I spent $20 at IHOP, Denny's, and Perkins. One meal blew me away in terms of taste and value.

In a recent experiment, journalist Amanda Shammas compared $20 meals at three popular breakfast chains: IHOP, Denny's, and Perkins. She ordered similar menu items at each location, with a focus on iced coffee and a biscuits-and-gravy meal. After visiting all three establishments within the same week, Shammas shared her findings on which chain offered the best value and taste for her money.

At IHOP, Shammas ordered a vanilla iced coffee for $3.29 and a buttermilk biscuit and gravy combo for $14.29. She found the bacon strips to be generously sized and well-seasoned, and the hash browns to be the star of the meal. However, the biscuits and gravy were underwhelming, with a thin and watery gravy that was easily overpowered by the biscuit's flavor.

When she dined at Denny's, Shammas tried a pricy cold brew for $6.29, which she found overly sweet and artificial-tasting. She then ordered the build-your-own Slam for $14.77, which included bacon strips, sausage links, eggs, and hash browns. While the bacon strips and hash browns were enjoyable, the sausage links were greasy and the underwhelming gravy left her unsatisfied. In total, she spent $21.06 at Denny's, slightly over her $20 budget.

Perkins proved to be the most affordable option, with Shammas spending $17.58 for her meal. She ordered iced coffee for an undisclosed price and a build-your-own breakfast for $14.29. While the iced coffee was watered down, the other components of her meal were satisfactory. The sausage links were greasy, but the hash browns were crispy and the gravy was thick and buttery.

Overall, Shammas found Perkins to offer the tastiest food and the best value for her $20 budget. She appreciated the cozy, homey atmosphere and the generous portions, particularly the hash browns and thick gravy. While IHOP and Denny's had their merits, Perkins stood out as the most satisfying choice for her morning meal.