McDonald’s Daily Double is not the burger I wanted the fast food chain to bring back. That pedestal belongs to the Big ‘N Tasty, which, for those of you who are too young to remember, was a short-lived Whopper competitor rolled out at the turn of the century. While not as ancient as the Big ‘N Tasty, the Daily Double made its debut in 2012, and it’s been available occasionally in specific US markets. However, it’s now available nationwide again.
The well-topping-endowed burger features two beef patties, two slices of Roma tomatoes, slivered onions, shredded lettuce, mayonnaise, and American cheese on a regular bun. I imagine it’s called Daily Double because Grimace wanted to remember the fond memories of watching the game show Jeopardy with The Professor, who grew Grimace from a petri dish and taught the purple blob love and compassion. I’m fairly certain that’s part of the McDonaldland canon.
Speaking of the McDonald’s universe (McDU), the Daily Double is one of the few burgers in Golden Arches history that, by default, comes topped with only mayonnaise and doesn’t come with pickles. But despite the lack of strong condiments like ketchup and mustard, it does have a flavor that I find to be good enough to convince me to order it again.
When I took my first bite, I had to double-check that there wasn’t a new sauce with the burger. It turned out to be the combination of mayonnaise and onion that created that pleasing flavor. The absence of pickles, mustard, and ketchup allowed the two beef patties to stand out with a strong meaty flavor and saltiness. I’m not sure I noticed the single cheese slice, so maybe a second slice should’ve been added for a stronger cheesiness, increased profit margins, and to really hit home the “double” in the Daily Double.
The lettuce and tomato bring a bit of freshness and something to cut through some of the saltiness of the beef patties. They also make the burger look as if there’s a salad on top of it. As someone who is trying to incorporate more vegetables into my diet in any way I can, I appreciate the double tomato slices. The shredded lettuce also gives this a certain quality equal to McDonald’s signature Big Mac — its messiness.
Despite not being the Big’ N Tasty, I’m glad McDonald’s Daily Double has returned. Although it’s basically a heavily customized McDouble, so I guess I could have had it all this time, which is a good thing because when it disappears again, I can continue to enjoy it.
Purchased Price: $4.19*
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 400 calories, 31 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 80 milligrams of cholesterol, 810 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar (including 3 grams of added sugar), and 22 grams of protein.
*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.
