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Americans looking to save on a quick and easy breakfast may want to look beyond the usual fast-food favorites, as a new ranking highlighted several unexpected chains that also deliver plenty of bang for your buck.
The food site Tasting Table recently highlighted 12 breakfast chains that it says offer standout value, including familiar names like McDonald’s, Starbucks and Dunkin’.
The outlet considered affordability, accessibility, rewards programs, menu variety and convenience.
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Here are five unexpected picks that made the list and may surprise breakfast diners.
Caribou Coffee, Wendy’s, Burger King, IHOP and Waffle House earned high marks for value. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee, which has about 490 locations nationwide, mainly in the Midwest, earned a spot on the list for its budget-friendly breakfast offerings, including $2 hot coffee, a $3.50 cold brew and a $4 breakfast sandwich.
Tasting Table also cited the chain’s rewards program and its decision to axe the surcharge for dairy-free milk options. Among Caribou fans on Reddit, the Chicken Apple Sausage sandwich and Just Egg Flatbread draw frequent praise.
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IHOP
Known for all-day breakfast, IHOP offers value well beyond pancakes, including several breakfast meal options under $6, according to Tasting Table.
IHOP, pictured here June 24, 2016, in Indianapolis, is a restaurant chain offering a variety of breakfast meals. (iStock)
While IHOP now has fewer than 2,000 U.S. locations, with the largest concentration in California and Texas, it earned praise for its rewards program. Members can stack up points toward free menu items, score free pancakes on their birthday and take advantage of other special offers.
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Burger King
The home of the Whopper also earned praise for its breakfast menu. Tasting Table pointed to French toast sticks starting around $1 and breakfast sandwiches under $5, along with app-based rewards and discounts that can help save your breakfast budget.
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Reddit commenters praised Burger King’s Croissan’wich, with one saying it tops McDonald’s iconic Egg McMuffin, in a subreddit dedicated to questions about food.
(Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Wendy’s
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After decades of trying to perfect its breakfast menu, Wendy’s has emerged as a standout for value, the outlet noted. With roughly 5,700 locations nationwide, the chain earned praise for its affordable, filling breakfast options, including breakfast sandwiches and combo meals typically priced between $5 and $10, and its rewards app.
Fans on Reddit singled out Wendy’s Breakfast Baconator, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit and seasoned potatoes as standout menu items, and called the chain’s breakfast “underrated.”
Waffle House has been an American institution since 1955 and is famous for its breakfast classics. (Tami Chappell/Reuters)
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Waffle House
The longtime diner chain rounded out the list thanks to its generous portions and affordable prices. Tasting Table highlighted breakfast sandwiches priced under $9, hash browns for less than $5 and a rewards program that offers coupons, specials and free food.
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Many diners view Waffle House’s All-Star Special as a top choice for breakfast value, with some Redditors joking that the meal has become their personal “inflation tracker.”