January 11, 2015


Carl’s Jr. All-Natural Burger

cjallnaturalburger.jpgI’ve been eating at Carl’s Jr. for many years, and I never considered that the burger I was eating wasn’t natural. Turns out, evidently, I have been eating unnatural burgers. I say this because Carl’s Jr. has introduced the All-Natural Burger, which is made from grass-fed, free-range beef with no added hormones, steroids, or antibiotics. Makes you really wonder what is in the “other” beef, huh? So, the All-Natural Burger uses (supposedly) better beef from happy cows that frolic freely in grassy meadows. That’s all fine, but I want my burger to taste good too. The All-Natural Burger does taste good, but not significantly different from their “non-natural” burgers. It wasn’t immediately apparent to me that I was eating a burger made with higher-quality beef. The patty seemed to have a slightly different texture than other Carl's Jr. burgers, but it was pretty subtle. All things considered, there’s no reason not to eat an All-Natural Burger. Just don’t expect it to be all that much different from the other burgers on the Carl’s Jr. menu.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (4)

October 14, 2014


Jack in the Box Bacon & Swiss Buttery Jack

JIB%20Logo.jpgI haven’t been impressed with Jack in the Box’s burgers lately. But, they might be getting back on track with the Buttery Jack burgers. I recently ate a Bacon & Swiss Buttery Jack, a burger that was unlike any other fast food burger I have ever had. It looked and tastes more “upscale” than you typically get at Jack in the Box, or other fast food restaurants for that matter. It had a new type of bun that is similar to the fresh-baked buns served at Carl’s Jr., although not quite as tasty. It also had a square patty, a la Wendy’s. The patty was large and thick, and tasted good. But what made the burger so delicious was the melted garlic herb butter that topped the patty. Oh yeah, there’s nothin’ better than butter on a burger! It was a wet, slippery mess, but it sure tasted good. The only thing keeping the Bacon & Swiss Buttery Burger from earning Phoood’s highest rating is the bacon, which was thin, soggy, and seemed like it was merely an afterthought. Why is it that Wendy’s is the only fast food restaurant that does bacon right?

Note: It appears that Jack in the Box is only test marketing the Buttery Jack burgers in my area (Sacramento), because they are not shown on their website.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (2)

August 6, 2014


Carl’s Jr. Texas BBQ Thickburger

cjtexasbbq.jpgYup, Carl’s at it again - going places that no other large burger chain dares to go. The Texas BBQ Thickburger is a bold combination of hamburger, smoked brisket, BBQ sauce, cheese, fried onions, and fried jalapenos. I made the mistake of eating one of them while driving. Because I could only (safely) use one hand to eat the burger, I couldn't give it the support its large size required. So, I ended up with BBQ sauce-covered brisket on my shirt. Oh well, it was worth it. There was a surprisingly generous amount of brisket on the burger, the BBQ sauce was tasty, and it came on one of those “fresh baked” buns, which are a huge improvement over the regular buns. Some may really like the fried onions and fried jalapenos, but I thought they kind of distracted from the other flavors that were going on. However, they did give the burger some nice crunchiness. I got the ½ pound version of the burger (it’s also available with two smaller patty options) and it was plenty big enough to fill me up. I can easily recommend the Texas BBQ Burger to Phoood readers. Just be sure to eat it with two hands. Get it while you can, as it will likely be on the menu for only a few months.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (0)

