Wow, that’s a big burger. And it looks great. Those were my first thoughts after seeing my BBQ Bacon Sirloin Burger from Jack In The Box. And since I just got a new camera, this was a good opportunity for a close-up. Aside from the poor lighting, the shots came out nicely. There’s no denying this burger is a thing of beauty, at least by fast-food standards. But we all know looks can sometimes be deceiving, so let’s start eating and see if this burger has the brawn to back up the beauty.

My first bite was impressive, with a smokey flavor that reminded me of something cooked at home on the grill. The meat was tender, and still had some juices left inside. The sirloin heritage of the patty is obvious, and it has a better taste and texture than average run-of-the-mill fast food burgers. Believe it or not, it’s also attractive, with a natural beef look, as opposed to the Quarter Pounder’s clone-like appearance.

On top of the big sirloin patty are onion rings, bacon strips, American cheese and barbecue sauce. It all sits inside a bun that looks like a bakery roll, and has another slice of American cheese on the bottom half. Each component was tasty, cooked properly, and made it’s own contribution to a great package. The toasted roll had a buttered outer-layer and soft doughy center. The onion rings were crunchy and slightly sweet. The bacon was sliced thin and cooked crisp. The cheese was melted around the patty and bun. And the tangy barbecue sauce was the perfect finishing touch.

MMMMMMmmmmm — I said out-loud while eating and taking the photos. I cannot comment on the source or nutritional value of the ingredients used in this product, but from the standpoint of a pure fast-food eating experience — This burger rocks!

It’s a wonderfully delicious combination of flavors and textures. The kind of thing that inspires people to re-create the same recipe at home. It also inspires angry words and sometimes even lawsuits. Carl’s Jr says this new burger from Jack In The Box is a “Blatant Rip-Off” of their Western Bacon Cheeseburger, an item they have been serving for over 25 years with the same basic ingredients. So there’s more spice to this story, than just in the burger I’m currently eating and writing about.

I would do a head-to-head comparison of the burgers, but Carl’s Jr has not migrated to my city yet. In fact I believe there’s only 3 locations in the entire state, but I will find the closest store and see if anything is possible. Maybe a road trip? Who knows.

The new BBQ Bacon Sirloin Burger from Jack In The Box is delicious. The first bite made woke up my taste-buds and when I finished eating I felt happy and satisfied. There’s no mistaking the sirloin patty for a prime cut at the butcher, or the whole package for a hand-made creation at a custom burger joint, but this is a pretty darn good burger for fast food. The combination of ingredients is great. I can understand why Carl’s Jr. would be trying to protect the idea, but it seems unlikely they can. It’s a fairly basic recipe made from common items. Anyway, since there are no Carl’s Jr. locations near me, I’m glad that Jack in the Box is serving them up so I could enjoy that great combo of sirloin, onions, bacon, cheese and barbecue sauce.

Price: $4.99 / Website: JackInTheBox.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Jack In The Box, BBQ Bacon Sirloin Burger.

Calories - 1010
Calories from Fat - 440
Total Fat - 49 grams
Carbs - 91 grams
Saturated Fat - 19 grams
Trans Fat - 5 grams
Cholesterol - 150 milligrams
Sodium - 2190 milligrams

EDITOR’S NOTE: Anybody who eats hamburgers should be aware they are not typically considered health food, no matter where they are served, or by whom. Burgers of this size, with these type of ingredients, are going to rack up the calories and fat. That’s just a simple fact of life, and food. You should try to eat a ‘balanced’ diet, make educated choices and practice moderation.

Does a pizza priced cheap as dirt — taste like dirt? Today I discovered the answer.

I’m talking about Domino’s highly publicized 444 promotion. That’s 3 pizzas for $4 each, a total of $12. The pizzas are 10-inch one-topping pies. I ordered a variety, one with Pepperoni, one with Grilled Chicken and one Beef. Nothing else added, no extras. Just the basic advertised deal of $12. I used Domino’s website and ordered online.

