Americans looking to save on a quick and easy breakfast may want to look beyond the usual fast-food favorites, as a new ranking highlighted several unexpected chains that also deliver plenty of bang for your buck.The food site Tasting Table recently highlighted 12 breakfast chains that it says offer standout value, including familiar names like McDonald's, Starbucks and Dunkin'.The outlet considered affordability, accessibility, rewards programs, menu variety and convenience.SOUTHERN BREAKFAST CHAIN IN JUST 3 STATES BEATS MCDONALD'S, CHICK-FIL-A FOR BEST IN AMERICAHere are five unexpected picks that made the list and may surprise breakfast diners.Caribou Coffee, Wendy's, Burger King, IHOP and Waffle House earned high marks for value.(Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Caribou Coffee, which has about 490 locations nationwide, mainly in the Midwest, earned a spot on the list for its budget-friendly breakfast offerings, including $2 hot coffee, a $3.50 cold brew and a $4 breakfast sandwich.Tasting Table also cited the chain's rewards program and its decision to axe the surcharge for dairy-free milk options.
Among Caribou fans on Reddit, the Chicken Apple Sausage sandwich and Just Egg Flatbread draw frequent praise.FAST-FOOD DRIVE-THRUS TOOK OVER AMERICAN MORNINGS FOR THESE KEY REASONSKnown for all-day breakfast, IHOP offers value well beyond pancakes, including several breakfast meal options under $6, according to Tasting Table.IHOP, pictured here June 24, 2016, in Indianapolis, is a restaurant chain offering a variety of breakfast meals.(iStock)While IHOP now has fewer than 2,000 U.S.
locations, with the largest concentration in California and Texas, it earned praise for its rewards program.Members can stack up points toward free menu items, score free pancakes on their birthday and take advantage of other special offers.WAFFLE HOUSE TESTS UNEXPECTED NEW MENU ITEMS AS CUSTOMERS DELIVER MIXED VERDICTThe home of the Whopper also earned praise f...