10 Food Chains That Offer The Best Bang For Your Buck & 10 That Are Overpriced
Here's Where You Should Take The Family For Dinner... and Where You Shouldn't
With food costs increasing, it's becoming harder to find decent dining options. Luckily, there are still some restaurants where you can stretch your dollar and leave feeling satisfied with the food and the value. Here are ten food chains offering the best bang for your buck and ten that are not worth it.
Photo by Spencer Davis on Unsplash
1. Swiss Chalet
For when you want a fancy-ish meal for a non-fancy price, Swiss Chalet is the place to go. A dinner for two consisting of such delicacies as rotisserie chicken or baby back ribs with heaps of sides will cost you only around $40.
Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine on Wikimedia
2. Del Taco
Del Taco is one of the few fast food chains where you can still be fed decently well for just a few dollars. Their tacos and burritos are delicious and they offer very good value in their combo meals or dollar specials.
3. Chick-fil-A
A chicken lover's heaven, Chik-fil-A has a tasty menu featuring high-quality ingredients for very reasonable prices. If you're a regular customer you can even join their rewards program and save even more.
4. Taco Bell
The ultimate fast food Tex Mex place, Taco bell has very tasty options and low prices. You can save even more if you order off their value menu.
5. Olive Garden
At Olive Garden, you can rest assured you're not leaving hungry. They have bottomless soup, salad, and bread in addition to large portions.
6. Costco Food Court
If you've gone to Costco and didn't get a chicken bake, you're missing out. The food at the food court, while not technically a restaurant, is surprisingly good and very cheap.
Photographed by user Coolcaesar on January 4, 2006 on Wikimedia
7. Ikea Food Court
Who doesn't like picking up a plate (or plates) of meatballs with their furniture? Ikea became just as famous for their cheap food as their home accessories.
8. Texas Roadhouse
If you like steak but don't want to pay an arm and a leg for it, you can get a pretty darn good one at Texas Roadhouse for $10. They also have family meal deals so you can take out the whole squad.
9. Outback Steakhouse
Another affordable option for steak lovers that's even more premium than Texas Roadhouse is Outback Steakhouse. It's just a little bit more expensive with a juicy steak equipped with sides and endless free bread starting at around $15.
10. Carrabbas Italian Grill
Gourmet Italian favorites like calamari, chicken marsala, and cannoli without breaking the bank? Yes, please! The restaurant offers all kinds of deals like Amore Monday where you can get even more bang for your buck.
Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA on Wikimedia
Now that we've talked about the chain restaurant options that offer the best value, let's go over the ones you can skip.
1. Chipotle
We're not saying Chiplotle isn't good, but when you compare it to Del Taco, it's highway robbery. The food is almost the same quality and you will pay easily three times the price for it.
Guilhem Vellut from Paris, France on Wikimedia
2. Cheesecake Factory
Cheesecake factory is one of the pricier casual chains with entrees usually ranging from $20 to $30, prices that should be reserved for higher quality food than Cheesecake Factory has to offer. You'd be better off going there just for a slice of cake.
3. Hard Rock Café
It's half expected this place would be expensive as Hard Rock Cafés tend to be located in the most prime spots of any city. However, the prices are even higher than you could imagine and the food has a lot to be desired.
4. Boston Pizza
Despite its name, Boston Pizza is actually a Canadian pizza chain. If you feel like spending $18 on a sub-par burger, this place is for you.
Raysonho @ Open Grid Scheduler / Grid Engine on Wikimedia
5. TGI Friday's
TGI Friday's is the kind of place that's banking on the fact that you just need to let loose on Friday and don't care how much you're spending on half-decent food. The entrees here are an outrageous $18 to $20.
6. The Keg
The Keg is marketed as a premium steakhouse and therefore has premium prices. However, the food doesn't quite live up to how expensive it is. You'd be much better off going to a real local steakhouse.
7. Applebee's
Applebee's is marketed as a casual family restaurant and while the prices aren't as exorbitant as some of the other restaurants on this list, we would argue the food isn't worth it. The restaurant's menu and ambiance lacks anything special. You'd be better off taking your family to a local diner for Sunday dinner.
8. IHOP
For anyone who wants to spend $20 for eggs, IHOP is for you. If you're thinking you could get a cheaper meal at the most trendy hipster brunch spot in your city, you'd be right.
9. Red Lobster
Sure, lobster is a premium food, but most of the seafood entrees at Red Lobster are at least $30. Unless you're on the coast, it probably won't be very fresh either.
10. Starbucks
Starbucks brought the concept of specialty coffee to mainstream America, somehow normalizing spending upwards of $4 on a simple coffee. The food is even more expensive with a simple breakfast wrap consisting of cheese and egg going for almost $8.
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