My order arrived at my doorstep 24 minutes after being placed at their website. That’s impressive for my part of town. The entire online component of their service is solid and well developed. The pizzas arrived hot, fresh, and on-time. I invited a friend over to eat dinner, and share in the bounty of cheap food that Domino’s had prepared.

Opening the boxes, I was greeted by three small but attractive pizzas. I expected stripped-down naked looking pies, but they had some decent sized meat toppings. They looked to have a fair amount of cheese, but there was more crust than anything.

First I tried a slice of the Pepperoni. It seemed to have the most toppings of all. Whether that’s by design, or just the luck of the draw today, I don’t know. The meat was flavorful with a fair amount of pepperoni punch, and some were cooked so the edges were slightly crisp. The cheese was OK, but it didn’t have much flavor. I also realized there was less than I first thought. It was thicker towards the center of the pie, but much thinner towards the outer portions. The same can be said for the sauce, which is reduced dramatically as you move out from the middle. And since these are small pies, you get small slices — 2 or 3 good bites, and you’re left with the outer crust.

I can see where a few corners have been cut to make this deal so affordable, but it hasn’t diminished my overall satisfaction with the frugal purchase. The sacrifices are only with the size of the pie itself, and amount of toppings, not the quality.

The Beef and Chicken pies were pretty good, but had less flavor. That’s probably because the pepperoni has more flavor to begin with, and also out-numbered the other two toppings. There were some nice little chunks of the grilled chicken, and I was pleased to find they had the taste and texture of real diced meat from solid pieces, instead of mashed up parts. The quality of the toppings appears to be the same as their regular pizzas — you just get less of them. That makes sense.

The crust was tasty and remained chewy and soft, even on the very edges where it got slightly burnt. It was a solid foundation, especially considering the price. The tomato sauce was the weakest part of the experience for me. It was thin and it didn’t have much kick or flavor. It wasn’t bad sauce, it was just bland.

The $4 Pizza and Domino’s 444 Deal is a good overall value. The pies are small, and the toppings are light, but there’s still plenty of pizza eating enjoyment to be found. Instead of trying to compare these to a more expensive full-size pie, just think of them as large fancy bread-sticks with pizza toppings. It’s a lot of food, and not a lot of money. Hot, freshly baked, decent tasting little pizzas delivered to your front door for $4 each. Looking at the grand scheme of things, that’s got to be considered a winner.

Price: $12 for 3 Pizzas ($4 each) / Website: Dominos.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B

Click here for rating system details.

This product is new, Domino’s has not published nutrition information yet, but I contacted them and got facts for the 10-inch $4 Pepperoni. Thanks Stacey!

Nutrition Facts - Domino’s 10″ Pepperoni, Per-Serving (Slice)

Calories - 210
Calories from Fat - 80
Total Fat - 8 grams
Carbs - 25 grams
Saturated Fat - 3.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 15 milligrams
Sodium - 480 milligrams

Like many people, I liked Chicken McNuggets as a kid, but eventually developed a taste for a better piece of chicken. McDonald’s realizes this of course, and their menu includes chicken ’strips’ for people like us. They even use the words “Select” and “Premium” in the product name, to indicate superiority over their little nugget brothers. But are they really better? The short answer is yes, but there’s more to the story.

From the thick crunchy coating and seasoning outside, to the chicken breast meat inside, it’s obvious these are not the same old nuggets. The strips are big. When first opening the box they looked like one large piece of chicken. They are crispy on the outside, with a breading that reminds me of shake-n-bake fried chicken. It’s nothing like the smooth breading on the McNuggets. It’s rough and bumpy, and crumbs fall off when you bite into it. You can see large specs of black pepper dotting the crust.

The meat inside is nice and tender, though it’s a bit dry. The strips appear to be cut from real breast meat. I detected some stringy rib meat too, but that’s not unusual since rib-meat is attached to the breast area. Despite the claims of many companies who say they use 100% breast filet, the fact is lots of those products include the rib-meat. That’s a technicality, and I suppose it’s why so many restaurants can say it.

