I'm just going to ask that the generic "McDonald's isn't food" comment is left somewhere else, I want a discussion for once.Is it just me, or has McDonald's become a very expensive place to grab a quick bite?
I've been going to McDonald's since I was at least 3, and I've always enjoyed my trips there. I have fond memories of going there every Saturday as a kid with my grandma and getting a kids meal after watching Saturday Morning Cartoons. I remember loving getting a bite there during my teenage years, and sitting back and enjoying it. During college, though, and the last 5 years, I've been eating it less and less and heading to Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell, KFC, etc...
I've popped back there a few times this year, namely for breakfast. Right now, I still feel like I can smell a McGriddle and I haven't had one in months! It was nice ti just sit back and eat one and remember being young and the trips with my grandma and the days with mom buying me a treat. I stopped largely because of one reason: Cost. The McGriddle's where I live, for a meal with a hash brown and Orange Juice, costs $5.
On average, in order to get a meal, it's $5. Not too bad... until you consider what your getting for the money.
For example, I don't eat burgers from McDonald's. I doubt I ever will. Instead, I eat McNuggets and Chicken Selects. The cost for a 6 Piece Nugget is $2.50. That's the nuggets alone. With a meal at $4.99, you get the nuggets, a medium soda and medium fries. In essence, your not getting a lot of food for the money because the entire thing can be devoured in only 7 minutes, 10 if you want, and doesn't fill you much.
Another example is the Chicken Selects. A 3-Piece Chicken Select normally goes for $3.99. Again, that's the cost of the chicken alone. In an average meal, it's $5.39. Same deal with medium soda and medium fries. And the result? Nothing too filling.
The problem with a large majority of McDonald's food is that the quality of the food has been declining more and more in recent years. The average complaint is that it isn't even "food" to begin with, a fairly valid claim depending on your position on the issue. For me, it is because it can fill you up. I've been to McDonald's from Philly, to New York, to Washington DC, Baltimore, and more. The best one I've ever been to is near the White House, trust me on that! But the overall quality has been lacking.
What do I mean by lacking? The food tends to be over-cooked and the result are dried and shriveled McNuggets and Chicken Selects, over-oiled French Fries, microwaved burgers, and an experience leaving you still hungry.
Compare this to Wendy's, now my restaurant of choice. The cost is this:
5-Piece Nugget - $1
Small Fries - $1
Value Soda (20 oz) - $1
Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger - $1.29
An average meal for me is a soda, fires, nuggets, and maybe a burger. The burger's are fresh, but still tend to be small and mostly bun. But for $5, I'm getting more than I would at McDonald's. The food tends to be healthier as well.
My point in all of this? McDonald's isn't cheap anymore, it's fairly expensive. At KFC for what could be considered the same meal (3-Piece Strip, Biscuit, Soda, and Fries) your paying $5.49. The quality of the food tends to be good because, like Wendy's, they have eliminated TransFat and the food tends to taste better.
