Viral TikTok Calls Out McDonald's For Not Having Any $1 Items on Its 'Dollar Menu'

Stacey Ritzen
·2 min read
10

In late 2017, McDonald's announced that it would be bringing back its Dollar Menu, which was first launched in 2002, as a three-tiered value menu offering menu items at $1, $2, and $3. Flash forward to 2023 and the value menu still advertises items for $1. However, upon closer inspection, nothing on the so-called "Dollar Menu" actually costs $1 anymore in many locations.

This is according to a viral TikTok captured in Niles, Ohio. "McDonald’s pricing is getting out of hand," the user captioned the video, which has since been viewed nearly 200,000 times. "How are you gonna call something a dollar menu and put $1, $2, $3 right next to that when there are no $1 items?"

"This isn't even a McDonald’s in a nice area," the TikToker added.

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And sure enough, the closest thing to $1 on the Dollar Menu is the Any Size Soft Drink and Southern Style Sweet Tea, which both cost $1.29. There are also options to "buy one, get one for $1," but now, even a small French fry costs $1.99.

And although prices vary at various McDonald's franchises across the country, the shrinking value menu seems to be indicative of a trend. In the video's comments, one McDonald's employee chimed in, noting that the only thing that costs $1 on their location's Dollar Menu are apple slices. According to the National Restaurant Association, menu prices increased 7.1 percent between July 2022 and July 2023.

"I think that the title Dollar Menu is a misnomer," the TikToker, identified as Anne Arroyo told Insider. "They are trying to capitalize on an old business model that no longer exists, and it just brings more attention to their inflated prices. The Under $3 menu would be more appropriate. I miss the days of being able to get a regular hamburger for 89 cents and a small fry for $1."

When the revamped McDonald's value menu launched in early 2018, it featured four $1 menu items: the Sausage Burrito, McChicken, Cheeseburger, and a soft drink.

But the economy has changed in recent years, and American consumers aren't the only ones feeling the crunch from inflation. Since the pandemic, McDonald's is one of many fast food chains that have been scaling back value menus due to rising food and labor costs.

Be that as it may, perhaps it's time to tweak the Dollar Menu once again to something a bit less misleading.