A Comparison of Three Restaurants/Cafés in Meidaimae

 

1.       With all the busy hustle and bustle around Meidaimae Station, you might think that quick service is all that matters. Well, it might, but there are plenty of great spots where you can get both speed and value. To find out which place offers the best food and drinks for the best price, we tested three popular chains: McDonald's, Starbucks, and Subway.

2.       The restaurants I chose are well-known and easily accessible. I set cost limit at 700 yen for one food item and one drink item, preferably in a set. My goal? To see which place gives us the most bang for my buck.

3.       I started with McDonald's, known for its affordability. They offer a variety of meal sets at reasonable prices. For my test, I chose a Big Mac (390 yen) and a Coca-Cola (150 yen), totaling 540 yen.

4.       The fact that this set was part of the regular menu and provided a good portion size made McDonald's cost performance pretty stellar in my eyes.

5.       In comparison, Starbucks has a reputation for being a bit pricier. Finding both a drink and a food item for less than 700 yen was challenging here. I ended up with an Iced Coffee (320 yen) and a Blueberry Muffin (270 yen), totaling 590 yen.

6.       I hoped to enjoy some of Starbucks' specialty items, but staying within my budget limited my choices. Nonetheless, the quality of their offerings was good, though the portions were a bit small for the price.

7.       Subway, known for its fresh and healthy options, was my final stop. I selected an Iced Tea (180 yen) and a Turkey Breast Sandwich (460 yen), totaling 640 yen.

8.       Subway’s fresh ingredients and customization options were impressive, but the price was a bit higher compared to McDonald's for similar satisfaction levels.

9.       In the end, it seems like McDonald's gave us the most return for my money, offering a substantial meal at the lowest price. If portion size and budget are your main concerns, McDonald's is the best choice. Starbucks, while offering a pleasant atmosphere, was less cost-effective due to smaller portions. Subway provided a healthy alternative but was slightly more expensive.

10.    If you are willing to raise your price limit to 1,000 yen, all three places offer a wider variety of better food options. But if you’ve got very tight purse strings, McDonald's is the most economical choice, followed by Subway and then Starbucks.