I ate my first strip plain, to appreciate the taste on it’s own, and then I used sauce for dipping the rest. They tasted pretty good overall, but there’s not as much flavor as I would like. I wouldn’t call them outright bland, but they took the conservative approach when seasoning the meat. The Barbecue sauce helped, but it usually does. Aside from my own opinion, I know these must be decent chicken strips because after my buddy took his first bite, he quickly ate all 3 of his strips without pausing to use either of the two different types of sauces. That’s always a positive sign when eating with him, because this guy puts Barbecue or Sweet-N-Sour sauce on everything.

I’m going to review a lot of chicken strips (and nuggets) over the coming weeks and months, so these strips from McDonald’s will serve as a measuring stick for those others. I am a Chick-Fil-A man myself, but I think McDonald’s has a solid product here, and I look forward to seeing how the competition stacks up.

Chicken Selects Premium Chicken Strips from McDonald’s are pretty darn good. They’re crisper than I expected, and bigger too. They have a good flavor overall, but the scale does tip towards the bland side. A little Barbecue sauce definitely improves the experience. They would have probably rated even higher if they had a bit more flavor, or a bit less dryness. That aside, I enjoyed them and found them satisfying.

Price: $3.39 (3 piece) / Website: McDonalds.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - McDonald’s Chicken Selects Premium Strips, 3 piece.

Calories - 400
Calories from Fat - 210
Total Fat - 23 grams
Carbs - 25 grams
Saturated Fat - 4 grams
Trans Fat - 2 grams
Cholesterol - 50 milligrams
Sodium - 1000 milligrams

On today’s fast food menu - Waffle Potato Fries from Chick-Fil-A.

What’s a waffle fry? Thick slices of whole potato, with the peel left on, cut into a criss-cross pattern, with little holes in between the rows. The end result are fries that look similar to waffles, hence the name. The unique shapes and varied sizes makes eating a real adventure. You get thin ones, thick ones, big ones, small ones and even a few oddly shaped bits and pieces left-over at the bottom of the package. It’s more exciting than plain, flat, skinny fries that all look the same.

They smell and taste fantastic. In fact, they might have the strongest aroma of natural potatoes, and most ‘pure’ potato taste of any leading fries. If you like real potatoes, you are going to like these waffle fries. The thinner ones are more crispy, while the thick slices have a softer potato center. They’re covered with brown and bumpy ridges, and the holes help provide even-cooking thru-out. The really big ones can sometimes get a little limp and chewy, but it’s not a serious enough problem to be a turn-off.

They come lightly salted, and some people might find it ‘too’ light, but hey — it’s much easier to add more salt, than to take it away. I figure too light is better than too heavy. Personally I like them seasoned just the way they are. Sometimes I even give-in to the immediate temptation, and eat them before I get a chance to open the ketchup.

It’s worth noting these waffle fries are cooked in 100% refined peanut oil. They contain zero grams of trans fat, and no cholestoral. My medium order was 350 calories, with less than half (150) coming from fat. They are also low in sodium.

The Waffle Potato Fries from Chick-Fila-A are excellent. They have a natural and pure potato flavor. They also have enough different shapes, sizes and textures to keep your mouth entertained, and they are just downright delicious. Get some!

Price: $1.45 (medium) / Website: Chick-fil-A.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Waffle Potato Fries from Chick-Fil-A, Medium Size.

Calories - 350
Calories from Fat - 150
Total Fat - 17 grams
Carbs - 46 grams
Saturated Fat - 4 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 0 milligrams
Sodium - 150 milligrams

Big news — Arby’s has purchased Wendy’s.

Story from the Associated Press, and ABC News. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After two past rejections, the owner of Arby’s shaved roast beef sandwich restaurants is buying Wendy’s, the fast-food chain famous for its made-to-order square hamburgers and chocolate Frosty dessert, for around $2 billion.

