Cheap Fast Food Under $5 (2026)
Cheap fast food under $5 still exists — but it is hiding. The dollar menu is gone, and most chains would rather sell you a $12 combo. We went through all 18 chains we cover and pulled every item we could verify under $5 from our own chain pages. No guesses, no third-party menu sites. If an item is on this page, we found the price on one of our own verified guides. Prices vary by location, because most chains are franchised.
Cheap Fast Food Under $5: The Full List
| Item | Chain | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bean & Cheese Burrito | Del Taco | $1.00 (official launch price) / $1.99–$2.89 in-store |
| Snack Taco | Del Taco | $1.29 |
| The Del Taco | Del Taco | $2.49 |
| Crinkle Cut Fries | Del Taco | $1.79 |
| Mini Shakes | Del Taco | $2.49 |
| Hash Brown Sticks (breakfast) | Del Taco | $1.00–$1.50 |
| Del Cheeseburger | Del Taco | $2.79 |
| Fruit Chews | Whataburger | $0.79–$0.89 |
| Big Ranch Wrap | Whataburger | From $3.00 |
| Whataburger Jr. | Whataburger | $3.99 |
| More for $4 items (4 junior items) | Whataburger | $4.00 each |
| Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe | Wendy’s | $1.89 |
| Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger | Wendy’s | $1.99 |
| Double Stack | Wendy’s | $2.09 |
| 6pc Nuggets | Wendy’s | $1.79 |
| Small Frosty | Wendy’s | $1.39–$3.19 ($1.00 in-restaurant offer) |
| Small Fries | Wendy’s | $1.69 |
| Small Chili | Wendy’s | $2.09 |
| 4 for $4 (Jr. cheeseburger + nuggets + fries + drink) | Wendy’s | $4.00 |
| McDouble | McDonald’s | $2.59–$3.65 |
| McChicken | McDonald’s | $2.99–$3.59 |
| 4pc Chicken McNuggets | McDonald’s | $2.29–$3.49 |
| Hash Browns | McDonald’s | $2.69 |
| Baked Apple Pie | McDonald’s | $1.89 |
| Sausage McMuffin / Sausage Biscuit / Sausage Burrito | McDonald’s | Under $3 (McValue) |
| Fun.99 items (Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, wraps, soft serve cup, root beer float) | Sonic | $1.99 each |
| Corn Dog | Sonic | $2.33 |
| Jr. Cheeseburger | Sonic | $2.09 |
| Frozen Refreshers | Sonic | From $2.99 |
| Buttermilk Biscuit | Popeyes | $1.29–$1.69 |
| Cinnamon Apple Pie | Popeyes | $3.11 |
| Strawberry Biscuit | Popeyes | $2.23 |
| Regular sides (Cajun Fries, Mashed Potatoes, Red Beans & Rice, Coleslaw) | Popeyes | $4.11 each |
| Tuesday 2-pc special (franchise-level, where offered) | Popeyes | $2.99–$3.49 typical |
| Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich | Bojangles | $2.99 |
| Plain Buttermilk Biscuit | Bojangles | $1.75–$1.88 |
| Bo-Berry Biscuit | Bojangles | $2.13–$2.95 |
| Bo-Tato Rounds (Medium) | Bojangles | $1.69 |
| Sweet Potato Pie | Bojangles | $1.99 |
| Individual Fixin’ | Bojangles | $2.11 |
| Sausage Biscuit | Bojangles | $3.26–$3.90 |
| Steak Biscuit | Bojangles | $3.58–$4.75 |
| Buttered Biscuit | Chick-fil-A | $1.65–$2.09 |
| Hash Browns | Chick-fil-A | $1.75–$2.69 |
| Waffle Potato Chips | Chick-fil-A | $2.69 |
| Chocolate Chunk Cookie | Chick-fil-A | $2.15 |
| Buddy Fruits Apple Sauce | Chick-fil-A | $3.09 |
| Sweet Tea / Lemonade / Soft drinks | Chick-fil-A | $2.89–$3.35 |
| Iced Coffee | Chick-fil-A | $4.35 |
| Single Tender | Dave’s Hot Chicken | $4.99–$5.79 (under $5 at the low end) |
| Hot Mozz (1 piece) | Dave’s Hot Chicken | $3.59 |
| Frozen Slusher | Dave’s Hot Chicken | $3.99 |
| Bottled Water | Dave’s Hot Chicken | $2.49 |
| House Blend, Small (drip coffee) | Seven Brew | $2.50–$3.38 |
