Just take a look at the success of Raising Cane's. The chain, known for its focus on chicken tenders and a limited menu featuring sides like coleslaw and Texas toast, has become one of the fastest-growing fast-food brands in the US. Bloomberg reported that the chain brought in over $2.3 billion in revenue during the first half of 2024, reflecting a 30% increase from the previous year.

When we first got to try Taco Bell's new chicken nuggets at the chain's headquarters in Irvine, California, we learned that the beloved fast-food brand had set out to create an "elevated" chicken nugget to compete in the crowded market. 

"This is truly a very premium nugget," Mira Leon, a member of the product development team, told us during a tasting at the secret test kitchen. "It's not a chicken nugget patty you might get at some fast-food restaurants. This is very much more elevated." 

"This is real chicken," added chef Brett Pluskalowski, who works on Taco Bell's food innovation team. "When you go to McDonald's, that's not what you see." 

The jalapeño honey mustard combines honey and hot mustard for a sweet and tangy dipping sauce, while Bell Sauce features red chilies mixed with tomatoes, garlic, and onions.

The newest sauce, the Fire Ranch sauce, is a collaboration with Hidden Valley — the first-ever ranch partnership for Taco Bell. It mixes the chain's signature Fire hot sauce with Hidden Valley Ranch.

The new chicken nuggets feature all-white chicken breast meat marinated in spiced jalapeño buttermilk and coated with a special crispy breading made from breadcrumbs and tortilla chips.

The nuggets are $3.99 for a five-piece order and one dipping sauce or $6.99 for a 10-piece order with two dipping sauces, though prices may vary depending on location. 

Anneta: Chicken nuggets were my favorite thing to eat as a kid (groundbreaking, I know), and I've tried dozens of iterations from different chains and restaurants — many of them soggy, bland, or just forgettable. 

Taco Bell's chicken nuggets are none of the above. The meat tasted juicy and fresh and was clearly premium. The breading was true to the "crispy" name, providing a super satisfying crunch that gave way to the tender meat underneath. There was actually texture, which is more than I can say for some other very popular chains' nuggets. 

I tried these nuggets during a tasting that featured six different menu items, and I still couldn't resist finishing the entire box. They were really that good. 

Erin: These chicken nuggets, which come coated in a blend of breadcrumbs and crunchy tortilla chips, really impressed me with their texture and well-balanced flavor. When I first held one in my hand, I worried it would be hard to bite into — it had some weight to it. However, when I bit in, I found juicy, flavorful meat inside.

They were salty, with a subtle corn taste from the tortilla-chip breading, and reminded me more of a boneless wing than a chicken nugget. I also liked how the outer breading wasn't completely uniform. You could clearly see the tiny pieces of tortilla chips that made up the breading.

Anneta: I was a fan of both the Bell Sauce and the jalapeño honey mustard, which had very different flavor profiles. The Bell Sauce carried a smokiness that reminded me of barbecue sauce, while the jalapeño honey mustard was deliciously creamy with a zingy kick. 

Erin: I was a fan of all three sauces, but the jalapeño honey mustard and Fire Ranch stole the show for me. The jalapeño honey mustard was the perfect balance between a classic, tangy honey mustard and a slight kick of heat from the jalapeño flavor. I also quickly noted that this sauce actually tasted like I was biting into a real jalapeño pepper, unlike some sauces that say they're flavored with jalapeño but just taste generically spicy.

The Fire Ranch was a good balance between creamy and a slight kick from the Fire sauce, but it didn't have as much heat as the other two sauces. The Bell Sauce was also good and reminded me of a chipotle aioli. It was more smoky than spicy. 

It's been years since the fast-food chains were embroiled in the chicken sandwich wars. But what they should really be worried about now is Taco Bell coming for their nugget crown. 

The crispy chicken nuggets and their new sauces taste elevated, and it's clear that Taco Bell's big swings and risks are paying off.

The menu continues to feel fresh and exciting at a time when so many other chains are sticking to the norm. During the 2023 tasting, one of Taco Bell's representatives explained that the nuggets were also designed for people who don't like tacos but are along for the drive-thru ride — which is an extremely smart strategy move.

People might think Taco Bell has no place in the nugget space, but it's been delivering delicious chicken for a long time, and chicken chains should be a little scared.

The burger was under $5, but I'm not sure it was worth the price.

It comes with one slice of cheese.

Right away, I tasted the thick beef patties. The burger had traveled a little more than 15 minutes from my local Burger King to my apartment, but the meat was still juicy and the cheese nicely melted.

The pickle slices were thick and crunchy, and I enjoyed the sesame-seed bun, which added a nice textural element. But I thought there was just a little too much ketchup, which will likely vary depending on who's making your burger that day.

It was also a little heavy for my liking. It filled me up a little more than I had anticipated before jumping into the rest of the burger comparison. Still, for a burger that costs just under $4, that might be more of an asset than a hindrance if you want a filling, inexpensive lunch.

It was about the same price as the burgers from McDonald's and Burger King, though it landed squarely in the middle in terms of value.

The toppings looked a little stingy, and they were clustered in the middle of the sandwich. I would have liked to see them more spread out.

But I had to get a few bites in to reach the toppings in the center.

