Cheapest Restaurant Chains in 2026
Which chain actually costs less, category by category. Each ranking is worked out from every priced item on every menu we track, ordered by the midpoint of the menu rather than by the headline price of a single loss-leader.
| Category | Cheapest chain | Typical price | Chains ranked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍔 Cheapest burger | White Castle | $2.49 | 22 |
| 🍗 Cheapest chicken | Chick-fil-A | $5.25 | 11 |
| ☕ Cheapest coffee | Tim Hortons | $3.29 | 7 |
| 🥞 Cheapest breakfast | Krystal | $2.99 | 24 |
| 🥪 Cheapest sandwich | Arby's | $6.29 | 10 |
| 🌮 Cheapest Mexican | Del Taco | $3.49 | 8 |
| 🥡 Cheapest Asian | Panda Express | $3.50 | 3 |
| 🦐 Cheapest seafood | Long John Silver's | $5.49 | 3 |
| 🍝 Cheapest pizza | Costco Food Court | $2.99 | 9 |
| 🍦 Cheapest ice cream | Costco Food Court | $2.99 | 12 |
| 🍳 Cheapest diner | Waffle House | $6.55 | 19 |
| 🍖 Cheapest BBQ | Cook Out | $4.79 | 3 |