[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.