Checkers’ Smokehouse Buford with Bacon
When I joined FFC last month, I began with Burger King’s Rodeo Cheeseburger. From that glowing review, you might have guessed I’m a big fan of “western” style burgers, and you’re right. Most every version of these type burgers contain two crucial elements: barbeque sauce and fried onions. Another staple is bacon, and even though BK’s Rodeo Cheeseburger is a smaller value menu burger that doesn’t include bacon, it’s still delicious. From reading the review feedback, I noticed some people chiming in about bacon. So here you go folks, a bigger western style burger with pork.
The Checkers Smokehouse Buford is a double cheeseburger topped with hickory barbeque sauce, a giant fried onion ring, cheddar cheese, lettuce, pickles and slice of tomato, on a toasted sesame seed bun. Bacon is an option, and of course I added it. This burger was stacked. When taking my first bite I noticed how flavorful the bacon was. They did this bacon right, at least in the taste category. It was cooked a tad uneven, soft in the middle and crunchy on the ends, but it tasted great throughout. The double stacked all-beef patties are sure to satisfy meat lovers with big appetites, and the ground beef at Checkers is hand-seasoned, has good flavor and fairly juicy.
The hickory BBQ sauce they use is a bit sweet, which I like, and the cheddar cheese had a nice smoky flavor, and was melted around both patties. The sesame seed bun was a standard fast-food burger bun and even though it’s advertised as being “toasted” I honestly don’t think mine was toasted at all. I was disappointed with the giant onion ring. By appearance alone I was anticipating something great. It’s a big, thick, crunchy fried onion ring but it’s flavor never really popped. This is probably due to many unnecessary ingredients, which is my biggest gripe about this burger.
I don’t understand the inclusion of lettuce, tomato and dill pickles. For one, the lettuce is only noticeable because it reminds you that less-is-more. The tomato was a little runny and simply not needed. And pickles have a strong bitter taste that take away from the foundation of what makes a western-inspired burger unique. Note to western burger makers… lettuce, tomato, pickles do not belong. If that’s your sort of thing personally, then you should be able to order them as options, but they shouldn’t be standard ingredients on this type of burger. You wouldn’t put ketchup, mustard and mayo along with the BBQ sauce now would you? Yet I’ve had places make it like that. Wrong Wrong Wrong. There is such a thing as too many toppings.
At a price of $3.89, you’re getting a really good sized burger. This is a two-hander, and things will get messy. Although I do have a few negative things to say about Checkers’ Smokehouse Buford, my overall experience was positive. It tasted very good, and satisfied my big burger hunger. I would definitely order it again, although it’s only available for a limited time. I’m recommending that you hold the lettuce, tomato and pickles to achieve the maximum “western” flavor. That should also help the giant onion ring stand out. This is a solid burger that has potential to be great.
Price: $3.89 / Website: Checkers.com
Fast Food Critic Score: B
Click here for rating system details.
Nutrition Facts - Checkers, Smokehouse Buford.
Calories - 650
Calories from Fat - 330
Total Fat - 37 grams
Carbs - 44 grams
Saturated Fat - 13 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 90 milligrams
Sodium - 1610 milligrams
Protein - 36 gramsNOTE: The nutrition facts above do not include the added bacon. Checkers has not published the numbers for that optional topping.
Cheddar cheese is a real nice alternative to American… I wish more places used it.
I agree about the LTP on this burger… unnecessary. That’s like putting lettuce on a meatball sub.
Oh Ryan. I had such high hopes for you! Of course tomato and pickle belong. They are the options that you can delete if you don’t want them, or leave on if you do. As for the lettuce, I’m with you. But even that, if you don’t mind getting a little messy, can be deleted. My feeble point is, the best option would be to serve the burger dry and let you add whatever you want at a condiment bar. Failing that, throw in the kitchen sink and let each person delete until nirvana is reached. This obviously would not extend to such slurpy stuff as ketchup, mustard and mayo.
BTW, what ever happened to our sweet Canadian critic?
Old Geezer…
When condiments such as lettuce/pickles/tomato take away from such ingredients such as the giant onion ring it is completely necessary to keep them out. On a standard burger LTP is just that, standard. BBQ sauce and onion rings aren’t a standard on those burgers, they are key ingredients for a “western” inspired burger. Just saying, its unnecessary. Like Keith said, “like putting lettuce on a meatball sub”. To each their own though…Load up on tomato/pickles on your western burger. I’ll just stick to my sophisticated (sarcasm) palette and keep those off.
I agree- the lettuce, tomato and pickle really don’t belong on this burger. It was messy, but I think with most burgers, the messier, the better.
Wow that really is a huge onion ring!
I’ve always liked Checkers so it’s nice to see their burger get a good review. A lot of people have never heard of them, and in some places they are called “Rally’s” but it’s the same restaurant with same basic menu.
About the tomato and lettuce, I agree with the reviewer. This is a western barbecue burger and I would never want that stuff included. I haven’t seen any other fast food joints put tomato or lettuce on their western hamburgers.
@Don — (Geezer for those who didn’t know his name)
Wendi, the lovely vegetarian lady from Canada is going thru a lot with her career and personal life at the moment, and that’s all I know. I was afraid us meat-eaters had scared her away, but that’s not the case. It wasn’t us. Heh.
Anyway, I’m honestly not sure when, or if, she will return. I’m certainly proud of the great veggie burger review she did for FFC, and I wish her all the best, of course! And hope to hear back from her sometime in the future.
@Ryan — Great review. That thing is making me hungry. I love western burgers too. I also think it’s weird they put tomato, pickles and lettuce on there. I like veggies on a regular burger, but not a BBQ western style.
@Marcus — I agree… that’s a big-ass onion ring. LOL
Glad to see Checker’s get a nice review. They really do a decent job with their burgers. The problem with the Smokehouse, is that there is too much stuff on it, but a good value and meal. Love the dollar burgers and 2 for 3.00 Big Buford specials they have in Southern Michigan..
I disagree with Old Geezer’s claim that fast food places should throw “everything but the kitchen sink” on a burger and let the consumer delete items to their heart’s content… all burgers, sandwiches or any item at a fast food place should be served, by default, the way it is meant to be eaten by the restaurant. That’s one of the only fair ways to review items in fact, by ordering things without all the extras or deletions people typically make. A fair review takes the product into consideration as-is.
Now maybe Checkers thinks that the LTP belong on this burger; if that’s the case, then Ryan gave us an excellent review by pointing out that for him, and perhaps others, the LTP aren’t really necessary. He reviewed it properly by ordering it without any special requests.
That is what makes reviewing food helpful to others.
Im in So. CA . . . .we had a Rallys close by but it went out of buisness in a relativley short period of time.
ever since then i have not seen any around.
Those punks left the onion ring off of BOTH of my sandwiches!
It was still good, but I just kept thinking about how different it would taste with the rings on there.
Ah well. Guess I have to go back and try them again.
LOL!