Less heat than expected — but plenty of flavor!

It’s no secret, I’m a Burger King fan. After seeing the recent television commercials for BK’s new Angry Whopper, I was anxious to try it. The advertisements show people freaking out and getting angry from all the heat, but knowing that advertisements and reality are two totally separate things, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would the burger actually be that hot and spicy? Would it still taste like the Whopper I’ve known and loved for years? I visited two different Burger King stores to get an impression.

The Angry Whopper is available in regular (single), double, or triple meat. I ordered the regular burger, and was initially blown away by it. The number of ingredients was impressive, but what stood out first, and most, was the jalapenos. Not surprisingly, in order to keep BK’s fast-food assembly-line running quickly and smoothly, they use pickled jalapenos from a jar/can instead of fresh. That typically results in less heat, as was the case here, but even though they didn’t have the same impact as the fresh jalapenos used on a Five Guys cheeseburger, they still gave it a small kick.

Other standard ingredients / toppings on the Angry Whopper are pepper jack cheese, “angry” onions, “angry” sauce, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, all loaded inside a big toasted sesame seed bun. There is no doubt, Burger King packed a lot of stuff into a single sandwich. There were moments when it felt like TOO much.

This burger is not nearly as hot or spicy as you might expect, so don’t worry if you’re the type who can’t normally take the heat. The veggies and mayo balance and tone down the heat of the jalapenos, so you shouldn’t be overwhelmed, though at times the flavor of the onions and jalapenos are quite strong. The angry onions look like onion rings that have been cut into pieces. They are breaded and deep fried, same as their circular cousins, but despite being called “angry” I didn’t notice anything spicy or special about them. Basically they tasted like regular onion rings to me. That being said, it had been awhile since I had onion rings on a burger, so it was a nice treat. The pepper jack cheese didn’t do much for me. Frankly, I wouldn’t have even noticed it without looking at the innards of the sandwich to verify it was really there.

The beef patty, lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise and bun are standard whopper items, and did not disappoint. The meat had the same great flame broiled taste BK is famous for. The bacon was OK, but with such a small amount, and with so many other ingredients fighting for my attention, it’s impact on the burger was limited. The problem might be solved by increasing the number of bacon strips, but that would almost certainly raise the burger’s price. BK’s angry sauce does not provide any extra heat, but has a good tangy flavor that I found to be unique and very enjoyable.

After visiting the other Burger King location, my love for the Angry Whopper wasn’t quite as strong. The second burger didn’t have as much angry sauce, and it also lacked the same level of (mild) heat and spiciness as the first one. I enjoyed eating it, but the second burger failed to impress as much as the first. Perhaps it was just an issue with that particular BK restaurant, but regardless of my slightly less satisfying experience there, I would order it again because it’s still a damn tasty burger.

Some people may find the Angry Whopper’s ingredient list a bit overwhelming, but I recommend you try it, especially if you’re already a fan of Burger King’s flame broiled beef. It doesn’t have the heat I was hoping for, but it’s got a nice little kick and a great overall flavor. This angry burger should put a happy smile on most faces.

Price: $3.79 / Website: BurgerKing.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

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Nutrition Facts - Burger King, Angry Whopper (single meat).

Calories - 880
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 55 grams
Carbs - 59 grams
Saturated Fat - 18 grams
Trans Fat - 2 grams
Cholesterol - 110 milligrams
Sodium - 1670 milligrams
Protein - 37 grams

Who’s cheap cheeseburger is better? McDonald’s, Burger King or Wendy’s?

This marks the 100th review on FastFoodCritic.com and we decided to do something different. Instead of one person nitpicking a single item, all three editors worked to find which of these 5 commonly available value-priced cheeseburgers is better.

The Goal: Find the best budget cheeseburger among the industry’s 3 largest chains. Burgers judged on a combination of taste and value. 1 winner, 1 runner-up.

The competition:

McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger
McDonald’s McDouble
Burger King Whopper Jr. w/Cheese
Wendy’s Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
Wendy’s Double Stack

We wanted to stay as close to $1 as possible. Due to the crazy economy, the prices on some of these items are literally changing before our eyes. In one case, last week’s 99-cent burger is up to $1.29 (even $1.39) this week in many locations. We’ve done our best to quote and explain current prices (and ranges) for each contender.

Let’s look at them individually, starting with McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger.

