Wendys Drive Thru Menu Prices, 2001 vs. 2020
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Wendys Drive Thru Menu Prices, 2001 vs. 2020

Comparing the Menu and Prices to Twenty years ago

By Rob Cockerham |

2001 Menu

Because a Wendy's sat across the street from my high school (Luther Burbank High in Sacramento), I still have a strong emotional attachment to their brand. I'm pretty sure they have always been the only fast food place with whole baked potatoes and chili. In 2001 the drive thru menu featured white lettering on a maroon-colored background with a few food photos next to the seven value meals. They included a NASCAR toy promotion. This photo was taken in July 2001.

2020 Menu

The Menu in 2020 is presented on five menu boards. The sandwich choices have expanded somewhat, while keeping some favorites. They have more chicken sandwiches than burgers and feature many new salads. Calorie counts now appear next to every item. The prices have doubled.

2001 Burgers

Here are the burger options. Wendy's had a bacon burger before Carl's Jr. or Burger King. They got on the bacon train a long time ago, and they are still riding it. One of their burgers, the Baconator, has a son.

2001 Burger Prices

  1. Single Burger with Cheese: $2.25
  2. Double Burger with Cheese: $3.25
  3. Triple Burger with Cheese: $4.29
  4. Big Bacon Classic: $2.99
  5. Jr. Hamburger: $0.79
  6. Jr. Cheeseburger: $0.89

2020 Burgers

Wendy's has kept the Single, Double, Triple cheeseburgers, which still feature their signature square patties. Their sandwiches include the adjectives "classic", "homestyle", "American", "barbeque", "family" and "wildcat". Except for "wildcat".

2020 Burger Prices

  1. Single Burger with Cheese: $5.79$3.54 (+157%)
  2. Double Burger with Cheese: $6.89$3.64 (+112%)
  3. Triple Burger with Cheese: $8.09$3.80 (+89%)
  4. Big Bacon Classic: $6.39$3.40 (+114%)

2001 Combos

The combos in 2001. What kind of person gets a triple cheeseburger more than one time in their life? Someone must.

2001 Combo Prices

  1. Single Burger Combo: $3.39
  2. Double Burger Combo: $4.59
  3. Triple Burger Combo: $5.09
  4. Big Bacon Classic Combo: $4.39
  5. Grilled Chicken Combo: $4.39

2020 Combos

in 2020, Wendy's has 13 combo meals, which is bad luck. The most expensive combo at Wendys 2020 is $10.89. Compare this to $11.69 for expensive combos at Carl's Jr.

         

2020 Combo Prices

  1. Single Burger Combo: $8.59$5.20 (+153%)
  2. Double Burger Combo: $9.59$5.00 (+109%)
  3. Triple Burger Combo: $10.89$5.80 (+114%)
  4. Big Bacon Classic Combo: $8.69$4.30 (+98%)
  5. Grilled Chicken Combo: $8.89$4.50 (+103%)

2001 Upgrade

In 2001 you could augment your meal for $0.39.

  1. Upgrade: $0.39

2020 Upgrade

In 2020, it is $1.29 to plump up to a medium fries and drink, or $1.69 to swell it into a large fries and drink. Look at those calorie counts. It could add 940! calories! to! your! meal! to switch to large fries and drink.

  1. Upgrade: $1.29 or $1.69

2001 Chicken Sandwiches

Before about 1980, none of these fast food chain restaurants offered chicken sandwiches. These sandwiches do seem to have fewer calories on average.

2001 Chicken Prices

  1. Spicy Chicken Sandwich: $2.99
  2. Grilled Chicken Sandwich: $2.99

2020 Chicken Sandwiches

I bet that grilled chicken sandwich is one of the healthiest options on all of these menus.

2020 Chicken Sandwich Prices

  1. Spicy Chicken Sandwich: $5.99$3.00 (+100%)
  2. Grilled Chicken Sandwich: $5.99$3.00 (+100%)

2001 Fries and Chili

In 2001, Wendy's pushed the "Biggie" fries by listing them first on the menu, followed by medium, and "Great Biggie".

2001 Fries and Chili Prices

  1. French Fries: $0.99 $1.19 $1.39
  2. Chili: $0.99 $1.79

2020 Fries and Chili

Is anyone else happy to see that chili is still on the menu?

2020 Fries and Chili Price

  1. French Fries: $2.49$1.50 (+152%) $2.89, $3.29 $1.90 (+137%)
  2. Chili: $2.69$1.70 (+172%) $2.89$1.60 (+89%)

2001 Kids

2001 Kids Menu Prices

  1. Kids Hamburger Combo: $1.99
  2. Kids Cheeseburger Combo: $2.29
  3. Kids Chicken Nuggets Combo: $2.59

2020 Kids

2020 Kids Menu Prices

  1. Kids Hamburger Combo: $4.19$2.20 (+111%)
  2. Kids Cheeseburger Combo: $4.59$2.30 (+100%)
  3. Kids Chicken Nuggets Combo: $5.19$2.60 (+100%)

2001 Salad and Potatoes

2001 Salad Prices

  1. Taco Salad: $2.99
  2. Sour Cream Potato: $0.99
  3. Bacon and Cheese Potato: $2.39

2020 Salads and Potatoes

2020 Salad Prices

  1. Taco Salad: $8.49$5.50 (+184%)
  2. Sour Cream Potato: $2.39$1.40 (+141%)
  3. Bacon and Cheese Potato: $3.59$1.20 (+50%)

2001 Value Menu

This looks like a million options for breakfast. Much like the burger menu, there have been a lot of changes between 2001 and 2020.

2001 Value Menu Prices

  1. Junior Bacon Cheeseburger: $0.99
  2. Junior Cheeseburger Deluxe: $0.99
  3. Six Chicken Nuggets: $0.99

2020 Value Menu

2020 Value Menu Prices

  1. Junior Bacon Cheeseburger: $3.09$2.10 (+212%)
  2. Junior Cheeseburger Deluxe: $3.09$2.10 (+212%)
  3. Six Chicken Nuggets: $2.89$1.90 (+192%)

2001 Frosty Menu

2001 Frosty Prices

  1. Frosty: $0.99, $1.19, $1.39

2020 Frostys

2020 Frosty Prices

  1. Frosty: $2.09$1.10 (+111%) $2.69, $3.09 $1.70 (+122%)