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…

I finally got my hands on Wendy’s *New* Flavor Dipped Chicken Sandwich. Wendy’s website and advertising have been updated, and this item should now be available nationwide at most locations. There are two versions: BBQ and Buffalo. For this review I’ve chosen the BBQ flavor sandwich and eaten it twice over the past few days.

Let’s get straight to this… it’s a pretty good sandwich. The chicken is tasty, moist and tender, feels natural instead of being over processed. It’s not Chick-fil-A quality, but still a nice piece of chicken. It’s in fact, the same “Homestyle” filet used in the Wendy’s sandwich sold by the same name. It’s breaded with a light crispy coating, seasoned with black pepper. Any piece of processed chicken meat tastes better covered with sauce, but this filet is good enough to stand on it’s own, and that shows.

They take a homestyle filet and dip the whole thing in sauce, like a giant chicken wing. Wendy’s BBQ sauce tasted OK, with a decent amount of tangy sweetness, but it was too weak. More impressive was the way the sauce clings to the chicken filet, providing even distribution of flavor for the entire sandwich. The breading on the chicken seemed to absorb the sauce, ensuring that each bite would provide a small burst of barbecue. As a sauce lover, especially BBQ, I like this “dipping” system. Forget about spreading or pouring it on… just dip the whole damn thing in sauce! YEAH!

There’s less sauce than you might think. Most of the bumps and clumps you see in the photos are the breading underneath, showing thru the outer layer of sauce. It’s also not as messy as it looks. The sauce is thick, and sticks to the sandwich. There’s not many drips, and you won’t end up with a puddle of sauce on your shirt, if you’re careful. Be prepared though, you’ll still going to need a couple napkins with it.

Sitting on top the dipped chicken filet are several thin circles of raw onion and a few pickles. I had minor worries about how these toppings were going to get along with the BBQ sauce, but it turns out everything was fine. It’s a fitting combination. Both were applied in limited quantity, and were just noticeable enough to add a final bit of extra seasoning. They are the same onions and pickles used on their hamburgers.

The bun resembles a large dinner roll, and the top almost looks as if you could tear it apart into sections. It’s thick but squishes down to a perfect chicken/sauce/bread ratio once picked up and bitten. It’s dusted with corn on the outside, and the inside does a nice job absorbing the small excess of barbecue sauce from the chicken.

The BBQ Flavor Dipped Chicken Sandwich from Wendy’s is good, but not great. It doesn’t make me forget other chicken sandwiches, but it’s solid overall. Tasty chicken, decent barbecue sauce, and a nice bun. Plus, “dipping” is a winner. I was happy with how the sauce coated and penetrated the breading, chicken and bun, creating a moist and flavorful sandwich from beginning to end, without drowning it. Two sure ways to improve it would be lowering the price, and using a better barbecue sauce.

Price: $4.39 / Website: Wendys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B-

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Wendy’s, Flavor Dipped Chicken Sandwich, BBQ.

Calories - 450
Calories from Fat - 110
Total Fat - 12 grams
Carbs - 60 grams
Saturated Fat - 2 grams
Trans Fat - 0 gram
Cholesterol - 40 milligrams
Sodium - 1430 milligrams
Protein - 25 grams

For over a year now, this sandwich has eluded me. None of the Wendy’s locations in my city have ever offered this item on the menu. Wendy’s website and PR info doesn’t mention it, and neither does their list of limited-time and ‘regional’ items. It would seem that officially, this sandwich doesn’t exist. But I’ve found a few references on the Internet going back to early last year, all positive feedback. I want this sandwich!

FFC’s new contributor Philip Given has spotted the “Flavor Dipped” chicken sandwich listed as “new” on the drive-thru menu at a Wendy’s in Pennsylvania, offering “Buffalo” or “BBQ”, and he sent the picture above to taunt me with his sandwich superiority. The restaurant was closed, but Philip will follow up with a hands-on report soon.

What about you? Have any FFC readers seen or eaten this sandwich?

Hey, G’Day, Eh!

This is Al Hunter reporting from that vast, foreign land sitting atop the USA. Fast Food Critic goes International with this, my first review of the Canadian fast food experience. I’m based in Toronto, which is a bit like living in Florida or Southern California regions of the US. We have most of the big US food franchises (often with modified menus), and also some interesting home-grown restaurants to add variety and exotic flavour (or ‘flavor’ after translation). This is a strange land that superficially looks and feels like America, but every exploration reveals subtle and satisfying differences.

Although an American restaurant chain established 1969 in Columbus, Ohio and now serving at over 6,500 stores worldwide, Wendy’s endeared itself to Canada in 1995 when it bought our iconic Tim Horton’s donut and sandwich chain. For over a decade, Wendy’s and Tim’s could be found cohabiting the same building.