Double Cheeseburger from McDonald’s, $1.19 / $1.29 — Sadly, the legendary 99-cent burger is no longer 99-cents. Everything else remains the same except the price. Two small beef patties, two slices of American cheese, pickles, onions, mustard and ketchup. At the old price, it was undeniably an excellent bargain, and it had to be considered a front runner for this competition. But the new price increase might complicate things, especially in a menu segment where cost is top priority.

McWhat? The new 99-cent “McDouble” is a McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger with only 1 slice of cheese, instead of 2. With rising ingredient costs and the sinking economy, McDonald’s could no longer afford to sell the Double Cheeseburger for 99-cents, so the McDouble was born to take it’s place, and the Double Cheeseburger increased in price. That extra slice of cheese will now cost you 20- to 30-cents extra. This probably comes as surprising and disappointing news to many people. If the price change hasn’t gone into effect at your local McDonald’s, it will soon.

Whopper Jr. w/Cheese from Burger King, $1.20 / $1.25 — Single small beef patty, one slice American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, ketchup, mayonnaise. The price on the small version of BK’s whopper is stable, at least for now. You can also order it without the cheese, usually 21 to 26 cents cheaper than above.

Junior Bacon Cheeseburger from Wendy’s, $.99 / $1.39 — One small beef patty, one slice American cheese, one slice bacon (cut in half), lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise. The two burgers from Wendy’s are $1.39 each in some locations, so there’s no guarantee they’re only 99-cents in your city/town. The extra 40-cents can make a big difference in your eating plans when choosing from items in this low price range.

Double Stack from Wendy’s, $.99 / $1.39 — Two small beef patties, one slice of American cheese, pickles, onions, mustard and ketchup. Same basic ingredients as the McDouble, except the onions are ring sliced instead of minced. Again, the rather large price range on Wendy’s burgers teases our taste buds and wallets.

The beef patties on all the burgers are very small and thin, with Burger King’s being slightly thicker and heavier than McDonald’s and Wendy’s individual patties. On the other hand, both of those have 2 patties on their burgers versus the single patty on the Whopper Jr., so ultimately they have more beef than BK. Still, the Whopper Jr. has the largest serving size overall, at 170 grams, because it’s bun is bigger and it has more cheese, lettuce and toppings than the others. At first glance, it’s not unusual to think they forgot to put the meat on some of these little burgers because the buns and cheese cover up and hide the small beef patties. By appearance alone, you could easily confuse which patty came from which company, if not for the shape.

The buns from McDonald’s and Wendy’s are plain, very similar in size and texture, while Burger King’s bun is a bit larger and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

NOTE: We each ate the five cheeseburgers and wrote down our thoughts separately, without any conversation or messages with each other. Nobody knew what the others had said until the information and votes were gathered to publish this review.

AND THE WINNER IS… continue reading…

“Behold the scent of seduction, with a hint of flame-broiled meat.”

The King has released his own body spray called “Flame”. Nothing sets the mood better than having your lover smell like a hamburger. To help the romance further, BK designed an interactive website at FireMeetsDesire.com where you’re treated to an assortment of relaxing tunes and images by hitting the spray button. There’s also a few seductively silly scenes with the King laying on a rug by a roaring fireplace.

You can purchase “Flame” at Ricky’s NYC for $3.99. (Thanks to our man John)

There’s not many mushrooms… but otherwise it’s a solid big burger.

How many of you have succumbed to the countless terrible television commercials for Burger King’s new Mushroom and Swiss Steakhouse Burger? BK has made a mockery of Simon and Garfunkel. How dare they! Well, even those awful commercials were not enough to deter me from trying this new behemoth. Available for a limited time only, this burger offers up a new taste and unique ingredients worth trying.

The ‘Shroom and Swiss is a large flame-grilled Angus beef patty, mushrooms, Swiss cheese, crispy fried onions and A1 brand steak sauce. I don’t usually care for mushrooms on my burgers, so I was a little wary, but I’m glad I gave this sandwich a fair shot. If you’re not crazy about the idea of ’shrooms on your hamburger, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. They are very, very subtle, and there’s not many of them. Just enough to add a tiny bit of extra flavor. Of course if you’re a mushroom lover hoping for a big payoff, you’ll be disappointed by their small numbers, so buyer beware.

The flame-grilled Angus beef tastes good, and it’s huge, overhanging the bun. The patty is not exactly round, it’s more a rectangle shape. The tasty bun is corn dusted but maybe a tad undersized for the load it has to carry. There’s a good amount of melted Swiss cheese, though it’s mild enough to not be overpowering. The sharp tangy taste of the steak sauce gives this sandwich a different character than typical burgers, and it’s a nice match for BK’s blend of Angus beef. The sauce and crunchy fried onions are my favorite parts of the unique ingredients, but everything works in harmony.

