Charles Esther
I decided to try the cheapest cheeseburger-and-fries combo I could find at Applebee’s, Chili’s, and TGI Fridays.
My goal was to find which one offered the best value for money.
Fast food may still be quick and convenient, but rising prices have made it less appealing.
Interestingly, it now costs about $10 just to get a burger, fries, and a drink at McDonald’s.
This made sit-down casual dining chains look more attractive by comparison.
I visited Applebee’s, Chili’s, and TGI Fridays to see if I could get a good meal for a low price.
Each affordable burger was properly cooked and served with plenty of fries.
All three meals were satisfying, but one stood out as the best deal.
TGI Fridays: Tasty Burger but Missing a Drink
At TGI Fridays, the cheapest cheeseburger-and-fries combo cost me $9.99.
However, my meal did not include a soft drink, which was a downside.
The burger was cooked perfectly to my medium-well preference.
It was generously topped with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pickles, TGI Sauce (a sweet and tangy sauce), and cheese.
The vegetables were layered under the patty, with the cheese on top, making the burger easier to eat.
I appreciated how well the burger held together, especially since many cheeseburgers can fall apart quickly.
The patty was a decent size, at least a quarter pound of beef, and had no gristle.
The fries were hot and crunchy but seasoned with more salt than I preferred.
The salty fries made me wish my meal had included a soft drink for refreshment.
Thankfully, water was free, and overall, the meal was worth the price.
Applebee’s: Delicious but Messy Cheeseburger
At Applebee’s, I ordered from the Really Big Meal Deal menu, which included several burgers and a chicken sandwich for $9.99.
Each meal came with fries and a soft drink, giving Applebee’s better value than TGI Fridays.
I chose the classic cheeseburger, which was a hit.
The burger was cooked just right, with a slight pink center and a bit of char on the outside.
Lettuce, pickles, and tomato were piled high, and the brioche bun was fresh and slightly sweet.
While I liked the generous toppings, they made the burger slide apart with every bite.
Toward the end, I had to use a fork and knife to finish the burger.
The fries were hot, crunchy, plentiful, and not overly salty.
Despite the messiness, the meal was well worth its price.
Chili’s: Best Value with a Bonus Starter
The cheapest burger at Chili’s was on the 3 for Me menu, costing $10.99.
This combo included a burger, fries, a soft drink, and a starter.
Starters could be a cup of soup, a house side salad, or chips and salsa.
I chose baked-potato soup, topped heavily with bacon, cheese, and green onions.
The portion was small, but since it felt like a bonus, I didn’t mind.
The burger and fries at Chili’s were decent.
The burger was a broad, flat “smash” style patty cooked well.
The bun tasted fresh, but the burger was simple, topped only with tangy sauce, cheese, and chopped onion.
I expected lettuce, tomato, or pickles, which I think would have complemented the burger nicely.
However, the starter helped fill me up.
The fries were thick with just the right amount of salt.
My ginger ale drink paired well with the meal.
Overall, Chili’s combo felt like the best value due to the included starter and drink.
Final Thoughts
Each meal cost about $2 extra after tipping servers, but the prices felt fair.
I was disappointed that TGI Fridays’ meal didn’t include a drink.
Applebee’s meal included a drink, burger, and fries.
Chili’s meal had the burger, fries, drink, and a starter — making it the best overall deal.
While Chili’s burger was the simplest, it was still good.
If Chili’s added more toppings at no extra cost, it could rival the other two.
Next time, I might ask for more toppings at Chili’s.
Overall, sit-down casual dining chains can offer good value for a burger-and-fries combo, sometimes even beating fast food chains on price and quality.
