Fast Food Critic - Reviews, News and Nutrition Information about Fast Food.

False Alarm — There is No Fire — Still a good burger though.

The humorous Sonic TV commercials had me excited about the new item, but after eating multiple “Island Fire” burgers recently myself, and then sharing a couple with some friends, everyone involved was left disappointed with un-heated taste buds. Despite an otherwise solid burger — there is No Fire in the Fire Burger.

First, the only thing that makes this burger “Limited Time” is having two kinds of cheese, and the so-called “Exotic Fiery Habanero” sauce. Besides that, it’s a double meat sonic burger (”SuperSonic” on the menu) with bacon. That’s not a bad thing, because Sonic makes a fine burger, but with the sauce being such a disappointment, this seems unworthy of the special tag, promotion and hype. So let’s make this a review of Sonic burgers in general, since all share the same basic set of components. The photos are the new Island Fire version, with bacon and two cheeses.

Sonic Burger — A single 100% beef patty. Mustard (or Mayo), dill pickles, onions, lettuce and tomato. Served on a plain white toasted bun.
Sonic Cheeseburger — Add slice of American cheese.
SuperSonic Cheeseburger — 2 beef patties, 2 slices American cheese.
Sonic Island Fire Burger — 2 beef patties, bacon strips, slice of smoky cheddar, slice of pepper jack, lettuce, tomato and “Exotic Fiery Habanero” sauce.

*NOTE: Chili and Bacon are available to add-on any burger, at extra cost.

Somebody recently asked me what other fast food burger Sonic compares to, and I think they resemble Whataburger, on a slightly lesser scale. The 100% beef patties are thin, but large in diameter. The meat’s taste and texture is similar, the seasoning is close, and if you built a burger from each chain, with the exact same combination of toppings, they could be cousins. That’s a big compliment.

I order my Sonic Burgers without any changes from the standard menu, except for holding the tomatoes. Beef, Mustard, Pickles, Onions, Lettuce. Sound familiar? The same combination as Whataburger. I mentioned in that review, it was one of the few burgers I eat without ketchup. Here’s another. Sonic does not use ketchup on their burgers either, unless requested. Mustard (or Mayo) is the default.

And once again, there is a harmony between beef, mustard, pickle and fresh lettuce, that makes my southern soul sing with delight. It might seem odd to some who’d never think of eating burgers without ketchup, but Sonic and Whataburger have both been serving burgers this way forever. Texans love it, even as a kid I remember burgers with only mustard and black pepper served in school cafeterias.

The bacon is usually cooked well done and crispy at Sonic, as it was in the burger from today’s photos. I love thin crispy bacon. I can’t stand thick soggy slices.

Sonic’s veggies are OK, but Whataburger beats them in my opinion, with consistently fresher tasting and more flavorful toppings. Sonic also cranks out a barely-warm burger on occasion, which leads me to believe they are pre-cooking patties and leaving them on the side waiting for orders. It’s a common practice with many fast food restaurants. Not at Whataburger, and they win this category too. I’d have to search my mind long and hard to find an example of anything less than a piping hot freshly cooked burger from them. Granted, sometimes you wait a few extra minutes.

Sonic’s American cheese tastes decent, but the Smoky Cheddar and Pepper Jack on the Island Fire Burger are definitely an upgrade, and provide a nice amount of extra flavor. Both of them have a pleasant taste and hearty portion of real cheesy goodness. This is the only advantage it has over the regular burgers from Sonic.

Now we reach the defining ingredient for the limited time Island Fire version of Sonic’s Burger, the Exotic Fiery Habanero sauce. The problem here is a simple one.

It’s not exotic - it’s not spicy - and the habaneros have left the building.

This is not a case of having some spicy heat, and wanting more. It’s a case of missing spice and heat altogether. I’m not one of those people who likes really hot spicy food, and so I tend to stay in the mild range. For me to be completely underwhelmed by something in this way, is a bit surprising. My brother and close friend who have eaten this burger said the same thing. There was no heat, no fire, nothing.

The Burgers from Sonic are tasty and satisfying overall, though not quite the same level of the Whataburgers they resemble. On a good day, they are capable of delivering a similar experience. This new Island Fire Burger is a disappointment however, after being led to believe it would have a spicy kick. Interestingly enough, a couple hours later I felt a tiny amount of heat. Perhaps it’s a time-release recipe.

The score below is for Sonic Burgers as a whole. The Island Fire version failed to deliver the spicy kick promised, but for only $0.30 more than a regular double-meat, includes bacon and two cheeses, which is cheap, so it all evens out.

Prices:
Sonic Burger with Cheese — $2.89
SuperSonic (double) with Cheese — $3.99
Sonic Island Fire Burger — $4.29
Website: SonicDriveIn.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Sonic Island Fire Burger.

Calories - 1010
Calories from Fat - 530
Total Fat - 59 grams
Carbs - 69 grams
Saturated Fat - 24 grams
Trans Fat - 2.5 grams
Cholesterol - 165 milligrams
Sodium - 1540 milligrams
Protein - 52 grams

Nutrition Facts - Sonic Burger, Single w/mustard and cheese.

Calories - 600
Calories from Fat - 280
Total Fat - 31 grams
Carbs - 54 grams
Saturated Fat - 12 grams
Trans Fat - 2 grams
Cholesterol - 75 milligrams
Sodium - 1050 milligrams
Protein - 27 grams

Nutrition Facts - SuperSonic Burger, Double w/mustard and cheese.

Calories - 870
Calories from Fat - 470
Total Fat - 52 grams
Carbs - 55 grams
Saturated Fat - 23 grams
Trans Fat - 3.5 grams
Cholesterol - 155 milligrams
Sodium - 1440 milligrams
Protein - 45 grams