Even now, after they’ve been separated since 2006, you will often find the two working together. On many trips across and around Canada I’d end up in a rustic motel in a smaller town with only a couple restaurants that were open late. Because of that Tim Horton’s connection, I could almost always find a Wendy’s, and when I did it was the Spicy Chicken Sandwich (introduced May 1996) that I chose, along with a side of Chili. The combo was always consistent, somewhat healthy, and very tasty!

The current trend is towards wraps rather than sandwiches, so I thought I’d check out my old favourite in a new package. The first time I tried the Spicy Chicken Go-Wrap without any personalization, just the default version. It was basically the well known sandwich chicken breast fillet cut in half, with iceberg/romaine lettuce, shredded mild cheddar cheese, Ranch dressing, all wrapped in a soft tortilla. Only the chicken fillet is heated, cooked with a nice mix of spices that are not mouth-searing hot but will remind you that you’ve just eaten the wrap up to 15 or 20 minutes later. The chicken breast coating is light and crispy and complements the tender white meat.

All the rest of the ingredients are cold, including the soft wrap. The combination of tastes, temperatures, and spices is quite nice but not easy to duplicate if you try to reheat it later. I became a little excited when I started to look at the personalization that could be applied to the wrap. To cut down on the calories somewhat, I ordered my next wrap with a fresh tomato slice and replaced the Ranch dressing with Mustard. It saved 30 calories and the result is way excellent! Other choices/substitutions include a light mayonnaise, two dill pickles, two onion rings, or ketchup to complete the wrap.

Sometimes a single wrap or sandwich is not quite enough to satisfy, and those times I add a side order of Wendy’s Chili. It makes me happy to know that I’m getting some significant fibre in my meal and really enjoying it too. The chili is especially yummy during the colder months. A plentiful mix of red kidney and navy beans with ground beef, tomato, onion, celery and green peppers. Occasionally I’ve found the chili to be a little watery, but most often it is a perfect mix of flavours and textures.

I often add a package of hot chili seasoning to boost up the spiciness and a couple of broken up Premium Plus salted crackers to extend the meal (both are available at no extra charge). You can also add shredded cheddar cheese on top but I’ve found it makes very little difference to the taste despite adding more fat and calories.

If you’re Canadian and want to sign up for the WendyMail Program you’ll need to be patient for another month or so until their website is updated to accept our quaint foreign addresses. Americans can sign up now to receive discount coupons!

Price: $1.99 Can + tax / Website: Wendys.ca

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

(standard menu item - Spicy Chicken Go Wrap)

Nutrition Facts - Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Go Wrap (standard).

Calories - 310
Calories from Fat - 130
Total Fat - 14 grams
Carbs - 28 grams
Saturated Fat - 4 grams
Trans Fat - 0.3 grams
Cholesterol - 40 milligrams
Sodium - 860 milligrams
Protein - 16 grams
Fiber - 1 gram

Price: $1.99 Can + tax / Website: Wendys.ca

Fast Food Critic Score: A

(custom - No Ranch Dressing, add Mustard, Tomato)

Nutrition Facts - Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Go Wrap (custom).

Calories - 280
Calories from Fat - 100
Total Fat - 11 grams
Carbs - 29 grams
Saturated Fat - 3.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0.3 grams
Cholesterol - 35 milligrams
Sodium - 840 milligrams
Protein - 16 grams
Fiber - 1 gram

Price: $1.59 Can + tax / Website: Wendys.ca

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

(small side order - Beef Chili)

Nutrition Facts - Wendy’s Beef Chili (small).

Calories - 190
Calories from Fat - 60
Total Fat - 6 grams
Carbs - 19 grams
Saturated Fat - 2.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0.3 grams
Cholesterol - 40 milligrams
Sodium - 830 milligrams
Protein - 14 grams
Fiber - 5 grams

Click here for rating system details.

A couple weeks ago I reviewed the limited time Southwest version of Wendy’s Chicken Caesar Salad, and it was excellent. That item is gone from the regular menu now, but hopefully will return again soon. I will keep you posted. Meanwhile, Wendy’s has made a change to their entire salad line, and I’m happy to report it’s a good one.

What’s new? The chicken. Imagine my delight as I witnessed a Wendy’s employee grab a whole grilled filet and then slice it right on the spot, and place it on the bed of lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. There is no more pre-cubed pieces of meat added ahead of time, resulting in cold chicken. Now it’s warm and freshly sliced.

They place the filet on top with the slices grouped together still forming the shape of the solid hunk they once were. There’s something about this presentation method that really appeals to me. I can see exactly how much chicken I’m getting, and can choose to mix it up, or leave it on the side. Plus, when you’re a burger and taco guy eating a salad, it makes you feel better to have that big pile of meat sitting there.