September 8, 2012


Carl’s Jr. Memphis BBQ Burger

cjmemphisbbq.jpgPork on a hamburger isn’t uncommon; you can get bacon on your hamburger just about anywhere. But pulled pork on a hamburger? That’s something I had not seen before I bought a Memphis BBQ Burger at Carl’s Jr. recently. Yes, they have combined BBQ pulled pork with a hamburger to create something pretty unique. Within the buns are (from bottom to top) BBQ pulled pork, your typical Carl’s Jr. charbroiled patty (available in a single, double, or Six Dollar Burger), American cheese, crispy onion strings, and Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. Despite being made with two very different types of meat, the burger works. The tender pulled pork is a nice contrast to the firm hamburger patty. The crispy onion strings give the burger some interesting crispness and a hint of onion flavor. All of the flavors and textures combine to make a tasty burger. Only two things keep the burger from earning Phoood’s highest rating. First, there is not enough pulled pork. The photo accompanying this post suggests the burger has almost as much pulled pork as hamburger patty. This was definitely not the case with the burger I purchased. Secondly, there was not enough BBQ sauce in the pulled pork or on top of the onion strings/cheese. The BBQ flavor was there, but it was not pronounced enough to make me think that I was eating a burger inspired by Memphis-style BBQ. Despite these issues, I recommend that you give the Memphis BBQ burger a try.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (0)

March 19, 2012


Carl's Jr. Southwest Patty Melt

Optimized-carls-jr-southwest-patty-melt.jpgHaving lived in Alaska pretty much my whole life, I can't say I've had a whole lot of exposure to the Southwest. That being said, I do know that I was looking forward to trying this today. After all, how could you go wrong with meat, cheese, jalapeños, and onions sandwiched between two pieces of sourdough bread? Luckily, the Southwest Patty Melt was just as good as advertised. The jalapeños added a warm and spicy kick to the overall package, while the cheese sealed it all together with its creamy texture. The grilled onions were also a nice addition, but unfortunately the Santa Fe sauce didn't quite come through. I probably wouldn't have even noticed if the sauce had been omitted. When you look at it as a whole, the Southwest Patty Melt successfully manages to bring some heat to Carl's Jr.'s already impressive lineup of fast food.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jin | Comments (1)

January 18, 2012


Wendy's Cheesy Cheddarburger

wendyscheesy.jpgI'm just gonna put it out there: I REALLY love cheese.

As a matter of fact, most of the items I've reviewed on this site have cheese listed as one of their ingredients. When I heard about Wendy's new Cheesy Cheddarburger, I knew that this would be the closest I could get to experiencing a "Juicy Lucy," unless I were to make it myself, of course. The difference here is that the melted cheese is on the outside. So, how did it taste? Well, pretty much just how I imagined it. The cheese sauce was spectacular and reminded me of macaroni and cheese... for some strange reason. It was nice and thick as well. The meat patty itself was juicy and delicious. Some people might have a problem with how plain it is, but it didn't really bother me too much. I'm sure it would be really easy to request additional toppings for it anyway. And yes, it may be sort of small but a few of these would prove to be a satisfying snack. Kudos to Wendy's for creating a unique item that tastes great as well as saves everybody some money.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jin | Comments (2)

November 20, 2011


Jack in the Box Outlaw Burger

jiboutlaw.jpgI'll keep this short and to the point. If you want a burger with cheese, bacon, barbecue sauce, and onion rings, just go to Carl's Jr. and get a Western Bacon Cheeseburger. It's much better than the wannabe Outlaw Burger.



Phoood rating: So-so

Posted by Jim | Comments (2)

October 27, 2011


Carl's Jr. Steakhouse Six Dollar Burger

cjsteakhouseburger.jpgI was excited to try the new Steakhouse Burger at Carl's Jr., seeing as how it's apparently made by 'the god of hamburgers.' These new Steakhouse Burgers are topped with blue cheese, Swiss cheese, onion strings, and A.1. steak sauce. Blue cheese isn't exactly favored by everyone, but personally I love it and in this instance it balanced well with the sweetness from the steak sauce. This is actually the first time I've ever seen blue cheese on a fast food burger, and I was thoroughly impressed. The onion strings were definitely the least noticeable thing; and towards the end of the burger I found a little pile of onions which probably should've been spread out more evenly. Also the onion strings were not very crispy and I was disappointed at what could've been another standout attribute. Lastly, the patty itself was flavorful and very meaty- albeit a little dry. Thankfully, the creaminess of the two cheeses came into play here. Although it may not quite live up to divine standards, Carl's Jr. proves once again that it can make some of the best, if not the best fast food burgers. The addition of blue cheese alone makes this a resounding success in my book.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jin | Comments (2)

September 3, 2011


Burger King California Whopper

bkcaliwhopper.jpgI've had burgers in many different variations for as long as I can remember. Burger King's new California Whopper which comes with guacamole, Swiss cheese, and bacon, did not come across to me as anything fresh or original. Since I'm accustomed to seeing these ingredients put into a burger, I knew that this Whopper had a lot to live up to. Let's start with the bacon: it was crisp, peppery, and very satisfying overall. When it came to the Swiss cheese... well to be honest, I actually forgot that it was even there. I guess that shows how much it contributed to the burger.

