Ugh, Fine: I Ranked the 9 Measly Items on the McDonald's Dollar Menu

These days, you can’t really call yourself a fast-food restaurant unless you’ve got a value menu worth bragging about. With only nine items on offer, four of which are only available during breakfast hours, I’m not sure McDonald's has the ability to do that, but the “$1-$2-$3” menu exists all the same. Should you skip the Happy Meal and turn to the dollar menu? Let’s take a look — here are the nine items on McDonald’s value menu, ranked. 

Prices and availability are subject to change.

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Price: $1.99

While it’s certainly not the best fast-food chicken sandwich you can eat, it’s one of the most reliable menu items that McDonald’s has to offer. The McChicken has been a Mickey D standby for me for a long time, and the price is inarguably gorgeous. Plus, pickles are a free add-on.

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Price: $1.79

It’s a shame you can only land this during breakfast hours, but I’ll be a sucker for McDonald’s breakfast for the remainder of my days. The Egg McMuffin with ham is, of course, the real prize of said breakfast menu, but for $1.79, the price of a Sausage McMuffin is hard to argue with no matter what.

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Price: $2.59

Third place for the chain’s signature double cheeseburger may seem harsh, but the only reason it’s not landing in first place is because a single is actually cheaper. Why McDonald’s would not direct your attention to a $1.99 cheeseburger on the three-bucks-or-less menu is beyond me. In fact, while we’re talking value, maybe just grab the standard triple — for three beef patties, it’s only about a dollar more. One thing to keep in mind: Adding bacon to this will end up making it cost more than a regular bacon cheeseburger, so just dip back to the regular menu if you want bacon.

Price: $1.99

Of all the fast-food items that McDonald’s is celebrated for, I believe the hash brown is amongst the most deserving. Two dollars for a hash brown might feel expensive, but it’s worth it, especially when you ask for it hot, fresh, and crispy. Honestly, go ahead and make it $100. Won’t stop me.

Price: $2.49

Maybe I’m out of touch, or maybe I’m just a true Cheapist, but does $2.50 feel like it’s not actually that much of a steal? Even with menu pricing less than $3, I can’t help but feel like four measly nuggs is worth $2.50. Maybe an even two. I’ll fight them all day over that 50 cents.

Price: $2.39

You really have to be in the right mood for a sausage patty packed between two buns that contain explosive syrup nuggets. Something about this just feels a little easier to handle when it’s got egg instead of sausage. Either way, in the deepest, darkest reaches of my heart, I can’t deny my love for McGriddles. One note: Even though this isn't on McDonald's official dollar menu, it showed up on my app as a value meal item in my area. Check your app!

Price: $2.29

I don’t know, y’all. Are we really calling a small French fries for $2.29 a good deal? I’m coming for Old McDonald’s throne on this one, because I have to tell you, I find the fries to be amongst the most overrated things in fast food. I cannot recall the last time I received them hot and crispy, across tons of locations all over this dang country. They’re flimsy, under-salted, and disappointing. There, I said it.

Price: $1.99

I don’t know what happens to the sausage at McDonald’s when it gets transmogrified into those tiny little round sausage balls you find in the burritos, but I do not care for it one bit. The flavor feels off, and I can’t explain why. I’m here for the big patty, but yeesh, these tiny ones freak me out.

Price: $1.59

The biscuits at McDonald’s are horrible. C’mon, you know this. Don’t act like I’m dropping a big bomb here. Your $1.50 is far better spent elsewhere.