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

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…

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)

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+

Click here for rating system details.

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

Click here for rating system details.

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

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

It’s really not much to look at. The meat appears thin. The bun isn’t fancy. But just like the fresh home-made burgers that Mom used to make, the real beauty lies within. Once you’ve had that first bite, you will find yourself in a comfy, warm familiar place.

This is Whataburger. Your order is made from scratch AFTER the words leave your mouth. They never pre-grill burger patties or have them sitting around. The meat is never frozen, always fresh, 100% pure American beef from a local supplier. The veggies taste like you just made a trip to the supermarket produce section. The lettuce is cold and crisp, the onions are sweet and diced into large chunks, and the pickles are thick and tangy, with a home-made taste. A simple burger with fresh ingredients.

The 5-inch plain white bun is larger than most standard fast-food buns, and along with the large-thin meat patty, have become trademarks of the company. The buns are baked by Flowers Bakeries, who also supply several other large chains. Both sides of the bun get lightly toasted on the grill before the burger assembly, creating a thin layer of crispness that breaks open into soft fluffy warmth inside. This a big bun, but despite it’s appearance it doesn’t feel heavy or mute the great flavors packed inside.

“We don’t get fancy. We stick to what got us here. We choose the right way over the easiest, fastest, or cheapest.” — Whataburger.

The beef patty is not very thick, but at 5-inches it’s fairly large in diameter, weighing in at a respectable 1/4 pound (before cooking). That thinness helps the meat cook faster, keeping in mind that every order is cooked fresh, and they’ve got to keep that line of hungry customers moving along. It might seem too-thin just looking at it, but I’ve found the proportions of meat VS toppings and bread in each bite, to be almost perfectly balanced flavor. They offer a Double and a Triple meat option for those who want to get jiggy with it. I would often scarf down those bad boys when I was a bit younger, but these days quite honestly I find it’s too-much meat at once. Forgive me Meat Gods.

The standard “Whataburger” is: 1/4 pound beef, diced-onions, 4 pickles, 3 slices of tomato, shredded lettuce and Whataburger’s own famous Mustard. To that basic foundation, I add American cheese (the only cheese offered) and bacon. I also ‘hold’ the tomatoes. This is one of the few burgers I eat without ketchup. And Whataburger doesn’t include ketchup as a standard ingredient, you must request it. They taste fine with ketchup, and in fact Whataburger’s ketchup is excellent and has a cult following (as does their mustard) but there’s a special ‘balance’ between the meat, mustard and pickles going on here that’s worth preserving. If you’ve never had a Whataburger before, I suggest you stick with the original mustard and not add anything else.

The cheese slice is thick and fairly tasty for fast-food American. The bacon is excellent, crispy on the edges, tender and chewy in the middle. Bacon on hamburgers is usually a good thing, but fresh bacon on fresh beef, grilled fresh together… awesome!

The entire experience, from the first bite to the last napkin swipe of mustard on my chin, was delicious. This is FRESH Fast Food, and Whataburger deserves a lot of credit for it. They are more concerned with quality than speed. That sometimes leaves you waiting a few minutes longer than other fast food joints, but it’s worth it.

The Whataburger with Bacon and Cheese is delicious. A true fast food classic, for those lucky enough to live in the Southern US. The West is quite proud of their famous IN-N-OUT Burger, and Whataburger holds the same level of recognition and respect in the South. Starting with good tasting beef, fresh ingredients, and plenty of room for customizing. You can add extra meat, extra cheese, even Jalepeno peppers. It’s one of the best fast-food burgers I’ve ever eaten, remaining on my short go-to list.

Price: $3.90 / Website: Whataburger.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A+

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Nutrition Facts - Whataburger with Bacon and Cheese.

Calories - 780
Calories from Fat - 380
Total Fat - 43 grams
Carbs - 59 grams
Saturated Fat - 16 grams
Trans Fat - 0.5 grams
Cholesterol - 98 milligrams
Sodium - 1997 milligrams

“Loaded with disappointment” should be the title of this review.

The folks at Burger King came up with the interesting and unusual idea of putting a baked-potato topping on their latest burger creation. What is a baked-potato topping? Tonight I found out, when I tried the new Loaded Steakhouse Burger with Angus Beef.

It turns out to be a thin paste of potatoes, with chives and bacon bits, spread over the top bun. It tasted like plain old mashed-potatoes to me. Anyway, mystery solved. That was boring, but it’s nothing compared to the overall disappointment I have with this product. At a price of nearly $5, I’m so unsatisfied — I want my money back.

After searching my soul all evening, I simply cannot find a more accurate description for my honest feelings and opinions about this burger. First of all, it’s ridiculous to call this burger “loaded”. There’s hardly anything on it. From the onions and bacon, to the A1 Thick and Hearty Sauce, and even the new potato topping — the portions were like something from a kid’s burger. The following exchange took place between myself and a good friend who was trying the new item with me today. This says it all.

My Friend: When you placed the order did they say anything about running low on toppings or ingredients?

Me: No. Nothing.

My Friend: Is yours like mine?

Me: Hell yeah, where’s all the stuff?

The “crispy onions” were almost non-existent, and what few I got were anything but crispy. They tasted good though, and very similar to the french fried onions served on green bean casseroles. The bacon is supposed to be thin and crisp. It’s thin alright, and I doubt it’s possible for them to give us any less. There was very little flavor from the bacon, and like the onions, it failed to meet the “crispy” claims. Both of these ingredients should have played important roles, but they were limp and soggy.

