I compared value meal combos at Chili's and Applebee's. One offered way more food.

Before I visited, I expected to be able to order the chain's Really Big Meal Deal, which costs $9.99 and includes the choice of a classic bacon cheeseburger or chicken sandwich, a drink, and bottomless fries.

However, the deal wasn't advertised or available at the location I visited when I went in early March. My server, however, did tell me about the chain's lunch deal, which was similar.

For $12.99, plus tax, I got the choice of a cheeseburger or the chain's bacon ranch chicken sandwich, fries, and a refillable drink. The deal is available at participating locations Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and is only available with dine-in service.

The Diet Coke was crisp and complemented the rest of my meal.

At the same location, the chicken sandwich typically costs $16.99, excluding tax. The deal cost $12.99 and also included a drink, which I thought made this meal good value.

The chicken sandwich also included pickles and shredded lettuce on a brioche bun.

The chicken's breading lacked the crunch I typically look for in a chicken sandwich, though the pickles and ranch dressing did increase the moisture and flavor.

The chicken breast itself was thick and moist, though the bacon strips were just slightly overdone for me. Some people love their crispy bacon, but I like my bacon to have just a touch of chewiness.

Overall, this meal didn't taste bad and was a decent value — I'd even order it again the next time I'm at Applebee's.

However, I thought it didn't compare to the meal I received from Chili's.

The meal deal starts at $10.99 and includes the choice of a beverage, a starter, and a variety of entrées.

The chain's crispy chicken sandwich was included in the cheapest tier of the meal deal, so I opted for that. Other options at the $10.99 price point included the chain's OldTimer burger with cheese or the chain's Big Smasher burger.

I appreciated the ability to upgrade my meal with a different appetizer, like the chain's Dip Trio, or choose an upgraded entrée for a few dollars more.

The $10.99 meal deal came with a fountain drink, lemonade, or iced tea.

However, for $3.99 more, I could upgrade my drink to a classic or frozen margarita or opt for the "margarita of the month" for $6 more.

I decided to upgrade my drink choice to a classic margarita to see if it was worth the extra few dollars. The margarita was perfectly sweet and salty and enhanced my dining experience overall.

The chips were thin and crispy and paired well with the chain's salsa. Before my entrée even came, I was nearly full thanks to the bottomless appetizer.

I could have easily shared this with other people, which made the meal deal feel like even better value if you're dining out with friends or family.

The chicken sandwich typically cost $14.49 at my local Chili's in Brooklyn, New York.

By ordering through the meal deal, I saved nearly $4 and also received an appetizer and drink.

"The amount of food that you get is unbeatable, especially with the bottomless chips and salsa and bottomless drink," George Felix told Business Insider of the chain's signature meal deal, adding that the chain is also focused on providing great service and food quality.

"When you take all of that in totality, we're really confident that it's the best value in the industry," he said.

The chicken breast was fried to crunchy perfection, and bits of fried goodness practically spilled out of the sandwich. Judging by its appearance alone, I couldn't wait to bite in.

After biting in, waves of salty, briny flavor hit my tastebuds. The chicken sandwich was perfectly crunchy and crispy but still moist, thanks to the chicken breast and generous serving of mayonnaise on both buns.

The fries were also well-seasoned and paired well with the sandwich, though after the bottomless chips and salsa, they weren't even necessary.

For the price point, I couldn't believe the amount of food I received at Chili's. I also liked the ability to expand and upgrade my meal — I simply had way more options at Chili's.

However, in my opinion, the actual taste of the food clinched Chili's win.

While I did enjoy the bacon and ranch chicken sandwich from Applebee's, I personally preferred the taste of the classic crispy chicken sandwich from Chili's, which crunched with every bite.

The winner was clear: For a few dollars more, I could upgrade my drink to a salty margarita, and fill up on bottomless chips and salsa before my meal even arrived, making Chili's 3-For-Me the better value.