I’ve ordered this burger twice and one thing that I immediately noticed both times was how greasy they were. Literally, there were pools of grease left behind after I was done eating. So be aware of the potential mess you are getting into, especially if you’re on-the-go. Also, the corn dusted bun will shed its corn dust all over the place, and there’s a TON of melted Swiss everywhere. Price wise, this burger is definitely on the expensive side. At $7.49 for the combo, and $5.09 for the sandwich alone, you might find a better deal elsewhere. To it’s credit, it’s a big hearty meal for the money.

So… if you’re a big mushroom lover, be warned there’s not many. However, if you’re tastes are similar to mine, this might be just the right amount. Your reaction to that point will determine whether it’s worth a shot. I was happy with this burger, but admit my expectations were not very high, and I found a small amount of mushrooms to be a good thing. I don’t see this sandwich being around much longer. It’s expensive and probably won’t be a big seller. While it’s still available, I recommend trying it, obviously not on the strength of it’s mushrooms, but just a big beefy burger with good tasting meat, cheese, crunchy onions and steak sauce. It’s a solid flavor combination.

Price: $5.09 / Website: BurgerKing.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B-

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Nutrition Facts - Burger king, Mushroom and Swiss Steakhouse Burger.

Calories - 840
Calories from Fat - 430
Total Fat - 48 grams
Carbs - 53 grams
Saturated Fat - 19 grams
Trans Fat - 2 grams
Cholesterol - 130 milligrams
Sodium - 1860 milligrams
Protein - 40 grams

What’s with all the chicken wraps these days? The wrap has become the new “it” item at most fast food establishments. Is it because they are lower in carbs? Are bread and bun prices on the rise? I’m not sure, however one thing seems certain - it appears wraps are here to stay. Hey, I’m not complaining. They’re an inexpensive snack and there’s a good variety on the market to choose from. Although, there’s not much variety at BK, as this is the lone lunch/dinner wrap they offer, and it’s for a limited time.

At $1.39, the Spicy Chicken BK Wrapper is a good value item. It’s a piece of spicy fried chicken, shredded three cheese blend, a “southwest” sauce and lettuce wrapped up in a soft flour tortilla. I felt the chicken was decent tasting but not overly spicy. The three cheese blend was no big deal, and barely noticeable. The spicy nature of the chicken mixed with the sauce took over in the taste department, preventing the cheese flavor from coming thru. Of course, there’s really not much cheese to begin with.

The southwest sauce seemed like a typical ranch dressing to me. Nothing special, but it does work well with the spicy chicken, similar to the way buffalo wings are complimented by a cool ranch sauce. The lettuce was a little on the rubbery side but still tied everything together nicely. The flour tortilla was fine (hard to mess that up) but I felt it was a little oversized for the small amount of food that’s packed inside.

Ok, so you’re not getting a very large wrap. It’s not as filling as the Popeye’s Loaded Chicken Wrap but maybe on par or even a tad bigger than McDonald’s Snack Wraps. On the chicken wrap totem poll, I’d put the Spicy Chicken BK Wrapper from Burger King around the middle. It’s decent, but not great. I would probably order it again but not alone. It’s really one of those items you’d add-on to your regular meal if you’re extra hungry, or perhaps order 2 or 3 if that’s all you’re getting. A single wrap definitely won’t satisfy a hungry appetite, but at this price you really shouldn’t expect it to.

Price: $1.39 / Website: BurgerKing.com

Fast Food Critic Score: C+

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Nutrition Facts - Burger King, Spicy Chicken BK Wrapper.

Calories - 350
Calories from Fat - 170
Total Fat - 19 grams
Carbs - 24 grams
Saturated Fat - 5 grams
Trans Fat - 2 gram
Cholesterol - 40 milligrams
Sodium - 960 milligrams
Protein - 22 grams

Burger King and The Inventure Group have just released a new potato snack, “Onion Rings”, based on the flavor and popularity of the deep fried side order from BK. This makes the third Burger King branded snack to appear on store shelves. The other two BK flavors, “Ketchup & Fries” and “Flame Broiled”, were released last year. A quick web search shows mixed reviews on both of them, but sales have been strong enough to convince the parties involved that another variety would be welcome. They plan to offer a package for just about every snacking need. Vending machines will carry .75-ounce and 1.125-ounce bags, with 2 or 3-ounce bags available in convenience and grocery stores, while discount and bulk food clubs get 9 and 12-ounce containers.

