Finding a fast-food meal for $10 can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. This summer, major fast-food chains have introduced value pricing to boost sales. McDonald’s and Burger King, for instance, have rolled out $5 and $6 meal deals, often featuring smaller portions similar to kids’ meals.
We decided to see if we could get a burger, side, drink, and dessert for $10 or less at five fast-food chains based in Southern California: Carl’s Jr., Del Taco, In-N-Out Burger, Jack in the Box, and McDonald’s. Our goal was to avoid using rewards, digital deals, or kids’ meals.
Here’s how our $10 challenge turned out, ranked from most successful to least.
Del Taco
Del Taco, known for its Mexican fare, also offers burgers and fries. We chose the Del Cheeseburger for $3.29, which left us with over $6 for additional items. We selected a snack taco for $1.49, Mini Churros for $1.99, and an iced coffee for $2.19. Our total was $8.68 for four items.
In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger, which focuses on burgers, fries, and drinks, provided a simpler option. We ordered Combo No. 3, including a hamburger, medium fries, and a medium soft drink. Although In-N-Out doesn’t offer desserts, we created a root beer float by mixing Barq’s Root Beer with a vanilla shake.
Carl’s Jr.
Carl’s Jr. helped us stay under $10 with its Double Take mix-and-match menu, available until August 13. We chose a Spicy Lil’ Cheeseburger and small fries for $6. We replaced dessert with 1% chocolate milk. Our total was $9.45 for three items.
McDonald’s
With a special offer making all fountain drinks $1.49, McDonald’s allowed us to order four items, though we went slightly over budget. We selected a cheeseburger, small fries, apple pie, and a fountain drink. With tax, the total was $10.29 for four items.
Jack in the Box
Despite Jack in the Box’s Munchies Under $4 menu, we couldn’t stay within the $10 limit. Although prices on their website suggested we could get four items for $9.99, in-store prices were higher. For example, two tacos that were listed at 99 cents each cost $1.99. We ended up with a Jr. Jumbo Jack, two tacos, Mini Churros, and a small fountain drink for $11.81.