Fast Food – Page 114 – The Impulsive Buy

REVIEW: Jack in the Box Chili Cheeseburger

Marvo / October 17, 2020 / Reviews / 7 Comments

A few thoughts popped into my head right before I was about to order Jack in the Box’s Chili Cheeseburger.

Is the chili just the seasoned meat in Jack’s tacos?
Does the chili have beans?
Will there be a Twitter war between Jack in the Box and Wendy’s because Wendy’s tweeted Jack’s chili must not be good since it isn’t offered in a bowl, and then Jack retorted by tweeting Wendy’s chili is made from old beef patties?
I should start going to sleep earlier.
Can I use Apple Pay in the drive-thru?
Should I get onion rings?
Is the drive-thru cashier upset because I’ve been sitting here in front of the speaker without saying a word for about a minute? What about the four cars behind me?

Jack’s Chili Cheeseburger features a beef patty, two slices of cheese, a layer of beef chili, and onions on a bun. If you want something even beefier, there’s a double version with two patties.

While it’s being advertised as new, the internet tells me this is not the first time Jack has offered a chili-topped cheeseburger. So maybe the recipe was pulled out of the Jack in the Box vault, which I imagine is shaped like Jack’s head and the combination dial is Jack’s hat, while the lever to open it is Jack’s nose.

The chili is bean-free, in case you were wondering, and, even though they look somewhat alike, I’m pretty sure it’s not the seasoned ground beef in Jack’s tacos. What’s on this burger is redder and they don’t taste the same.

While it’s never going to win a chili cook-off, the marquee ingredient in the burger tastes fine on its own and is even meatier thanks to the beef patty. But the elements that make this limited time menu item delectable are the chopped onions and cheese. The American cheese complements the chili’s spices, while the onions not only enhance the chili with their pungent flavor, but also add some crunch to the mush-fest.

Oddly, even though the idea of topping a burger with chili sounds like a mess-fest, all of it stayed between the buns. Also, something to note, I ordered one for my wife and hers had noticeably less of the topping than mine.

While I’m not sure I’d order Jack’s chili a la carte, if it was available that way, it does makes this cheeseburger surprisingly tasty.

Purchased Price: $7.49*
Size: Small combo
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Not available on the website.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are much pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s Prime Rib & Cheddar Angus Thickburger

BrandonP / October 14, 2020 / Reviews / 7 Comments

Hearing the words “prime rib” brings thoughts of a thick slice of premium beef, served medium rare with au jus. For me, those thoughts are even accompanied by memories of special occasions with family during the holidays. But thinking realistically, I set those lofty expectations aside and ventured to the Carl’s Jr. drive-thru to try its new Prime Rib & Cheddar Angus Thickburger.

At first glance, the burger looks a little on the sparse side with only the 1/3 lb. Angus beef patty peeking out of the toasted bun. The cheddar cheese sauce clings to the thin slices of prime rib on top of the burger patty with the caramelized onions hiding underneath.

From the initial bite, you know that it will deliver on a strong beef flavor just as any burger topped with steak pieces should. The thin prime rib slices are tender while still providing a little extra chew to give the burger a nice texture while eating.

It takes trying a piece of the prime rib on its own to appreciate the nice pepper notes that it contains. While appearing medium rare in advertising, there is no surprise that the prime rib is medium well at best. It is, however, neither dry nor tough and meets my tempered expectations of a fast food restaurant ambitiously taking on the fine cut of meat.

The warm cheese sauce does not have the strongest cheddar flavor but is just the right consistency, thick enough to not cause a mess while showing no sign of clumps or graininess. The predominant flavor of the whole burger is the caramelized onions, bringing with them an accompanying hint of sweetness. The onions were cooked properly, providing just the slightest crunch and offering the taste that will linger in your mouth the longest.

A notable aspect of the Prime Rib burger is just how clean it is to eat. Between the less than generous portions and the cheese sauce keeping the prime rib pieces in line, only a few small onions ever escaped the otherwise tidy burger. The days of the “if it doesn’t get all over the place, it doesn’t belong in your face” Carl’s Jr. seem to be long gone.

Overall, the burger brings a satisfying onion and beef flavor, with a gentle whisper of cheddar cheese. However, while the prime rib is juicy on its own, the burger as a whole is on the dry side. It also is missing a dynamic flavor that would make me crave another one. This might be remedied with the addition of a horseradish sauce or by improving the flavor of the cheese sauce.

Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s also offer their sliced prime rib in both a breakfast burrito and a buttermilk biscuit paired with Swiss cheese and a fried egg.

Purchased Price: $7.59
Size: Single Patty
Purchased at: Carl’s Jr.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 740 calories (Editor’s Note: Yup, that’s the only nutrition info we could find. If someone knows where to find the rest, let us know in the comments.)

Carl's Jr. Fast Food

REVIEW: Popeyes Raspberry Cheesecake Fried Pie

Sonia / October 8, 2020 / Reviews / 10 Comments

What is the Popeyes Raspberry Cheesecake Fried Pie

It’s a single serving deep-fried pie with raspberry and cheesecake filling that joins the classic apple on Popeyes’ dessert menu for a limited time.

How is it?

I’ll level with you here – Popeyes isn’t the first place that comes to mind when I think “dessert.” To be fair, it’s also not the first place that comes to mind when I think “chicken” despite the fact that there’s a Popeyes closer to my house than KFC.

