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Taco Bell added a new Cravings Value Menu at the very beginning of the year. The menu consisted of 10 different items, each priced at $3 or less, including the Cheesy Roll Up, Spicy Potato Soft Taco, Cheesy Bean & Rice Burrito, Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes, Double Stacked Taco, Stacker, Cheesy Double Beef Burrito, 3-Cheese Chicken Flatbread Melt, Chicken Enchilada Burrito, and Loaded Beef Nachos. In late June, the chain added a new $7 Luxe Cravings Box, including a Chalupa Supreme, Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Double Stacked Taco, chips and nacho cheese sauce, and a medium drink.
In February, Jack in the Box highlighted value options including a $3 wrap, $12 Munchie Meals, and digital channel offers like two tacos for 99 cents. In May, the company announced plans to lean into its new Munchies Under $4 platform. That menu offered 11 menu items along with an option to add a drink. Options included the French Toast Sticks, Two Tacos, Sourdough Grilled Cheese (a new menu item), Jr. Jumbo Jack, Tiny Tacos, Chicken Nuggets, Jr. Chicken Sandwich, Jr. Cheeseburger, Value Curly Fries, Value French Fries, and the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger.
Applebee’s went all in on value promotions in 2024, starting with 50-cent boneless wings in late March. The chain then added a late-night promotion in mid-June, offering half-priced appetizers including the wings, chicken wonton tacos, mozzarella sticks, chicken quesadilla, spinach and artichoke dip, brew pub pretzels and beer cheese dip, and brew pub loaded waffle fries. A few weeks later, Applebee’s also started offering 50-cent mozzarella sticks. And in November, the chain launched a $9.99 Meal Deal, offering a choice of the Big Cluckin’ hand-breasted chicken sandwich or Big Classic Bacon Cheeseburger with fries and a fountain beverage.
In early April, KFC introduced a “Taste of KFC Deals” value menu, with offerings starting at $4.99. The deals included a $4.99 Meal for One, a Meal for Two, a $20 Family Meal, and a limited-time $10 bucket of eight drums and thighs. KFC also continued to offer its $20 Fill Up Box, and offered digital exclusive value offerings including 50-piece nuggets for $25, a six-piece chicken and nuggets family meal for $24.99, and an 8-piece chicken and eight tenders Fill Up for $30.
In late April, Friendly’s highlighted a new permanent menu of late-night budget items Sunday through Thursday. The deals included a double cone or dish for $4, a Friend-Z for $5, a Fribble or medium sundae for $6, and an appetizer or large Sunday for $7, with some exclusions.
The very next day, Chili’s shared that its value strategy was working, and added a new Big Smasher Burger to its 3 for Me platform, which first launched in 2016. In September, Chili’s expanded that deal to 11 lunch combinations that start at $10.99.
In late May, Burger King confirmed that it would return its $5 meal to the lineup and accelerate other value offers. The meal included a choice of one of three sandwiches with nuggets, fries, and a drink.
In mid-June, Starbucks announced a limited time Pairings Menu, offering a combination hot or iced coffee or tea with a croissant starting at $5, or a hot or iced coffee or tea with any savory breakfast sandwich starting at $6. The company backed off its discounting strategy in mid-October.
After months of rumors, McDonald’s confirmed its $5 Meal Deal in late June. It included the choice of a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, small fries, a four-piece Chicken McNuggets, and a small soft drink. This came after company executives reported declining traffic among low-income consumers throughout Q4 2023, and among all consumers in Q1 2024. In late November, McDonald’s announced it would extend the meal deal both timing wise (through summer 2025) and in terms of the offerings. McValue will feature exclusive in-app offers, local food and drink deals, and a new Buy One, Add One for $1 offer.
Also in late June, Sonic launched a new $1.99 menu, offering snacks, desserts, and entrées at that price indefinitely. It also added two new Queso Wraps at $1.99 each. Also on the new value menu, dubbed FUN.99, is a Quarter Pound Double Cheeseburger, a Chili Cheese Coney hot dog, a small order of potato tots, and any 16-ounce shake. In early October, Sonic reworked the value menu with new sandwiches and drinks. It brought back the Grilled Cheese Burger it first debuted in summer 2021, and added small Cream Slushes.
In mid-July, Del Taco, which is owned by Jack in the Box, brought back its “$2 and Under” value meal. The new version featured items such as snack-sized chips and fresh guacamole. It also included a Bean and Cheese Burrito, Chicken Cheddar Rollers, Crispy Chicken Tacos, Snack-Sized Chips and Guac, and Three-Layer Queso Nachos.
In late July, Denny’s announced it would relaunch its $2-$4-$6-$8 value menu, with an added $10 category. The value menu was last on offer in 2020 as it celebrated its 10th anniversary.
In early August, Potbelly said it had rolled out a $7.99 everyday value combo meal. The deal included a turkey, ham, or chicken skinny sandwich with chips and a drink.
In early October, IHOP added a new value menu to promote weekday splurging. It launched the House Faves menu, available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for $6. The menu included the Breakfast Faves Combo (2x2x2), Ham & Cheese Omelette, French Toast Breakfast, and the House Scramble with Hash Browns.
