Onion Rings from Whataburger
McDonald’s doesn’t have onion rings. Neither does Wendy’s. Or Arby’s.
Like our friends the Tater Tots, O-Rings have never been able to match the popularity of the almighty french fry. That doesn’t keep fans from gobbling them up faster than ever before. Restaurants that serve these deep fried onion slices often find a loyal fan base dedicated to their product. Places like Sonic, Burger King and Whataburger continue to experience high demand, and each offers something a bit different.
At Whataburger, it’s size. They are bigger and thicker than most. If you want a lot of ‘onion’ in your rings, you are going to very happy. However, for some folks it might be too much. If you enjoy onion ‘flavor’ more than pure-onion, these might overpower you. And to borrow a quote from the Sonic onion rings review: I find that if onions are too thick you often wind up with an unpleasant surprise waiting in the center. There’s nothing worse than taking a bite only to find the entire naked onion has escaped from it’s breading (or battered) shell, because it was too limp and slimy to cooperate.
This is more of a problem with Whataburger, because of their thickness. I usually have a couple rings try the aforementioned escape route, leaving me with some big-bare onions in each order. I like onions, but not enough to enjoy large pieces without batter or breading, or being used ON or IN something else. The issue is not uncommon with onion rings in general, regardless of who’s brand, so it comes with the territory. Some folks enjoy all that extra onion, but not me. Once that little bugger has broken free of it’s crunchy shell, it better be thin or else it faces the possibility of being tossed away.
Flavor is not a problem. The onions are juicy and sweet. The deep fried batter is tasty, light golden brown, medium thick with a good crunch. I used to think they cut and battered fresh onions in each store like Sonic does, but these are actually frozen and shipped by a company that has been supplying Whataburger for many years. They are remarkably flavorful and fresh tasting considering they come from the freezer, and most people could probably be fooled into thinking they were made from scratch in-store. I suppose that’s why a company like Whataburger, known for fresh burgers and ingredients, is confident enough to include them on the menu. A wise decision.
The Onion Rings from Whataburger are good. True onion lovers will rejoice in their large, thick slices. They are not made from scratch like their burgers, but they have earned the right to sit alongside them. I still tend to prefer the rings from Sonic, giving them a slight edge and higher score, but these are quite tasty and enjoyable.
Price: $1.69 (medium) / Website: Whataburger.com
Fast Food Critic Score: B
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Nutrition Facts - Whataburger, Onion Rings (Medium).
Calories - 420
Calories from Fat - 250
Total Fat - 28 grams
Carbs - 36 grams
Saturated Fat - 13 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 24 milligrams
Sodium - 494 milligrams
Should be noted, Arby’s DOES have onion petals.