The toppings themselves were amazing. I thought the pickles were the most flavorful out of the burgers I tried, and I liked the use of an onion ring rather than diced onion, although I would've liked more.

It was slightly more expensive than Wendy's version but had more toppings. It came with an extra slice of American cheese plus chopped onions, and I thought it was still relatively affordable.

I was interested to see if the added toppings would amp up the flavor.

The bun held everything together and was a good size, but it was a little too soft and didn't have a lot of flavor on its own. But I enjoyed the amount of condiments and didn't find them overpowering.

The chopped onions added a lot of flavor, and the burger patties were juicy despite being thinner than the Burger King ones. I liked the added cheese but didn't think it was necessary.

It costs $9 at a Whataburger in Austin, excluding tax and fees.

The burger was a decent size and I could see the gooey cheese peeking out from underneath the soft potato bun. 

The ingredients definitely set this burger apart from the others.

The bun was light and fluffy, but I did think the burger patties could have been a little thicker and juicier.

The burger cost only $5, making it one of the cheaper burgers I tried.

I ordered it with pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, and American cheese.

One of the benefits of ordering from P. Terry's is that you can easily customize your burger and add a number of toppings including grilled onions, the chain's special sauce, tomato, lettuce, and more.

The bun was slightly underwhelming, but I thought it was an excellent, large burger with tons of flavor, especially for the low price. I also thought the mustard really came through and added a lot to the burger.

I paid $12.49 for a double cheeseburger. I could customize my toppings, but I went with pickles, onions, and Shack sauce.

The burger patties were perfectly crispy on the outside and covered in gooey melted cheese. The pickles also looked large and homemade. It was even heavy to pick up.

The cheese was thick and perfectly melted.

The burger was huge, which was both an asset and a hindrance. I struggled to get through more than a few bites.

However, despite being the second most expensive burger, I thought it was worth the price. The burger patties were much thicker than the other burgers I tried, and the toppings took it over the edge in terms of flavor.

Overall, I was impressed ... but stuffed.

The burger has since been replaced with the Big Buford, which has all the same ingredients but a bakery-style bun instead of a sesame-seed bun. The burger costs $7.69 at my local Checkers in Brooklyn.

It was smaller than my hand, though it did include a variety of toppings like tomato, lettuce, and red onion. The burger also comes with American cheese, dill pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise on a toasted bun.

I also thought the American cheese was very tangy and flavorful. Overall, I enjoyed the combination of flavors. However, the price prevented this burger from ranking higher. 

White Castle sliders tend to be eaten in pairs, so I ordered two. Each burger cost me $3.55, so I ended up paying $7.10.

The burgers smelled strongly of onions and condiments the second I removed them from the bag.

The pickles were crunchy and flavorful. Though the burgers each had a bun sandwiched in the middle of the burger, it wasn't too bready — instead, it allowed the flavors to really come together while still being filling.

As the cheapest and smallest burgers, I was expecting them to be a little lackluster. However, I found that good things definitely come in small packages. The onions, condiments, and pickles were flavorful, but it was the beef that really impressed me.

The small-but-mighty burger was one of the most flavorful out of the ones I tried, easy to eat, and perfectly priced. 

Five Guys doesn't technically have a "double cheeseburger" — its regular cheeseburgers already come with two slices of cheese and two beef patties.

My burger cost $13.55, excluding taxes and fees, making it the most expensive burger I tried.

Right away, I noticed that the toppings were generous. The pickle slices were large, and none of the toppings cost extra to add.

I thought it was a perfect size. It required two hands to pick up and eat, but it wasn't as heavy as the burger from Shake Shack. Slices of melted American cheese coated each burger, and there wasn't so much sauce that it dripped out from underneath the sesame-seed buns.

I thought the pickle slices were thick, crunchy, and tart. I also really enjoyed the choice of a sesame-seed bun — it added a bit of texture to each and every bite.

The grilled onions also really impressed me. They were soft and almost caramelized, adding a lot of flavor that I didn't get from any other burger.

The SuperSonic double cheeseburger was the only burger I tried that came with lettuce and tomato. Since this was the default option, I decided to try it with these toppings rather than specifically remove them. 

The burger cost me $9.75, excluding taxes and fees.

Unlike Sonic's quarter-pound double cheeseburger, which comes with two junior patties, the full-size burger has a combined half-pound of meat. 

The ingredients tasted fresh and vibrant. The tomato wasn't too watery, the lettuce was crisp, and the burgers tasted well-seasoned and juicy. Plus, the burger was a very generous size. 

However, despite all these accolades, I thought the price was a little steep compared to what I got from Cook Out and In-N-Out.

You can order a "big double" from Cook Out any way you wish, but I ordered mine with cheese, ketchup, mustard, onions, and pickles. It cost me $4.99, not including tax.

It also had thick slices of fresh onion and large pickle spears layered on top of the burger.

The cheese slices were thick and tangy, and the burger was perfectly moist and medium-rare. It was also very large, and, after already eating dinner, I struggled to get through more than a few bites, though I kept wanting to go back for more.

At an amazingly low price, this burger definitely earned the second-to-top spot on my ranking.

7th Street Burger is a small chain of quick-service burger restaurants with 19 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.

