Why a pub feed is becoming cheaper than a fast-food meal

Some Australians are finding they can now get a feed at their local pub for cheaper than a large burger meal at the fast-food giants.

Fast-food used to always be thought of as the cheapest way to eat out, but some Australians are starting to notice they can now go to their local pub for a sit-down lunch for the same price or less.

An average large burger combo at McDonald’s, KFC, Hungry Jack’s and Red Rooster all cost more than $12.

But if you want a non-traditional burger, like one with bacon, it’s going to cost you more.

At KFC a large Zinger burger combo with chips and a drink is $12.45. It is a similar price at McDonald’s for a large Big Mac combo – about $12-13 (prices vary by store).

Make that a Zinger Bacon and Cheese or Cheese and Bacon McSpicy burger and you’re looking at about $13.50 and $16 respectively.

At Hungry Jack’s, the large Whopper burger combo costs $13.10. Make that a Baconator Duluxe and it’s $15.25. A Baconator Jack’s Fried Chicken burger takes it up to $17.25.

At Red Rooster, a Reds burger in a large combo is $14.50.

“Where I live, it is now officially cheaper to buy lunch at the pub than McDonald’s,” a Reddit user from the NSW Hunter Valley posted this week, sparking an intense discussion.

“Pretty much all the pubs in town do $14 lunch specials … served on a plate with proper cutlery.”

Some Australians can get a burger at their local pub for cheaper than a large fast-food meal. Picture: Meaghan Coles

Dr Katherine Kirkwood, a cultural studies scholar with a focus on food, told news.com.au there had been a shift from fast-food being very basic to offering more “fancier” options, which has seen the price gap between the fast-food giants and pubs get smaller.

“McDonald’s and KFC and the likes are also trying to compete with Guzman y Gomez, Zambrero, Grill’d … the fast casual (dining) space is becoming coming increasingly busy,” she said.

As for pubs offering those great lunch deals, Dr Kirkwood speculated there might be two reasons: encouraging patrons back after Covid and pubs make money on alcoholic drinks when fast-food restaurants do not.

“People aren’t going to offices so they’re keeping the Friday lunch offering attractive,” she said.

She noted both fast-food stores and pubs would be facing higher ingredient costs with inflation and other factors like the floods.

Pubs are offering lunch deals to get people in during the week post-Covid. Picture: Mark Stewart

news.com.au contacted McDonald’s, KFC, Hungry Jack’s and Red Rooster about pricing.

A Hungry Jack’s spokeswoman said there were “several factors” that influenced pricing but did not specify.

“The company works collaboratively with its supplier network to deliver great value and prices consistent with current operating costs,” she said.

In June, the Australian Financial Review reported a third price rise for the year was coming for KFC, citing Drew O’Malley, the chief executive of Collins Foods, which operates 261 KFC outlets in Australia.

He said the increase in menu prices was needed to bolster margins due to inflation.

McDonald’s said: “Like all businesses, we review menu prices from time to time and consider several factors, including the higher-cost environment we are operating in.”

A spokeswoman said the company has promised its Loose Change menu would not increase until at least June next year and its 30 Days 30 Deals promotion starts on the app from November 1.