What name did McDonald's use for its value-focused menu introduced in 1991?

McDonald's used the name “Extra Value Meal” for its value-focused bundled meals introduced in 1991.

The Extra Value Meal grouped a main item with fries and a drink, offering customers a simple combination at a price positioned below buying the components separately. The format strengthened McDonald's value messaging while making ordering faster and more predictable.

The idea became a major part of the company's menu architecture. It also provided a foundation for later value promotions, including regionally different menus and price points. Because McDonald's has changed the contents and pricing of bundles over time, the term does not describe one permanently fixed meal.

The Extra Value Meal is often confused with the Dollar Menu, which arrived later as a separate low-price platform. It is also different from a Happy Meal, whose identity centers on a children's meal and toy rather than primarily on an adult value bundle.