Since it opened in 2021, the chain has quickly grown a reputation for its no-frills approach to smash burgers, which feature crispy patties, gooey cheese, and the chain's signature sauce.

I ordered a double cheeseburger, which comes with two beef patties, American cheese, onions, pickles, and house sauce on a Martin's potato bun. It cost $9.50, excluding tax and fees.

However, this burger was perfect exactly as the chain designed it. The burger patties were delightfully crispy on the outside yet managed to stay juicy.

Melted slices of cheese oozed between the two thin, expertly griddled, and charred beef patties, all smothered in the chain's signature sauce, a creamy, tangy take on classic burger sauce.

There were no lettuce or tomato slices to cut through the rich, savory indulgence, but that only added to the burger's savory flavor. I didn't miss the opportunity to customize my burger with additional toppings. It was probably the best smash burger I've ever had.

With pickles and onions to round out the flavor, the double cheeseburger offered a satisfying, nostalgic flavor that elevated the classic smash burger experience.

It cost me $4.90, which I thought was an excellent deal for the large burger sitting in front of me. One of the first things I noticed was how thick the burger patties were — they were much thicker than other burgers I tried at a similar price point.

To keep my burger similar to the other burgers I tried, I ordered it with onions, pickles, and spread, which I thought tasted similar to Thousand Island dressing.

The cheese slices were perfectly melted and coated each part of the burger, something I couldn't say about any other burger I tried.

The bun was perfectly soft and held everything together perfectly, while the special spread had my mouth watering for another bite.

When it came to a double cheeseburger, the West-Coast chain really nailed it. The burger was beyond flavorful, the perfect size, and, in my opinion, very good value for money.

The next time I'm in a state with an In-N-Out, I know where I'll be filling my burger craving.

When I arrived in Austin, In-N-Out Burger was one of the first places on my must-visit list. Luckily, the nearest location was just a short drive from my hotel in South Austin.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I spotted the iconic yellow-and-red logo on the crisp white building. As someone from the East Coast, this would be my first time experiencing In-N-Out and I couldn't wait to try it.

In-N-Out's most iconic menu item is arguably its Double Double burger, so I knew I had to try it.

Although I've heard mixed reviews on the chain's plain fries, since I ordered the burger animal style, I decided to order them on their own rather than "animal style" or with cheese.

The Double-Double includes two patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and spread, but ordering it animal-style adds mustard-cooked patties, pickles, extra spread, and grilled onions.

When I visited in 2021, the entire meal came to $11.80, including tax, which I thought was a fair price considering how much food I received. The price of a Double Double has since risen from $4.50 to an average price of $5.29 at some locations, ABC News reported in June.

After biting into the massive burger, tangy mustard, pickles, and onions hit my tongue.

The pickles were tart and crunchy, the beef patties were over-the-top juicy and flavorful, and the cheese-to-meat ratio was spot-on.

The onions added a lot of flavor and the spread stood out with its rich, savory taste. It reminded me more of Thousand-Island dressing rather than a typical burger special sauce.

The burger patties themselves were on the thinner side, and I thought they were just OK. To me, the real standouts of this burger were the layers of melted cheese, the tangy sauce, and the lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

If I were grasping to find other criticisms, I also wasn't blown away by the bun. It was soft yet didn't have much flavor on its own, and it was slightly dry and crumbly.

However, this was a truly exceptional burger, and once earned the top spot on my ranking of every fast-food double cheeseburger.

I was eager to see how the New York-based chain would stack up against this West Coast icon.

When I arrived at the Lower East Side location in Manhattan on a rainy weekday, there were hardly any people inside the small standing-room-only restaurant.

However, on the weekend at its flagship East 7th Street location, you can typically expect to wait in line to try one of its famous smash burgers.

When I unwrapped my burger, the first thing I noticed was how greasy it was. The paper was practically dripping.

However, the burger patties appeared perfectly crispy, and I could see layers of gooey cheese emerging from the burger.

The cheeseburger also smelled heavenly — I imagined it would be the perfect antidote to the many nearly identical salads I typically eat during the workweek.

The double cheeseburger comes with two fresh beef burger patties, American cheese, onions, pickles, and house sauce on a Martin's potato bun.

My burger cost $9.50, a side of fries set me back $4.50, and I paid an additional $1 for a side of the house sauce. This was almost double the price of the In-N-Out burger, so the West Coast chain immediately won in terms of value.

No matter how good a fast-food burger is, I struggle to find a reason to pay nearly $10 for one.

Potential reasons for In-N-Out's low prices include its limited menus, a focus on in-house production, and a strategic real-estate plan that places restaurants close to one another and to highways for more efficient deliveries.

In-N-Out also has many more locations than 7th Street Burger, with around 400 total locations compared to just 19, and is a bigger, more profitable company, which could make it easier to keep prices lower for the consumer.

Business Insider reached out to 7th Street Burger for comment on its prices but did not immediately hear back.

Slices of gooey cheese were nestled between the two thin, perfectly griddled, and charred beef patties and a generous serving of the chain's house sauce, which resembled a tangy, creamy burger sauce.

Held together by a squishy, soft potato roll, this burger was definitely no-frills. There wasn't any lettuce or tomato to cut through the intensely savory fat bomb I was eating, but I didn't mind.