The owner of Arby’s on Thursday, April 24, 2008 said it is buying Wendy’s International Inc. in an all-stock deal worth $2.34 billion that comes after the burger chain’s board rejected at least two earlier offers by the company. Triarc Companies Inc., which is owned by billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, said Thursday it will pay about $2.34 billion in an all-stock deal for the nation’s third-largest hamburger chain started in 1969 by Dave Thomas. Wendy’s had rejected at least two buyout offers from Triarc. Thomas’ daughter Pam Thomas Farber said the family was devastated by the news.

“It’s a very sad day for Wendy’s, and our family. We just didn’t think this would be the outcome,” said Farber, 53. If her father were alive to hear news of the buyout, “he would not be amused,” she said. Thomas became a household face when he began pitching his burgers and fries in television commercials in 1989.

Wendy’s International Inc. deferred comment to Triarc, which had nothing further to say right away. Read the full story.

This just in from the KFC press room — “KFC fans who pay close attention to the latest in-store KFC Snacker posters may see more than what first meets the eye. The Colonel’s secret recipe for KFC’s Original Recipe remains locked away but a new “secret” image is hidden in KFC stores nationwide. Continuing its dedication to marketing firsts, KFC has hidden a secret image in its in-store point-of-purchase (P.O.P.) advertising for its line-up of 99 cent Snacker sandwiches. After pioneering the first-ever documented hidden message in a national TV ad in 2006, KFC has pushed the marketing envelope even further by hiding something special in the latest Snacker advertising, both in-store P.O.P and again in broadcast television commercials, giving thousands of Americans a chance to win.” — Read the full press release and contest details here.

Millward Brown, a firm specializing in global market research, has released it’s 2008 BrandZ Top 100, which measures the world’s most popular brands by their dollar value. McDonald’s remains head and shoulders above the rest of the food service industry, coming in #8 overall, perched comfortably between Apple and Nokia. Coming in at #56 is Starbucks, with Subway not far behind at #73. Read the full report (PDF).

The only thing better than pizza cones, it’s a bunch of happy people dancing to an upbeat music soundtrack — with pizza cones. Make sure to watch the video until the end, so you see the actual broadcast commercial. I loved it. I watched it about a dozen times. There’s just something about the music and dancing that makes me smile and feel good, especially the bearded guy sitting at the table wearing the red turban and necktie, shaking his Conizzas like he was Charo. Good stuff.

What is a Pizza Cone? Simple, it’s basic pizza toppings like meat, cheese, veggies, spices and sauce, packed inside a pizza crust that’s shaped like a cone.

This fast food video comes to us from INDIA, and the Pizza Corner division of Global Franchise Architects (GFA). Conizza is their brand name line of pizza cones.

Back to Sonic Drive-In, this time for Tater Tots. In the case of this review, just plain tots with some ketchup on the side. The fast food world has never accepted the tot as a substitute for french fries, but the frozen supermarket variety has remained popular. Tots make a fast-food comeback every few years, appearing as “new” or “limited time” items for various chains, but they still lack the popularity of french fries. Sonic is one place that’s offered tots thru-out the years, and they do a pretty good job.

My Sonic tots arrived quickly and they smelled great. The package was warm, with just a little bit of grease soaking thru. My first look inside revealed one particularly golden brown tot sitting on top. I picked it up for inspection. It looked good, and tasted good. Crispy on the outside, with soft potato inside, and I could feel tiny individual pieces of potato in my mouth. The next one was not quite as brown or crispy, but still tasty.

As I worked my way thru the order, I was pleased with the crunchy potato nuggets, and the seasoning and salt was perfect. They held up to ketchup very well, and are great for dipping. I noticed they tasted and felt much like the frozen Ore-Ida (company who invented the tater tot in 1953) tater tots I’ve been eating for years. That’s not a bad thing, but it makes me question why I would order ‘out’ something I could so easily cook at home. I don’t want the mess or hassle of making my entire meal at home, but I can open a plastic bag and toss some frozen clumps on a cookie sheet.