It’s not that I have anything against Popeyes. As a matter of fact, I think its spicy chicken sandwich is amazing. It’s really more that it’s in the opposite direction from everywhere else I usually travel. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.

Regardless, this pie is pretty dang good. Now, fast food pies are kinda my jam. I started ranking fast food restaurants by the quality of their pies as a kid, so believe me when I say that this one is definitely worth seeking out.

It has everything there is to love about a single serving pie, all wrapped up in a cute paper sleeve. You’ve got a flaky, perfectly tender, crisp exterior surrounding smooth, creamy, sweet filling. The raspberry flavor comes through loud and clear and is excellently complemented by the rich, creamy cheesecake accompaniment.

If I have one criticism, it’s this: If this pie had been billed as “Raspberry Cream” rather than “Raspberry Cheesecake,” I wouldn’t have known the difference. There wasn’t enough tang to qualify as cream cheese. While there was nothing wrong with the pale side of the filling (side note, the line down the middle was perfect in my pie, ensuring an equal and even distribution of both flavors), it just didn’t read as “cheesecake” to me. If that’s a big detractor for you, keep it in mind but don’t let it stop you from giving this pie a shot.

If I have another, quasi related criticism, it’s that a hint of acid would’ve taken this pie from an 8 to a 10. Just that little tart bite you get from a raspberry or a kiss of lemon to round out all that sweetness and cut through the richness of the filling would’ve made all the difference.

Anything else you need to know?

This sweet treat is only available for a limited time at participating locations.

Conclusion:

Popeyes’ Raspberry Cheesecake Fried Pie is a deep-fried pocket of deliciousness sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Unless you hate raspberries.

Purchased Price: 99 cents
Size: 1 pie (87g)
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (87g) 310 calories, 19 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 60 milligrams of cholesterol, 290 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 1 grams of fiber, 22 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

Fast Food Popeyes

REVIEW: Sonic Trick or Treat Blast

Brandon / October 7, 2020 / Reviews / 10 Comments

Never, in the history of man, has anyone ever proclaimed “Oreo” to be their favorite Halloween treat. This is because, quite obviously, Oreo cookies are not a Halloween candy. Much like a succulent ham, or a roast leg of lamb, they are an everyday indulgence that knows no seasonality. Therefore, the King of Sandwich Cookie’s inclusion in Sonic’s new Trick-or-Treat Blast is a bit confounding.

That said, it’s actually one of this treat’s few bright spots. I’ll explain in a bit.

But first, you’re probably asking, “What is this Sonic Trick-or-Treat Blast, anyway?” Well, let me tell you. This seasonal Sonic Blast comes in either vanilla or chocolate ice cream, and features Oreo cookie crumbles, mini M&M’s, and Snickers candy bar pieces.

So, you know, two perfectly fine Halloween candies and a random creme-filled cookie.

Like I said, though, the cookie works well in the midst of all the ice cream chaos. And really, it’s because the ice cream-softened pieces give your teeth a much needed break. If you are at all familiar with ice cream “mix-ins,” you’ll know that M&M’s — particularly those of the miniature variety — are a cracked molar just lurking in a mountain of sugary goodness. Biting into the Blast for the first time, that was my initial thought: Dear God, please protect my teeth.

My next thought was, hey, was that peanut butter, and if so, why? However, a nugget of nougat quickly followed and reminded me about the presence of Snickers; I’d simply encountered a rogue nut. The Snickers was a nice respite, but unfortunately, it seemed to be the least prevalent of the three inclusions.

By the lower 50% of the confection, in fact, it was a virtual wasteland, void of candy (and cookie) chunks; there was nothing left but plain ice cream featuring colorful streaks from the ghosts of M&M’s past.

And truly, that was the story of this Blast: bits and piece of mostly-indiscernible sweet stuff in regular vanilla ice cream. Nothing was bad (well, with the exception of the painful candy shard factor, I suppose), but nothing was really great, either. I was left thinking the whole thing felt a little one-dimensional. My 6-year-old had a bite and said, “YUMMY!” which, sure, why not. Perhaps she’s the target audience. And so, if you are a 6-year-old reading this review, this Sonic Trick or Treat Blast is a 10. But also, if you are a 6-year-old reading this review… huh? Shouldn’t you be not on the internet at all, please? I beg of you.

Anyway, what would have made this better? Well, some Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, for one. Maybe some Twix? How about a Butterfinger? You know, other actual Halloween candies. In true gluttonous American fashion, why not, as they say, go “big” or go “home”? Remember going to the soda fountain at the gas station when you were a kid and making a “suicide” with 10 different kinds of soda? Do that, but make it a Blast. That would have been a winner. Maybe next October.

Purchased Price: $4.59
Size: Small
Purchased at: Sonic
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Unavailable on website.

Fast Food Sonic

REVIEW: Dairy Queen Oreo Mocha Fudge Blizzard

Denis / October 6, 2020 / Reviews / 3 Comments

What is the Dairy Queen Oreo Mocha Fudge Blizzard?

It’s proof that the marketing department at Dairy Queen is lazy! OK, maybe they are not lazy, and I’m sure they have lots of other important work keeping them busy. But the Oreo Mocha Fudge Blizzard was part of the fall Blizzard menu announced back in early September (which, by the way, was still summer), and now the same flavor is the Blizzard of the Month for October. The DQ website even proclaims it to be “new.” This new-ish Blizzard features Oreo cookies, choco chunks, and coffee.