Topped with pickles and onions, this burger delivered a balanced, classic flavor profile that elevated what a standard smash burger can be.

The pros for the 7th Street Burger double cheeseburger were the sauce, crispy patties, and the bun.

However, In-N-Out impressed me with its fresh toppings, equally gooey cheese, the sheer size of the burger, and the comparatively low price.

The burgers were also so different in their design. 7th Street Burger does smash burgers, and does them well. Both burgers were incredible in their own right but, if I had to choose just one, I think I'd betray my East-Coast roots and opt for the burger from out west.

In my opinion, In-N-Out's Double Double animal-style simply can't be topped in terms of flavor, size, and value.

However, before I get out to the West Coast again, 7th Street Burger is a perfectly adequate alternative for an out-of-this-world fast-food burger.

A serving of four bite-sized apple pies cost $2.91, excluding tax and fees, at my local KFC in Manhattan, New York. When I tried these in August, the pies also came in a 10-count serving.

The apple pie poppers were only added to KFC's menu in April, so I was excited to try them. KFC's menu no longer lists the apple pies, but it did add a cherry pie version in October. The brand did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

I placed an online order through DoorDash and received my pastries within 14 minutes. Despite the quick delivery, when I opened the packet, the pastries were barely lukewarm and already slightly soggy.

Three bites into the tiny pocket pie, I still hadn't gotten the gooey apple taste I love. Instead, I felt like I was eating fried flour.

While these weren't my favorite apple-pie dessert, I could see how they could be a good snack option because of their size. Given that they came in packs of four or 10, I thought groups might enjoy ordering them.

The pie roll cost $2, excluding tax and fees, at a Panda Express I visited in Chicago.

The chain's first-ever dessert option, introduced in 2023, was created to combine the flavors and textures of an American apple pie and a Chinese egg roll.

It's made using a wonton wrapper and apple filling, topped with cinnamon sugar.

I was impressed with the freshness of this roll and liked that it is always served hot. Before I even took a bite, I could tell the pastry had a nice crunchy exterior.

A dessert doesn't need to be doused in sugar, but this one was, putting it fifth in my ranking.

However, I loved the crunch of the pastry, and the serving had the fewest calories of all the pies I tried — 150 calories — so it may be a good sweet option for some diners looking for lower-calorie options.

The cinnamon-coated dessert cost $1.89, without taxes and fees, at the Popeyes I visited in Chicago.

Unlike the pies from KFC, this 240-calorie pie has no slits or holes on either side. It comes wrapped with a few fork-like impressions on its corners to prevent the filling from escaping.

I think spices like cinnamon are less for taste and more for their fragrance — if you add just the right amount, it can be a game changer, but overdo it, as in the case of this Popeyes pie, and it can really throw the whole recipe off-balance.

The one thing Popeyes got right was the flavor of its filling, which had just the right hint of lemon and some apple chunks. I'm obsessed with mixing tangy and sweet flavor profiles, and I think it helped this pie stand out from the rest.

It cost $2.40 at the Arby's I visited in Chicago, excluding tax and fees.

The turnover came in a regular, white-colored pastry packet with no branding. The basic packaging and the sugary drizzle didn't appeal to me at first, but when I did take a bite, I was pleasantly surprised.

The inside had the perfect layer of apple filling, which was molten but still a bit thick. It was encased in crisp pastry.

Despite having only one layer of apple filling, this 430-calorie pie did not taste doughy and was well-balanced.

Most importantly, the apple chunks were missing. The jam-like texture in the filling meant there was a hint of artificialness, which took away from the spirit of the season and the pie for me.

At $1.89 — excluding tax and fees— this apple pie from a Chicago McDonald's was priced similarly to the one at Popeyes.

First launched in 1968, the brand's apple pie was fried in its early days. Over the years, though, it has undergone several transformations. The most significant of these was the switch from frying to baking in 1992. It's now 243 calories.

Although the shape of the pie was pretty standard, I was happy to see McDonald's added patterns to the pastry.

This pie had the right ratio of apples to dough, and I enjoyed the warm and soft interior and its crispy biscuit-like exterior.

At $3.65 — excluding tax and fees— this apple pie from my local Taco Bell in New York, which I ordered via DoorDash, was the most expensive on the list.

Last month, Taco Bell unveiled a new "Decades" menu featuring old favorites. The menu included popular items that had been previously discontinued from each decade since the brand launched.

Four items have been available since Halloween, but the brand recently added its 2004 hit, the caramel apple empanada.

The empanada was first introduced as part of the brand's Big Bell Value Menu but was discontinued in 2019 until now.

As soon as I held the pastry's paper sleeve, I noticed how warm it felt. It had remained hot even though I was trying it about 15 minutes after I received it on a cold day.

As I took my first bite, I could immediately taste the warm and velvety filling alongside the crispy pastry. Its freshness stood out, and unlike the other pies I'd tried, this one got to the star of the dish — the filling — right from the start.

Even the apples had a nice tart and juicy crunch to them and paired nicely with the caramel.

As far as fast-food pies go, this was by far the best I'd tried.

The filling struck a perfect balance and was not overly sweet, and it paired beautifully with the crispy, lightly salted dough. I had every intention of sharing a few bites with a friend but ended up eating the entire pastry myself.

