McDonald’s is addressing customer concerns about rising prices by significantly reducing the cost of its combo meals, following CEO Chris Kempczinski’s acknowledgment that the chain’s menu has become too expensive.

Starting next month, eight popular combo meals will be priced 15% lower than the cost of individual items, with McDonald’s providing financial support to franchisees to facilitate the price cuts.

The company also plans to reintroduce “Extra Value Meals,” including a $5 breakfast deal and an $8 Big Mac and McNugget special in the coming months. This move comes in response to a shift in customer perception, driven by inflation, viewing McDonald’s as less affordable compared to sit-down restaurants like Applebee’s or Chili’s.

Kempczinski emphasized that menu board prices heavily influence customers’ value perceptions, with combo meals often exceeding $10, negatively impacting the chain’s reputation. A viral $18 Big Mac combo meal in 2023 further highlighted these concerns, prompting McDonald’s to focus on value-driven offerings, such as a $5 value meal that stabilized sales and themed promotions like a “Minecraft Movie” collaboration, which helped reverse two quarters of declining sales.