The Tater Tots from Sonic are good, and a worthy alternative to french fries. They have a crispy crunch, a warm potato center, and just the right amount of seasoning. They might even bring back some fond memories for people who haven’t had tots in a long while. However, there’s nothing unique or special about them, and I can make (basically) the same thing at home with no hassle. I prefer Sonic’s Onion Rings.

Price: $1.19 (regular) / Website: SonicDriveIn.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B-

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Sonic Drive In, Tater Tots (regular size).

Calories - 220
Calories from Fat - 120
Total Fat - 14 grams
Carbs - 23 grams
Saturated Fat - 2.5 grams
Trans Fat - 3 grams
Cholesterol - 0 milligrams
Sodium - 600 milligrams

As I drove away from Arby’s on Monday night, with my delicious Crispy Chicken Bacon and Swiss Sandwich, I noticed a sign advertising their Chocolate Turnover dessert. Chocolate? I knew they had Apple and Cherry, but this was NEW. It looked good in the picture, but most food usually does. This would require a hands-on test, so tonight I went back to sample this new dessert item for myself. In fact, I got two of them.

Chocolate lovers should be excited as soon as they see it. There’s chocolate icing dribbled all over the top, and more chocolate trying to burst out the seems of the crust. It’s a nice looking pastry — much nicer than I was expecting. It’s a decent size too.

The crust is flaky, layers break away with each bite. It’s very much like a croissant, and unlike typical fast food breads. As it turns out, this Chocolate Turnover is made by Pepperidge Farm exclusively for Arby’s. No mistaking it for pastry from a real street bakery, but it’s definitely better than average fast food dessert.

Here’s the story — Pepperidge Farm produces and ships the chocolate stuffed dough to Arby’s in a frozen state. Arby’s then bakes the turnovers on site, at each store. The icing is put on by-hand right before it’s served to you. The end result is a fresh tasting, warm and toasty treat. Almost like something you’d expect from a donut shop.

The chocolate is made from genuine Hershey’s cocoa. The icing is sweet and light, while the stuffing inside packs more of a pure chocolate punch. It’s very rich, with a strong cocoa taste. Some might even find it too-much, but chocolate fanatics will be loving it. I should warn you — Eat this immediately after it’s served if you want full enjoyment. I purchased two, and the cold one was much less satisfying.

The Chocolate Turnover from Arby’s is about the closest thing to a bakery fresh dessert pastry you’ll find at a fast food place. It’s made from top quality ingredients, and the $1.29 cost is cheap enough for anybody to add to their next order.

Price: $1.29 / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Arby’s Chocolate Turnover.

Calories - 400
Calories from Fat - 225
Total Fat - 25 grams
Carbs - 37 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 7 grams
Cholesterol - 0 milligrams
Sodium - 190 milligrams

This just in from the Jack In The Box press room.

“SAN DIEGO - As the variety and popularity of premium beverages continues to grow in the U.S., Jack in the Box restaurants today debut a new beverage platform – Real Fruit Smoothies – in several of its markets, primarily in the West. The quick-serve chain plans to roll out its line of smoothies systemwide by the end of July. Jack’s Real Fruit Smoothies are made from a blend of Minute Maid fruit juice and nonfat frozen yogurt and come in three flavors – Strawberry Banana, Mango and Orange Sunrise.”

“With consumers’ busy schedules, smoothies have become very popular as snacks and even breakfast items,” said Teka O’Rourke, director of menu marketing and promotions at Jack in the Box Inc. “Our new smoothies offer the flavor and quality consumers have come to expect, with the added convenience of drive-thru service.”

“Jack’s Smoothies are available in 16 and 24 ounce servings for suggested prices, excluding tax, of $2.99 and $3.99, respectively, at all participating Jack in the Box restaurants in Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Hawaii, as well as several markets in California, including Bakersfield, Chico, El Centro, Eureka, Fresno, Monterey, Palm Springs, Redding, Sacramento, Salinas, San Diego and Santa Barbara.”