It also felt slightly larger and more satisfying than the other pies on this list, which perhaps explains why it's also the priciest option.

Overall, each pie I tried had a unique flavor profile and varied textures, ranging from crispy and toasted to soft and molten.

But Taco Bell's caramel apple empanada stood out for its well-balanced flavors: a warm, crispy pie with juicy whole chunks of apple complemented by creamy caramel, setting the perfect tone for the cozy days ahead.

If I ordered these items separately at my local McDonald's in New York, it would cost $3.39 for the McDouble, $2.59 for the McNuggets, $2.79 for the fries, and $1.49 for the Diet Coke, which would come out to $10.26 before tax.

A McDouble is a hamburger with two patties. It comes with cheese, ketchup, pickles, and onions. The McDonald's website says it should also include mustard, but I didn't taste any or see any.

My biggest issue with the burger was that I thought it was bone-dry. After taking a few bites, I needed to chug my soda.

But even though I didn't love my McDouble, I'm not writing the meal off. I could always get a McChicken as part of the deal instead or try a different location's McDouble burger.

The $5 Meal Deal comes with four Chicken McNuggets.

My typical McDonald's order is a medium 10-piece McNugget meal, so I was happy to snack on a few. Even though these ended up not being my favorite nuggets when I compared $5 meal deals from McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King — Wendy's has the best nuggets in my opinion — McNuggets are a safe bet.

They have a good texture, the breaded coating isn't too salty or thick, and the nuggets aren't dense at all. These are classic for a reason.

As this photo shows, McDonald's fries were the thinnest of the three chains I tried.

They were also the saltiest, which is the key to tasty french fries, and had the best texture. I thought Wendy's and Burger King's fries were too dense and almost soggy, while McDonald's fries were the perfect amount of crispy.

As you can see, the McDonald's and Wendy's sodas — 21 ounces and 20 ounces, respectively — are significantly larger than the 16-ounce drink offered by Burger King, and all three meals are the same price.

In a July memo, McDonald's executives wrote that the meal is "meeting the objective of driving guests back to our restaurants."

As Business Insider reported using Placer.ai data, which keeps track of foot traffic at restaurants, there were 8% more visitors to McDonald's on the day the meal deal was introduced back in June — and it was the busiest Tuesday of the year to that point.

That record was broken the following week.

After getting a good amount of food at a considerably lower price, I can see why people love the deal. I correctly predicted back in July that the Meal Deal would be extended and eventually be permanently added to the menu — and in 2025, I'll be proven right.

Original release: The tostada, with its refried beans, tangy red sauce, lettuce, and shredded cheese layered over a crunchy corn tostada shell, was part of Taco Bell's original 1962 menu, but it was discontinued in 2020.

Price: $2.19

Note: All prices listed here may vary in different markets.

Anneta: The corn shell was satisfyingly crispy, and the refried beans on top were well-distributed across the tostada. They also packed a punch of delicious flavor thanks to the red sauce.

But I found the lettuce to be limp and distracting, especially since it covered the rest of the ingredients. Customizing the tostada with some pico de gallo would help, but otherwise, I'd probably skip this.

Priyanka: I usually prefer crispy-shell tacos over soft ones, so I enjoyed biting into this crunchy tostada. It felt like I was eating one giant, perfectly layered nacho, minus the melted cheese and sour cream. And while initially this looked more like a side dish than a main dish because of its size, I realized how filling it was after a couple of bites.

However, I thought the tostada was a bit bland and would've benefited from another layer of hot sauce or some pico de gallo.

Original release: The Gordita Supreme, which appeared on Taco Bell's menu in the '90s, features a flatbread shell filled with seasoned beef, sour cream, lettuce, diced tomatoes, and a three-cheese blend of mozzarella, cheddar, and Monterey Jack.

Price: $2.99

Anneta: The flatbread was the best part of my Gordita Supreme. It was warm, soft, and delightfully pillowy. But with no additional sauce and your standard rotation of veggies — lettuce and tomato — there just wasn't much flavor to it. I doused my Gordita Supreme with some avocado verde salsa, which helped a little.

I think this really needs some pico de gallo and purple cabbage, two new ingredients for Taco Bell that helped elevate its fantastic Cantina Chicken Menu.

Priyanka: Since I don't eat red meat, I swapped the beef for chicken, which I thought complemented the other ingredients well.

The light layer of sour cream gave the folded wrap a nice pop of freshness alongside the lettuce and diced tomatoes, and the chicken was well-seasoned. However, this dish would be better if the flatbread were lightly grilled or toasted.

Original release: The green sauce burrito, which debuted in 1970, was among the chain's most loved and replicated items until it was discontinued. The burrito contains refried beans, onions, cheddar cheese, and a spicy green sauce made from green chili, tomatillos, jalapeños, and spices.

Price: $2.49

Anneta: I don't usually go for a bean burrito at Taco Bell (I'm all about the Grilled Cheese Burrito and, more recently, the Cantina Chicken Burrito), but the Green Burrito took me by surprise. The green sauce brings so much flavor and elevates the entire burrito, adding subtle heat and pairing perfectly with the delicious refried beans.