Now let's talk guac. I'm a huge fan of it in general, and I have to say that the guacamole in this Whopper was pretty decent. It didn't carry too much of an avocado flavor, but it had somewhat of a spicy kick to it and it was nice and cool temperature-wise. It was smooth and had a good contrast with the hamburger meat and bacon. The final verdict? Well, the flavors were good and it had some variety in texture (something not too common in fast food), so I wouldn't mind ordering another one in the future. However, I can get something similar to this at any other burger joint, so let's just stick with calling it "Good."

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jin | Comments (0)

August 6, 2010


SmashBurger 1/3 lb. Burger

smashburger.jpgThe SmashBurger chain only recently came to California, and today I ate at the restaurant for the first time. I had read a lot of good things about SmashBurger since first learning about the chain a year or so ago and had pretty high expectations. I ordered a 1/3 pound burger on an egg bun with American cheese, bacon, mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. The patty had a nice, tasty char on the exterior and frayed edges that confirmed it had, indeed, been prepared using the smash method. The meat - fresh, never frozen 100% Angus beef - wasn’t as flavorful as I hoped it would be, but was pretty good. I didn’t love the egg bun, though. It was a little too wimpy for my liking. Fortunately, SmashBurger offers four types of buns so next time I’ll try one of the other choices. The bacon and cheese both tasted great but next time I think I’ll get not only the bacon and cheese, but also a fried egg (only an extra 99 cents). The price of my burger alone was $6.48, which at first seemed a bit high to me. Considering the quality of the ingredients, the fast and friendly service, and delivery of the order to your table, I guess it’s not too bad of a deal. All in all, I liked the burger and reckon that this won’t be the last time I eat at SmashBurger.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (7)

March 27, 2010


Carl's Jr. Teriyaki Six Dollar Burger

teriyakiburger.jpgThis was a total shot in the dark. I am firmly in favor of pineapple on my pizza, but would I be in favor of it on my burger?

Let me begin by saying that this burger is messy, but that doesn't make it a bad burger, just be careful in the car. At first I was not sure if the combination of flame broiled beef, Teriyaki sauce, grilled pineapple, Swiss cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato and mayo was going to terrify my taste buds or thrill them. Turns out it was a little of both. First of all, you have to like the taste of Teriyaki sauce; if that's a "yes" then you are going to like this burger. It was a nice break from the typical burgers that everyone else has, but not something I'd order every time. Carl's Jr's strength is in the variety on the menu. They don’t just copy what everyone else is doing, they try different things. Some work, some don't. This one does.

I give it a "Good" rating. I thought the mayo made the burger WAY too sloppy.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Bryan M | Comments (10)

March 4, 2010


Carl’s Jr. Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger

cjgrilledcheese.jpgThe Carl’s Jr. Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger attempts to combine two things I love, a grilled cheese sandwich and a hamburger, into one glorious cheese/bacon/hamburger sandwich. It pretty much succeeds, but not for the reason you may think. As a grilled cheese sandwich with a burger inside, it just doesn’t work. I find that grilled cheese sandwiches are so delicious because of their simplicity and how the buttered, toasted bread goes so well with the gooey, melted cheese. Adding a hamburger patty and bacon to a grilled cheese sandwich only distracts from the magic. However, part of the Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger is really good – the hamburger patty, two slices of bacon, and four slices of cheese (Swiss and American). Eating them reminded me of the nirvana that is the Ultimate Cheeseburger from Jack in the Box. The weakest part of the Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger is the grilled bread slices. They didn’t have much flavor and were soggy messes by the time I got the burger home to eat it (a trip of less than 5 minutes). The Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger would be better if it had a normal hamburger bun. It wouldn’t be a grilled cheese, but it would be a mighty fine hamburger.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (3)

