I tried breakfast value meals from 5 fast-food chains. Dunkin' reigns supreme.

Gabbi ShawNov 8, 2024, 22:10 IST

Dunkin', the only breakfast chain, reigned supreme.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/restaurants-are-competing-to-offer-the-cheapest-meals-2024-5">Meal deals and value meals</a> are more important to fast-food chains than ever.</li><li>I tried <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dunkin-new-breakfast-value-meal-review-2024-9">Dunkin's $6 meal</a> when it debuted earlier in the fall.</li></ul>The <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-chipotle-starbucks-fast-food-chains-value-meal-war-customers-2024-11">fast-food wars</a> are going strong, and brands are adding deals and value meals to their menus to attract <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-other-fast-food-still-seen-as-pricey-despite-deals-2024-8">customers who are feeling the pinch.</a>In August, Dunkin' became the latest chain to add a meal deal when it launched its $6 breakfast. I tried it after its release and was so impressed by its 50% discount that I wanted to try other fast-food breakfast meals to see how they stacked up.I visited <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taco-bell-fast-food-review-thought-it-would-be-cheaper-2024-8">Taco Bell</a>, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-mcdonalds-5-dollar-meal-deal-pulling-in-customers-inflation-2024-7">McDonald's</a>, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eating-all-of-the-burgers-on-wendys-menu-review-photos">Wendy's</a>, and <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/review-millennial-tried-burger-kings-whopper-for-the-first-time-2021-5">Burger King</a> to see which chain had the <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-value-meal-taste-test-mcdonalds-wendys-burger-king-2024-7">best food for the best price</a>. My meals ranged from $4 to $8, and each included a sandwich, a drink, and a side.Here's what I thought of each breakfast.

The first breakfast meal I tried was from Dunkin'. It cost $6.53.

My coffee and my bag of treats.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It comes with a medium iced coffee. I added pumpkin and hazelnut swirls.

I put some flavors into my coffee to add a little bit extra.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

There are options for the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. I opted for a croissant.

Dunkin' offers different options for the bread of the sandwich.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The sandwich was flavorful and the croissant was perfectly flaky.

The sandwich was delicious.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It also comes with an order of hash browns, which I was slightly underwhelmed by, in terms of size.

Dunkin's hash browns come in a little paper bag.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

After being pleased with Dunkin's meal, I tried fast-food breakfast deals from Taco Bell, McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's.

The meals and their respective drinks. From left: Taco Bell, McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

First up was Taco Bell. It cost $7.92 for a coffee, a Breakfast Crunch Wrap, and two Cinnabon Delights.

The Taco Bell meal was the most different from the other options.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The chain has partnered with Cinnabon for its breakfast offerings, including the coffee.

The Taco Bell coffee was the largest.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The main item was a Breakfast Crunchwrap. It comes with egg, bacon bits, a hash brown, cheese, and a "creamy japapeño sauce."

The Crunchwrap was large.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Instead of potatoes, Taco Bell’s side was an order of Cinnabon Delights.

A Cinnabon Delight is basically a doughnut hole or a munchkin.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

These were genuinely delicious.

The interior of a Cinnabon Delight.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

After being so pleased with Taco Bell, I was excited to move on to Wendy's, which cost $4.55 for a coffee, sandwich, and potatoes.

The Wendy's deal is called the 2 for $3.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I ordered on the app, and specified I wanted half and half with my coffee. I received black coffee with little packets.

This coffee was not great.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I got an egg-and-cheese sandwich on a flaky biscuit.

I'm glad I skipped the meat on this one.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The homestyle potatoes, though, were perfect.

I wish they served these all day.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Next was Burger King's $8.03 meal for a coffee, breakfast sandwich, and order of potatoes.

The Burger King meal was the second-most expensive.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

This coffee was sickly sweet and tasted the most artificial.

This had an off after-taste.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I ordered bacon, egg, and cheese on a croissant, but I wish I had skipped the bacon.

This didn't need the bacon.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I loved the shape of these potatoes.

These were delicious.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

My final meal was from McDonald's. It cost $8.35 for a coffee, sandwich, and hash brown.

This was the most expensive meal.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

McCafé is well-known and beloved by some, but I thought this coffee was watery.

McCafé is famous, but I couldn't tell why.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The Egg McMuffin is also iconic, but I was unimpressed.

It could be a case of good branding.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I was obsessed with the hash brown, though.

This was an A+.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

My favorite overall meal, though, was still from Dunkin'.

Dunkin', the only breakfast chain, reigned supreme.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Second-best was Taco Bell, which surprised me.

Inside the Crunchwrap.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Then came Wendy's.

I'd get this again in a heartbeat.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

In second-to-last was Burger King.

Burger King was underwhelming.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

My least favorite of all the meals I tried was McDonald's.

You can see my English muffin was a bit burned.Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I tried McDonald's spicy chicken nuggets and think they should be added permanently to the menu

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