The Best Value Take Away

Pinchy on 12/07/2023 - 19:16
Last edited 12/07/2023 - 20:30

I noticed this week there has been another price rise at gyg. Nachos are $15.80. Minis are almost the price that normal items use to be. That’s with no drink or side..
At this price it’s cheaper to get a pub lunch somewhere. Or even a plain burger from a local fish and chip shop.

Most places are putting their price up higher and more often making it not worth it.

It got me thinking what is the best value take away from a franchise when you feel like some?

GYG still do have $3 tacos.
Mad Mex has $3 plant based tacos.
Hungry jacks have $2.50 bbq cheeseburgers and other deals / shake to win.
McDonald’s have happy meals, though they have gone up again recently. And regular deals that aren’t that cheap.
KFC have regular deals but nothing really that’s always cheap.
Red Rooster has $5 lunch deals often, some deals. Again nothing that’s always cheap.
Dominos always have coupons but I don’t know anyone who pays full price for dominos..
Subway has $5 6 inches at most places still.
Carla Jr have deals sometimes but not great.
Zambrero doesn’t have anything.

Any other good deals from places?

Poll Options expired

  • 2
    Carls Jr
  • 57
    Dominos
  • 2
    GYG
  • 24
    Hungry Jacks
  • 132
    KFC
  • 1
    Mad Mex
  • 5
    McDonald’s
  • 42
    Other
  • 7
    Red Rooster
  • 14
    Subway
  • 2
    Zambrero
Food & Grocery Fast Food

Comments

  • MrThing on 12/07/2023 - 19:22
    +22

    Other - cook @ home, I am always starving about 1hr after any fast food and then end up eating again anyway

    • ozbargainsam on 13/07/2023 - 19:10
      +64

      This reply is the equivalent of replying 'I'm a vegan' to the question of 'what's the best steak place?'

      • MrThing on 13/07/2023 - 19:19
        +3

        Pretty much

      • gromit on 14/07/2023 - 13:10

        take away isn't a particular type of food, pretty much everything you can get at most takeaway joints you can make at home cheaper and better, especially if the price is that big an issue. So it is more replying to the steak place with "at home on the BBQ"

        • ozbargainsam on 14/07/2023 - 18:25

          Incredible. I was typing on my phone so I use 'place' instead of 'restaurant' and you go Super Saiyan Pedant on me.

          Of course you can cook at home. Someone better warn the entire hospitality industry - they could be in danger.

        • Leadfoot6 on 14/07/2023 - 18:27

          I don't have a deep fryer, pizza oven, wok, or the determination to spend hours shopping and combining a multitude of ingredients that is needed to replicate something that I can buy easily on the way home.

    • boomramada on 15/07/2023 - 17:39

      It seems a vast amount of Ozb members have Dyslexia, The Best Value Take Away, Cook home? weet-bix? lol

      • May4th on 16/07/2023 - 11:23
        -1

        takeaway doesn't mean you are shoving food in your mouth whilst sprinting like usain bolt. it could be something to take to work and I can't think of anything easier than throwing weetbix in a bowl and pouring milk. probably easier than unwrapping subway they pack them really well sometimes..

    • morebunnings on 16/07/2023 - 07:58
      +1

      I figured out that in the 20min it takes to drive to, order and wait for takeaways, and then drive home, I can make most basic dinners (stir frys, steak and salad, etc) for less and they're lot healthier.

      It just requires some planning before hand.

  • AustriaBargain on 12/07/2023 - 19:23
    +7

    You didn't list Dominos, but best value is to make your own Dominos style pizza in a cast iron skillet. Dominos ferment the dough for days but you can just do a few hour rise. You can freeze most of the toppings, even the dough, to make it in a pinch. Still need a bit of time for the dough to get to room temperature and rise a little before using it though.

    • SBOB on 12/07/2023 - 19:39
      +2

      Dominos ferment the dough for days

      where did you get this info/idea?

      • AustriaBargain on 12/07/2023 - 19:44
        +8

        Worked at a pizza place that was managed by a former Dominos manager. Many Dominos style pizza places will make the dough in the store and ferment it in their fridges for three days, but iirc he said Dominos has the dough made out of store and delivered. But maybe that was just his store or the way the owner's franchise did it, he used to manage a busy Sydney Dominos.