October 13, 2009


Carl's Jr. Jalapeño Burger

cjjalapeno.jpgAfter glancing back through Phoood's archives, I've noticed that the site's contributors have been truly nice to Carl's Jr., with 5 out of 6 burgers reviewed having a designation of "good" or better. This is no coincidence, as Carl's Jr. is one of the best fast food franchises out there. The company has taken pride in being proliferators of delicious (albeit high-calorie) comfort food, while not seeming to care about their competitors trying to integrate so-called "healthy" options into their menus. Plus, you have to love a restaurant that has so many different burgers. The point is, heart health aside, CJ's hamburgers are good, and the Jalapeño Burger is no exception. This particular sandwich is a standard charbroiled burger on a bun with lettuce, tomato and onion. To give it that extra kick, they throw on jalapeño peppers (hence the name), pepper jack cheese and Santa Fe sauce (which is a spicy mayonnaise). Needless to say, this combination is a winner. It has just the right mix of flavor and spice. The jalapeños have a good amount of heat, but they aren't extreme in any sense. Overall, if you like spicy food and charbroiled burgers (which I do), it would be almost impossible to be disappointed. My only gripe is that sometimes my local Carl's Jr. is a little light on the sauce or the peppers, which detracts from the intended flavor (but when it's well-made, it's truly excellent). I wouldn't say that this is Carl's best sandwich (I'd give that title to the classic Western Bacon Cheeseburger), but it's definitely a great one. If you're in the mood for a top-notch fast food burger with a kick, head over and pick one up.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Edgar | Comments (6)

September 11, 2009


Carl's Jr. Big Carl

bigcarl.jpgNo matter what you think about Carl’s Jr.’s food or jejune television ads, you almost have to admire the company for their aggressive approach and continued willingness to introduce new products to their menu. Their latest burger is a direct attack against McDonald’s iconic Big Mac. The Big Carl seeks to improve on the Big Mac by offering a double-patty burger with twice as much meat and cheese at a lower price point. The Big Carl even has a “special sauce” like the Big Mac. However, the Big Carl doesn’t include the Big Mac’s center bun. The Big Carl is a very tasty burger and a bargain at only $2.49 considering the amount of meat it has. It's a respectable double cheeseburger that I would definitely order again. Is it better than the Big Mac? I honestly can’t say because it’s probably been several decades since I last ate a Big Mac. But I’m pretty sure that if I had both burgers in front of me, I would reach for the Big Carl first.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (21)

July 4, 2009


McDonald’s Angus Third Pounder Deluxe

angusburger2.jpgMcDonald’s has entered the big burger wars with its new Angus Third Pounders, available in Deluxe, Bacon & Cheese, and Mushroom & Swiss versions. The burgers have been available in a few test markets for some time but were just recently launched nationwide. The main attraction of the Third Pounders is the third pound Angus beef patty, which is an upgrade from the meat used in other McDonald’s hamburgers. I recently ate a Third Pounder Deluxe, which comes with two slices of American cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and red onion. As always, I removed the rabbit food to better taste the essence of the burger. I found that the Angus patty didn’t taste much different than the meat found in other McDonald’s burgers and was lacking seasoning. I really expected something better, especially from a burger that was test marketed for over two years. And, I love mayonnaise as much as anyone but there was way too much of it on the burger. The highlight of the burger was the bakery-style sesame seed roll. It’s a hearty and tasty bun that does a good job of holding the burger together. There is a lot of competition in the big burger category and it is questionable if McDonald’s is going to be able to compete with their line of Angus Third Pounders. When the bun is the best thing about a burger, well, it’s not really that good of a burger.

