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

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

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

I’ll just stick to this way.

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

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

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

Fast Food Critic Score: A

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Nutrition Facts - Whopper Jr. Sandwich with Cheese.

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