| Muffin Tops | Seven Brew | ~$4.25 |
| Pup Cup | Seven Brew | ~$1.00 |
| 7 Fizz, Small | Seven Brew | ~$3.90 |
| Texas Red Chili (cup) | Texas Roadhouse | $2.99 |
| Sides (baked potato, green beans, etc.) | Texas Roadhouse | $2.49–$3.49 |
| Soft Drinks (20oz) | Texas Roadhouse | $1.99–$2.49 |
| Brownie Bite | Applebee’s | $3.99 |
| Fountain drinks | Applebee’s | $2.39–$3.59 |
| Happy Hour wells | Applebee’s | $2–$4 |
| Fried Pickles | LongHorn | $4.29 |
| Sides (Loaded Baked Potato, fries, etc.) | LongHorn | $2.99 |
| Soft drinks / iced tea (free refills) | LongHorn | $3.49 |
| Celsius energy drink can (12oz) | Smoothie King | $2.69 |
| Kids smoothies (12oz) | Smoothie King | $3.09–$4.59 |
| Enhancers (protein, vitamin, energy, fiber) | Smoothie King | $0.99 each |
| House Salad (lunch) | Twin Peaks | $4.99 |
| Sides (fries, green beans, etc.) | Twin Peaks | $3.29 |
| Soft drinks / tea / lemonade | Twin Peaks | $2.99 |
| Late-night wells / Twin Peaks Light 22oz | Twin Peaks | $2.00 |
| 10oz Twin Peaks Drafts (happy hour) | Twin Peaks | $3.25 |
The Cheapest Full Meals Under $5
A single cheap item is a snack. A meal is the real test. These are the verified full meals that come in under five bucks:
- Wendy’s 4 for $4 — Jr. cheeseburger + 4pc nuggets + fries + drink for $4. Still alive at most participating locations.
- Wendy’s Jr. Cheeseburger 444 Meal — burger + 4pc nuggets + fries + drink for $4.44.
- Whataburger More for $4 — any of four junior items for $4; add fries + drink for $3 more ($7 total meal).
- Del Taco burrito + taco — Bean & Cheese Burrito ($1.00–$2.89) + Snack Taco ($1.29) = $2.29–$4.18 for a filling meal.
- Chick-fil-A biscuit + hash browns — Buttered Biscuit ($1.65–$2.09) + Hash Browns ($1.75–$2.69) = $3.40–$4.78 for a light breakfast that stays under $5.
- Sonic two Fun.99 items — a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger ($1.99) + a wrap ($1.99) = $3.98.
Best Under-$5 Items by Category
Burgers: Wendy’s Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe ($1.89) is the cheapest burger we verified anywhere. Sonic’s Jr. Cheeseburger ($2.09) and Whataburger Jr. ($3.99) follow. McDonald’s McDouble ($2.59–$3.65) is the best burger-per-dollar at the big chains. See our Wendy’s value guide and McDonald’s value guide for the full bundles.
Chicken: Popeyes’ Tuesday 2-pc special ($2.99–$3.49 typical, franchise-level) is the cheapest fried chicken deal on this page, where offered. Bojangles’ Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich ($2.99) is the cheapest sandwich on a chicken chain’s menu. Dave’s Single Tender ($4.99–$5.79) is under $5 only at the low end of its range.
Tacos and burritos: Del Taco owns this category. The $1 Bean & Cheese Burrito, $1.29 Snack Taco and $2.49 Del Taco are all under $3. Nothing else on this page comes close. See the full list on our Del Taco value menu guide.
Breakfast: See our fast food breakfast menus guide for the full picture, but the under-$5 breakfast standouts are Del Taco breakfast tacos (~$1.79), Sonic Breakfast Burrito ($1.59–$2.69), Bojangles plain biscuit ($1.75–$1.88) and McDonald’s Hash Browns ($2.69).
Drinks and dessert: Whataburger Fruit Chews ($0.79–$0.89), Wendy’s Small Frosty ($1.39–$3.19), McDonald’s Baked Apple Pie ($1.89), Bojangles Sweet Potato Pie ($1.99), Popeyes Cinnamon Apple Pie ($3.11), Seven Brew House Blend ($2.50–$3.38) and Smoothie King’s Celsius can ($2.69).
