I ordered the same burger meal at McDonald's and Chili's, and the latter served up better value

I ordered similar burger combos at McDonald's and Chili's, but I got more food at the sit-down chain restaurant.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

• I ordered the same burger meal at McDonald's and Chili's Grill & Bar.
• The meals cost exactly the same, but one came with way more food.

The value wars are in full swing, as chain restaurants are trying to lure in customers with meal deals and burgers inspired by fast-food favorites.

Chili's is a prime example. In April, the chain launched its Big Smasher burger, a dupe of the iconic Big Mac that comes with shredded lettuce, minced onion, and Thousand Island dressing.

The burger is bigger than a Big Mac, which has a pre-cooked patty weight of 3.2 ounces, and the chain is desperate to prove to customers that chain restaurants can deliver just as much, or even better, value than their competitors as fast-food prices rise.

I put both chains to the value test by ordering the same burger meal at McDonald's and Chili's, and the winner surprised me.