As a fan of Funyuns, a similar snack I’ve enjoyed since I was a kid, I’m interested to see how these compare. Thanks to FFC’s newest team member Ryan for the information. I will try and get some of these new onion snacks this weekend. Does anybody else here enjoy Funyons, or have any interest in trying this new snack?

Has anyone tried the Rodeo Cheeseburger from Burger King? Anyone? Turns out this tasty gem is not available everywhere, so I’m curious as to it’s availability. It’s been discontinued on a national level but still available as a ‘regional’ item. Currently it’s at some locations in the Washington Metro Area, specifically here in Maryland.

The Rodeo Cheeseburger was created to coincide with the release of the film “Small Soldiers” back in 1998. At that time it was my go-to burger at BK. It became a regular on the menu for a few years. Do you remember when Burger King introduced some new menu items including tacos? They didn’t last long. During the birth and quick demise of those BK Tacos, the Rodeo Cheeseburger was taken off the menu, and I resorted to my own tactics. See, the Rodeo Cheeseburger is pretty simple… it’s your standard BK cheeseburger (minus the ketchup/pickles etc) and what’s added in their place are 3 tasty onion rings and Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce.

This combination works well together. Very well. So in my times of need, when the Rodeo Cheeseburger was no longer on the BK menu, I’d resort to making my own. If your neighborhood Burger King doesn’t carry this item, just do it yourself. I did it for years. Order a plain cheeseburger… the burger patty and American cheese on the sesame seed bun, then order a side of onion rings and ask for some BBQ sauce. There you have it. Simple, delicious and worth the little extra effort.

Burger King re-introduced the Rodeo Cheeseburger in recent years for around $1.09, and it seems like every 6-8 months the price has gone up by a dime. It was holding steady at $1.39 for a while, but today I purchased one for $1.49, although still on the “Value Menu”. Worth every dime if you ask me. The only difference between the current Rodeo Cheeseburger and those of the past is the switch from Bulls-Eye BBQ sauce to Sweet Baby Ray’s. Both sauces are great. If you haven’t tried Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce, it’s available in many grocery stores. Perfect blend of sweet and kick. I’ve already got a soft spot for BK’s onion rings and I’m happy they maintain good texture within the burger. No soggy rings here. There’s plenty of crunch in every bite.

I’ve tried to think of something negative to say about this burger, but for $1.49 I can’t. The BBQ sauce is tangy and sweet and goes well with the subtle flavor and crunch of the onion rings. The burger is held together nicely with melted American cheese. And if you’re eating on the go, you won’t make a complete mess, as with some bigger burgers. So if you’re in the mood for an inexpensive cheeseburger with a little western edge, go no further than your local Burger King for the Rodeo Cheeseburger. If it’s not available in your region, no problem, just make your own!

Price: $1.49 / Website: BurgerKing.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

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Nutrition Facts - Burger King, Rodeo Cheeseburger.

Calories - 380
Calories from Fat - 180
Total Fat - 19 grams
Carbs - 40 grams
Saturated Fat - 8 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 grams
Cholesterol - 30 milligrams
Sodium - 630 milligrams
Protein - 17 grams

I’m going to preface this by saying that Burger King is my favorite fast food burger joint. McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. and the others can’t really hold a candle to Burger King in my eyes. My fascination with the King started at a young age, with the golden crowns you could wear on your head, the Burger King Kid’s Club gang, and the toys that were way better than “Mickey Dees”. Those days are gone now, but Burger King still remains the go-to spot when it’s time to tickle my burger itch.

The Whopper Jr. (like most value menu burgers) is often overlooked by the majority of fast-food eaters. However, I’ve found them to be an awesome deal, especially when combined with a value menu fry and drink. The portions are smaller, making it a somewhat healthier option than the full-size burgers, and I find the bun to meat ratio as well as the toppings are both more consistent and more pleasant to eat on the smaller burgers. It seems these days everyone is going for the 1/4 pound or even larger monster burgers and these little gems are being forgotten.

The base of the Whopper Jr. is the 2.2 oz hamburger patty, about half the size and calories of the standard Whopper, which sits on top of a wonderful toasted sesame seed bun. The standard toppings are ketchup, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles and sliced onions. I always add cheese, a .20 cent option. As with all Burger King Burgers, they are made to order and you can “have it your way”. According to BK, there are 221,184 possible different ways for a customer to order a Whopper”.