        You do an initial rise in the pans (the store will have hundreds of cast iron pans), then chill it for three days, then pull it out a few hours before using it for a final wake up for the yeast. That's how it's done on all the pizza forums too. Fermenting it for days adds flavour, and chilling it retards the yeast so it doesn't just balloon up and pop.

        More traditional pizza places probably don't do this I wouldn't think.

        • SBOB on 12/07/2023 - 20:29
          +1

          but iirc he said Dominos has the dough made out of store and delivered. But maybe that was just his store or the way the owner's franchise did it, he used to manage a busy Sydney Dominos.

          crazy, very different to my days at a dominos 'back in the day'.
          was made daily and most of it was used that day (quick rise, shaped, into cast iron pans, moved to fridge from vague memory), definitely only kept a max of one day for normal deep dish style.
          (this was pre 'classic' crust so perhaps thats different)

          They even use to advertise 'made fresh in store each day' about their dough

          100% longer ferment improves flavour, but thats not something I would attribute to buying dominos pizza (but i'll 100% do at least overnight for home-made pizzas)

    • Pinchy on 12/07/2023 - 20:30

      Sorry added!

    • Chef Freeman on 13/07/2023 - 18:14

      We used an mixer to make the pizza dough from dominos branded flour mix, then used a machine to stretch it out into the appropriate size, then into the cast iron pans, was only a overnight rise, after 3 days (if we had any that old) it was thrown out from memory
      There was aluminium pans with plastic lids, for traditional base i recall, and cast irons for another type of base,
      All types of bases has their own different pans if i recall correctly

  • Ghost47 on 12/07/2023 - 19:24
    +5

    Tins of sardines are $2.50 and very good for you.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 12/07/2023 - 20:26
      +7

      Not for your colleagues, esp in afternoon meetings.

      • Protractor on 12/07/2023 - 20:42
        -3

        who cares

      • eek on 13/07/2023 - 18:36

        I used to work with someone who would stick them on toast with shredded cheese and and cook it in a sandwich press. The aroma wafted VERY well through the entire floor.

        • GordonD on 16/07/2023 - 10:59
          +1

          Thanks. That's an idea. A combination of cheese on toast and sardines on toast, both of which I love. I wondered about making a pizza like that, but toast would be easier. I'd just have to choose whether to use shredded pizza cheese or tasty cheese on toast cheese.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/07/2023 - 19:35
    +2

    Subway has 2 foot longs for $22 at night (at least my local does)

    I get two Italian bmt with all the veggies and southwest chipotle sauce , decent value for when I cbf. And less effort than the Cole’s bachelors handbag kit

    • mskeggs on 12/07/2023 - 19:48
      +15

      I aspire to your life where a bbq chicken and bread rolls/pre-made salad is too much effort!

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/07/2023 - 19:51
        +4

        Compared to literally unwrapping a subway yeah pulling apart and shredding the chicken , butter and toast the roll, prep a salad kit, plate the pasta salad and clean up after is too much effort

        • filmer on 12/07/2023 - 20:10
          +1

          Perhaps more effort, but the total time from decision to having it would be awfully close.

        • mskeggs on 12/07/2023 - 20:21
          +15

          Can't believe you don't just hook the handle slots over your ears on lazy nights. Just be careful of burns if it is fresh out of the hot rack.

    • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2023 - 19:53

      Cole’s bachelors handbag kit

      TEIL what a bachelor's handbag means

      • Speckled Jim on 13/07/2023 - 11:51

        I picture a BBQ chicken bag with the handle.

        Nothing compared to bossing it like this guy

        • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2023 - 12:42
          +1

          I saw 3 young teens walking in Martin Place on Mon & eating drumsticks from a KFC bucket that the boy in the middle was holding. They obviously had places to be & people to see so couldn't afford the time to sit down & enjoy their KFC.

    • bobbified on 12/07/2023 - 20:54
      +5

      Subway has 2 foot longs for $22 at night

      Is that supposed to be cheap? I usually get a footlong for $10-11 each at all times of the day in the Melbourne CBD (where I presume would be more expensive already if the prices differ by franchise).

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/07/2023 - 21:00

        Depends on the sub but an Italian bmt is $12.85 ea. hard to beat $22 for me. I can spend $25 at maccas or hj and still not feel full

        • bobbified on 12/07/2023 - 21:07

          Save $1.85 each - guess that's not too bad if you were going to get two anyway.

