While making your own food at home is undoubtedly cheaper, sometimes hunger strikes when you’re out and about and you’re forced to indulge in a convenient cheeseburger or sausage roll.
Manchester has an abundance of cheap eats from the moment you step off the train, stretching down the Piccadilly Approach and into Piccadilly Gardens.
There are some extremely affordable options from the likes of Greggs and Subway, ideal for filling a gap when you get a grumbling tummy. Or, there are some pricier choices, like Five Guys, where the cheapest menu item exceeds £3.
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Sadly, these takeaways and fast food restaurants are not exempt from the rising cost of living and soaring inflation, with McDonald’s being forced to increase the price of its saver menu cheeseburgers from 99p to £1.19 last week.
That said, there are still plenty of tasty options that will fuel your Mancunian adventures. Here’s the cheapest savoury menu items we found when we popped into every open venue last week:
Leon
At Leon, just outside Piccadilly Station, the cheapest item on the menu - which isn’t classed as a ‘side’ - is their baked fries. The dish comes in at £2.79, however, you can size up for £3.09. The sides menu is cheaper if you’re looking for something even lighter, where you can bag hummus for £1.99 and a flatbread for 79p.
The best value could be found in their magic bags via the Too Good To Go app, though. I once picked up nearly £10 worth of breakfast muffins for £3, saving both cash, and food from going to waste.
Out in town and feeling peckish? Check out more stories on the fast food scene here:
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Greggs
Next door at Greggs, you can pick up a croissant for £1.05, but it’s well worth spending an extra 5p for one of their iconic sausage rolls instead. Greggs say that: “Much like Elvis was hailed the King of Rock, many have appointed Greggs as the (unofficial) King of Sausage Rolls.”
Each one is freshly baked in store throughout the day, and consists of seasoned sausage meat caressed with golden puff pastry - what’s not to love for a little over a quid?
Subway
In Subway, the ‘snacks’ menu said prices start from £1.19, however, I couldn’t see anything for that price as I perused the menu. I did find a margherita slice for £1.49 though, and having had one or two of these in my time, can confirm they’re ideal for when you’re in a rush, or just ‘peckish’ and don’t fancy anything huge.
The slices launched in stores at the start of June and are made with half a toasted 6” Sub, topped with Subway's marinara sauce and melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese. There’s also a pepperoni version if you’re feeling adventurous.
Archie’s
Archie’s, which opened its first Manchester branch 13 years ago, offers hungry customers a pretty pink menu to look over while deciding what they might want to eat.
They may be famed for their burgers and milkshakes, but it’s their curly or crinkle cut fries which are the most affordable purchase, costing £2.25 each. Prices then jump to £3.49 for Mac n Cheese or Tater Tots.
Caffe Nero
Down the road at Caffe Nero, you’re looking to pay around £4 for a sandwich, but a pot of Tim’s Dairy Greek style vanilla yoghurt comes in at £1.85.
I’ve previously paid £3.09 for a Too Good To Go bag from Caffe Nero, though, where I received a Cotto ham and cheese toastie, worth £4.75 alone. Also in the bag was a breakfast box, fruit pot and not one, but three croissants, which is great value. You just have to remember to reserve your bag on the app.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s are famed for their low prices, and their saver menu ensures there’s always something affordable for everyone. Their hamburgers are the cheapest item on the menu and were priced at 89p when we popped in store. However, after recent news that McDonald’s is hiking some of its prices, this could change. Besides the cheeseburger increasing from 99p to £1.19, it’s unclear exactly which products will be affected by the price rise.
Burger King
At Burger King, the menu in store showed fries to be the cheapest item on the menu, costing £2.49. However, Burger King also have a King Saver menu, so it’s always worth asking at the checkout for a 99p hamburger - which is much better value and more filling than the fries.
In a taste test comparison between Burger King, Five Guys and McDonald’s, Burger King’s fries faired well, beating McDonald’s with a rating of three stars out of five.
Five Guys
In that same taste test , Five Guys fries came out on top, having been fried in peanut oil and seasoned with a special spice combination. Their fries are absolutely the cheapest thing you can buy, however, they’ll set you back an eye watering £3.15 - you could get three Burger King hamburgers or Greggs croissants for that money.
KFC
Last but not least, KFC offers sides like corn, rice and a side salad for £1.49. But, pay an extra 50p and you can get a mini fillet burger or small portion of Popcorn Chicken for £1.99.
Still cheaper than Five Guys fries, you can bag a small Popcorn Chicken and fries for £2.99. Bargain.
So, where will you be heading for a cut-price lunchtime snack?
For more on where to eat and drink in Greater Manchester, visit here
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