Burger King’s Double Cheeseburger

There are some instances when food offers which are simply friendly to the pocket seemed really tempting. Naturally, it’s also wise to save some money if the opportunity is handed out to you. When something as cheap and as good to eat is available, then why not take it? The beauty of the dollar menu is that you get a lot for less. Burgers are my greatest weakness and when I saw that Burger King’s Double Cheeseburger is priced only for a dollar, it cannot resist trying it out. Imagine getting a full, 1/4 lb. double cheeseburger. Isn’t that the best deal? But of course, I’m not just raving about Burger King’s Double Cheeseburger because of its price. It’s simply a lot of things.

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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+

Click here for rating system details.

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

I know what you’re thinking. “Hey, a FATBURGER review… wait, Turkey?”

Well, the standard Beef burgers get all the attention here on FFC, including our recent Cheap Cheeseburger Challenge and Classic Big Mac review, so I thought it’d be nice to switch gears and tackle something we’ve not yet attempted. I assure you this is only a tease, and the traditional Fatburger reviews are in the works. Until that time comes, you should know the Turkeyburger from Fatburger is a very pleasant surprise.

You’ve got to give credit to a place with a name like Fatburger for offering “skinny” alternatives. Yep, you can get fries fat or skinny (skinny = traditional / fat = steak fries). Ok, that’s not really what I meant by a skinny alternatives. The beef Fatburger can be ordered in a “Baby Fat” version, which is a nice choice for smaller appetites that can’t handle the generously sized normal Fatburger. Also available are a Veggieburger and this healthier-than-beef Turkeyburger. For anyone seeking a lower fat alternative to regular burgers that doesn’t disappoint in the taste department, you should try this. Open your mind to the idea that a good fast-food Turkeyburger really exists.

The Turkeyburger is billed as “One lean, mean 1/3 lb turkey patty grilled and built the way your heart desires, served up on a whole wheat bun.” For review purposes I went with the works. Just give me whatever traditionally comes with this sandwich. I’m a novice when it comes to Turkey Burgers, so I trust their experience to pick the best toppings. At Fatburger restaurants your food is always made fresh to order, and you should prepare for a litany of “TURKEYBURGER!” as the staff shouts out loud.

Standard condiments on the Turkeyburger were shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickles and mayo. Something not so standard was the sweet pickle relish. While the lettuce/tomato/pickle were nothing out of the ordinary (fresh enough and decent tasting) the pickle relish stood out. And I could swear there was a hint of cinnamon. Whatever it was had a unique flavor that I’m not accustomed to with other pickle relish. If I ever took a blind taste test, I would be able to distinguish a Fatburger product solely on that relish. It really stands out in a crowd of otherwise typical toppings.

Just looking at the turkey patty, one might anticipate a breaded crunchy texture, but that’s not the case. The grilled turkey is tender and moist. It doesn’t try to disguise itself as a hamburger, and I never felt the natural flavor of the turkey was being masked by anything. It’s delicious and hearty, yet still light. I was expecting it would be dry or bland, but it wasn’t. As for the bun, Fatburger’s beef and chicken items use a regular toasted bun, but the Turkeyburger uses a soft whole wheat bun, once again taking into consideration the healthier dining option that’s being chosen. All of the ingredients work well together and create a satisfying experience. This turkey burger made a believer out of me. Tasty and better-for-you alternatives are out there.

My main gripes with the Turkeyburger are ingredients / toppings that are portioned unevenly or inconsistent (too much, too little) and the burger preparation quality can be hit or miss. Also, a price of $4.49 for the sandwich alone, and $8.19 for the combo are fairly steep. The bottom line question is would I order this again, and the answer is a resounding yes! Some will say it’s sacrilegious to order a Turkey burger at a joint that boasts being “The Last Great Hamburger Stand”, but I say the Burger Gods need to make room, because as Turkeyburgers go… this one is close to heaven.

Price: $4.49 / Website: Fatburger.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Fatburger, Turkeyburger (no cheese).