          TWO footlong subs to make you full, huh? (I won't lie - I've done that in the office a few times! One is just not enough!).

        • smartazz104 on 13/07/2023 - 17:15

          A McValue box is under $30, don’t tell me that couldn’t fill you up…

          • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/07/2023 - 17:16

            @smartazz104: I haven’t had a maccas value box in years - since they were called dinner boxes , and nah I used to solo those on the reg

      • Noblejoker on 13/07/2023 - 10:20
        +2

        Just get a pizza (with or without pizza sauce) for $9 anytime
        The only difference between that and Italian BMT is the thin tasteless ham

  • boomramada on 12/07/2023 - 19:36

    Dominos with a coupon

  • Iwantthebestprice on 12/07/2023 - 19:39
    +3

    I have about 6 mymaccas account so I can always find a decent deal or % off them.
    Hungry jacks is not worth it anymore, last time I had hungry jacks was the 20% off deal, other than that hardly eat it.
    KFC burger box fed with 4 zingers, 2 large sides and 6 wicked wings is awesome value.
    Other then that I cycle through hello fresh and Marley spoon deals to get cheap food during week.

    • afah0447 on 13/07/2023 - 09:27
      +4

      We are dealing with a true OzBargainer here!

    • Jolakot on 14/07/2023 - 07:50
      +1

      You should add Dinnerly and EveryPlate to your meal box cycle, found it drastically improved the deals offered, had 60% off every second week for the last month.

    • Caped Baldy on 14/07/2023 - 15:11

      I created a KFC account on a spare device and got a 25% code. I'm tempted to abuse it…

      • Iwantthebestprice on 14/07/2023 - 15:56

        Did the KFC account require a phone number or just email? Macccas was simple just email but I havnt actually tried KFC because I was pretty sure I used my phone number when creating an account

        • Caped Baldy on 14/07/2023 - 16:14

          Damn, it uses the phone number. I just tried deleting my account and create a new account but it didn't work.

  • SydStrand on 12/07/2023 - 19:46
    +7

    OP playing fast food musical chairs every lunchtime. Lot of work to avoid packing a sandwich.

  • WreckTangle on 12/07/2023 - 19:57

    HJ

  • nubzy on 12/07/2023 - 20:13
    +5

    Outside of the KFC $1 deals, freebie offers etc I have stopped buying takeaway altogether. Too expensive, unhealthy, not satisfying.

    Instead I am cooking at home a lot more, and hitting up Woolworths during 90% markdown time for ingredients.

    If I do have a takeaway, it's usually grilled fish and chips with Greek salad from my favourite place which has maintained good value, around $10 give or take for a great meal.

    • morse on 14/07/2023 - 07:52

      When is 90% markdown time in your area?

      Mine is inconsistent, sometimes Sunday evening, sometimes Wednesday evening.

      • nubzy on 14/07/2023 - 17:14
        +1

        It varies from store to store. Mine is doing it around lunchtime each day. Getting organic scotch fillet, free range chicken breast, packs of freshly made deli wraps (really good and filling, enough for two people) etc for like 80c each. Loving it. And lots of milk and dairy stuff dirt cheap too..

        • morse on 14/07/2023 - 20:49

          Nice! Thanks for sharing

    • bluehorse on 15/07/2023 - 21:11

      Good work! whats the standout feature on the nubzy home cooked menu ? My missus is whacking out a cheap lentil spag bol but frankly it leaves me hungry. My butter chicken features, mild for the kids and I just add Franks hot sauce to turn it true indian.

  • 6079 Smith on 12/07/2023 - 20:33
    +1

    If find a $4.20 scoop of chips from the local Chippy does me!

  • Protractor on 12/07/2023 - 20:41
    +14

    OTHER:
    Clearly you are not seeking nutrition or flavour, so I recommend 4 dry weetbix. I'll grant it won't be fast. But you will be full, and have eaten more actual nutrition than most of that list

    • May4th on 14/07/2023 - 07:14
      +1

      Add a bit of fruit (frozen berry if on budget) milk which you can either have in a bowl or as a smoothie..much healthier than the options too

  • Aureus on 12/07/2023 - 20:41
    +1

    Guzman + Boost SIM with cashrewards.

  • p1 ama on 12/07/2023 - 22:09
    +4

    How do you define best value?