Phoood rating: So-so

Posted by Jim | Comments (13)

March 23, 2009


Carl’s Jr. Kentucky Bourbon Burger

cjbourbonburger.jpgI like bourbon and I love burgers so I had to give this one a try. This sandwich is made up of a single, double, or "Six Dollar" patty, pepper jack cheese, two strips of bacon, (my favorite vegetable) garlic-pepper onion straws, lettuce, tomato, and, obviously, Bourbon sauce. I had mine without cheese or tomato. The bacon and bourbon sauce combine for a wonderful smoky-sweet taste reminiscent of Memphis-style barbecue. The onion straws were a really tasty and unusual addition. They’re like a flavored version of the french-fried onions used to top green bean casserole. The Kentucky Bourbon Burger definitely lives up to "If it doesn’t get all over the place, it doesn’t belong in your face." I had to excuse myself after finishing to wash my hands and my face. I definitely enjoyed this burger. Try one soon!

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Ed | Comments (28)

July 6, 2008


Jack in the Box BBQ Bacon Sirloin Burger

bbqbaconburger.jpgThey say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Unfortunately when it comes to something we ingest, it better be a VERY accurate imitation, and Jack's new blatant knock-off of a much adored Carl's Jr. menu item is a mere shadow to that. The Jack braintrust have failed to mimic the joy and flavor that is a Carl's Jr. Six Dollar Western Bacon Cheeseburger. The sirloin? Yeah, that's a given, kinda tough to go wrong there (though even Jack loyalists don't care for it). Jack yet again is inexplicably obsessed with bun innovation, and his bakery-style roll is satisfactory, if a bit doughy. But what this ultimately suffers from goes in the "Condiment Killer" file. A BBQ sauce that seems to have been put through an extractor to remove all kick and tanginess. Plus the fact they only give you a small drizzle of the stuff, making it barely present. The onion rings were amateur night like they were made in someone's kitchen, and the bacon was rubbery. And all of this just neutralizes the flavor of the two pieces of cheese on the sandwich. Most of all what jumps out at you after you unbox it is its size. Hardly fills up both hands, and I'm sure Jack suits would say "It's not s'posed to be a six dollar burger!" But when you're charging $4.59 for a burger and $7.19(!!!) for the combo, this thing better be half the size of my big face. If I had to say one positive thing for this attempt...well, it at least wasn't completely repellent. Not something I'd order again, though.

Phoood rating: So-so

Posted by Ryan | Comments (2)

June 22, 2008


Carl's Jr. Prime Rib Burger

primeribburger.jpgI went to Carl's Jr. today with my wife and daughter for lunch. We see a big sign "The New Prime Rib Burger!" It looked absolutely delicious in the picture! My wife and I both ordered one. It's a burger, of course, topped with thinly sliced (a la Arby's) Prime Rib, Grilled Onions, Swiss cheese, and Horseradish sauce, all on a ciabatta bun. I bit into it, and was immediately disappointed. The sandwich was very bland, almost tasteless. The ciabatta bread was so "bready" that it overpowered everything else. The Horseradish sauce was so mild it might as well have been mayonnaise. I could not taste the grilled onions at all. I had mine without cheese, but my wife, who loves cheese, disliked this burger as much as I did. Sorry Carl's, but this one's got to go.

Phoood rating: Don't Waste Your Money

Posted by Ed | Comments (33)

April 18, 2008


Red Robin Bacon Cheeseburger

rrbaconcheese.jpgThe Red Robin menu describes their “gourmet” Bacon Cheeseburger as “the best bacon cheeseburger in the city, state, nation and all the world!” Now that’s setting the bar high. I ordered one with cheddar cheese, thinking that I just might get to eat one of the best burgers I ever had. When the burger arrived, I was immediately disappointed by its size. The photos on the menu suggested that their burgers were much larger. My disappointment continued as I ate it. Apart from the bacon (two slices, even though the menu promised three), the burger had little flavor. The meat was bland and the bun was forgettable. I expected much more for a burger described as “gourmet.” The bottom line is that most fast-food burgers are better, for about third of the price. By the way, my burger looked absolutely nothing like the photo to the right, taken from the Red Robin web site. The photo has to be one of the most ridiculously unrealistic and misrepresentative photos I've ever seen.

