McDonald’s vs. Subway vs. Taco Bell: Which Gives You the Most Food for Your Money?

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All fast food restaurants don’t offer equal value. When you want a quick bite, you might be faced with the choice of McDonald’s, Subway or Taco Bell.
If you’re a fan of all three restaurants, this can be a tough decision. Therefore, it can be best to let your hunger guide your choice by opting for the chain that’s prepared to fill you up.
Find out which of these three fast food restaurants gives the most food for your money.
McDonald’s: Bacon Quarter Pounder With Cheese Meal
Made for a hearty appetite, the McDonald’s Bacon Quarter Pouder With Cheese Meal comes with medium fries and a drink for around $14.29 (the price may vary depending on location). Just as it sounds, this sandwich consists of a quarter-pound of beef, topped with American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, slivered onions, salt and three half-strips of bacon on a sesame seed bun.
Taco Bell: Cantina Burrito Meal
Priced at $11.49, the Taco Bell Cantina Burrito Meal is designed to fill you up.
Delight your tastebuds with a Cantina Chicken Burrito (slow-roasted chicken, purple cabbage, avocado ranch sauce, lettuce, chipotle sauce, pico de gallo and cheese), crunchy taco (seasoned beef, cheese and lettuce), chips and nacho cheese and a medium fountain drink.
Subway: The Ultimate BMT Meal
Made to satisfy an empty stomach, the Ultimate B.M.T. is an acronym for “Biggest, Meatiest, Tastiest.” Sink your teeth into tender Genoa salami, spicy pepperoni, savory Black Forest ham, two pieces of provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions and parmesan vinaigrette, layered on Artisan Italian bread.
Get a footlong Ultimate B.M.T. Value Meal Deal, complete with chips and a drink, for $15.88.
Which Fast Food Restaurant Gives You the Most Food for Your Money?
You’re probably not walking away hungry from any of the meals listed above. Each one offers enough food to satisfy most people. As for which restaurant offers the most food for your money, there’s two ways to look at it — item quantity and overall meal volume.
The Taco Bell Cantina Burrito Meal comes with four items, making it both the largest spread and the cheapest. As for the most food by volume, it’s a tossup between the Subway Ultimate B.M.T. Meal and the McDonald’s Bacon Quarter Pounder With Cheese Meal.
Generally speaking, Subway footlongs contain six ounces of meat, according to The Takeout, but may contain more. Given the meat-heavy emphasis of the Ultimate B.M.T., it’s possible this sandwich falls into this category.
Despite costing $1.59 more than the McDonald’s Bacon Quarter Pounder With Cheese Meal, the Subway Ultimate B.M.T. Meal is likely the most food for your money. Therefore, if you’re seriously hungry, Subway is likely your best bet to fill up on a budget.
Editor’s note: Prices may vary based on location and are subject to change.
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