Calories - 480
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 21 grams
Carbs - 50 grams
Saturated Fat - 4.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 80 milligrams
Sodium - 1270 milligrams
Protein - 26 grams

A fast-food classic that’s still going strong after 40 years.

1968 was the year Time magazine says “Changed The World”. From the Vietnam War to the Civil Rights Movement and the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. From Richard Nixon being elected President, to NASA’s first manned Apollo space mission and Elvis Presley’s comeback concert. Major news events, both good and bad.

There’s something else that happened in 1968, and it didn’t make a lot of headlines. It was the introduction of a new hamburger from McDonald’s that featured double meat patties, a 3-piece bun with center section, and a special sauce. One of the earliest franchise owners named Jim Delligatti created the sandwich for McDonald’s stores that he operated in Pennsylvania. The response from his customers was so positive, McDonald’s added his creation to it’s nationwide menu. And so, the Big Mac was born. Today, 40 years later, it’s arguably the most famous hamburger in the world.

However, if you’re like me, the Big Mac probably wasn’t a burger you purchased a lot during 2008. There’s just too many other options to pick from, and most everyone knows what a Big Mac tastes like. Right? Well, after recently discovering someone close to me had never eaten one before… I had to get over the shock first, and then take them to McDonald’s as soon as possible to try it. I was hoping we might find one of the newer remodeled McDonald’s but it was a typical highway rest-stop version. It had been awhile since I had eaten a Big Mac myself, so I bought one too.

I’m happy to report the burger and overall experience was great. The special sauce was creamy, distributed evenly, and as intended was the perfect complimentary flavor without overpowering the other ingredients. I had forgotten how satisfying the Big Mac really is. Growing up, it was my staple burger. Once in a blue moon, I would attempt eating two of them (keep in mind I was just a kid and eating 2 would be quite an accomplishment), but I’d only be able to handle one. The Big Mac is still the same as when I was a kid, and most of you probably remember the ingredients by singing that famous old song that’s still floating around in your head… “Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.”

The beef patties are much thinner and smaller than a burger like Five Guys, but two of them combined with the rest of the toppings make a decent size sandwich. The meat in the Big Mac is not the most flavorful in the fast-food world, but it’s still pretty tasty, seasoned with only salt and pepper when cooked. It’s “100% pure beef” supplied by Lopez Foods based in Oklahoma. Lopez Foods handles the processing of the raw fresh beef, shapes the patties, freezes and packs them, then ships them off to McDonald’s restaurants. On average a beef patty is cooked and served within 1 week after that initial processing/freezing, according to company sources.

The bun of the Big Mac has 3 pieces, and the center bread splits the burger into two sections, each with it’s own beef patty and toppings. The top of the bun is coated with sesame seeds, and all the pieces are lightly toasted. It’s a good bun, and even though it has 3 parts you never feel overwhelmed by having too much bread.

The exact recipe for McDonald’s “Special Sauce”, or “Big Mac Sauce” as it’s called today, remains a secret, but it’s basically a version of Thousand Island dressing. The creamy sauce gives the Big Mac it’s unique trademark flavor, and it’s surprisingly a great match with beef, just as with the included shredded lettuce. I mentioned earlier the sauce is distributed evenly, and that’s because of a special kitchen tool which controls the amount released by employees when they assemble the burgers.

As for other toppings, the shredded lettuce was fresh, and the pickles and onions tasted fine. With only 1 slice of cheese (American), you might think they skimped on this burger, but that’s not the case. It’s all part of the plan, and everything is in balance. Each ingredient makes a solid contribution, blending together to create a winning combination of flavors. There’s nothing to add or cut. Just order a Big Mac, and eat it the way it was intended. You won’t need extra cheese or anything else.

It’s true McDonald’s still pre-cooks many of their menu items, and they often stand in warming trays until being served, but the reality is those items don’t usually sit for more than a couple minutes, and getting old/cold/stale food is rare. Of course, as with any fast-food chain your experience will vary from location to location.