    In terms of just volume of food per dollar, or hitting some nutritional value per dollar, or taste per dollar…etc.?

    On balance, I find it hard to beat Asian restaurants - e.g. you can still get a good Pad Thai at most local small Thai restaurants for around $15 or less (and it's usually enough for dinner + some left over for lunch), some other great options are a Biriyani available at most local Indian restaurants, or dishes like noodle soups (Pho or Wonton Noodle Soup are always a good option for around $15), I also like some rice dishes, or curries.

    Would generally avoid the super oily "shopping centre style" Chinese food though, just super unhealthy, but my local one does a classic "rice with two options" for $12, my go to would be lemon chicken and chicken teriyaki.

    • May4th on 14/07/2023 - 07:15

      You can buy frozen dumpling or wontons for cheaper..works out to be 6-7 per meal all you need to do is boil

  • AlienC on 13/07/2023 - 02:31

    Domino's is like $6-7 in my area so it is probably best value but they have been getting the crispyness of the crust wrong more and more now

    Local corner roast shop does a nice potato bake large for about $7-8 and it's not as big as a pizza but quite tasty

    Subway has gone way up in price near my work and the footlongs are like $11 minimum now

    No $5 6 inch as far as I can tell

    The closest McDonald's is always bad quality and far away so I never go there any more don't think I could even eat it if it was free it's pretty bad

    The closest hungry jacks is even further but the deals are great but I haven't been in years but if one was near me I probably would go there over Domino's

    Yeah budget food is dire atm even microwave meals are getting expensive now

  • morse on 13/07/2023 - 07:18
    +2

    Servo lunch count? Two traveller pies and 4 redbull for $10 https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/784417 Coles express

  • lilbudgie on 13/07/2023 - 08:04
    +4

    My best value takeaway is a cooked chook from the supermarket, some bread rolls and a tub of coleslaw. Can feed a whole family for just over $20 or one person for a couple of days

    • ForkSnorter on 13/07/2023 - 10:58
      +1

      Or 2 x $4 fresh pizzas from Woolworths, then add some extra tomato and grated cheese on top, bake in oven for 15 mins. Tastes better than overly salty chook in my opinion. Probably cheaper too. Feeds 4.

      • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2023 - 11:24

        fresh pizzas from Woolworths

        wt? Woolworths doesn't have a pizzeria section

        • ForkSnorter on 13/07/2023 - 12:14

          Not cooked. You bake it yourself

          • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2023 - 12:18

            @ForkSnorter: The boxed kind?

            • ForkSnorter on 13/07/2023 - 12:23

              @[Deactivated]: Nah, usually wrapped in plastic. They're not frozen. Fresh and ready to bake.

              • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2023 - 12:27

                @ForkSnorter: Which section are they in?

                • Ghost47 on 13/07/2023 - 15:00

                  @[Deactivated]: Probably the refrigerated section somewhere. Plenty of "fresh" (i.e. not frozen) microwave meals as well in the refrigerated section.

                  • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2023 - 15:03

                    @Ghost47: Microwave ….yuck

                • ForkSnorter on 13/07/2023 - 18:01
                  +2

                  @[Deactivated]: Near the fresh pasta. They're not amazing, you have to add something to make them better (e.g. tomatoes, mushrooms, extra cheese).

                  • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2023 - 18:11

                    @ForkSnorter: Thanks, I'll have a look next time I'm in store.

    • [Deactivated] on 13/07/2023 - 11:25
      +1

      cooked chook from the supermarket

      You must reference it properly, 'tis a bachelor's handbag

  • casho on 13/07/2023 - 16:25
    +4

    Local fish and chips

  • Zondor on 13/07/2023 - 16:36
    +7

    KFC cheap as chips meal.

    • BartholemewH on 15/07/2023 - 00:47

      Official meal of OzBargain.

    • DASHCAM NOW DUDE on 15/07/2023 - 20:44

      8 pieces of chicken
      6 nuggets
      4 LARGE sides

      Easily feed a family for $23.95 (NSW)

  • klonky on 13/07/2023 - 17:01
    +1

    Our local fish and chips shop. 2 burgers, large chips and 12 nuggets for $39

    • Top G on 13/07/2023 - 17:55
      +1

      Scamworthy price

  • milkabuck on 13/07/2023 - 17:10
    +1

    KFC. 2 popcorn chicken go buckets normally does me in. And then you get the KFC regret… But seriously though fast food has really gotten too expensive lately. Makes the decision to not have it a lot easier.

