McDonalds had those Angus burgers for a bit, would cost around $12 for a large meal if I recall. I usually get a medium #1 and if I am hungry enough, add a McChicken, comes to around 10 bucks. I don't think it's that crazy to spend $12 at McDonalds depending on where you are. Regardless, Costco is much cheaper.
I suppose it depends on what you're getting. Stadler mentioned a #2 meal with either a cheeseburger or a Filet-o-Fish. I'm not familiar with any of the combos by number, but if all you're getting for $12 is a McDonald's cheeseburger, fries and a drink, you're paying way too much.
I had this discussion with a friend in relation to In-n-Out. I said I much prefer Five Guys, and he responded that Five Guys is too expensive, and my retort was that I'd rather spend $15 and get what I get at Five Guys than spend $8-9 and get an overcooked burger (both the meat and the bun) and fries that are edible for no more than 5 minutes after they hand them to you. That's even more true with McDonald's.
A bacon-cheese Whataburger meal is $6.64 and is vastly superior to any burger from McDs.
I'm gonna be in Austin in a few weeks, so I'm gonna have to check out Whataburger. Those I know who've had it rank it significantly higher than I-n-O.
First, not talking quality at all. I'm with all of you that Whataburger and Five Guys far eclipse McDonald's (though I don't consider McDonald's "shit" like many do; it's not bad when it's hot). I don't get the hoopla over In-And-Out, but to each his own. I have often gone to Wendy's for a single with cheese, then cruised through Mickey D's for fries.
Which brings me to second: PG is right. What up with the "durability" of McDonald's fries. They are delicious, but when you get them, the clock is ticking. The closest McDonald's is about 15 minutes away, and I dislike the fries already by the time I get home. They are NOT good when cold.
Third, I went to see if I had any receipts lying around, but I don't eat there much so I don't (I save all my travel receipts, but no Mickey D's). So I went on the app. For my local Mickey D's, if I add a Quarter Pounder with Cheese meal with a med. coke - that's a number 2 meal with NO upgrades - it's $9.39 BEFORE tax. To add a cheeseburger, just the sandwich, it's $1.29; to add a Filet-O-Fish, just the sandwich, it's $5.29. So you're looking at $10.88, plus $0.69 tax, or $11.57, or $14.68, plus $0.93, or $15.61. So I said "$12", when actually it is between $11.57 or $15.61 for the meals I typically get. On rare occasions I will sub out a QP for a Big Mac. At my local store, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese is $5.69, a Big Mac is $5.49, and the meal is $9.09 before tax. So we're looking at a quarter ($0.25) difference on each end of the range.
I feel okay about my statement of "$12 for a meal at McDonald's". Whether that's $12 well spent or not is another discussion (I don't think it is, frankly; I'd rather go and get a cheeseburger grinder or an Italian hoagie from my local pizza joint).