Warm versus Cold. The cold chicken from previous salads was not a problem. It was tasty and refreshing. I wouldn’t necessarily call the warm chicken better, just different. The salad takes on a new character when the temperatures combine. In a way similar to eating a hamburger or chicken sandwich with lettuce and tomato, the contrast of warm meat and cold crisp veggies is a treat for the senses.

The regular menu Chicken Caesar continues the satisfying experience started by the Southwest version. The romaine lettuce is crisp and fresh. The tomatoes are plump and ripe, and the shredded Parmesan cheese is delicious. The warm chicken is moist and juicy, lightly seasoned with a mild natural flavor. It’s not as fancy as it’s limited time cousin, and lacks the spicy kick, but it’s still a mighty good salad.

As always, the dressing and croutons are served on the side, in individual packets. This keeps them fresh, and allows you to control the amount and manner in which they are distributed. The “Supreme Caesar” salad dressing comes from Marzetti. It’s natural and contains no preservatives. It’s good dressing, though not anything special. The croutons also come from the same company, and are quite tasty. I could eat the crunchy little garlic bread pieces as a stand-alone snack. Sometimes I do.

The Chicken Caesar Salad from Wendy’s is very good. The new serving and delivery method of the chicken is a nice change. I still prefer the bolder flavors and spicy kick of the Southwest version, but this is a solid alternative and worthy of my $5.

Price: $4.99 / Website: Wendys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Wendy’s Chicken Caesar Salad.

Calories - 490
Calories from Fat - 300
Total Fat - 33 grams
Carbs - 20 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 0.5 grams
Cholesterol - 110 milligrams
Sodium - 1200 milligrams
Protein - 31 grams

I’m not normally a salad guy, so let me say that upfront. It’s not often when visiting fast food restaurants that I even acknowledge the existence of salads on the menu, so it was a surreal experience finding myself ordering one. Furthermore, salads depend so greatly on the freshness of ingredients and assembly, that for many years the choices were few in number, and less than satisfactory in quality. Today several of the fast food giants are offering freshly made salads, daily. One of the most interesting is a limited time creation from Wendy’s called the Southwest Chicken Caesar Salad.

Wendy’s calls it “Caesar with an Attitude”. I think that’s a good description, as I was pleasantly surprised by the bold combinations of flavors and textures. From the first bite, the influence of the Southwest was obvious. The roasted corn and black beans, combined with seasoned chunks of chicken breast and Wendy’s spicy southwest dressing produce a taste reminiscent of a Mexican dish. Add shredded Parmesan cheese, bite sized grape tomatoes, and garlic croutons — this salad is loaded.

Sitting underneath those flavorful toppings is a core of Romaine lettuce, which is washed, chopped and prepared fresh daily at each location. After trying this salad on numerous occasions now, I can happily report the locations in my part of the country do a consistent job of keeping things crisp, cold and fresh tasting.

Don’t worry meat lovers, the chicken included in the salad is nice sized chunks of whole breast. Real meat, not over processed and pressed forms. The dressing and croutons come on the side, in individually sealed packets. That’s perfect, because it ensures the croutons will be crunchy and fresh, and the dressing will be applied as liberally, or as sparingly as you prefer. The rest of the ingredients are assembled at the start of the day, by hand, and then refrigerated until ordered and served.

The Southwest Chicken Caesar Salad from Wendy’s is excellent. It tastes like a fresh salad I would make at home, but with more toppings and flavor then I would probably ever be willing to devote the time or effort to achieve. This is a big, hearty and satisfying salad. An entire meal in a bowl. Unfortunately it’s a “Limited Time” item, but hopefully they will receive enough positive feedback to keep it around, or bring it back soon. They continue to offer the rest of their trademarked “Garden Sensations” line of salads, including a regular Chicken Caesar without the Southwest ingredients.

Price: $4.99 — Website: Wendys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Wendy’s Southwest Chicken Caesar Salad.

Calories - 490
Calories from Fat - 210
Total Fat - 24 grams
Carbs - 37 grams
Saturated Fat - 5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 105 milligrams
Sodium - 1730 milligrams

You can’t get a baked potato at many fast food places. I’m not aware of any other large chain that offers them besides Wendy’s. Every time I eat one, I enjoy it, and wonder why they are so rare. It would seem to be a great platform. Inexpensive, simple to prepare and dress, and very filling. All you need is an oven to bake the taters. The toppings require no special treatment or storage. You can put just about anything on them, from cheese and sour cream, to meat and veggies. Sometimes I get Wendy’s chili and pour that on top. You can also eat them plain with a tiny bit of butter, and meet the requirements of several popular diets. Baked potatoes are a wonderful thing.

