Review: Eating fast and cheap -- where's the best (and worst) dollar menu?

By Seth Bracken

October 31, 2008 | Starving students need food, we need it fast and we need it cheap. Dollar menus scattered throughout many fast food joints fill this pivotal role. But with so many choices ranging from tacos to salads to a burger and fries, where is the best place to get the biggest bang for your singular buck?

Although there are many dollar menus I chose to review McDonald's, Wendy's and Taco Bell and I went in the store to dine. I judged on several characteristics, including delivery time, depth of the menu, such as variety of items, taste and fullness factor.

McDonald's first. This corporate giant has served billions and is still counting, and doubtless that many of those billions bought items on the surprisingly diverse dollar menu. The choices range from a healthy fruit and yogurt parfait to a double cheeseburger. The french fries, however were really the shining star of this menu, the crunchy potato wedges were long and slender with just the right amount of salt. I was very impressed not only with the quality of the fries, but also the quantity. The little packet I had was overflowing and was much larger than the other french fries that they serve at Wendy's. As for timeliness, at 1 min. 33 seconds from order to pickup, I could have been in and out and on my way to finish my homework in no time.

Some of the drawbacks were that the spicy McChicken was soaked in mayonnaise and none of the items on the menu come as a fully loaded burger with lettuce and tomato. Overall I give it an A-, but a good showing with a wide range, great time, and I left completely stuffed having to shove in my last french fry after spending a mere $4.

Wendy's dollar menu was not nearly as diverse, but the quality of the items made up for the lack in numbers. I think that the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger (JBC) is famous amongst us bargain hunters, and although it was off the dollar menu for a time, it is back. The JBC leads the menu, with the french fries falling desperately short of adequate. They were soggy and the tiny package left my stomach growling. After eating the mushy fries, I moved on to the JBC.

I must say the best way to eat at Wendy's is to put the chicken nuggets on the sandwich and then smother in barbeque sauce. It hits the spot every time and the addition of the crisp nuggets with the already present lettuce, tomato, cheese and crunchily scrumptious bacon turn this regular sandwich into a regular giant and smash the competition of a double cheeseburger at McDonald's.

Even though the place was packed and it appeared that the order would be backed up, from order to pick-up it took a measly 55 seconds. And although I didn't leave the store hungry, per se, I could have easily eaten more. Overall Wendy's also receives an A-.

I know that you're not supposed to give away the ending but I just have to say that Taco Bell gets an F-. From entrance to exit I wished that I had gone to Wendy's again. The sparse menu offered a mere 6 items, yet did not include a drink and some of the items were a waste, like an apple empanada that couldn't fill up an anorexic teenager.

They were killed in the timeline, taking 10 minutes, 45 seconds from order to pick-up and I was the only one that ordered! The regular Pepsi was out of order and when I tried to fill up with diet, I hate diet, the machine wouldn't turn off and for some unknown reason the Mountain Dew turned on and was running all over the counter. The yellow soda splashed everywhere, soaking my notebook and causing me to mutter obscenities in Spanish under my breath. The manager eyed me like I had broken the drink machine, as if to say, "you broke it, you bought it."

After I finally got my food, I had already drained my cup ($1.59) three times. The cheese was not melted and the tacos were cold. I decided to take it home and warm it up in the microwave; I had my fill of the poorly-kept local. The meal was filling, but so is prison camp food, I suppose.

So the battle between McDonald's with its long, crispy fries and Wendy's sporting the JBC and chicken nuggets. I'd have to say the winner goes to (drum roll please)… Wendy's! The vegetables seem too fresh to be fast food and while there is no longer a Frostee on the menu, it is diverse enough to satisfy most starving students, just skip the fries.

A great meal of a burger, fries and a drink can be yours for only $3. So next time your wallet is feeling light and so is your stomach, don't forget the dollar menu is the best place to get the biggest bang for your singular buck.

NW
MS