My only wish is that my burrito had more crunchy onions for a little extra texture. But I couldn't resist finishing the entire dish, even though it was the last item I tried on the Decades menu.

Priyanka: It took a few bites before I reached the oozing refried beans and crunchy onions, but once I did, the burrito was flavorful. Even though it was made using simple ingredients, it came together well, and I liked that it didn't contain rice.

To elevate it slightly, I'd add some pico de gallo and request that my tortilla be extra toasty next time, but it was a solid dish.

Original release: The Meximelt was on Taco Bell's menu for 30 years before it was discontinued in 2019. The dish, which first appeared in the '80s, features a tortilla full of seasoned beef, pico de gallo, and a three-cheese blend of mozzarella, cheddar, and Monterey Jack.

Price: $2.99

Anneta: The ingredient list in the Meximelt is simple and short, but each one is performing at its peak. The pico de gallo added a burst of freshness to every bite, and the three-cheese blend was perfectly melted, wrapping up the beef in a deliciously cheesy hug.

I usually douse my Taco Bell order in hot sauce, but there was so much juice and flavor in the beef of the Meximelt that I completely forgot to add it. Even my boyfriend, who isn't a huge Taco Bell fan, was impressed.

Priyanka: Similar to the Gordita Supreme, I swapped the beef in the Meximelt for a layer of chicken, and I'm glad I did!

At first glance, I thought it looked a lot like the Gordita Supreme and would probably taste the same. But with the first bite, I was proven wrong. The tortilla was a bit thinner than the Gordita's flatbread, which I preferred since it allowed the flavors of the other ingredients to shine through.

Original release: The caramel apple empanada was first introduced in 2004 as part of Taco Bell's Big Bell Value Menu but was discontinued in 2019. The sweet treat consists of apple pieces and a creamy caramel filling encased in a crispy pastry.

Price: $3.65

Anneta: I was a huge fan of Taco Bell's Cheesy Chicken Crispanada, released for a limited time earlier this year, so I had high hopes for the Caramel Apple Empanada — and it delivered.

My empanada came out piping hot. As I took my first bite, the crispy shell immediately gave way to the warm and lovely filling. The shell had a great crunch and a super satisfying flakiness. The empanada also had plenty of juicy apple chunks, which paired well with the subtle hints of caramel.

This is a great sweet treat, especially for the chilly winter season. My only complaint is that it isn't a permanent menu item!

Priyanka: A bite of this crunchy, creamy empanada instantly put me in the holiday spirit. I've tried apple pies from various fast-food chains, but this one stands out for its perfectly crisp golden pastry and well-balanced apple caramel filling. I ate my dessert about 15 minutes after I'd received it, but when I took it out of its paper sleeve, I could still feel the warmth, which was very impressive given the cold weather outside.

I also loved not having to work through layers of crispy dough to get to the heart of the dish: the filling. The two were perfectly balanced right from the first bite. The tart apples and salted caramel paired beautifully without being overly sweet. If there's one item on this menu you shouldn't miss, it's the dessert!

When Business Insider contacted Taco Bell about the menu and our thoughts on it, the brand said it "is proud to have been able to provide fans with new and authentic innovations for decades."

It added, "As our fans continue to call for the legendary mouth-watering favorites that they miss, or that they have only heard about and never got the chance to experience, the Decades Menu is reintroducing the classics from the first five decades to connect generations of Taco Bell fans with nostalgic flavors that have withstood the test of time."

Whether you want a classic burger, appetizer platter, or a more festive Thanksgiving-inspired meal, Applebee's might become your go-to holiday spot.

Some, but not all, Applebee's locations are expected to be open, so it's best to call ahead to confirm your local restaurant's hours and menu before arriving with the whole family.

Bob Evans is famous for its annual Thanksgiving meal, which includes slow-roasted turkey, house-made bread-and-celery dressing, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans and ham, buttered corn, dinner rolls, and a slice of pumpkin pie.

Bob Evans restaurants should be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. for breakfast or the chain's Thanksgiving holiday meal, though the website recommends that guests check with their local restaurant for adjusted hours and availability.

Boston Market is set to be open for dine-in and take-out this Thanksgiving, though hours may vary depending on location.

The chain's dine-in meal includes classic dishes like roasted turkey breast or half rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable stuffing, a dinner roll, and a slice of apple or pumpkin pie.

Bravo! Italian Kitchens are set to be open this Thanksgiving, offering a traditional meal and the option to order a "Thanksgiving Feast To Go."

The chain's Thanksgiving menu includes sliced white-meat turkey, homestyle gravy, roasted-garlic mashed potatoes, Italian sausage stuffing, a seasonal vegetable, cranberry sauce, and a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert.

Brio Italian Grille is also set to be open on Thanksgiving. Customers can choose from the chain's standard menu, special Thanksgiving meal, or carry out its "Thanksgiving Feast To Go."

The chain recommends making a reservation or preordering a pickup meal ahead of time, as the restaurant can get busy on the holiday.

Buca di Beppo is also slated to open on Thanksgiving. The Italian restaurant offers a Thanksgiving menu for dine-in service, including classic roasted turkey breast and side dishes. You can reserve your table online or preorder a Thanksgiving feast for pick-up.