The baked-potato topping that’s created the buzz around this burger is nothing but a couple teaspoons of mashed potatoes with a few little green and brown flakes that represent chives and bacon. It’s got a pleasant enough ‘potato’ taste, but it’s dull, bland and I swear it’s stealing flavor from the beef, making the whole burger suffer. There was so little A1 sauce, it was barely detectable. “Thick and Hearty” my foot.

The only things of any decent proportion are the meat, cheese and bread. The meat is the only part of this burger that satisfied me. It’s not very thick but it’s large in mass, and it’s square instead of round. The 100% Angus beef patty has a good smokey flame-broiled flavor, and the texture and consistency felt like I was eating quality beef. It’s a shame the surrounding cast is so inferior in either quality or quantity.

The American cheese was average for fast food burgers, no better or worse than most. Basically that means it wouldn’t be a very satisfying cheese on it’s own, but has enough flavor and real-cheese content to make an acceptable topping. The bun was good, with a thin crunchy shell, soft center and dusted with ground corn. Take this beef patty and bun, start over with the other ingredients and you might have a good burger. As it stands now, I would never consider paying $5 to eat this again.

The Loaded Steakhouse Burger from Burger King gets credit for trying something different, but penalized for failing at it. The main things this experience gave me are the sad feeling of paying too much, and the heartburn that started 2 hours after eating it. Who would have thought a burger with such a variety of promising ingredients, and a large dose of fat and calories would provide such a lackluster and boring final result. With a price of almost $5 this is one of the worst values I’ve seen. This burger is not a jewel in the King’s crown, it’s a blemish, a patch of rust in the shiny metal.

Price: $4.79 / Website: BK.com

Fast Food Critic Score: F

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Editor’s Update: I have tried this burger multiple times at multiple BK locations, and the situation was no different. They need to increase the toppings or cut the price.

Nutrition Facts - Burger King, Loaded Steakhouse Burger.

Calories - 970
Calories from Fat - Company has not published this info.
Total Fat - 55 grams
Carbs - 63 grams
Saturated Fat - 22 grams
Trans Fat - 2 grams
Cholesterol - 155 milligrams
Sodium - 2190 milligrams

Wow, that’s a big burger. And it looks great. Those were my first thoughts after seeing my BBQ Bacon Sirloin Burger from Jack In The Box. And since I just got a new camera, this was a good opportunity for a close-up. Aside from the poor lighting, the shots came out nicely. There’s no denying this burger is a thing of beauty, at least by fast-food standards. But we all know looks can sometimes be deceiving, so let’s start eating and see if this burger has the brawn to back up the beauty.

My first bite was impressive, with a smokey flavor that reminded me of something cooked at home on the grill. The meat was tender, and still had some juices left inside. The sirloin heritage of the patty is obvious, and it has a better taste and texture than average run-of-the-mill fast food burgers. Believe it or not, it’s also attractive, with a natural beef look, as opposed to the Quarter Pounder’s clone-like appearance.

On top of the big sirloin patty are onion rings, bacon strips, American cheese and barbecue sauce. It all sits inside a bun that looks like a bakery roll, and has another slice of American cheese on the bottom half. Each component was tasty, cooked properly, and made it’s own contribution to a great package. The toasted roll had a buttered outer-layer and soft doughy center. The onion rings were crunchy and slightly sweet. The bacon was sliced thin and cooked crisp. The cheese was melted around the patty and bun. And the tangy barbecue sauce was the perfect finishing touch.

MMMMMMmmmmm — I said out-loud while eating and taking the photos. I cannot comment on the source or nutritional value of the ingredients used in this product, but from the standpoint of a pure fast-food eating experience — This burger rocks!

It’s a wonderfully delicious combination of flavors and textures. The kind of thing that inspires people to re-create the same recipe at home. It also inspires angry words and sometimes even lawsuits. Carl’s Jr says this new burger from Jack In The Box is a “Blatant Rip-Off” of their Western Bacon Cheeseburger, an item they have been serving for over 25 years with the same basic ingredients. So there’s more spice to this story, than just in the burger I’m currently eating and writing about.

I would do a head-to-head comparison of the burgers, but Carl’s Jr has not migrated to my city yet. In fact I believe there’s only 3 locations in the entire state, but I will find the closest store and see if anything is possible. Maybe a road trip? Who knows.

The new BBQ Bacon Sirloin Burger from Jack In The Box is delicious. The first bite made woke up my taste-buds and when I finished eating I felt happy and satisfied. There’s no mistaking the sirloin patty for a prime cut at the butcher, or the whole package for a hand-made creation at a custom burger joint, but this is a pretty darn good burger for fast food. The combination of ingredients is great. I can understand why Carl’s Jr. would be trying to protect the idea, but it seems unlikely they can. It’s a fairly basic recipe made from common items. Anyway, since there are no Carl’s Jr. locations near me, I’m glad that Jack in the Box is serving them up so I could enjoy that great combo of sirloin, onions, bacon, cheese and barbecue sauce.

Price: $4.99 / Website: JackInTheBox.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

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Nutrition Facts - Jack In The Box, BBQ Bacon Sirloin Burger.

Calories - 1010
Calories from Fat - 440
Total Fat - 49 grams
Carbs - 91 grams
Saturated Fat - 19 grams
Trans Fat - 5 grams
Cholesterol - 150 milligrams
Sodium - 2190 milligrams

EDITOR’S NOTE: Anybody who eats hamburgers should be aware they are not typically considered health food, no matter where they are served, or by whom. Burgers of this size, with these type of ingredients, are going to rack up the calories and fat. That’s just a simple fact of life, and food. You should try to eat a ‘balanced’ diet, make educated choices and practice moderation.