An Australian mother known for sharing financial advice has conducted a practical experiment to identify the best value fast food lunch options available for under ten dollars. Lou Gibson, who runs the popular @thatmoneymum Instagram account, initially believed finding substantial takeaway meals at major chains for less than $10 would be nearly impossible. However, her research uncovered five viable contenders, which she ranked based on taste, portion size, and overall value for money.
The Unexpected Champion
After sampling meals from McDonald's, Subway, Sushi Sushi, Guzman y Gomez (GYG), and Red Rooster, Gibson declared a clear winner that surprised even her. "No one is more shocked than me that GYG isn't ranked number one," she admitted in a video that has since garnered over 103,000 views. The top spot went to Red Rooster for its lunch special: a quarter chicken served with chips for only $5.50, available until 4pm daily.
Gibson expressed amazement at the quantity of food provided for such a low price, joking in her video caption that the chain must be "losing money" on the deal. She described the meal as evoking "childhood nostalgia" while delivering exceptional value, proclaiming it offered "so much food for such a cheap price."
Close Contenders and Value Judgments
In a very close second place was Guzman y Gomez's mini chicken burrito bowl, priced at approximately $10. Gibson confessed she was "dead set this was going to be number one," praising it as "glorious, tasty, amazing." She noted that for an additional $2, customers could upgrade to a full meal including small chips and a soft drink, which she considered outstanding value despite technically exceeding her $10 limit for the experiment.
Third place went to Subway, where Gibson purchased a honey mustard leg ham six-inch sub for $8.45 and added a $1.50 cookie, bringing the total to $9.95. She highlighted that Subway's Value Range offers six-inch subs for $7, with various filling options, making it a solid budget choice.
Completing the Top Five
The fourth-ranked option came from Sushi Sushi, where Gibson bought two Crispy Chicken rolls for $8.60 ($4.30 each). While she found them "super tasty," she placed them lower in the ranking because they were "not particularly filling" compared to other meals.
Rounding out the top five was McDonald's McSmart Meal, priced at $6.95. This offering includes a cheeseburger, small fries, small drink, and a side (Gibson chose three nuggets with sauce). She described it as offering "insane value," noting it costs the same as a Happy Meal but provides more food. The meal ranked fifth simply because McDonald's isn't her personal favourite, not due to any fault in its value proposition.
Practical Advice for Budget-Conscious Consumers
Gibson's Instagram content typically focuses on maximizing grocery budgets and promoting homemade meals. However, she acknowledged that completely avoiding takeaway isn't always realistic. "Abstaining from takeaway altogether isn't always realistic, so having cheap options is a lifesaver," she explained in her video caption.
The video sparked considerable engagement from followers, with many expressing support for her findings. Comments included declarations like "Justice for Red Rooster" and "Doesn't surprise me that RR wins!" Others shared their own value discoveries, such as swapping nuggets for a second cheeseburger in the McSmart Meal or praising the Subway $7 Value Six Inch range.
One mother appreciated Gibson's practical approach, commenting: "I know your Insta is all about making food at home, but you are keeping it real and saving dollar bucks at the same time. Love, love, love it!" This experiment demonstrates that with careful selection, affordable and satisfying fast food lunches remain accessible across Australia's major chains.
