The new year means new deals for fast-food fans.
National chains, including Burger King, Taco Bell and Wendy's, have launched new discounted menu options this year, piling on a recent push among restaurants to cater to consumers concerned about inflation and higher food prices.
The so-called "value meal wars" began picking up steam in spring 2024 with McDonald's launch of its $5 Meal Deal. Many other restaurants joined in, announcing (or sometimes reminding customers of) lower-priced options.
Many of those value meals and deals are still around for customers to enjoy into 2026, and others are introducing new ways to eat for less.
Here's a look at the newest deals — and some previously announced.
Wendy's new "Biggie Deals" menu items are shown.
Wendy's 'Biggie Deals' menu
Wendy's revamped its "Biggie Deals" menu, launching more options on Jan. 14.
The menu includes choices of $4 Biggie Bites, a $6 Biggie Bag and a $8 Biggie Bundle:
- $4 Biggie Bites: Choose from a Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Jr. Cheeseburger, Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, 4pc. Nuggets or Jr. Fry. Then, choose from a 4pc. Nuggets, Jr. Fry or small soft drink.
- $6 Biggie Bag: Choose from a Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Jr. Cheeseburger, Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger or Double Stack. You also receive a 4pc. Nuggets, Jr. Fry and a small soft drink.
- $8 Biggie Bundle: Choose two options from a Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Jr. Cheeseburger, Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger or Double Stack. You also receive a Jr. Fry and a small soft drink.
Burger King's new Whopper meal deal
Burger King launched a $5 meal earlier this month alongside a new Whopper inspired by the restaurant's fans.
Customers can get a double cheeseburger, fries and a drink for $4.99 at the fast-food chain or opt for the new Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper featuring a flame-broiled patty, onion rings, crispy bacon, sautéed mushrooms, Swiss cheese and creamy peppercorn aioli on a toasted sesame seed bun.
Last year, the chain offered $5 Duo combo meals, letting diners choose a combination of any two items from the Duo options and a $7 Trio, letting you choose three items to fill out your combo. Those deals are still available for customers to enjoy.
Items on Taco Bell's new Luxe Value Menu are shown.
Taco Bell's Luxe Value Menu
At Taco Bell this year, the new Luxe Value Menu gives customers the chance to enjoy 10 "craveable" items costing $3 or less: five new items and five fan favorites from the company's Cravings Value Menu.
The new Luxe Value Menu items are available Jan. 22 and include:
- Mini Taco Salad for $2.49: Featuring seasoned beef, Chipotle Sauce, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and refried beans in a crispy, golden tortilla bowl.
- Beefy Potato Loaded Griller for $2.49: Featuring seasoned beef, crispy potato bites, nacho cheese sauce, Chipotle Sauce and reduced-fat sour cream, wrapped up and grilled.
- Chips & Nacho Supreme Dip for $2.49: Featuring layers of seasoned beef, refried beans, nacho cheese sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, pico de gallo and a three-cheese blend served with tortilla chips.
- Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker for $2.99: Featuring grilled all-white-meat chicken, Avocado Ranch Sauce, three-cheese blend, lettuce and tomatoes. Served folded and grilled.
- Salted Caramel Churros for a limited time at $1.99: Churros that are crispy on the outside, sweet and creamy on the inside, dusted in salted caramel sugar.
The returning fan favorite value items include:
- Cheesy Roll Up for $1.19
- Spicy Potato Soft Taco for $1.29
- Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito for $1.49
- 3 Cheese Chicken Flatbread Melt for $2.29
- Cheesy Double Beef Burrito for $2.79
Freddy's Frozen Custard launches new taco, frosts
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has created a new value menu, complete with new items.
The Freddy's Value Menu includes a new Smash Burger Taco priced at $3.49, along with a Hot Chocolate Frost. The menu also features $2 mini-size Frosts, including the Lemon Cream Frost and Orange Cream Frost, for a limited time.
The deals are available for Freddy's fans to enjoy through early March.
Kentucky Fried Chicken's $5 new bowls
Kentucky Fried Chicken marked the new year by ushering in $5 bowl options for customers, including a new collaboration with Canadian chef Matty Matheson — the Matty's Cheesy Nuggy Gravy Bowl featuring fries, brown gravy, crispy chicken nuggets and coated cheese curds.
Other $5 bowls include:
- Nashville Hot Mac & Cheese Bowl: mac and cheese, five Original Recipe nuggets, a three-cheese blend and Nashville Hot Sauce.
- Nashville Hot Famous Bowl: mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, a three-cheese blend, five Original Recipe nuggets and Nashville Hot Sauce.
- Mac & Cheese Bowl: mac and cheese, a three-cheese blend and five Original Recipe Nuggets.
- Famous Bowl: mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, a three-cheese blend and five Original Recipe Nuggets.
Denny's dishes out Slammin' Meal Deals
Denny's is offering customers 10 new meal options starting at $5.99 that cover breakfast, lunch and dinner through mid-April.
The meal options include:
- 2-Egg Breakfast Slam: Two eggs cooked your way with crispy hash browns and toast.
- Breakfast Quesadilla: Scrambled eggs, melted cheddar cheese and crispy bacon grilled into a warm tortilla.
- Two Meat Scrambler: Scrambled eggs with bacon and sausage inside, topped with melted cheddar and served with hash browns and toast.
- Fish Sandwich with Fries: Pollock fillets on a toasted bun topped with lettuce, tartar sauce and pickles. Served alongside wavy-cut fries.
- Grand Slam Burrito: Bacon, sausage, eggs, hash browns and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
- Everyday Value Slam: Choice of pancakes, brioche French toast or biscuit and gravy. Served alongside eggs, bacon or sausage.
- Super Slam: Two pancakes, two eggs, bacon, sausage and hash browns.
- Chicken Tenders & Fries: Fried chicken tenders served alongside your choice of dipping sauce and wavy-cut fries.
- Classic Burger with Fries: An all-beef patty with lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickles on a brioche bun. Served alongside wavy-cut fries.
- One-Piece Country Fried Steak: A country-fried beef steak covered in gravy. Served with two sides of your choosing and dinner bread.
McDonald's Value Menu, Subway's Meal of the Day still in play
Some restaurants that jumped on the value menu and meal deal trend last year still have affordable options going this year for customers, including McDonald's, Subway and Dairy Queen.
McDonald's
At McDonald's, the Value Menu and $5 Meal Deal are still offered. The Meal Deal was added to the chain's menu in June 2024.
The $5 Meal Deal includes multiple options:
- McDouble, McChicken, or Daily Double
- Small fries
- Four-piece Chicken McNuggets
- Small soft drink
McDonald's McValue menu is also sticking around, which lets customers buy one, add one for $1 on select items like breakfast biscuits, cheeseburgers and fries.
Subway
At Subway, the sandwich restaurant's "Meal of the Day" deal continues to give customers a chance to get a 6-inch sub for $4.99 with the choice to add make it a meal with a drink, chips or cookies for $2 more.
Each day of the week features a different sub, with the menu switching up for 2026:
- Sunday: Spicy Italian
- Monday: Meatball Marinara
- Tuesday: Classic Tuna
- Wednesday: Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki
- Thursday: Oven-Roasted Turkey
- Friday: Black Forest Ham
- Saturday: Italian B.M.T.
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen's deals are also sticking around for the new year, including its $7 meal deal that lets customers choose from an Original Cheeseburger, Crispy Onion Cheeseburger or Chicken Strips, alongside a regular order of fries, drink and a sundae.