    • Misha Bakunin on 14/07/2023 - 20:45

      Agreed. Unless there's a great deal I just avoid.

  • Herbse on 13/07/2023 - 17:26
    +2

    Pound for pound I would say pizza is the best value takeaway food. Which is why it's common for parties and large groups.

    Domino's with codes is good but their pizzas are laughably small and lacking in toppings. Pizza hut is much the same with less coupon availability.

    If you can find a good pizza place with decent toppings and side for around $15, that's my usual go-to for decent meals.

    Alternatively, my favourite meal to make at home which is also as cheap as it gets and quick is a stir fry using mi goreng noodles and skinless sausages and Bok Choy. Literally $3 of ingredients and less than 10 minutes to make.

    • May4th on 14/07/2023 - 07:17
      +2

      Costco pizzas

  • Jackson on 13/07/2023 - 17:47
    +3

    There should be an option for pork rolls. If you can find a good pork roll joint, preferrably run by a Vietnamese grandma or alternately someone who doesn't have a valid visa, and only takes cash, you can get yourself a nice, relatively healthy meal that includes protein, fibre and fresh vegetables for about 6-7 bucks, even in the city

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 13/07/2023 - 22:11
      +2

      love a good banh mi but most places are charging over 9 bucks now….

      • Jackson on 13/07/2023 - 23:25

        There's two near my work that are 6.50, on just opened. A couple of years ago there was one that would do bacon and egg rolls for 4 bucks in the morning, with bonus fried onion and chilli, the bomb

  • capslock janitor on 13/07/2023 - 17:49

    HJ for as long as they have freebies shaken win

  • Responsible borrower on 13/07/2023 - 17:52
    -8

    Free french fries from Doordash seemed like a good deal, but ended in a 15 minute stalemate with the driver who thought walking 30 metres to my door was somehow not part of her job requirement. She wanted me to walk to the road and collect it. That wasn't going to happen. It is called DOOR-DASH after all.

    Told a white lie to support and she DASHED up the driveway dropping the food off within 90 seconds. Wasn't too hard was it? Did not have the temerity to knock and hand it to me unfortunately. The middle seal had come off though. It seems like she peeled it then tried to stick on again but did stay stuck. Chips were half eaten.

    Cannot trust anymore that my food hasn't been compromised by the deliverer.

    I took advantage of the $1 Zinger the other day but they failed to give me serviettes. Luckily I keep spare serviettes in my car for situations like this because I understand how intensive the KFC bag packer role so it's easy to make this error.

    I like to get the $4 Bacon Deluxe from the Hungry Jack's app. Domino's $7 pepperoni is good for when I'm in a rush, need food, but want to save time by eating while driving. Domino's is hit and miss. Even the same store can change completely shift to shift.

    Shoddy treatment, food is unhealthy, quality is getting worse, and if they are putting as much care into kitchen hygiene and food handling as they do to customer service I'm turned off from ever eating it.

  • Daddy Chill on 13/07/2023 - 18:05

    Kebabs

  • FlyingMiffy on 13/07/2023 - 20:24

    KFC Cheap as Chips is hard to beat and that has been around forever. Before the app, you could always ask for it over the counter.

    • s1Lence on 13/07/2023 - 20:45

      Especially if you swap all sides to chips (assuming you have drinks at home much cheaper anyway)

    • Herbse on 14/07/2023 - 15:00

      This is my secret for cheap KFC meal. Amazing value.
      However has gone up a few dollars in recent years.

  • The General on 13/07/2023 - 21:00

    As a family, KFC and McDonalds have some good bundle meals.
    HJ's used to have good deals via the app but these have now disappeared.
    The local Fish and chip shop has a good family pack. i.e. 4 flakes, chips, PC, Dimmies etc.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 13/07/2023 - 22:05
    +2

    i love GYG but it is bloody expensive af

    i normally get two burritos with guacamole and sour cream costs me like 33 buck

    if you get a burrito in a meal with guacamole and sour cream [these are add extras] its like 24 bucks

    • i voted for Subway mostly for about 12-13 bucks you can get a footlong with a lot of filling [i normally get all the included veg] which is 'really filling' for like 5 you can add a drink and a cookie as well if you want
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