10 Fast Food Restaurants With The Best Value Menus

Cheap prices and quick service are the main reasons that people flock to fast-food restaurants. Thanks to the entire food industry increasing its prices, despite record-breaking profit margins, there's no doubt that high food costs are squeezing the wallets of consumers and forcing them to find the best deals they can. For many Americans, the value menus at fast food chains are one of the least expensive and most convenient ways to score a quick meal. There are plenty of solid deals out there whether you're looking for tacos, cheeseburgers, sandwiches, or pizza.

Even though value menus tend to fluctuate in price and offerings over time, some restaurants have kept theirs fairly consistent. In fact, some of these deals have been around for decades. If you're looking for some cheap eats that are tasty and won't break the bank, then you're in the right place. Read on to scope out 10 fast food restaurants with the best value menus.

When it comes to tasty food at a great value, it's honestly pretty hard to beat Little Caesars. The company was a trailblazer on the scene for its outrageously cheap prices, introducing its famous Hot-N-Ready pizzas back in 1997. Little Caesars set itself apart from competitors by making pizza available in stores without customers having to place an order, which simplified operations and cut down on wait time. Hot-N-Ready pizzas are usually available with a few different toppings including pepperoni and green peppers, with some stores also offering things like jalapeños or black olives.

For decades, Hot-N-Readys at Little Caesars were only five dollars, making it one of the best deals in the fast food industry. Only recently did Little Caesars bump up the price, but fear not — it's still a fantastic deal and still costs about $6. For a whole pizza, that's certainly nothing to complain about. To be honest, it's pretty astonishing that Little Caesars has managed to offer such a low price for such a long time. Little Caesars, we salute your efforts to nourish the masses with pizza at such a bargain.

Like just about every other business in the food industry, Taco Bell's prices have risen in recent years. That said, the company still has some tasty bargains. Many of Taco Bell's menu items cost anywhere between two and three dollars apiece, including its soft or crunchy taco supremes and spicy potato taco. Taco Bell's burritos are equally cheap. The company's Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito might be one of the best deals on the whole fast-food scene, only costing about a buck or so.

The company's Chicken Enchilada Burrito, made with chicken, shredded cheese, red sauce, seasoned rice, and sour cream, will only set you back a couple of dollars. The Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco is another great value menu, at a little under three bucks a pop. Other cheap eats include Taco Bell's nacho fries, cheesy fiesta potatoes, beans and rice, and cinnamon twists — all of which only cost about a couple of dollars. Part of what makes Taco Bell's value truly exceptional is the wide range of low prices that it offers on its menu. While many other fast food joints might only have a handful of deals, Taco Bell feels more generous in its variety of affordable options. 

Wendy's has been in the fast food game for generations, having opened its first restaurant in 1969. The company cooks its food to order, grills fresh and never frozen beef, and uses seasonal produce in its salads. Wendy's has some great deals on its menu for both breakfast sandwiches and burgers. 

One of the best value items at Wendy's is the Junior Bacon Cheeseburger. The company first introduced this cheeseburger back in 1989 and it's been a staple on the menu ever since. It only costs a few bucks and comes with a junior hamburger patty and melted American cheese. With its refreshing layers of crunchy lettuce, Applewood smoked bacon, slices of sweet tomato, and a creamy spread of mayo, it's almost like a blend of a fast-food burger and a BLT. The chicken nuggets at Wendy's are also a good choice, and a four-piece order of them will only set you back a few dollars. Wendy's also has good deals for breakfast, with mix-and-match options for only a few bucks apiece. These breakfast items include a sausage biscuit, egg and cheese biscuit, seasoned potatoes, and a medium coffee. Between its inexpensive choices for breakfast and burgers, Wendy's is a good call when hunger strikes.

Whenever we're in the mood for some of the best chain-restaurant mozzarella sticks around, Arby's is one of the first places that comes to mind, and the other offerings there are no less appealing. With a menu full of interesting offerings, Arby's is known for its roast beef sandwiches that are drizzled with a cheddar cheese sauce. The company previously had a great deal that allowed customers to mix and match two items for seven dollars, including its famous Beef and Cheddar, Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and Mozzarella Sticks. And while this particular deal isn't offered as of this writing, the restaurant offers similar ones throughout the year.

Arby's also serves sliders at a great value, with each of them costing only about two dollars. Slider choices include buffalo chicken, classic fried chicken, roast beef and Swiss, or roast beef and Swiss with diced jalapenos. The company also offers limited-time deals, like one online-only deal in the fall of 2023, which let you choose from five of its classic menu items, each for three dollars or less.

Checkers and Rally's sells burgers, hot dogs, wings, and more. The company is known for its filling menu items and relatively cheap prices. There are lots of options for only around two dollars, including grilled hot dogs and cheeseburgers. Another bargain is the Pick Two Mix and Match deal, usually working out at around four or five dollars. Some of the menu items available for the Pick Two include the Checkerburger, Double Checkerburger with Cheese, Spicy Chicken Double, and Chili Dog. 

The restaurant's Meal Deal is yet another way customers can get a good meal on the cheap. For around five dollars, diners can pick between a Checkerburger and a Bacon Cheddar Crisp burger — and that comes with a small order of fried chicken bites and some seasoned fries. Add on top of this the fact that there are also cheap cheesecake sundaes, chocolate chip brookies, and funnel cake fries to satisfy your sweet tooth, and it's easy to see why this is a good destination for growling bellies. For some of the best values on the fast food scene, Checkers and Rally's is absolutely worth making a pit-stop for.