Phoood rating: So-so

Posted by Jim | Comments (4)

March 14, 2008


Carl’s Jr. Chili Cheese Burger

chiliburger.jpgCarl’s Jr. never stops coming up with great ideas for their burgers. It’s one of the reason’s I like them so much, even though their advertising is often juvenile and crude. The newest addition to their menu is the chili cheese burger, available with single, double, or six-dollar patties. I recently ate a double, along with an order of chili cheese fries and a diet Coke (I have to watch my caloric intake, you know…). I had hoped that the burger would taste like one from Tommy’s, and it wasn’t too far off. The American cheese was melted into gooey goodness by the heat of the chili. The chili itself was tasty, but there wasn’t nearly enough of it. It didn’t drip down my hands and all over my shirt like I hoped that it would. Also, I thought it was a little heavy on the mustard. Overall, the burger is pretty good. More chili and less mustard, however, would make it a near-heavenly burger.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (7)

August 11, 2007


Jack in the Box Sirloin Cheese Burger

jibsirloin.jpgI was craving a hamburger yesterday, so I stopped by Jack in the Box to get one of their new Sirloin Cheese Burgers. I was skeptical if it would taste much different than their other hamburgers, many of which are very good. I was not disappointed and, in fact, I can say that the burger is the best tasting I’ve ever had at a fast food restaurant. The highlight is the hamburger patty – 100% sirloin beef that is well seasoned with salt and pepper (and maybe some other stuff). The seasoning is pretty heavy, which some people may not like. I think that the seasoning just adds to the delicious meat and makes the burger stand out from other bland, tasteless burgers often found at fast food places. I also liked the size of the patty: big. The bun is very good and you get your choice of American, Swiss, or cheddar cheese and red or grilled onions. It’s also available with bacon if you want to add even more fat and calories. Good job, Jack!

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (14)

July 10, 2007


Carl’s Jr. Hawaiian Teriyaki Six Dollar Burger

teriyakiburger.jpgThe Carl’s Jr. Hawaiian Teriyaki Six Dollar Burger is quite possibly the best promotional burger that Carl Karcher Enterprises Inc. has produced. It is hard to know where to start in describing this culinary masterpiece. For starters the teriyaki sauce is amazing. I love to BBQ and I particularly love teriyaki sauce. I can honestly say that this sauce is easily one of the best I have ever tasted. If Carl’s Jr. bottled this stuff and sold it in supermarkets I bet they would turn a nice profit. The grilled Dole pineapple was perfectly charred, sweet and juicy and complemented the sauce beautifully. The use of a mildly sharp Swiss cheese on this burger helped balance the sweetness of the pineapple and sauce. As with the other Six Dollar burgers the patty was grilled and seasoned to perfection. Lettuce, tomato and onion give the burger a fresh, crisp finish.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Dustin | Comments (14) | TrackBack

June 12, 2007


Wendy’s Bacon Swiss Double Melt

wendys.jpgI know a few people that think Wendy’s is the best fast food out there, but I’ve never really been a fan. It had been a few years since I last ate there, so I recently decided to give them a try again. The Bacon Swiss Double Melt is the type of burger I should really love, but I was disappointed by it. The meat had little flavor, the bacon was too soggy, and the bun was inadequate to hold it all together. Those who are already fans of Wendy’s burgers will probably like it, but I advise those who prefer tastier hamburgers to look elsewhere.