Wendy’s bakes their potatoes in a real oven, not a microwave. Once baked, they are kept in a warmer until served. They are usually decent size spuds. I’ve eaten many over the years, and rarely did I get anything I would consider small. Of course with natural items like this, every one is different. They do a good job weeding out runts.

They taste very good, and I really can’t tell the difference between these and potatoes I’ve baked at home in the past. They are light and fluffy inside, and the peel is slightly crisp. They taste like good quality Idaho potatoes I purchase at the grocery store. Just as good as what I’d make, without the long cooking time or preparing any toppings.

The Cheese and Bacon version is my favorite among Wendy’s 3 standard choices. The others are Sour Cream with Chives, and Broccoli with Cheese. The cheese sauce is good, unlike many ‘liquid’ cheeses found on other fast food items. This melted cheddar reminds me of the thick rich sauce that Arby’s uses on it’s sandwiches.

The bacon bits are quite tasty, and you can tell they are made from real bacon, as opposed to textured vegetable protein which many common supermarket bacon products are made from. Betty Crocker’s Bac-Os for instance, contain no real bacon.

I really enjoy the Cheese and Bacon Potato from Wendy’s. It’s simple, cheap, filling and a different experience than most fast food side orders. Good stuff.

Price: $2.15 — Website: Wendys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Wendy’s, Bacon and Cheese Baked Potato.

Calories - 450
Calories from Fat - 120
Total Fat - 13 grams
Carbs - 67 grams
Saturated Fat - 5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 30 milligrams
Sodium - 950 milligrams

The folks at Wendy’s are introducing a new hand-spun version of their popular Frosty frozen treat. Here’s the details — After almost 39 years, Wendy’s is shaking up the Frosty. Wendy’s announced that it’s introducing a new line of hand-spun Frosty Shakes in three flavors: Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Fudge, and Strawberry, which is a first for the company. The rich and creamy new Frosty Shakes are topped with whipped cream and a cherry, are served with a straw. The traditional Frosty is thicker so it has to be eaten with a spoon.

In 1969, when Dave Thomas opened his first Wendy’s in Columbus, Ohio, the Frosty was one of five original items on the menu. One of the most familiar and enduring items on Wendy’s menu, the Frosty only came in one flavor - Chocolate - until 2006, when Vanilla was added. Since then, the Company has introduced Frosty Floats and Twisted Frostys with candy or cookie toppings mixed in. “This is another example of how we’re actively expanding our dessert and beverage portfolio by leveraging the power of our proprietary Frosty brand” said Wendy’s Interim Chief Marketing Officer Paul Kershisnik. Beginning in early June, national advertising support will emphasize the premium quality of the Frosty shakes, using five kinds of cocoa, real vanilla beans and sauce made from real strawberries.

In addition to shakes, Wendy’s is introducing a Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Twisted Frosty this month. Annually, they serve more than 350 million Frostys.

Big news — Arby’s has purchased Wendy’s.

Story from the Associated Press, and ABC News. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After two past rejections, the owner of Arby’s shaved roast beef sandwich restaurants is buying Wendy’s, the fast-food chain famous for its made-to-order square hamburgers and chocolate Frosty dessert, for around $2 billion.

The owner of Arby’s on Thursday, April 24, 2008 said it is buying Wendy’s International Inc. in an all-stock deal worth $2.34 billion that comes after the burger chain’s board rejected at least two earlier offers by the company. Triarc Companies Inc., which is owned by billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, said Thursday it will pay about $2.34 billion in an all-stock deal for the nation’s third-largest hamburger chain started in 1969 by Dave Thomas. Wendy’s had rejected at least two buyout offers from Triarc. Thomas’ daughter Pam Thomas Farber said the family was devastated by the news.

“It’s a very sad day for Wendy’s, and our family. We just didn’t think this would be the outcome,” said Farber, 53. If her father were alive to hear news of the buyout, “he would not be amused,” she said. Thomas became a household face when he began pitching his burgers and fries in television commercials in 1989.

Wendy’s International Inc. deferred comment to Triarc, which had nothing further to say right away. Read the full story.

For a limited time, Wendy’s is bringing back the “Southwest” version of it’s popular Chicken Caesar Salad. It’s been almost 5 years since this item was last offered on their menu. Wendy’s calls it “Caesar with an Attitude”. The salad consists of Romaine lettuce (chopped and prepared fresh at each Wendy’s location), diced and seasoned chicken breast, bite-sized grape tomatoes, black beans, seasoned corn, shredded Parmesan cheese, and garlic croutons. It’s served with a packet of Wendy’s own Southwest Caesar salad dressing on the side. Available now for a limited time, during the months of April and May.