I’ll just stick to this way.

What makes the Whopper Jr. sandwich such a classic in my eyes is the balance of the ingredients. The bun, patty, and toppings combine into a perfect size and form. You don’t feel like there is too much meat and not enough toppings or vice versa, it’s also not too big to hold nicely in both of your hands. Additionally, since the Jr. has been a menu standard for so many years, it’s incredibly consistent throughout the chain’s locations. I’ve rarely (if ever) seen Whopper Jr. orders get screwed up.

Finally you have the flame broiled patty, which made Burger King what it is today, and in my mind delivers the knockout blow when comparing this burger to the other value menu sandwiches. It creates a flavor that just isn’t found elsewhere at this price point. The Whopper Jr. is available nationwide starting at only $1. This burger gets an ‘A’ from me, for being an exceptional burger, for an exceptional bargain price.

Price: $1.20 with cheese / Website: BurgerKing.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

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Nutrition Facts - Whopper Jr. Sandwich with Cheese.

Calories - 420
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 25 grams
Carbs - 32 grams
Saturated Fat - 8 grams
Trans Fat - 1 grams
Cholesterol - 50 milligrams
Sodium - 780 milligrams
Protein - 18 grams

Between breakfast at McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Burger King, when the choice is up to me, I usually go for Burger King. Don’t get me wrong though, I still enjoy the McDonald’s McGriddle and I usually spend the extra money to add bacon to the sausage version. (It is definitely worth it.) I also like the sausage egg and cheese on a croissant from Dunkin Donuts. I just find myself going to Burger King more often for breakfast. I can remember the first time I had the ‘Enormous Omelet Sandwich’. I bit into it and said out loud ‘Oh My God this is amazing’. The Cheesy Bacon Wrapper is yet another item on BK’s breakfast menu that leaves me wanting another.

It features egg, cheese sauce, American cheese, hash browns, and bacon wrapped in a tortilla. The wrap is perfect for those who do a lot of eating while driving. I am one of those people, and have found some breakfast items too messy or hard to handle while trying to drive at the same time. The wrap though wasn’t messy aside from a slight cheese sauce drippage at the end, but that wasn’t too bad.

The first bite gives you a nice surprise with the added ingredient of the hash browns. Usually, you’ll just enjoy your hash brown as a side item, but added to the wrap is a nice touch. Another difference for this wrap was the cheese sauce. This article calls it a ’smokey cheese sauce’ but I found it to be sweet. It balances well with the saltiness of the bacon and other ingredients. Together with the bacon, American cheese, egg, and tortilla, it all works well, making a nice breakfast snack.

The only issue I have is the distribution of ingredients. On both of my experiences, there were problems. The first time it didn’t have a lot of American cheese at the beginning, but too much at the end. The second time (pictured here) gave me bacon at the end instead of throughout the entire wrap. This definitely takes some points off the grade, but overall the wrap was a positive experience.

At $1.49 each, or $4.49 for a value meal which comes with 2 wraps, coffee, and hash browns, I would totally get this again. It is definitely worth trying at least once with such an affordable price. If that’s all you get, you may still feel hungry afterwards so consider it more of a snack then your entire breakfast. I give this wrap a B plus. It would have received higher if the distribution was more even throughout the wrapper.

Price: $1.49 / Website: BurgerKing.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

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Nutrition Facts - Burger King Cheesy Bacon Wrapper.

Calories - 390
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 24 grams
Carbs - 29 grams
Saturated Fat - 8 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 grams
Cholesterol - 150 milligrams
Sodium - 1080 milligrams
Protein - 14 grams

People do stupid things. That’s not a surprise. But sometimes their stupidity hurts innocent folks, such is the case with this Burger King employee who decided to take a bath in BK’s kitchen sink, and film the stunt for the whole world to see. The result of that strange behavior was the entire staff getting fired, including the manager who had 20 years on the job, and no involvement or beforehand knowledge of his plans.

The bather, Timothy Tackett (nicknamed “Mr. Unstable”) has already been featured on his town’s local news, popular nationwide TV show Inside Edition, and this morning is scheduled to appear on NBC’s Today Show. He has become an overnight celebrity, promoting his ‘music’ career, while apologizing for the stunt. Meanwhile, the former manager of the Burger King store is sitting home unemployed. That’s just wrong.

More info and videos on this bizarre story at TV Channel 2 in Dayton, Ohio.