Many Buffalo Wild Wings are supposed to be open this Thanksgiving for regular dine-in and take-out service, but you'll want to confirm with your local restaurant before making any solid plans to grab some food or catch the football game.

If you're sick of turkey by the end of the night, swing by your local Burger King restaurant. However, hours vary by location, so it's best to check before you hit the drive-thru.

This Thanksgiving, you can also reserve a table at your local Capital Grille.

The chain restaurant's pre-fixe menu, which costs $55 for adults and $20 for children, includes holiday favorites like slow-roasted turkey with brioche stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Sweet potatoes and pumpkin cheesecake can also be added to the meal for an added cost.

Cracker Barrel locations should also be open for dine-in service on Thanksgiving this year.

Restaurants will be open during normal business hours, starting at 11 a.m., but guests are encouraged to check their local store hours here.

If you want to eat at Cracker Barrel on Thanksgiving, you can expect a limited menu that includes a turkey meal, available only on the holiday. The meal includes roasted turkey breast, cornbread dressing and gravy, green beans, sweet potato casserole with pecans, and cranberry relish. The meal is also served with dinner rolls and a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert.

Cracker Barrel also offers a heat-and-serve Thanksgiving feast, chicken and dumplings meal, and a Thanksgiving sides assortment that comes with dinner rolls.

Denny's is also planning to serve up Thanksgiving favorites again this year. Customers can preorder their Denny's Thanksgiving meal for $55 as early as November 22 for Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving celebrations.

What better way to power through your day of cooking than a morning run to Dunkin'?

While many locations are set to be operating business as usual, you might want to confirm your local Dunkin's hours before heading out, as some locations will have limited hours on Thanksgiving Day.

Although primarily known as a seafood restaurant and steakhouse, Eddie V's is also no stranger to a Thanksgiving meal.

This year, the chain is set to be open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and offer a special Thanksgiving menu with slow-roasted turkey, green beans with sundried tomatoes, brioche sage stuffing, gravy, cranberry chutney, mashed potatoes, and a bread basket, in addition to the restaurant's full menu.

For the holiday, Fleming's Steakhouse has its usual menu as well as a special three-course Thanksgiving menu starting at $65 per guest that includes a choice of herb-roasted turkey, filet mignon, or prime bone-in ribeye, a starter, sides, and dessert.

All locations are supposed to open at 11 a.m., and the restaurant chain recommends making a reservation ahead of time. 

Fogo de Chão is accepting catering reservations for Thanksgiving this year and locations should be open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.

The steak-house chain's Thanksgiving menu includes classic holiday dishes like a choice of two fire-roasted meats, sweet-potato casserole, Brazilian sausage and apple dressing, and cranberry relish.

When you're trying to feed the masses, a classic buffet like Golden Corral is a good choice.

Golden Corral restaurants are set to be open on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, some locations may be open even later, so it's best to call ahead and confirm your local restaurant's Thanksgiving hours.

If you don't want to dine in, Golden Corral also offers individual holiday meals to-go and holiday feasts that are available to preorder.

USA Today reported that Hooters locations should be open from 4 p.m. to midnight on Thanksgiving. Locations in Michigan and Dallas will operate at different hours based on the Detroit Lions and Cowboys football games.

A stack of buttermilk pancakes would certainly hit the spot on Thanksgiving morning.

Luckily, many IHOP locations are set to be operating their regular hours on the holiday, but customers should consider calling their local store to check the chain's hours first.

If your Thanksgiving meal doesn't go to plan, there's always McDonald's.

Holiday business hours may vary by location, but most McDonald's locations are expected to be open on Thanksgiving. However, it's always best to double-check with your local Golden Arches, just in case.

All Metro Diner locations are expected to be open for dine-in table service until 2:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

The diner chain also offers a take-out feast with a choice of baked ham or roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans or corn, cornbread stuffing or mac and cheese, cranberry sauce, and Hawaiian dinner rolls. The take-out option is served cold for guests to heat up on their own at home.

Most Popeyes locations are expected to operate their regular hours and menu this Thanksgiving, but Popeyes fans can also order a full-sized Cajun turkey for their at-home holiday feasts.

The turkey comes precooked, but you'll need to heat it up again in your own oven before serving. To place a turkey order, call your closest location or order one online to have it shipped to you.

Most Ruby Tuesday restaurants are supposed to be open this Thanksgiving during regular business hours from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., though it's best to call and confirm with your local restaurant before solidifying any plans. 

Select Ruth's Chris Steak House locations are expected to be open this Thanksgiving, and the chain is offering a special festive menu.

The steak house's Thanksgiving menu includes soup or salad, roasted turkey, and several side dishes, such as garlic mashed potatoes, sweet-potato casserole, creamed spinach, and green beans with roasted garlic. Guests can also preorder a full Thanksgiving dinner for pick-up.

If turkey isn't your thing, consider having Thanksgiving dinner at a steak house.

STK locations nationwide are expected to be open on Thanksgiving, though it's best to make a reservation, check the hours at your nearby location or pick up one of the chain's Thanksgiving feasts to go. 

Many Starbucks locations should be open on Thanksgiving Day for home cooks looking for their caffeine fix, though holiday hours may vary by location. 

