Inflation can be great when used in the context of tires and pool floaties. But not so great when it comes to your food budget for the month. Everything seems to be more expensive these days, including takeout.
Instead of skipping your favorite restaurants altogether, try these cheap fast-food items that are finger-licking good — without betraying your wallet. In fact, a majority of these options are $2 or less.
McDonald’s Coffee
Restaurant: McDonald’s
Price: $1.29
All coffee is not created equal. For true coffee lovers, even Starbucks isn’t the greatest. If you just need a hot cup of caffeinated goodness to get you going in the morning, why overpay? Get a large coffee at McDonald’s for just $1.29. It’s one of the best cups o’ joe you can get at a fast-food joint, and it’s always made fresh in the morning.
Chick-fil-A’s is better, but for barely more than a buck, McD’s coffee is the winner. If you’re getting older, you’re also eligible for a senior discount, bringing your morning cup of coffee to just $0.79. It’s like waking up in 1998.
Mix n’ Match Breakfast Sandwiches
Restaurant: Burger King
Price: $4 for two
Morning coffee is all well and good, but not all of us can survive on just coffee for breakfast. Try Burger King’s mix-n-match breakfast sandwiches with eggs, your choice of meat and gooey, melted cheese. Select between a biscuit or a flaky croissant roll for the bread. For just an extra dollar, you can get double meat on them both.
One is usually enough for breakfast, so consider sharing with your carpool buddy or saving the second for lunch.
Donuts
Restaurant: Krispy Kreme
Price: $12.99/dozen
We can’t promote eating dessert for breakfast on the regs, but once in a while, bringing a dozen donuts to the office or to the fam for a Saturday morning treat is so worth it. One glazed donut from Krispy Kreme is just $1.49. The other flavors get pricier, but they’re still cheap.
A full dozen is less than $15, and it pairs perfectly with the dirt-cheap coffee from McD’s.
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Cheesy Roll-Ups
Restaurant: Taco Bell
Price: $1
Now, onto snacks. What is a cheesy roll-up? We used to think there was no such thing as a stupid question, but this one might be it. A cheesy roll-up is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a tortilla filled with melted cheese and rolled up, like a bean and cheese burrito minus the beans.
It’s made with only two ingredients — a tortilla and cheese. Lots of cheese. There’s no fiber in sight, but no one can deny that this minimalistic snack hits the spot.
Crazy Bread
Restaurant: Little Caesar’s
Price: $3.49
For another savory snack, head over to Little Caesar’s. This incredibly cheap pizza joint sells garlicky, buttery breadsticks that have been dubbed “Crazy Bread.” The only thing crazy about it is how it rivals the breadsticks at Olive Garden for a fraction of the price.
Throw in an extra $0.50 for a cup of crazy dipping sauce or $2 more for breadsticks filled with cheese. If we were lactose intolerant, cheesy Crazy Bread makes death by dairy look almost worth it. Almost.
Cinnamon Twists
Restaurant: Taco Bell
Price: $1
Imagine if a churro and rotini pasta had a baby — this is what it would look like. Taco Bell’s cinnamon twists are addictive, like any fried, cinnamon-sugar-coated doughy treat is.
They’re not amazing for your arteries, but they’re amazing for your soul. That counts for something.
The Original Slider
Restaurant: White Castle
Price: $0.98
At McDonald’s, you can’t even get a McDouble for a buck or two these days. White Castle is here to save the day with the cheapest little burger around: the iconic White Castle Slider. It’s under a buck, and it’s flavorful and fresh.
The portions are small, so pick up two or three for a full lunch. It also doesn’t include cheese, but $0.20 extra is a small price to pay to complete this tasty package with hot, melted cheddar.
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Spicy Soft Tacos
Restaurant: Taco Bell
Price: $1
In 2020, Taco Bell tragically took its potato-based menu items off the table. Finally, they’re back, and hopefully for good.
Taco Bell has a number of affordable items, but the spicy potato soft taco is one of our favorites. The potatoes are deep-fried for ultimate crispiness, then smothered with chipotle sauce, cheese and fresh lettuce. You might be in a carb coma after eating it, but two starches are tastier than one.
Two Tasty Tacos
Restaurant: Jack in the Box
Price: $1.59
It’s odd that the cheapest tacos in town aren’t found at Taco Bell, but instead, Jack in the Box is the winner here. It’s not authentic Mexican food by any stretch of the imagination, but neither is Taco Bell.
The tacos at Jack’s are crunchy and fried with meat inside, American cheese and a small amount of shredded lettuce. They’re not the best tacos in the world, but they’re the only ones you can score for under two bucks.
A Basic Bean and Rice Burrito
Restaurant: Taco Bell
Price: $1
Taco Bell has quite a few cheap burritos, but the bean and rice burrito is the cheapest. It’s only a buck, and it’s the epitome of comfort food. The fast-food chain also offers a toasted breakfast burrito option with eggs and sausage.
Their burritos aren’t anywhere close to the size of Chipotle’s, but what do you expect for being a 10th of the price?
McChicken Sandwiches
Restaurant: McDonald’s
Price: $2.39
McChicken sandwiches can’t hold a candle to Popeyes’ chicken sandwich, which is a thing of beauty. It’s better than Chick-fil-A’s, and Chick-fil-A’s entire business model is built on chicken. Still, the McChicken has been on the McDonald’s menu since the ’80s because it’s genuinely tasty. Also, shockingly cheap.
For under three bucks, you can sink your teeth into a well-seasoned, crispy piece of fried chicken with fresh lettuce, pickles, mayo and the classic McDonald’s bun.
The 4 for $4 Deal
Restaurant: Wendy’s
Price: $4
Wendy’s is usually one of the more expensive fast-food chains, but not when it comes to their 4 for $4 deal. It’s not always available, but when it is, it’s amazing. Get a Jr. cheeseburger, four nuggets, fries and a drink for just $4.
The burger isn’t huge, but with all the extra sides, it doesn’t need to be. Throw in an extra buck for the Biggie meal, which lets you pick between a Double Stack, a Crispy Chicken BLT and a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, plus a bigger portion of fries.
A Large Pizza
Restaurant: Little Caesar’s
Price: $7.49
Pizza night isn’t what it used to be. An extra-large pizza at most places can be over $30. Whether your teenager has friends over or you’re just trying to get something on the table for the fam, Little Caesar’s has the cheapest pizza in town.
A large one usually serves two, so order a couple, plus a side of Crazy Bread to feed a family of four for around $20.
RELATED: 30 Best Frozen Pizzas, Ranked by Deliciousness
Soft-Serve
Restaurant: McDonald’s
Price: $1
The soft-serve machines at McDonald’s aren’t known for their reliability, but when they’re working, it’s an amazing deal. A soft-serve cone there is just a buck.
It’s filled with additives that are important to avoid eating too often, but for an occasional, cost-effective treat, go for it.
Jr. Frosties
Restaurant: Wendy’s
Price: $1.39
A Jr. Frosty isn’t huge, but it’s just about the only shake you can find for under $2. It’s about 6 ounces and only 200 calories, so it’s also a pretty solid pick for a sweet treat without completely overdosing on sugar.
It’s a tough choice between a strawberry or classic chocolate Frosty, but we recommend pairing either with a side of fries for that dreamy, salty-sweet combination.