How to Build a Full Meal for Under $5
The trick is combining a cheap protein with a cheap side instead of buying a combo. A McDouble ($2.59–$3.65) plus nothing else is a light meal. A Del Taco Bean & Cheese Burrito ($1.00–$2.89) plus a Snack Taco ($1.29) is a full one. Two Sonic Fun.99 items ($3.98) beat any single $4.99 item on fullness.
Water is your friend here. Every chain on this page charges $2–$3.50 for a fountain drink, which can blow a $5 budget on its own. A $2.99 McChicken plus a water is a $3 meal. The same McChicken plus a $3.29 drink is a $6 meal.
What Looks Cheap but Isn’t
Delivery apps. The same item costs more on DoorDash and Uber Eats. A Del Taco $1.89 Snack Taco can cost $2.49+ delivered. A Bojangles $11 combo becomes $13–$15. If you are counting dollars, pick it up.
$5 deals that are $6 in your market. Popeyes’ $5 Faves runs $5–$6 by market — Los Angeles charges $6. McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal runs $6 for the McDouble version in some markets. Always check the board before you commit.
“Value” items that are just small. A $1.99 item is only a deal if it fills you up. Two $1.99 Sonic items ($3.98) are a better meal than one $4.99 Dave’s Single Tender at the top of its range.
Cheap Fast Food Under $5 FAQs
What is the cheapest fast food item under $5?
An extra Zax Sauce at Zaxby’s ($0.25) is the cheapest thing on this page, but it is not a meal. For real food, Whataburger Fruit Chews ($0.79–$0.89) and Del Taco’s Bean & Cheese Burrito ($1.00 official launch price) are the cheapest edible items.
Can you get a full meal for under $5?
Yes. Wendy’s 4 for $4 (burger + nuggets + fries + drink), Wendy’s Jr. Cheeseburger 444 Meal ($4.44), Whataburger’s More for $4 items, Del Taco’s burrito + taco ($2.29–$4.18), and two Sonic Fun.99 items ($3.98) are all verified full meals under $5.
Which chain has the most under-$5 items?
Del Taco, Wendy’s and Sonic. Del Taco’s value menu is built on sub-$3 singles, Wendy’s has the deepest bench of sub-$2 burgers and sides, and Sonic’s Fun.99 menu is four $1.99 items plus $2.33 corn dogs.
Are under-$5 prices the same on delivery apps?
No. Delivery markups push cheap items up — a Del Taco $1.89 Snack Taco can cost $2.49+ on DoorDash, and a Bojangles $11 combo becomes $13–$15. Pick up if you are counting dollars.
Does Zaxby’s have anything under $5?
Only extras: an extra Zax Sauce ($0.25), an 8 oz sauce cup ($1.50) and a cookie ($0.99). Zaxby’s has no meal under $5 — the cheapest plate is the 4pc Finger Plate at $8.39–$10.29.
Does Raising Cane’s have anything under $5?
Only an extra sauce cup ($0.39–$0.45). The cheapest combo is the Kids Combo at $6.69–$6.79, meant for kids 12 and under. For adults, the 3 Finger Combo at $8.79–$9.59 is the lowest-priced full combo.
Does Olive Garden have anything under $5?
No verified under-$5 item. The cheapest we could verify is 6 breadsticks to go at $5.29. Olive Garden’s value plays are the $6 Take-Home Entrée and the lunch specials, not sub-$5 singles.
What is the best under-$5 breakfast?
Del Taco breakfast tacos (~$1.79 each), Sonic Breakfast Burrito ($1.59–$2.69), Bojangles plain biscuit ($1.75–$1.88) and McDonald’s Hash Browns ($2.69). See our breakfast menus guide for the full breakfast tables.
Can you get a drink under $5?
Yes, easily. Most fountain drinks, coffees and slushes are under $5 — standouts are Seven Brew House Blend ($2.50–$3.38 small), Texas Roadhouse soft drinks ($1.99–$2.49), Wendy’s Small Frosty ($1.39–$3.19) and Sonic slushes ($1.70+ on delivery).
Do under-$5 deals work at every location?
Not always. Franchise pricing varies, and some deals are franchise-level (like Popeyes’ Tuesday 2-pc special) or market-dependent (Popeyes’ $5 Faves runs $5–$6). Confirm at your local restaurant before you order.
Last checked: Oct 16, 2026. Prices vary by location. See our best fast food value menus guide and fast food deals guide for more ways to save.