You won't find traditional Thanksgiving fare here, but why not opt for a turkey sub and skip the cooking?

Although not all Subway restaurants are confirmed to be open on Thanksgiving Day, many are expected to be. However, you'll want to check your closest location's hours just to be sure.

Waffle House is famous for being open 24 hours a day year-round, and Thanksgiving Day is no exception.

Whether you opt for a classic waffle or get your hash browns smothered and covered, Waffle House locations should be open for all of your Thanksgiving breakfast or pre-Black-Friday-feast needs. 

Most Wendy's locations are expected to be open on Thanksgiving Day, giving people the chance to fuel up on fast-food breakfast or even a burger before their meals. However, specific hours may vary by location.

Whataburger, which typically operates 24 hours a day, should have all of its locations open on Thanksgiving Day.

It cost me $12.49, not including tax, making it the most expensive burger I tried. I chose pickles, onions, and Shack sauce as my toppings.

The pickles were large and crunchy, and the amount of other toppings was generous. The chain's signature Shack sauce also added a lot of flavor, and the cheese was perfectly melted.

However, the burger was almost too heavy to pick up.

I know I purposefully ordered the largest burger on the menu, but this burger was massive. I saw it as a hindrance rather than an asset, and I struggled to get through more than a few bites.

Despite being the most expensive burger, I'm not sure it was worth it. The burger patties were much thicker than quite a few of the other burgers I tried, and the toppings definitely enhanced the flavor. However, it was simply too big, to the point where it tasted like a giant meat-and-cheese grease-bomb. 

I was conflicted over whether the biggest burger at McDonald's was the Big Mac — which is physically the largest thanks to the extra bun — or the Double Quarter-Pounder, which is the burger with the most meat. I decided to try both to appease both sets of McDonald's fans who argue for one over the other.

A Big Mac cost me $7.29 at my local McDonald's, excluding tax.

The burger patties weren't overwhelming, nor was the sandwich as a whole. I also liked the tangy, creamy Big Mac sauce. However, I thought the added bun made the sandwich taste too much like bread and the other flavors were slightly lost, in my opinion.

I simply wanted more flavor happening. Between the extra bun and the generous serving of Big Mac sauce, that was all I could taste. Tomato, cheese, or simply other condiments might have taken the sandwich to the next level.

The burger, which is on In-N-Out's "not-so-secret" menu, is also referred to as the "Quad Quad," and comes with four beef patties, four cheese slices, lettuce, tomato, spread, and the option to add onions. It cost $9.49, excluding tax and fees.

The burger was far too large for me to eat in one sitting, though the flavor made me want to. 

However, the additional burger patties ended up detracting from the burger's overall ranking instead of enhancing it. The burger was overwhelmingly heavy, with the tomato and lettuce failing to offset the excessive amount of meat and cheese.

The buns couldn't contain the juicy beef patties, and they started disintegrating as I ate the burger. Truthfully, I wouldn't order this again. Although it was tasty, the amount of meat was just too much for me.

Looking at the burger in the box, I immediately noticed that it had more meat than the Big Mac. The meat was clearly the star of the show, with the other toppings barely visible beneath the patties and bun.

The burger cost me $9.79, excluding tax. I thought this was a fair price for the meat-heavy burger.

I found this burger to be pretty flavorful, especially thanks to the condiments and large slices of crunchy pickles. However, I wasn't crazy about the bun — while I normally love a sesame-seed bun, I found this one to be pretty bland, airy, and artificial-tasting.

Despite having a lot of meat, the burger didn't feel too overwhelming to eat. I thought it was a realistic sandwich, especially compared to the gigantic burgers from Shake Shack and In-N-Out.

When I arrived at my local Wendy's drive-thru, this extra-large burger wasn't even on the menu. However, thanks to my online research, I knew it could be made and decided to order it anyway. I did wonder how popular this sandwich was, and if many people opt for the triple-patty burger.

The Dave's Triple burger cost $11.24, excluding tax.

The sandwich was difficult to pick up, but all of the ingredients appeared to be well-balanced. There was a large serving of tomatoes, pickles, and cheese, so it didn't look like the beef patties would be overpowered. 

While I personally couldn't finish the entire thing, I definitely thought the flavors were there and it was a good value for the price.

If I were to change one thing, it would be to remove the mayonnaise. It ended up mixing with the juice from the tomatoes in an unappetizing way, creating a tomato-mayo sauce that I thought brought the other flavors down.

Similar to the Dave's Triple, the Triple Whopper also comes with three quarter-pound beef patties, although the ones at Burger King are flame-grilled. The burger cost me $11.29, excluding tax, making it the second-most expensive burger I tried.

However, I felt that this allowed the other flavors to really come through, and it led to a less gut-filling, more appetizing eating experience.

The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions all tasted fresh, and they added a delicious crunch to the burger.

The burger patties had a smoky, savory flavor that made the sandwich taste fresh off the grill. I also thought the patties' shape, which were larger in circumference but flatter than some of the other burgers, made the sandwich easier to eat. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this burger and would definitely order it again — if I have the appetite.

While I'm not sure I'm happy to pay more than $10 for any fast-food burger, it was a very generous serving and the most flavorful out of the bunch, without being overwhelmingly huge.