In the end, the Big Mac is a great burger. That’s right, I said it. After finishing our meal, the ’someone close to me’ concluded it was a great burger too. They even claimed to enjoy it more than the Whopper from BK, which I take issue with… however I admit I’ll be revisiting the Big Mac more often. Maybe next time I can finally eat two of them. If you haven’t had one in a while, I suggest you try it again. There’s a reason this burger has been successful for so long, and assuming your local McDonald’s doesn’t suffer from poor management, I think you might agree. The ‘whole’ Big Mac is greater than the sum of it’s parts, thanks to a well balanced combination of ingredients.

Price: $3.69 / Website: McDonalds.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A-

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - McDonald’s Big Mac.

Calories - 540
Calories from Fat - 260
Total Fat - 29 grams
Carbs - 45 grams
Saturated Fat - 10 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 grams
Cholesterol - 75 milligrams
Sodium - 1040 milligrams
Protein - 25 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…

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-

Click here for rating system details.

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

Thank you Burger Gods — This burger is amazing — I love everything about it.

Timothy, FFC’s Editor/Founder, is a little upset with me. You see, we both wanted to review Five Guys but neither had confirmed a date, so it ended up being a free-for-all. Basically, it was a race to see who could get there first, and I won. Why is this a big deal? Because Five Guys has been getting publicity from major food magazines and websites, and is regarded as one of the best burgers in the biz. They are located mostly in the east and northeast, but have begun to expand nationwide. They still have a limited presence, and the average fast food eater has probably not had access to them. Tim’s homestate has only recently seen their first 5G locations appear.

If you’ve never been to a Five Guys Burgers and Fries before, their name pretty much sums up what you’ll find. It’s a simple menu, burgers and fries are obviously available, but you’ll also find hot dogs, and veggie or grilled cheese. As far as the burgers go, they’ve got the Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Bacon Burger and Bacon Cheeseburger. Each of those also comes in a “Little” version, which I soon learned means a single beef patty as opposed to the regular version’s double stacked meat. They offer a good selection of toppings which are all free, included with any burger purchase.

When you walk into Five Guys, huge bags of potatoes line the windows, and they have lots of awards and reviews plastered all over the walls. They’re definitely proud of their success, and their freshly cut fries. After eating there, I cannot argue with either. One off-note I have to mention, the first 5G location I visited, the cooks were quite loud and animated. They were shouting orders to each other and it was a bit distracting. Things at the second location were quieter and more laid back, which I appreciated.

With the amount of toppings they offer, I wasn’t quite sure how to dress my burgers. For consistency, both times I ended up getting the Cheeseburger (regular, not “little”) with fried onions, jalapeno peppers, and bbq sauce. After placing my order, the wait at the two locations averaged 5 -7 minutes. It’s definitely a longer wait than a typical fast-food place. Once I got my burger, I tore the wrapping open and was surprised at the size. It was big, and I hadn’t expected 2 beef patties. And they were delicious, cooked perfectly, with just a bit of char on the outside, plenty juicy inside, and a taste almost like homemade. Each patty looked different, the result of fresh beef that’s shaped by a human being, instead of a machine spitting out clones ready to be frozen.

Another surprise was fresh jalapenos. Most fast food places use jalapenos from a jar, which are less spicy. I was excited to get some real heat on my burger. The jalapenos were great, and with three or four slices per sandwich, had just the right amount of kick without being overwhelming. The Kraft American cheese was nicely melted, the onions were fried to perfection, and the Cattlemen’s bbq sauce added the finishing touch of flavor. Even the buns are worth mentioning, soft and squishy yet firm enough to hold everything together, and soaking in some of the juices from the meat.

As I said in the beginning, I was satisfied with everything about this burger. It’s one of the best I’ve eaten, regardless of the classification: fast-food, casual or quick-serve. This is one burger that lives up to the hype. If there’s a location near you, GO!

If there’s any complaint about my Five Guys experiences at all, I guess it would be the waiting time. I just wish they could make them faster. Then again, I’m not sure they’re technically considered “Fast Food”, and there’s a reason they don’t have a drive-thru. Burgers this good take time. If I’m in a rush, and don’t think to call ahead, my short lunch break will force me to swing into another fast food joint, but if I have those extra few minutes I’ll definitely be visiting Five Guys again. After getting a closer look at the nutrition facts, perhaps it’s best that 5G remain my special occasion burger.

