Cheapest Breakfast Chains in 2026

19 chains rankedUpdated September 26, 2026

Krispy Kreme is the cheapest breakfast chain we track, with a typical menu price of $3.29 — 75% below Denny's at the other end of the table. Full ranking below, worked out from every priced item on each menu.

Breakfast Chains Ranked by Price

#	Restaurant	Typical price	Cheapest item
1	Krispy Kreme 20 items priced · average $7.22	$3.29	Original Glazed$2.19
2	Del Taco 44 items priced · average $4.25	$3.49	Value Taco$1.29
3	Wendy's 49 items priced · average $4.95	$4.19	Frosty (junior)$1.49
4	Sonic Drive-In 42 items priced · average $4.66	$4.29	$1.99 Snack Menu items$1.99
5	McDonald's 51 items priced · average $4.97	$4.29	Apple Slices$1.29
6	Burger King 45 items priced · average $5.13	$4.29	Soft Serve Cone$1.79
7	Dunkin' 42 items priced · average $5.00	$4.49	Donut (each)$1.79
8	Jack in the Box 44 items priced · average $4.94	$4.99	Two Tacos$1.79
9	Hardee's 26 items priced · average $4.96	$4.99	Hash Rounds (medium)$2.29
10	Chick-fil-A 43 items priced · average $5.56	$5.25	Icedream Cone$1.85
11	Starbucks 42 items priced · average $4.89	$5.45	Plain Bagel$2.95
12	Carl's Jr. 27 items priced · average $5.58	$5.49	Chocolate Chip Cookie$1.49
13	Whataburger 44 items priced · average $6.87	$5.49	Apple Slices$1.99
14	Bojangles 40 items priced · average $10.81	$6.49	Plain Biscuit$1.99
15	Waffle House 42 items priced · average $7.46	$6.55	Toast$2.45
16	Panera Bread 39 items priced · average $10.10	$10.99	Coffee (regular)$3.19
17	Cracker Barrel 44 items priced · average $14.30	$12.29	Hashbrown Casserole$3.99
18	IHOP 41 items priced · average $11.57	$12.49	Coffee (bottomless)$3.79
19	Denny's 41 items priced · average $12.28	$13.29	Coffee (bottomless)$3.49

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The Cheapest Breakfast Options in Detail

1. Krispy Kreme — typical item $3.29

Krispy Kreme prices doughnuts by the dozen, and the dozen is where the value is: an Original Glazed dozen costs about $14.49, or $1.21 a doughnut, against about $2.19 for a single. Assorted and specialty dozens run $3 to $5 more. When the red "Hot Now" light…

The menu runs $2.19 (Original Glazed) to $23.99 (Double Dozen Original Glazed) across 20 priced items, averaging $7.22. Buying a dozen Original Glazed instead of singles cuts the price per doughnut almost in half. See the full Krispy Kreme menu →

2. Del Taco — typical item $3.49

Del Taco is the second-largest Mexican-inspired fast food chain in the United States, and it is unusual in serving both tacos and burgers from the same kitchen. Its differentiator is fresh preparation — beans cooked in-store daily, cheese grated on site…

The menu runs $1.29 (Value Taco) to $11.79 (Epic Burrito Combo) across 44 priced items, averaging $4.25. The 20 Under $2 menu is the deepest value lineup in Mexican fast food — a Value Taco at $1.29 and a cheeseburger at $1.99 from the same window. See the full Del Taco menu →

3. Wendy's — typical item $4.19

Wendy's built its 2026 pricing around one number: the Biggie Bag. At $5 to $7 depending on the tier it is the most aggressive full-meal bundle any of the big three burger chains runs, and it is the reason the à-la-carte board looks expensive by comparison…

The menu runs $1.49 (Frosty (junior)) to $12.29 (Baconator Combo) across 49 priced items, averaging $4.95. The $5 Biggie Bag is the most complete meal for the money at any national burger chain — the four items separately run about $11. See the full Wendy's menu →

4. Sonic Drive-In — typical item $4.29

Sonic is the last major drive-in chain in America: you park in a stall, order from a speaker, and a carhop brings the food out. That format is the brand, and it is why the drink menu — well over a million claimed combinations of sodas, slushes, limeades and…

The menu runs $1.99 ($1.99 Snack Menu items) to $9.29 (SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger) across 42 priced items, averaging $4.66. Happy Hour from 2:00 to 4:00 PM every day takes 50 percent off all drinks and slushes — the single biggest recurring discount in fast food. See the full Sonic Drive-In menu →

5. McDonald's — typical item $4.29

McDonald's is the price benchmark the rest of American fast food is measured against. With more than 13,500 U.S. restaurants and roughly 95% of them franchised, the same Big Mac can swing more than two dollars between a rural Midwest drive-thru and a…

The menu runs $1.29 (Apple Slices) to $24.99 (Bundle Box (family)) across 51 priced items, averaging $4.97. The $5 Meal Deal is the single best value on the menu — the same four items ordered separately run close to $12. See the full McDonald's menu →

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Cheapest Breakfast Chains — FAQ

What is the cheapest breakfast chain in 2026?

Krispy Kreme has the lowest typical menu price of the 19 breakfast chains we track, at $3.29. Its cheapest item is Original Glazed at $2.19.

How much does a breakfast meal cost in 2026?

Across the 19 chains ranked here the typical single item runs from $3.29 to $13.29. Add a side and a drink and a full meal lands roughly $6.91 to $27.91 depending on where you order.

How is this ranking worked out?

Every priced item on each chain's menu is collected, then the chains are ordered by the midpoint of their menu — the median price. A median is used rather than an average so that one expensive family platter does not make an otherwise cheap chain look costly.

Are these prices the same everywhere?

No. Franchise owners set their own prices, so figures move between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. The ranking reflects the prices that appear most often across U.S. markets.