Phoood rating: So-so

Posted by Jim | Comments (3) | TrackBack

June 27, 2005


Jack In The Box Bacon ‘n’ Cheese Ciabatta Burger

ciabattaburger.jpgWhen I saw a television commercial for the new Ciabatta Burger at Jack In The Box, I was very skeptical. I am a traditionalist, and don’t think that a hamburger should have a bun made from fancy ciabatta bread (Sidenote: However, I did recently eat the Skippy Burger at Hamburger Mary’s in Sacramento. That’s right – a burger topped with Skippy peanut butter!). After eating the Bacon ‘n’ Cheese Ciabatta Burger, I’ve changed my mind. The burger is great, and the ciabatta bread bun is very tasty and is a nice change from the typical hamburger bun. The smoky cheddar mayonnaise also helps to make this burger better than most. Jack has done it again – go get yourself a Ciabatta Burger.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (4) | TrackBack

December 13, 2004


Hardee’s Monster Thickburger

thickburger.jpgLiving in California has its advantages, but right now I wish I lived in one of the states Hardee’s operates in. That’s because they have just introduced their Monster Thickburger. I can’t eat one (Yahoo! Maps says I’m 1173.6 miles from the closest Hardee’s), but just looking at a picture is enough to make me drool like Homer Simpson craving a donut. This burger is made with two one-third pound patties of Angus beef, four strips of bacon, three slices of cheese and mayonnaise on a buttered sesame seed bun. It has 1,420 calories and 107 grams of fat. Is it good? With those ingredients, how could it not be good? Yes, it’s a heart attack waiting to happen. Yes, it would probably be illegal in many countries. But for fast food burger lovers like me, it’s like a dream come true.

If any readers have the opportunity to eat one of these burger, please e-mail me and let me know how it is. Until then, I just have to give it Phoood’s highest rating.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (19) | TrackBack

November 15, 2004


am/pm Half Pound 100% Angus Beef Cheeseburger

No-Image.jpgIf you live in one of five Western states (California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona), you know that there is an am/pm store attached to an ARCO gas station on almost every corner. Those of us who don’t turn our noses up at food just because it comes from under a heat lamp know that you can find some good food at am/pm. Yes, I admit it - I like food that comes from as gas station. I especially like the burgers at am/pm. They are cheap and taste OK. I recently tried the new Half Pound 100% Angus Beef Cheeseburger. It’s a bigger burger, but the taste is not much different than the regular, non-Angus burgers. The bun, as usual, is cheap and full of air, and the meat looks worse than it tastes. My expectations weren’t very high – this is a gas station, after all – but I was hoping the new Angus burger would be a little better than it is. But for $1.99, it’s a good deal and I’ll probably buy one again.

Phoood rating: So-so

Posted by Jim | Comments (4) | TrackBack

August 28, 2004


Burger King Angus Steak Burger

angusburger.jpgBurger King’s Angus Steak Burger is an attempt by a fast food restaurant to make a more “upscale” burger. It’s a good attempt that falls short. The meat doesn’t really have much flavor, other than the distinct taste of pepper. I don’t know if someone just put too much pepper on the meat, or if it is supposed to taste that way, but I like it. The burger has what Burger King calls their “signature steak sauce,” but there is not much of it, so it’s hard to tell if it tastes good or not. The bun is OK, but really doesn’t do much to improve the burger. Overall, the Angus Steak Burger is marginally better than the other burgers on the BK menu, but is not nearly as good as they would have you believe.

Phoood rating: So-so

Posted by Jim | Comments (8) | TrackBack

June 6, 2004


Carl's Jr. Double Six Dollar Burger

sixdollar.jpgCarl’s Jr’s new burger, the Double Six Dollar Burger, is a full pound of beef with three slices of American cheese. For most people, this much meat and cheese would be hazardous to their health. But to me, it is a challenge that I just couldn’t pass up. With two ½-pound, charbroiled 100% Angus beef patties, the burger was as good as just about any other burger I’ve eaten. The massive patties were cooked just the way I like it (no pink inside…), and seasoned well. The burger was very good, and definitely didn’t taste like any other burger I’ve had from a fast food restaurant. My only gripe was the bun – it was too small for the burger and could have been a higher quality bread. The Double Six Dollar Burger is not the biggest or best hamburger I’ve ever eaten (both awards go to the Quadruple French Ground Steakburger from Nationwide Meats in Sacramento, California), but it ranks up there among the best. If you have a real big appetite, or want to feed a family of four, give it a try.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (21)