and even that will be a small plate vs dinner portion usually. And mcdonalds still wins on a calorie to dollar basis because the app routinely has deals like 2 for 1 big macs where you can throw back a good 1500 calories for like $6 or less. Only thing competitive is costco food court.

[the_third_wave]

> there aren’t restaurants that really compete with that value meal outside of Taco Bell/Time and maybe Burger King.

IKEA does, at least here in Europe. Of course you're not going to find an IKEA on every third block but it you happen to have one around and want some average food a for fairly low (and sometimes very low) price they're a good option. They are also a reliable quality, Swedish meatballs are Swedish meatballs everywhere. A bit like McD, really...

[anon373839]

> Not sure what you’re implying here, but McDonald’s is still contending for the bottom for price on fast food.

No, that's exactly my point. McDonalds isn't all that cheap anymore. There are high-quality fast-casual restaurants and local shops that deliver much better quality food at roughly the same price point. E.g.: it looks like $12 is the current price for a Big Mac meal in my area. But I can think of several places I regularly go for lunch that would offer a handmade sandwich and proper side dish, made with organic ingredients no less, for the same price.

[tstrimple]

I think this is true of the normal menu items, but I still see the value meal as a decent deal. McChicken, small fries, 4 piece nugget and small drink for $5. Similar to Taco Bell where the normal meals aren't that cost effective anymore, but if you pick and choose the value items you can get a ton of food for little money.

Taco Bell is a staple post gym meal for my son and his friends who are trying to bulk as cheap and easily as possible.

[astrange]

Every time I eat Taco Bell I feel like it's so obviously made of normal ingredients that you could just make it at home.

[kjkjadksj]

That sort of sandwich joint is $12- $15 before tax by me with no side.