Price: $4.99 / Website: FiveGuys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Five Guys, Cheeseburger (onions, jalapenos, bbq sauce).

Calories - 1033
Calories from Fat - 520
Total Fat - 59 grams
Carbs - 61 grams
Saturated Fat - 26.5 grams
Trans Fat - 2 grams
Cholesterol - 195 milligrams
Sodium - 1735 milligrams
Protein - 67 grams

NOTE: The nutrition numbers above include the regular Cheeseburger with two beef patties, two slices of cheese, onions, jalapenos, bbq sauce and bun. Five Guys does a good job at breaking things down by individual ingredient. For the complete 5G nutrition information, visit this link. (.pdf file)

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 grams

NOTE: The nutrition facts above do not include the added bacon. Checkers has not published the numbers for that optional topping.

Editor’s Note: During this week’s update to the FFC website and server, there were a couple files found to be corrupted, which had been causing problems. In the process of deleting those files, 2 reviews accidently got trashed. Both reviews (Arby’s / Hardee’s) have been recovered, and are being re-posted below.

I’ll start off by saying I hadn’t been to a Hardee’s in a long time. At least 5 years. Before that, it had probably been another 5 years. I was on the road this weekend and came across one, so I decided to see what I’d been missing. Since when did they begin delivering orders to your table? I thought it was a nice change from the usual fast food service. Something that differentiates one place from another is always welcome. Are there any FFC readers aware of other fast food places doing the same thing?

Anyway, I decided to try the Frisco Thickburger. At $3.59, it’s a little on the expensive side, but to be fair, it’s big enough to satisfy most appetites. Consisting of a 1/3 pound charbroiled 100% Black Angus beef patty, 2 strips of bacon, 2 slices of Swiss cheese, sliced tomato and a special onion flavored mayo, on buttered and grilled sourdough bread. As a combo with fries and drink, the total price was $6.39 plus tax.

The beef patty was big and hanging over the bread in some places. The Angus beef was juicy and tasted great, with a nice smoky flavor. I didn’t find a need for the bacon on this burger, and it really didn’t add much to the experience. Something I definitely did not like - WAY too much onion mayonnaise. Even after scraping some aside, there was still pockets and globs of the stuff remaining. It was pretty overwhelming. I know some may disagree but I wasn’t a fan of the mayo’s taste to begin with. If that sounds like a turn off to you too, ask them to go ‘light’ on the creamy white spread.

The burger had sliced tomato which tasted fine, but I think it would benefit from some cool, crisp lettuce. The Swiss cheese didn’t have much impact. Swiss cheese doesn’t pop with a lot of flavor anyway, and with so much going on with this burger, it got lost in the shuffle. By appearance alone the sourdough bread seemed to have a toasted crunch, but it didn’t. The toasting was much lighter than it looked, and limited to only one side. The texture was fairly soft, about the same as a regular burger bun. I was disappointed by that. On the bright side, the bread was sturdy enough that it held the sandwich together with no problem. A pet peeve of mine with big burgers is they often fall apart and create a mess. To it’s credit, this bread remained intact.

Overall, this was still a very good burger, even though I personally didn’t really like the onion-mayo. Maybe some raw onion and regular mayonnaise instead of the flavored variety would improve my opinion. A few changes here and there would have made me happier, but it can’t all be perfect. Regardless, it was a satisfying big burger with terrific tasting Angus beef. I doubt I’ll wait another 5 years for a return trip to Hardee’s.

Price: $3.59 / Website: Hardees.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

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Nutrition Facts - Hardee’s Frisco Thickburger.

Calories - 910
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 68 grams
Carbs - 39 grams
Saturated Fat - 23 grams
Trans Fat - N/A grams
Cholesterol - 115 milligrams
Sodium - 1720 milligrams
Protein - 34 grams

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